Committees

Those who know the tax-paying hospital industry best – the health care professionals who manage and operate our high-quality hospitals – constitute the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) membership and its committee structure, which long has been the backbone of our organization. The active involvement of our members is even more essential as political and regulatory issues facing the industry have grown in complexity, importance and political sensitivity.

The members who voluntarily serve on FAH committees consist of top executives from various management areas of operations including: finance, government relations, public affairs, quality assurance, and materials management.

The Federation of American Hospitals’ key committees are:

Audit, Ethics, Compliance and Administrative Affairs Committee
Exposition Advisory Committee
Health Financing Committee
Legal and Operational Policy Committee
Legislative Committee
Managed Care Committee
Nominating Committee
Public Relations Committee
Quality Committee
Rural Hospital Committee
Emergency Preparedness Task Force
Federal Tax Task Force
Health Information Technology Task Force
Pharmacy Task Force

Audit, Ethics, Compliance and Administrative Affairs Committee

The Audit, Ethics, Compliance and Administrative Affairs Committee reviews all controls, systems initiated, and accounting policies; evaluates recommendations of the independent auditing firm pertaining to the annual financial audit and recommends appropriate action; approves new members and bad debt “write-offs” and works with the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) treasurer and the Board of Directors to effect an efficient management of FAH’s business affairs. It also oversees and coordinates all internal administrative affairs of FAH including membership services, publications, meetings and FAH Conference and Exhibition.

Chair:David Dill
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Lifepoint Health
FAH Staff:Kerry Price
Katie Tenoever
Chip Kahn
Letitia Faison, CPA

Exposition Advisory Committee

The Exposition Advisory Committee assists the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) staff in planning, promoting and evaluating the business exposition and educational workshops held in conjunction with the Annual Public Policy Conference and Business Exposition. The Committee serves as a liaison between FAH, Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) and Integrated Delivery Networks (IDNs).

Chair:Lynelle Nordloh
Vice President, Strategic Corporate Accounts
Siemens Healthineers
FAH Staff:Kerry Price
Christine Choi

Health Financing Committee

The Federation of American Hospitals’ (FAH) Health Financing Committee, which analyzes and comments on federal legislation, rulemaking by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and policy proposals by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission for their effects on acute hospital reimbursement and payment policies, is at the core of FAH’s operation. It also focuses on legislative and regulatory issues related to rehabilitation, psychiatric and long-term care hospitals.

Chair:Bob Halinski
Vice President, Reimbursement
Universal Health Services
FAH Staff:Steve Speil
Donald May

The Legal and Operational Policy Committee serves a vital role in advising the Federation of American Hospitals on legal, operational and regulatory issues. The committee is involved with issues related to the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA), antitrust, health care liability, HIPAA, regulatory reform, fraud and abuse, and compliance issues. The committee interacts closely with the HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, HHS Office of Inspector General and other regulatory agencies.

Chair:Jason Pinkall
Senior Counsel
Tenet Healthcare Corporation
FAH Staff:Katie Tenoever

Legislative Committee

Since hospitals are one of the most highly regulated industries in the country, the Federation of American Hospitals’ (FAH) Legislative Committee is one of the most active. In developing strategy and advocating FAH’s legislative agenda, committee members are able to lend their health care expertise to Washington and offer sensible, realistic input on legislation. In addition, members work within their companies and hospitals to develop alliances with like-minded associations and other providers. By coordinating constituent contacts and framing our advocacy message, the committee serves as a valuable resource for FAH’s grassroots program.

Chair:Kara Townsend
Director of Policy and Federal Affairs
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
FAH Staff:Char MacDonald
Rebecca Heilig
Ryann Hill

Managed Care Committee

The Managed Care Committee plays an important role in advising the Federation of American Hospitals on a broad set of policy, regulatory and legislative matters related to Medicaid, managed care and delivery system reform.  In Medicaid, the Committee reviews, analyzes and discusses all hospital-related Medicaid issues. The Committee also provides analysis and input on all managed care issues impacting hospitals including those with Medicare Advantage and private market insurance. Finally, the Committee is involved in advising on delivery system reform issues including those models developed and implemented by CMS’s Innovation Center.   

