The American Hospital Association, an influential lobby that advocates on behalf of U.S. provider organizations, has named its new CEO six months after longtime leader Rick Pollack announced his retirement.
Steve Walsh, the CEO of advocacy group the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association, will assume the top job at the AHA in the fall, the lobby announced Tuesday.
Previously, Walsh served six terms in the Massachusetts House of Representatives, including as chair of the House Committee on Health Care Financing.
Walsh’s appointment was unanimously approved by the AHA’s board of trustees following a national search for Pollack’s replacement, according to a Tuesday press release.
“Steve is a proven healthcare leader, innovator and accomplished advocate for healthcare improvement, who understands both the challenges facing hospitals and the opportunities ahead,” said Dr. Marc Boom, chair of the AHA board of trustees, in a statement.
The AHA, which represents nearly 5,000 hospitals, health systems, networks and other providers, has worked to lobby Washington as the Trump administration unveils a slew of federal healthcare policy changes. Last year, the AHA spent nearly $32 million on lobbying, according to government data, the highest amount since 1998.
