2024 Member Value Report


HAP’s advocacy starts with a clear mission and a bold vision for the future.

During 2024, we worked across party lines—throughout the commonwealth and in Washington—to advance the three priority areas in our new strategic plan: Financial sustainability, workforce, and health improvement and innovation. In this report, you’ll find a few key highlights of how HAP is delivering value to you—and the ways we are living up to our vision of a healthy Pennsylvania for all.
 

Financial Sustainability
 

The Big Picture

 $642 million annual net gain for the hospital community from the reauthorization of the Quality Care assessment.
 

HAP delivers significant resources to support your financial sustainability.

 $1.2 billion increase in state directed payments as a result of QCA reauthorization
 $508 million in Medicaid disproportionate share hospital cuts averted
 $36.7 million in new state and federal payments to rural hospitals
 $23.8 million increase for rural hospitals from CAH to SDP transition

 $17.5 million in new emergency hospital relief funding + $50 million paid from 2023
 $15.6 million increase in state and federal Medicaid supplemental payments for obstetric and neonatal services

Financial Sustainability

 

Looking Ahead:

HAP is fighting for reimbursement that reflects the cost of care and reforms to improve our medical liability climate. HAP is also advancing financial benchmarking and strengthening data to power our advocacy by expanding our CRAFT Survey.

 

Workforce
 

HAP champions investments and policies to grow the health care workforce.
 

 Passed key telehealth legislation into law
 Stopped legislative proposal for nurse staffing ratios
 Secured $25 million for the Grow Pennsylvania Scholarship Program and $2 million to support apprenticeship in the state budget

 Passed nurse/physician compact bills solution to build interstate workforce
 Launched inaugural Workforce Summit bringing together leaders representing more than 135 hospitals to share latest innovations

Workforce

 

Looking Ahead:

HAP is bringing new partners to our workforce advocacy, collaborating with other associations to gather continuum-wide workforce data, and spearheading an initiative to project future physician and advanced practice needs. HAP continues to focus on workplace safety, advocating for Congress to pass the SAVE Act and convening regional meetings with law enforcement and other stakeholders.

 

Health Improvement and Innovation
 

HAP serves as your partner to build a better health care system.
 

  Oversaw significant regulatory relief for hospitals via new guidance on Infection Control Plan denials and burdensome equipment attestation requirements
 Launched the Maternal health task force and completed an upcoming report with key recommendations to address disparities and improve access

 Secured a $67.5 million increase in state funds to support mental health
 Convened two six-month cohorts through our Racial Health Equity Learning Action Network, helping over 50 participants in each group design projects to support culturally appropriate patient care and use data to drive action

Health Improvement and Innovation

 

Looking Ahead:

HAP is emphasizing your needs during the Department of Health’s much-anticipated hospital regulations update. We also are working to improve care across the continuum to resolve emergency department overcrowding; strengthen our behavioral health care system; and address Pennsylvania’s maternal health care deserts and disparities.

 

Closing Thoughts: We know 2025 will be a pivotal year as we cultivate relationships with new leaders in Harrisburg and Washington and unveil an advocacy agenda focused on access to care.

Strong communities start with strong hospitals, and HAP supports your ability to deliver outstanding care. To reach our goals, we will be ambitious and strategic, bringing persuasive data, powerful anecdotes, and elevated advocacy tactics via our Healthy Me PA platform and other channels.

Thank you for your unwavering commitment to your communities. It is our privilege to be your advocate wherever and whenever it is needed.

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