American Hospital Association
| American Hospital Association | |
 | |
| Basic facts | |
| Location: | Washington, D.C. |
| Type: | 501(c)(6) |
| Top official: | Richard J. Pollack, President and CEO |
| Year founded: | 1899 |
| Website: | Official website |
| Budget | |
| 2014: | $126,339,392 |
| 2013: | $124,434,189 |
The American Hospital Association (AHA) is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit trade association and lobbying group representing nearly 5,000 hospitals and health institutions as well as 37,000 individual members across the United States. As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the AHA aims to advance the common interest and public policy priorities of its member hospitals and healthcare professionals.[1]
Mission
The American Hospital Association (AHA) displays the following mission statement on its website:
| “ | To advance the health of individuals and communities. The AHA leads, represents and serves hospitals, health systems and other related organizations that are accountable to the community and committed to health improvement.[2][3] | ” |
History
The American Hospital Association was established in 1899 as the American Association of Hospital Superintendents. The organization aimed to facilitate communication and collaboration among hospital superintendents. The group changed its name to the American Hospital Association (AHA) in 1906 upon the addition of high-level hospital administrators and executive officers to the organization's membership. In 1918, the AHA broadened its membership base by admitting its first institutional member.[4]
The AHA organized the AHA House of Delegates in 1938 in order to give a proportional voice to members according to participation in each state. The proportional representation eventually shifted to account for the dues revenue, rather than the membership numbers, attributed to each state. The AHA developed nine regional advisory boards in 1968 to improve communication between the House of Delegates and the Board of Trustees as well as build relationships with state-level hospital associations. In 1987, the regional advisory boards became regional policy boards.[2]
While the AHA originally focused on achieving efficiency in hospital operations, the organization's goals broadened by the 1950s to include the promotion of public welfare, education, and research. In 1987, the AHA included advocacy and public policy outreach in its overall mission.[4]
Healthcare policy
In 1937, the AHA organized the Hospital Service Plan Commission (HSPC) in order to facilitate prepayment for hospital services. The HSPC eventually developed into Blue Cross. In 1951, the AHA participated in the establishment of the Commission on Financing of Hospital Services, which analyzed the interactions between senior citizens and healthcare providers and contributed to the formation of Medicare in 1965.[2]
Work
The American Hospital Association aims to support the public policy priorities of its members by engaging in federal government advocacy activities across the executive, legislative, and regulatory arenas in addition to forming partnerships with state and local affiliates. The AHA also works to provide its members with educational opportunities and serves as a hub of information on the healthcare sector.[5][6]
 |
| Healthcare policy in the U.S. |
|---|
| Obamacare overview |
| Obamacare lawsuits |
| Medicare and Medicaid |
| Healthcare statistics |
|
Lobbying
- See also: 501(c)(6)
Since politics and legislation may directly impact business activities, the American Hospital Association (AHA) and other 501(c)(6) organizations may engage in relevant lobbying and campaign activities as a means of advancing common business interests. The organization's political expenses are only tax deductible if they are used in certain capacities to lobby pertinent legislation before local-level governing authorities, such as city councils. The AHA may also participate in political campaign activities as long as political campaigning is not the organization's primary purpose.[7]
The AHA engages in a variety of lobbying activities within the federal government and regulatory agencies in order to support its public policy objectives. The AHA's lobbying priorities include a number of healthcare policy challenges, such as Medicare, patient safety, price transparency, health information technology, and medical education.[8]
The following table details the AHA's federal lobbying expenditures according to data from the Center for Responsive Politics:[9]
| Click "show" to the right to view the AHA's federal lobbying expenditures, 1998-2015 | |
|---|---|
| Tax Year | Total Expenditures |
| 2015 | $20,687,935 |
| 2014 | $20,773,146 |
| 2013 | $19,173,813 |
| 2012 | $19,251,200 |
| 2011 | $20,823,341 |
| 2010 | $19,774,358 |
| 2009 | $18,706,376 |
| 2008 | $18,919,789 |
| 2007 | $18,766,545 |
| 2006 | $17,835,135 |
| 2005 | $15,667,187 |
| 2004 | $14,849,161 |
| 2003 | $14,712,664 |
| 2002 | $13,309,880 |
| 2001 | $13,258,000 |
| 2000 | $7,080,000 |
| 1999 | $12,000,000 |
| 1998 | $10,120,000 |
Affiliated organizations
The American Hospital Association (AHA) oversees subsidiary professional medical societies in order to improve engagement with distinct constituencies of the medical community. These professional societies include:[10]
- American Society for Healthcare Engineering
- American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration
- American Society for Healthcare Risk Management
- Association for Community Health Improvement
- Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management
- Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals
- Association for the Healthcare Environment
- Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development
Affordable Care Act
The American Hospital Association (AHA) supported the Affordable Care Act through the legislative process, though it never released an official endorsement.[11][12][13] Following the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act in June 2012, the AHA's CEO Rich Umbdenstock issued the following statement:
| “ | Today’s historic decision lifts a heavy burden from millions of Americans who need access to health coverage. The promise of coverage can now become a reality.
