Priorities Include Workforce, Access to Quality Affordable Care, and Health Equity
(Dover, DE – February 27, 2025) – As states brace for the potential fallout from federal health policies, the Delaware Healthcare Association on Thursday outlined its 2025 state advocacy agenda to provide a blueprint for healthcare sustainability.
The ‘First in Health’ agenda calls for policies to strengthen the First State’s healthcare workforce; ensure healthcare access, quality, and affordability; and advance health equity. The Delaware Healthcare Association, or DHA, represents Delaware’s hospitals, health systems, and healthcare related organizations.
“Advancing high-quality, accessible, and affordable healthcare for all Delawareans has never been more important. We are at an inflection point on the national and state levels, and DHA is ready to advocate so that the First State is a model nationally for healthcare,” said Brian Frazee, President & CEO of the Delaware Healthcare Association. “We look forward to working collaboratively with Governor Meyer and his administration, Lt. Governor Gay, the Delaware General Assembly, and partners across the healthcare continuum and beyond to advance these goals.”
This week, lawmakers on the state’s budget-writing Joint Finance Committee conducted hearings for Delaware’s health department, where workforce, affordability, access, and equity needs were all highlighted. DHA’s public testimony highlighted potential federal Medicaid cuts and their impact to more than 200,000 Delawareans. Our state’s specific health challenges make these likely cuts even more dire.
Delaware’s rapidly aging and growing population – 6th oldest and 8th fastest growing – increases demands on the state’s healthcare infrastructure while at the same time, Delaware faces a healthcare workforce shortage. Delaware also has higher rates of chronic disease and health conditions than other states that contribute to higher healthcare costs: Delaware has the 8th highest rates of adult obesity, the 9th highest rates of diabetes, and the 15th highest cancer incidence.
DHA’s state advocacy agenda seeks to address some of Delaware’s most urgent healthcare challenges.
Some of DHA’s key state priorities are:
- Create a healthcare workforce shortage scholarship program and new incentives for clinical preceptors.
- In lieu of HB 350, the Diamond State Hospital Cost Review Board, work collaboratively on solutions to Delaware’s health challenges that would yield better affordability and health outcomes.
- Advocate for prior authorization reform legislation along with the Medical Society of Delaware to streamline and improve care for patients and relieve providers of excessive paperwork.
- Advocate for adequate reimbursement for primary care, behavioral health, and other preventative care that improves community health and reduces utilization.
- Advocate for health insurance coverage for the uninsured, underinsured and most vulnerable, including preventative coverage for prenatal care and dialysis care.
“Hospitals will be needed to step in to bridge the gap and provide needed care and support for our communities with looming federal funding cuts. While these demands increase, we are also facing uncertainty at the state level with the harmful HB 350 Hospital Board law,” Frazee continued. “We know HB 350 is not the best approach for Delaware, but we can still get it right. DHA is asking policymakers and stakeholders to join with us to improve health outcomes, affordability, access, and equity. We have a chance to lead the nation and work together on real solutions to make the First State first in health.”
Please see DHA’s State Advocacy Agenda here.
About the Delaware Healthcare Association
The Delaware Healthcare Association (DHA) was formed in 1967 and is a statewide trade and membership services organization that represents and serves hospitals, health systems, and related healthcare organizations in their role of providing a continuum of appropriate, cost-effective, quality care to improve the health of the people of Delaware. DHA’s mission is to provide policy and advocacy leadership in creating an excellent environment to support our members in helping every Delawarean to be as healthy as they can be.