June 04, 2010 01:23am EST 

The Idaho Hospital Association was founded in 1933 as a statewide, nonprofit trade association to bring hospital/health care leaders together to identify and address issues of mutual concern in a responsible manner. Doing so ensures quality health care for all of those that the IHA serves throughout the state of Idaho. The IHA’s primary focus is on state and federal government relations and advocacy efforts on behalf of our members. They also provide other valuable membership services such as consultation on matters such as physician relations and hospital law, group unemployment compensation program, quality and patient safety, workforce development, education programs, data collection and interpretation, and other member services. Their advocacy involves working diligently with Idaho’s Congressional Delegation, the American Hospital Association, the Idaho Legislature, and other health care associations to influence health care related issues on behalf of their members.
The IHA works with hospital and health care leaders to ensure the highest quality, affordable, and accessible healthcare. In their advocacy, it is important to prevent or modify improper legislation and unreasonable regulation, as well as support appropriate laws. The united voice of the IHA members is heard on a national level, as well, by way of American Hospital Association regional policy board and various council and committee representatives from the state. Key efforts of their advocacy include state legislative and governmental agency input from the Association, federal legislative and agency input in cooperation with AHA, Political Action Committee involvement via IHA/PAC, and Liaison with allied health associations.

You can find out more about the IHA’s advocacy efforts by visiting their website.