FAH President and CEO Chip Kahn released the following statement after President Biden delivered the State of the Union Address:

“Tonight, President Biden addressed the two main challenges facing our nation and the world – the war in Ukraine and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The growing humanitarian crisis unfolding in Europe following the Russian invasion of Ukraine is devastating and we stand with the Ukrainian people as they fight for their freedom.

“The President further highlighted the continued global fight against COVID-19, including our successes and remaining challenges. While the United States appears to be entering a new phase of the pandemic, we can’t let our guard down prematurely as Omicron continues to circulate and new variants lurk.

“President Biden spoke of what’s been done and what still needs doing as we continue to fight against COVID-19. FAH greatly appreciates the actions of the Administration and Congress, such as The American Rescue Plan Act (ARP), which ensured the security of health care coverage for millions of Americans and supported access to care for many of the nation’s most vulnerable patients, especially those who live in rural and marginalized communities.

“Yet there is a dangerous health care coverage cliff looming, making it imperative for the President and Congress to come together to make ARP’s enhanced ACA subsidies permanent. The moratorium on the Medicare sequester is also a vital lifeline to providers that needs to be extended until the end of the Public Health Emergency.

“Finally, we stand ready to work with policymakers on solutions to the deepening hospital workforce crisis before it fundamentally affects health care. We must act quickly to reinvest in and expand training and education for the next generation of caregivers.”