The decision means that hospitals now have much-needed clarity to continue on their path toward transformation. But transforming the delivery of healthcare will take much more than the strike of a gavel or stroke of a pen. It calls for the entire healthcare community to continue to work together, along with patients and purchasers, to implement better coordinated, high quality care. Now that the Supreme Court has made its decision, hospitals will continue their efforts to improve the law for patients, families and communities.[14][3] |
” |
Opposition
The American Hospital Association's (AHA) support of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) caused tension between the AHA and Republican legislators in the U.S. House of Representatives. By supporting the ACA, the AHA approved a $155 billion Medicare funding reduction in order to bring about broadened access to healthcare services under the law. Republican legislators, on the other hand, opposed the ACA and its accompanying fiscal implications.[11][13]
When Republican legislators proposed Medicare funding cuts in 2012 to help bring about deficit reduction, the AHA opposed the proposal on the grounds that the additional Medicare cuts would result in a potential loss of $61.4 billion and 278,000 jobs over the next decade for hospitals across the nation. Republican House members responded to the AHA's objections with the following statement: "Not so long ago, the major hospital trade associations endorsed and strongly supported legislation that became law. It contained $155 billion in hospital Medicare cuts—more than 10 times the reductions in H.R. 3630."[11]
Finances
As a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization, the American Hospital Association (AHA) is chiefly funded by membership dues. According to the AHA's tax filings, the organization's revenue is made up of member contributions, program services, and investment income. The AHA also accepts contributions from outside businesses and organizations that share in its mission.[15][16]
The following table displays totals for the AHA's annual revenue and expenses:[16]
| Annual revenue and expenses for the American Hospital Association, 2011-2014 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses |
| 2014 | $126,339,392 | $112,274,311 |
| 2013 | $124,434,189 | $117,028,216 |
| 2012 | $181,032,174 | $109,356,606 |
| 2011 | $112,980,190 | $105,186,690 |
Leadership
The following individuals hold leadership positions with the American Hospital Association:
Executive leadership
- Richard J. "Rick" Pollack, President and CEO
- Maryjane Wurth, Chief strategy and relationship officer, president and CEO of Health Forum
- Tom Nickels, Executive vice president, government relations and public policy
- Neil J. Jesuele, Executive vice president, association services
- Maulik S. Joshi, Associate executive vice president, president of the Health Research & Educational Trust
- Lisa Allen, Senior vice president and chief human resources officer
- John R. Combes, Chief medical officer and senior vice president, president of the Center for Healthcare Governance
- John Evans, Senior vice president and chief financial officer
- Gail Lovinger Goldblatt, Vice president and association secretary
- Melinda "Mindy" Reid Hatton, Senior vice president and general counsel
- Alicia Mitchell, Senior vice president, communications
- Ashley Thompson, Senior vice president, public policy analysis and development
- Pamela Thompson, Chief nursing officer and senior vice president, CEO of the American Organization of Nurse Executives
- Darlene Vanderbush, Vice president, executive operations[17]
Board of trustees
- James H. Skogsbergh, Chairman, president and CEO of Advocate Health Care
- Eugene A. Woods, Chairman-elect, president and CEO of Carolinas Healthcare System
- Jonathan B. Perlin, Immediate past chairman, president of clinical services and chief medical officer of the Hospital Corporation of America
- Gail Lovinger Goldblatt, Secretary
- Richard J. "Rick" Pollack, President and CEO of the American Hospital Association
- Nancy Howell Agee, President and CEO of Carilion Clinic
