Hospitals and doctors pledge to work with Trump, and spell out some priorities

With President-elect Donald Trump securing a second term in the White House, organizations representing hospitals and doctors offered congratulations and pledged to work with his new administration.

Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, said the group will work with President Trump to ensure access to healthcare.

Most major healthcare advocacy organizations don’t endorse candidates in presidential elections and aim to maintain a non-partisan approach, recognizing the realities that they need to work with both Republicans and Democrats in Washington. In statements issued Wednesday, healthcare organizations offered cooperation and congratulations.

Healthcare organizations also outlined some of their key priorities, or at least hopes, for the next four years in Washington.

Rick Pollack, president and CEO of the American Hospital Association, which represents thousands of hospitals and health systems nationwide, said the group is anxious to work with Trump on key healthcare issues.

Bruce Siegel, MD, president and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, spoke about working with the Trump administration and Congress to preserve Medicaid.

“As we enter the final weeks of this session of Congress and look ahead to the next, our priorities remain the same: ensuring access to coverage and care, enhancing the quality and affordability of care, supporting our caregivers, and making sure that hospitals and health systems have the resources and support they need to remain cornerstones of their community,” Pollack said in a statement.

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Bruce Siegel, MD, president and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, represents the nation’s safety net hospitals and offered hope for working on behalf of vulnerable communities. Siegel stressed the need to preserve Medicaid and other programs helping those with lower incomes.

Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, said the group would work with Trump and hoped to ensure funding for hospitals.

“We stand ready to work with the new administration and Congress to strengthen health care for all people by protecting Medicaid and other programs that help working families and others stay well and productive,” Siegel said in a statement.

“Good health and the financial security affordable health care access brings are vital to a strong economy and healthy communities,” Siegel said. “Our hospitals provide that, as well as lifesaving services for entire communities, such as trauma and burn care, transplant services, and behavioral health. Essential hospitals are economic engines and often a community’s largest employer.”

Chip Kahn, president and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, which represents for-profit health systems, congratulated Trump and said the group is looking to work with him and the new Congress “to ensure all Americans have access to needed hospital care in their communities.”

“There are a lot of important issues on the line for patients across the country regarding health care coverage and protecting Medicare beneficiaries in managed care, and we look forward to addressing patient care together,” Kahn said in the statement.

David J. Skorton, MD, president of the Association of American Medical Colleges, issued a statement pledging to work with the new president and new Congress.

“The AAMC will work with President-elect Donald Trump, the new administration, and the new U.S. Congress, continuing our efforts to improve the health of patients, families, and communities nationwide,” Skorton said.

“This work will be critical to ensuring patient access to high-quality care, building, strengthening, and diversifying the physician workforce, addressing long-standing health inequities, and advancing medical research that leads to prevention, treatment, and cures for Americans across the country,” he added.

The American Academy of Family Physicians, which has 130,000 members, said in a statement, “We stand ready to work with the new administration, new Congress and other health care leaders to advance policies and programs that improve health care for all.”

The AAFP also said it remains committed to “providing comprehensive, longitudinal, evidence-based care and advancing public policies that support the millions of patients we care for—including improving access, closing equity gaps, and strengthening payment and practice environments so everyone can get the care they need.”

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