Richard Umdenstock Discusses How Hospitals Are Managing the Newly Insured

Richard Umdenstock, president and chief executive officer, American Hospital Association (AHA), says hospitals have been preparing themselves for the influx of newly insured since 2010. The AHA supports the Affordable Care Act because it feels that all Americans should be covered in an insurance-based healthcare system. In fact, Mr Umdenstock says that hospitals already enroll Americans every day. This includes enrollment into public assistance programs such as Medicaid and CHIP.

“Hospitals right now are learning more about the new opportunities, and there’s obviously some added complexity with that,” said Mr Umdenstock. However, he adds, “Hospitals will be ready.”