Federation of American Hospitals names new CEO with policy expertise

The Federation of American Hospitals will begin the new year with a new leader.

The federation’s board has chosen Charlene MacDonald to serve as the next president and CEO of the organization, which represents the nation’s for-profit hospitals. She takes on the role Jan. 1.

MacDonald will become just the fourth person to serve as the federation’s CEO since its founding in 1966.

She succeeds Chip Kahn, who announced his plans to retire earlier this year. Kahn has led the organization for more than 24 years.

MacDonald joined the federation in 2023 and has been serving as its executive vice president of public affairs. She has been leading the group’s government affairs and advocacy efforts, and she has also managed the federation’s finance and operations teams.

Now, she will lead the federation at a time when hospitals have been pushing for Washington to do more to support health systems, and as hospitals brace for potentially big changes in how the government pays for hospital services.

“This is a pivotal time for tax-paying hospitals – one that requires strategic partnership with stakeholders across the industry and with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to address today’s complex challenges,” MacDonald said in a statement.

“As President and CEO, I will focus on pragmatic, bipartisan solutions that advance our members’ ability to deliver high-quality, affordable patient care to communities in every part of this country,” she said.

Kahn congratulated MacDonald in a post on LinkedIn and highlighted the strengths she brings to the role.

“Her dedication, policy expertise, and collaborative leadership are exactly what this moment in health policy requires,” Kahn said. ”Char will be an outstanding champion for our members and the millions of patients they serve. I wish her every success and look forward to seeing FAH continue to grow and lead.”

The federation has at times been a vocal critic of federal health policies over the last year, and has implored policymakers to protect Americans’ access to health care.

The group sharply criticized the looming cuts in Medicaid, projected at $1 trillion over the next decade, resulting from the federal tax package known as H.R. 1.

In addition, the group has urged Congress to extend the tax credits supporting the Affordable Care Act. The tax credits appear likely to expire at the end of the year, and analysts say millions will end up going without coverage because they won’t be able to afford higher premiums.

After a measure to extend the tax credit failed to win passage in the Senate last week, MacDonald said, “As we approach the holidays, millions of Americans living paycheck to paycheck face a disastrous choice: take on debt to afford skyrocketing premiums or risk going without coverage entirely. Congress cannot leave their constituents in this bind.”

MacDonald brings significant experience in Capitol Hill. She held policy roles working for the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate. She served in the House for several years, eventually working as senior policy advisor in the House office of the minority whip. She also as a senior policy advisor for the Senate budget committee.

Before joining the federation, MacDonald served as chief government affairs officer at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield. She also held a leadership role at FTI Consulting, where she led the healthcare and life sciences sector.

Marc D. Miller, president and CEO of Universal Health Services and chairman of the federation’s board, said MacDonald is well-equipped to “ advance pragmatic solutions to our most pressing policy challenges and lead the Federation into the future.”

“Charlene brings the right combination of experience, expertise, vision, and commitment to our mission of improving patients’ access to quality healthcare,” Miller said in a statement.

The federation represents more than 1,000 taxpaying hospitals and health systems nationwide, accounting for nearly 20% of America’s hospitals. The federation’s members operate hospitals in 46 states, along with Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico.

Other national hospital trade groups have announced changes in leadership.

Rick Pollack, who has served as president and CEO of the American Hospital Association since 2015, plans to retire by the end of 2026. The hospital association made the announcement last week.

Jennifer DeCubellis took over as president and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals a little more than two months ago.