Current News

May 2013

If you have a media query, please email Fred Caesar, CHA's liaison to the media.

Health Progress Special Section: Bringing Vets Home
For veterans, homecoming can be a bittersweet experience, writes Sr. Rosemary Donley, in her introduction to the May-June 2013 issue of Health Progress, devoted to the needs of U.S. veterans. Evidence is mounting that today's veterans have numerous, critical needs — and that Catholic health care providers, along with civilians generally, have many resources for helping them to readjust and heal. Sr. Donley holds the Jacques Laval Endowed Chair in Justice for Vulnerable Populations at the Duquesne University School of Nursing. Review the topics covered in this special section at here.

Toward a Safer America
There is no one solution to the gun violence challenge, but there are many steps we can take together. There are ways each of us can contribute to making our world a safer and more peaceful one. In this spirit, the Catholic Health Association has joined Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, an interfaith coalition to encourage meaningful action. For more, read Sr. Carol Keehan, the association's president and chief executive officer, wrote a column for the February 1 issue of Catholic Health World and the news release, "Catholic Health Association & Interfaith Coalition to Lawmakers: Address Gun Violence Now."

Catholic Health Systems Steer the New Course
Health care systems have new marching orders under health care reform. To determine how Catholic health leaders are preparing for this new future, Health Progress interviewed executives at four Catholic systems. Read the article from the January-February 2013 issue here (.pdf).

The Catholic Health Association and Health Reform
CHA is working to ensure that regulations implementing the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act respect the dignity of all people from conception to natural death and that health reform legislation will be broadened in the future to benefit immigrants and all those on the margins of society, states Sr. Carol Keehan, DC, the association's president and chief executive officer. For additional background, read CHA resource, "Realizing Our Vision for U.S. Health Care" (.pdf). Also, read in February 1 Catholic Health World article "CHA enlists in Enroll America to expand health insurance coverage" and from the March-April 2013 issue of Health Progress a column by Sr. Carol Keehan, "New Benefits Ahead — People Need to Know."

Medicaid – A Moral Matter
In the current political climate, much of the conversation about health reform and Medicaid is focused on economics and policy. But Catholic health care's mission calls for a different focus: the people whose health depends on getting the care they need. Read the article, "Medicaid – A Moral Matter" in the November-December 2012 issue of Health Progress.

Equity of Care
CHA has partnered with four national organizations in a "call to action" aimed at eliminating health care disparities. Additional information and resources about the Equity of Care initiative, promoting diversity and reducing health disparities is available at the Equity of Care website and on the CHA website.

The Catholic Health Association and Conscience Protections
CHA has long supported language within appropriations legislation to prohibit federal funding of abortions (Hyde amendment) and language to protect hospitals and other institutional and individual health care providers should they decline to provide, pay for, or refer for abortions (Weldon amendment). The association believes that "continuing to retain these protections in current law represents good public policy."

The Catholic Health Association Advocacy Communications
The Catholic Health Association is committed to work for a health care system that provides accessible and affordable health care for all. We have taken a leadership role on issues of particular importance to the Catholic health ministry, as outlined by members of the ministry working together with CHA's advocacy and public policy staff. Please use this link to view recent advocacy communications sent the U.S. Congress.

The Church, Social Justice and the Health Care Ministry
Understanding the link between Catholic ecclesiology and social teaching are fundamental to understanding the appropriate relationship between employees and management within Catholic health care, including questions pertaining to unionization. Read "A CHA White Paper: The Church, Social Justice and the Health Care Ministry" in the January-February 2012 issue of Health Progress.

New Readmission Laws: Catholic Providers are Positioned to Lead
Mission-oriented Catholic systems that offer a continuum of care are poised to take an industry lead in reducing readmissions by building collaborations within their organizations or partnering with other senior service providers. Read "New Readmission Laws: Catholic Providers are Positioned to Lead" in the September-October 2012 issue of Health Progress.

Catholic Health Care and Community Benefits
Community benefits are programs and services designed to improve health in communities and increase access to health care. They are integral to the mission of Catholic and other not-for-profit health care organizations, and are the basis of tax exemption. For nearly 20 years, CHA has been a leader in the community benefit field, helping not-for-profit health care organizations fulfill their community benefit mission. To learn more visit the resource rich community benefit area of the CHA website. For additional background, review the January-February 2012 issue of Health Progress the article "Assessing, Addressing Community Health Needs: Steeped in Catholic Identity and History."

Environmental Responsibility
The Catholic health ministry serves communities by healing the sick, serving the poor and vulnerable and leading by example. Through the strength of more than 2000 Catholic health care sponsors, systems, facilities and related organizations, the Catholic health ministry has the power and responsibility to make health care more environmentally safe for our patients, employees, communities and planet. For more information, please review the "Environmental Responsibility" area of this website.

Facts About the Catholic Health Ministry
Did you know that the Catholic health ministry represents the largest not-for-profit provider of health care services in the nation? In fact, one in six people in the United States who are admitted to a hospital each year receive care in a Catholic acute care facility. For more information about the Catholic health ministry, please check out the updated Fast Facts section on this website and download for your ready reference the "Catholic Health Care in the United States" (January 2013) overview document (.pdf).

To review timely news releases from Catholic health systems and facilities see CHA's News Release Digest.

To learn more about the association, please download an overview document describing the Catholic Health Association (.pdf).