Hospital Leaders Gather in D.C. as Medicaid Cuts Loom

Just 16 days from now, more than 1,000 hospital and health system leaders from across the country will arrive in Washington, D.C., for the 2025 AHA Annual Membership Meeting. This year, the stakes are higher than ever as Congress considers legislation that could significantly jeopardize access to patient care and further challenge hospitals’ ability to deliver essential services.

The meeting, scheduled for May 4-6, 2025, will feature a lineup of nationally recognized speakers, including influential figures from the administration and Congress. The program is designed to help hospital leaders navigate the shifting political landscape and advocate for policies that prioritize patient care.

On the House side, attendees will hear from key lawmakers such as Reps. Buddy Carter (R-Ga.), Robin Kelly (D-Ill.), and Kim Schrier (D-Wash.), who serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee. This committee is crucial as it focuses on major Medicaid cuts. Additionally, Reps. Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Mike Flood (R-Neb.) from the Ways and Means Committee, which oversees Medicare and tax policies, will provide insights. Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), chair of the New Democratic Coalition, will also join the discussion.

From the Senate, Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) will share his perspectives, along with a panel featuring freshman senators Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) and Jon Husted (R-Ohio).

The meeting will also feature insights from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Chief of Staff and Deputy Administrator Stephanie Carlton and CMS Deputy Administrator and Chief Policy and Regulatory Officer John Brooks. They will discuss the agency’s health priorities and the potential impact of proposed legislative changes.

The program includes a deep dive into economic issues, with Douglas Holtz-Eakin, former director of the Congressional Budget Office, leading a discussion on the fiscal cliff and economic policy outlook. Panelists will include Rana Foroohar, CNN’s global economic analyst, Lanhee Chen, a Hoover Institution Fellow, and Jason Furman, former chair of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Barack Obama.

The meeting will also feature discussions on navigating the new political landscape, with insights from Jonathan Martin, politics bureau chief at Politico, Leigh Ann Caldwell, chief Washington correspondent for Puck News, and Jake Sherman, co-founder of Punchbowl News. Hoda Kotb, former “Today Show” co-anchor, will participate in the AHA’s luncheon recognizing award-winning leaders in the field.

Throughout the conference, dynamic sessions will feature top leaders in the field and the administration discussing post-acute care, rural health care, and governance, among other topics. The agenda is packed, but there will also be time for attendees to connect with colleagues from across the country.

The Annual Membership Meeting comes at a critical time as key congressional committees, including the House Energy and Commerce Committee, could begin marking up reconciliation legislation with the potential for significant cuts to the Medicaid program. The timing provides a great opportunity for hospital leaders to drive home several key messages, including protecting access to care by rejecting cuts to Medicaid, additional so-called site-neutral payments, and harmful changes to the 340B program. At the same time, they will advocate for extending the enhanced premium tax credits that help millions of Americans have access to affordable private insurance.



Earlier this week, the AHA shared an Advocacy Action Alert asking hospital leaders to meet with their senators and representatives to explain how cuts to Medicaid and other programs would reduce access to care and services for patients in their communities. The AHA also provided new infographics and resources to support these advocacy efforts.

The meeting will be another opportunity for hospital leaders to stand up and speak out to protect access to the care that hospitals and health systems provide across America. In the words of AHA’s 2025 Board Chair, Tina Freese Decker, “When we work together, we speak with a voice that is loud, clear and effective. Because we are here to care for the neighbors in our communities no matter what headwinds we face.”

If you haven’t registered yet, please consider joining us in Washington May 4-6. And if you can’t be in Washington, please continue delivering that message to your representatives and senators throughout the year.