Chair:Carol Han
Vice President, Managed Care
Tenet Health Corporation
FAH Staff:Donald May
Steve Speil
Katie Tenoever

Nominating Committee

The purpose of the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) Nominating Committee is to select a slate of officers and directors for FAH and to review and verify eligibility of the nominees for the Board of Governors.

Chair:David M. Dill
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
Lifepoint Health
FAH Staff:Chip Kahn
Katie Tenoever

Public Relations Committee

The Federation of American Hospitals’ (FAH) advocacy role is supported by its Public Relations Committee, which works closely with other committees to craft the association’s message on legislative, regulatory and industry developments. It also serves as an educational resource for the public and the media focusing on (with regard to) the benefits and contributions FAH member hospitals bring to the communities they serve. Committee members include FAH member company (some of the industry’s) senior public affairs, government relations and communications professionals.

Interim Chair:Rebecca Kirkham
Vice President, Media & Communications
Ardent Health Services
FAH Staff:Adam Broder
Sean Brown
Megan Newman
Hallie Fuchs

Quality Committee

The Quality Committee addresses patient safety and quality-related issues as they impact the nation’s hospitals. Specific duties include guiding Federation of American Hospitals’ participation in the Hospital Quality Alliance, the review of federal quality-related legislation and regulations, as well as the work of The Joint Commission (TJC), the National Quality Forum, the Leapfrog Group, and other quality-related organizations. The committee also works closely with the Legal and Operational Policy Committee on areas of mutual interest and the Health Financing Committee regarding pay for performance initiatives.

Chair:Joanne Hardin, RN, BSN, MBA
VP, Clinical Outcomes
Ardent Health Services
FAH Staff:Tilithia McBride
Donald May
Steve Speil

Rural Hospital Committee

The Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) membership includes nearly 400 rural hospitals and health systems. With nearly one-in-four Medicare beneficiaries living in rural America, FAH’s Rural Committee serves as not only a focal point for rural hospital issues, but also as an educational tool for congressional members and their staffs on rural issues in their communities. Through this committee -and in conjunction with the Legislative, Health Financing and Public Relations Committees – FAH’s rural membership develops and advocates policies to increase the quality of health care delivery in rural America.

Chair:Doug Skrzyniarz
Vice President, Government Relations
Community Health Systems
FAH Staff:Rebecca Heilig
Ryann Hill
Char MacDonald

Emergency Preparedness Task Force

The purpose of the Emergency Preparedness Task Force is to provide expertise to federal policy makers as they consider legislation and/or regulations concerning nuclear, biological, and chemical attacks and natural disasters, including hurricanes and pandemics, by creating an expert body of Federation of American Hospitals member personnel with a range of backgrounds and professional responsibilities.  The Task Force will also provide direction to FAH staff on how the association can be helpful during future preparedness situations affecting its members.

Chair:Michael Wargo, N, BSN, MBA, PHRN, CMTE
Assistant Vice President, Preparedness and Management – Clinical Services Group
HCA Healthcare
FAH Staff:TBD

Federal Tax Task Force

Chair:Lee Grubbs
Vice President Chief Tax Officer
HCA Healthcare, Inc.
FAH Staff:Katie Tenoever

Health Information Technology Task Force

The Health Information Technology Task Force (HIT), which reports to the Quality Committee, identifies and prioritizes key hospital issues in HIT adoption, such as standards, incentives, tax-paying parity and funding.

Chair:Sabrina Wilfred
Director, Regulatory Compliance
Lifepoint Health
FAH Staff:Don May
Katie Tenoever
Tilithia McBride

Pharmacy Task Force

The Pharmacy Task Force assists FAH in developing policy and advocacy efforts on hospital pharmacy issues. The Task Force will help guide FAH policy on issues such as drug shortages, compounding, the FDA drug approval process, pricing, disposal and the DEA’s narcotics regulation. It will also assist in comment on relevant chapters of the U.S. Pharmacopeia. The Task Force will work closely with the Quality Committee on areas of mutual interest.

Chair:TBD
FAH Staff:Donald May