Washington, D.C. (May 8, 2026) – Charlene MacDonald, President and CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, released the following statement refuting Families USA’s flawed blog post:

“This is not a serious analysis of health care affordability – it’s an advocacy document built around the flawed premise that Medicare rates should dictate hospital reimbursement, despite the fact that Medicare routinely pays below the cost of care. Tax-paying hospitals provide high-quality care regardless of a patient’s coverage or ability to pay, preserving access in communities where there would otherwise be nowhere else to turn.

“Our members invest in their communities, providing more charity care than the national average, while facing chronic underpayments from Medicare and Medicaid, rising drug costs, and increasing administrative burdens created by insurers that delay and deny care. Lowering health care costs for hardworking Americans requires focusing on the real pressures in the system – including rising out-of-pocket costs and insurer practices that make it harder for patients to access the care they need.”