Last week, the Ways and Means Committee unanimously voted to pass H.R. 5273, the Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act (HIP-C). The bipartisan bill, introduced by Health Subcommittee Chairman Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Ranking Member Jim McDermott (D-WA), helps strengthen and preserve Medicare by promoting greater access, increasing choices, and improving the overall quality of health care.

Here’s what the health care community has to say about HIP-C’s commonsense, fiscally responsible reforms:

“Legislation introduced today by the leadership of the Ways and Means Committee recognizes the importance of access to hospital care for millions of Americans. That is why I am pleased to offer the support of the FAH for this targeted, thoughtful measure that would, among other provisions, allow community hospitals to finalize essential outpatient arrangements in order to better serve patients in their communities.”
– Federation of American Hospitals

“On behalf of our nearly 5,000 member hospitals, health systems and other health care organizations, and our 43,000 individual members, the American Hospital Association (AHA) is pleased to support H.R. 5273, the Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016. America’s hospitals appreciate your leadership on behalf of the hospital community.”
– American Hospital Association

“‘This new legislation will help ensure that teaching hospitals, which treat our nation’s most medically complex and vulnerable patients, are not unfairly and disproportionately penalized by Medicare’s readmissions program.’”
– Darrell G. Kirch, MD, Association of American Medical Colleges President and CEO

“America’s Essential Hospital applauds Reps. Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Jim McDermott (D-WA) for introducing H.R. 5273, the Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act. The legislation includes two critical changes that would improve the ability of essential hospitals to care for vulnerable patients.”
– America’s Essential Hospitals

“On behalf of the more than 5,400 ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in the United States, the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) expresses its support for H.R. 5273, the ‘Helping Hospitals Improve Patient Care Act of 2016’, and thanks you for including Section 203 to protect surgeons who see most of their Medicare patients in the ASC setting.”
– Ambulatory Surgery Center Association

“The important reforms to Medicare’s readmissions penalties, as advanced by Representatives Tiberi and McDermott, will enable Medicare to continue reducing readmission rates, while addressing disproportionate and biased penalties against providers serving lower-income populations.”
– National Coalition on Health Care

“Consistent with longstanding Congressional recognition of Dedicated Cancer Centers, Section 202 ensures our continuing ability to provide the highest quality and level of care and access for our patients.”
– Alliance of Dedicated Cancer Centers

“We applaud you for including a provision in this bipartisan legislation to enhance education and understanding among newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries about enrollment considerations and rules.”
– Medicare Rights Center