American Hospital Association urges Congress to increase funding for post-acute care providers

The American Hospital Association (AHA) has requested Congress to increase funding for post-acute care providers to alleviate downstream capacity issues that cause delays in discharging patients from hospitals. The AHA has suggested that this increase in funding could help to address these issues and support the growing number of older Americans who require post-acute care services.

What are downstream capacity issues?

Downstream capacity issues are problems that occur when patients cannot be discharged from hospitals due to a lack of available post-acute care providers. Post-acute care providers include skilled nursing facilities, rehabilitation centers, and home health agencies. These providers offer care to patients after they leave the hospital, helping them to recover and regain their independence.

Delays in discharging patients from hospitals can cause overcrowding and higher healthcare costs. When hospitals are overcrowded, it can lead to patients being treated in hallways and other non-traditional spaces, which can compromise patient safety and quality of care. Delayed discharges can also result in higher healthcare costs due to longer hospital stays and additional services that may be required.

The AHA's proposal

To address these issues, the AHA has proposed several policies to Congress. These include increasing funding for post-acute care providers, simplifying the process for Medicare beneficiaries to access post-acute care, and developing new payment models that incentivize post-acute care providers to improve care coordination.

The AHA argues that increasing funding for post-acute care providers would help to support the growing number of older Americans who require post-acute care services. As the population ages, the demand for these services is expected to increase, and without additional funding, the capacity issues that cause delays in discharging patients from hospitals are likely to worsen.

The benefits of the proposal

Overall, the AHA's proposal aims to improve the healthcare system's efficiency and reduce healthcare costs by addressing downstream capacity issues. By increasing funding for post-acute care providers and improving care coordination, the proposal could help to reduce the number of patients waiting for discharges from hospitals and improve access to post-acute care services for Medicare beneficiaries.

In conclusion, the AHA's proposal to increase funding for post-acute care providers is an essential step toward addressing downstream capacity issues that cause delays in discharging patients from hospitals. By supporting the growing number of older Americans who require post-acute care services, this proposal has the potential to improve the healthcare system's efficiency and reduce healthcare costs in the long run.