CATHOLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES

Urged the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to promptly fill the vacant Chief Dental Officer (CDO) position and to ensure that this role remains housed within the Office of the Administrator. Maintaining a senior, agency-wide oral health leader is essential to sustaining CMSs progress with integrating dental care with medical care and supporting innovation that recognizes the connection between oral health and overall health. Urged Congress to address the Medicaid disproportionate share hospital (DSH) program reductions scheduled to begin on Oct. 1, 2025. The Medicaid DSH program supports hospitals that serve disproportionately high numbers of low-income and uninsured patients. These funds help alleviate both Medicaid underpayment and uncompensated care costs, ensuring patients have access to critical services in their community, including trauma care, burn units, maternal care, and high-risk neonatal care. (S.335) - The Rural Hospital Support Act - Expressed support for the Rural Hospital Support Act. This legislation would provide assistance to rural hospitals through the Medicare program, including making the Medicare-dependent Hospital Program permanent.

(H.R. 529) - The Protecting Sensitive Locations Act - Expressed support for the Protecting Sensitive Locations Act. This legislation would codify the previous and longstanding guidance into law, prohibiting immigration enforcement actions by officers or agents at or within 1,000 feet of healthcare facilities such as hospitals, community health centers, and accredited health clinics. The protections in the bill also would extend to educational and social service facilities as well as places of worship, among others.

Expressed opposition to proposed cuts to the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant in the fiscal year (FY) 2026 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies (Labor-HHS) bills. This funding provided access to health care and public health services for an estimated 59 million people in FY 2023, including 94 percent of pregnant women, 98 percent of infants, and 59 percent of children nationwide. Urged Congress to find solutions to reopen the government and provide full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other essential health and assistance programs that many Americans rely on. Urged Congress to include in the spending bill an extension of the enhanced advance premium tax credits (APTC) that have been in place in the Affordable Care Act since 2021 but expire at the end of this year. Urged Congress to protect innovative health care delivery models by extending the telehealth and the hospital-at-home flexibilities beyond September 30, 2025. Protect access to care in rural communities by extending the Medicare-dependent hospitals, rural ambulance, work geographic index floor and Low-volume Adjustment programs beyond September 30, 2025. Invest in the health workforce and public health service programs by increasing funding for the HRSA Title VII and VIII health profession and nursing programs, the National Health Service Corps. Reauthorize and fully fund the Teaching Health Centers Graduate Medical Education program, the Childrens Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, and the Community Health Center fund. Increase funding for the Maternal and Child Health Block Grant (MCHBG), Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) and reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who Deliver Infants Early (PREEMIE) program. Reject policy riders that would create financial challenges and costly regulatory burdens on hospitals. Dramatic changes to site-neutral payment policies and new regulatory requirements on hospitals for the 340B drug discount programs will place further pressure on hospitals already facing significant financial challenges and cuts. FY 2026 House & Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill- Urged Congress to support at least $1 billion for the Title V Maternal and Child Health (MCH) Services Block Grant. Urged Congress to ensure the continuation of the important role the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) plays in protecting Americans from a wide array of health threats and to provide $310 million for its Office on Smoking and Health (OSH). Urged Congress to provide $100 million for the Surveillance for Emerging Threats to Mothers and Babies at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Expressed support for the Childrens Hospital Graduate Medical Education Program and urged Congress to provide $778 million for this program for FY 2026.

(S. 3702/H.R. 7165) The Credit for Caring Act - Expressed support for the Credit Caring Act. The legislation would create a new, non-refundable federal tax credit for eligible working family caregivers to help address the financial challenges of caregiving.

(S.1562/H.R. 1197) - Preemie Reauthorization Act (S.2621/H.R. 1909) Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act - Expressed support for enacting into law the Preemie Reauthorization Act and the Preventing Maternal Deaths Reauthorization Act. Both bills passed the House and Senate HELP Committee by near-unanimous votes during the 118th Congress. Both will expand research, education, and intervention activities related to preterm birth and strengthen federal support for Maternal Mortality Review Committees. Urged Congress to advise the administration to cancel the Health Resources and Services Administrations 340B Rebate Program, which threatens 340B hospitals ability to provide essential care and services to low-income rural patients (S.2372/H.R.4581) - 340B PATIENTS Act of 2025-Expressed support for the 340B Patients Act. This legislation would codify 340B providers' ability to use contract pharmacies to dispense 340B discounted drugs, ensure that 340B patients can pick up their prescriptions at any local pharmacy, and allow safety-net providers to continue providing expanded medical and social services to their communities using their 340B discount savings. (S. 2287/H.R. 4425) - Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA) - Expressed support for the Palliative Care and Hospice Education and Training Act (PCHETA). This legislation would increase the number of permanent faculty in palliative care in medical schools, nursing schools, and other programs, promote education and research in palliative care and hospice, and support the development of faculty careers in academic palliative and hospice (S. 380) - Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act - Expressed support for the Rural Obstetrics Readiness Act. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that rural health care facilities are equipped with targeted resources to provide high-quality obstetric care to women within their own communities. (H.R. 1) - One Big Beautiful Bill Act - Urged CMS to implement the Medicaid provisions of (OBBBA) in ways that prevent eligible enrollees from losing coverage by maximizing data matching, preserving statutory exemptions, and avoiding unnecessary administrative burdens.

(H.R. 1144) - Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention Protection and Reauthorization Act of 2025. Urged the House to advance this bill, which would bolster the nations efforts to eradicate human trafficking and assist human trafficking survivors.

(H.R. 191) - Inflation Reduction Act - Urged Congress to preserve historic investments in clean energy, air, and water that were a part of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.