As House and Senate Democratic leaders begin work on merging the chambers' health reform bills, the AHA today offered lawmakers its recommendations on what should be included in the final bill. They include expanding health coverage to at least 96% of legal U.S. residents; extending Medicaid eligibility to families at 133% of poverty rather than 150%; minimizing hospitals' Medicare market basket reductions in fiscal years 2010 through 2013 unless coverage is extended during that period; opposing any advisory board that could make binding recommendations on Medicare payments; and developing accountable care organizations that offer hospitals a leadership role. These and other concerns are outlined in the 27-page letter, which can be found at www.aha.org.