- Bruce P. Bailey, President and CEO of Tidelands Health
- Carmela Coyle, President and CEO of the Maryland Hospital Association
- Kris A. Doody, Chief executive officer of Cary Medical Center
- David Entwistle, Chief executive officer of the University of Utah Health Care, Hospitals and Clinics
- Melinda L. Estes, President and CEO of Saint Luke's Health System
- Brian A. Gragnolati, President and CEO of Atlantic Health System
- Daniel L. Gross, Executive vice president of Sharp Healthcare
- Constance A. Howes, Women’s health advisor for Care New England Health
- Thomas W. Huebner, President of Rutland Regional Medical Center
- Michelle A. Janney, Executive vice president and chief nursing executive for Indiana University Health
- Steven P. Johnson, President and CEO of Susquehanna Health System
- Bruce Lawrence, President and CEO of INTEGRIS Health
- James C. Leonard, President and CEOof The Carle Foundation
- Kimberly McNally, Trustee of UW Medicine
- Thomas Miller, President of Division V Operations for Community Health Systems
- Randall D. Oostra, President and CEO of ProMedica Health System
- Ramanathan "Ram" Raju, President and CEO of New York City Health and Hospitals Corporation
- Steven A. Rose, President and CEO of Nanticoke Health Services
- John H. Vassall II, Chief Medical Officer of Swedish Health Services
- Larry W. Veitz, President of Spearfish Regional Hospital and Spearfish Market
- Mary Beth Walsh, CEO/executive medical director of Burke Rehabilitation Hospital
- Joe Wilkins, Chairman of St. Joseph Hoag Health[18]
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms American Hospital Association. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
- American Hospital Association homepage
- American Hospital Association on Twitter
- American Hospital Association on Facebook
- American Society for Healthcare Engineering homepage
- American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration homepage
- American Society for Healthcare Risk Management homepage
- Association for Community Health Improvement homepage
- Association for Healthcare Resource & Materials Management homepage
- Association for Healthcare Volunteer Resource Professionals homepage
- Association for the Healthcare Environment homepage
- Society for Healthcare Strategy & Market Development homepage
Footnotes
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "2014 Form 990," accessed April 27, 2016
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 American Hospital Association, "Vision and mission," accessed April 26, 2016
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 American Hospital Association, "History," accessed April 26, 2016
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "About the AHA," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "Regional executive directory," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ Internal Revenue Service, "Political campaign and lobbying activities of IRC 501(c)(4), (c)(5), and (c)(6) organizations," accessed December 21, 2015
- ↑ The American Hospital Association, "Key Issues," accessed April 27, 2016
- ↑ Center for Responsive Politics, "American Hospital Association," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "AHA engaged," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 11.2 Health Leaders Media, "ACA implementation threatens hospitals' united front," January 25, 2012
- ↑ Fierce Healthcare, "SGR, two-midnight rule remain high Congressional priorities," May 7, 2014
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 National Review, "Who gave us Obamacare?" August 13, 2012
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "Statement on Supreme Court decision on the Affordable Care Act," June 28, 2012
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "Acceptance of outside funding," accessed April 27, 2016
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 GuideStar, "GuideStar report for the American Hospital Association," accessed May 13, 2016
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "Executive team," accessed April 26, 2016
- ↑ American Hospital Association, "Board of trustees," accessed April 26, 2016
| |||||||
