Dive Temporary:
- The Federation of American Hospitals has tapped Charlene MacDonald as its subsequent CEO, the for-profit hospital affiliation mentioned Tuesday.
- MacDonald is succeeding Chip Kahn, who introduced his retirement earlier this yr. Kahn is stepping down after virtually 25 years on the helm of the FAH.
- MacDonald beforehand led the FAH’s lobbying, public affairs and communications efforts, and oversaw its finance and operations groups. She’ll begin as CEO on Jan. 1.
Dive Perception:
FAH, an influential foyer on Capitol Hill, has been ramping up its advocacy efforts this yr amid a flurry of well being coverage modifications in Congress, many unfriendly to hospitals.
FAH spent virtually $2.9 million on advocacy within the first 9 months of 2025, in comparison with virtually $2.4 million in all of final yr, in line with federal disclosures.
Nonetheless, these efforts have proved largely fruitless. The Republican-controlled Congress pushed by way of steep cuts to Medicaid within the tax and coverage megabill handed this summer season, and appear set to let extra beneficiant subsidies for Reasonably priced Care Act plans to run out. Slashing federal insurance coverage packages will increase the variety of the uninsured, which has unhealthy downstream results on hospitals provided that additionally will increase the quantity of care they supply that they by no means receives a commission for.
U.S. suppliers are set to lose roughly $770 billion in income over the subsequent decade from the GOP’s “Massive Lovely Invoice,” whereas hospitals and medical doctors might lose $32 billion in income subsequent yr from the expiration of the ACA subsidies alone, in line with estimates from the City Institute.
“It is a pivotal time for tax-paying hospitals — one which requires strategic partnership with stakeholders throughout the business and with lawmakers on either side of the aisle,” MacDonald mentioned in a press release.
Charlene MacDonald, incoming CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals.
Permission granted by Federation of American Hospitals
MacDonald mentioned she plans to deal with “pragmatic, bipartisan options” to assist the FAH’s hospital members.
Previous to becoming a member of the FAH in 2023, MacDonald led public coverage and authorities affairs for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a Blues licensee protecting about 3 million folks within the Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. space.
Beforehand, MacDonald helmed healthcare and life sciences within the strategic communications section of advisory agency FTI Consulting, and spent almost a decade in coverage positions within the Senate and Home of Representatives — together with as senior coverage advisory to Home Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, D-Md.
