By Dutch Rojas
The American Hospital Association doesn’t represent hospitals. It represents the right of health systems to keep their billing secrets, crush transparency, and sue your grandma without answering questions.
While patients sell plasma to pay medical bills, the AHA spends millions suing the federal government. Why? To stop you from knowing what a Band-Aid costs.
You’d think an association representing hospitals might care about health. Or care. Or patients. But no.
The AHA’s true mission is to protect “revenue cycle optimization” the way a mama bear protects her cubs. Except the cubs are seven-figure executive bonuses and off-shore cash reserves.
In 2021, the AHA lobbied against price transparency rules that would let Americans compare health system prices because God forbid we make informed choices before bankruptcy.
They sue to block reform, cry “burden” when asked for accountability, and weep crocodile tears over “underpayment.”
At the same time, their members hoard billions in tax-free real estate and still charge $97 for ibuprofen.
The AHA isn’t a trade group.
It’s a nasty cartel with a press office.
Back in the day I officed at the THA headquarters in Austin. They were my client at the time and I got to know their culture. Little has changed since. Meeting hospital administrators over age 50 today I can repeat verbatim what they will say before a meeting ever starts.
