The Healthcare Anchor Network’s (HAN) Policy Day 2026 involves hospitals and health systems addressing health-related social needs by supporting and investing in strategies that create strong local economies, especially the need for affordable and healthy housing and strong workforce development programs.
HAN is a growing national collaboration of over 70 leading healthcare systems committed to aligning nationwide around a common vision for promoting economic inclusion and supporting local economies to create healthy, thriving communities.
The Policy Briefing is from 9:30 AM-11:00 AM ET. Some HAN member systems will be conducting Congressional Meetings from 11:00 AM-5:00 PM ET
Save the Date and Register Now!
April 22, 2026
9:30 AM (ET)
Washington, DC & Virtual
About This Event
The Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN), a national collaboration of 70+ health systems, will be holding our 8th annual HAN Policy Day on April 22, 2026 in person in Washington, DC and virtually.
HAN is advocating for federal housing and workforce development programs to help create the healthy community conditions needed to keep people well, including after they return home from the hospital.
● Positive health outcomes depend on key supports like stable places to live and job training and placement programs.
● Hospitals can reduce spending when they connect people to services that address the non-medical drivers of health.
● Healthcare reimbursement policies and SDOH screening and referrals are impacting hospitals—so we need to ensure social programs are available and supporting under-resourced communities.
HAN’s anchor mission framework includes focusing at the systems level such as policy advocacy to address anchor mission aligned issues. This is a year of uncertainties at the federal level but working together we will protect and advance meaningful solutions to the nation’s immense shortage of affordable homes and lack of skills training for good jobs, issues which already have strong bipartisan support, as well as protect vital health and human services programs.
Meeting Objectives
Our goal is to continue to educate policymakers and their staff on the need to address upstream determinants by investing in strategies that create inclusive and sustainable local economies. HAN focuses on the importance of federal funding and support for 1) stable, affordable and healthy housing and 2) inclusive, local hiring and workforce development.
Elevate our role as locally rooted institutions committed to our communities’ long-term well-being, the importance of well-paid and family sustaining jobs, the role of affordable housing and community development organizations as essential partners, and the need for an effective federal partner in solving these challenges.
Demonstrate the Healthcare Anchor Network’s collective voice, our potential for future collaboration on a shared policy agenda, and the value to HAN members of effective federal policy for the common good.
Who Should Participate
Staff familiar with health systems’ affordable housing activities (such as community health and community benefits staff); staff familiar with health systems’ inclusive, impact workforce strategies; policy directors, government relations, and other advocacy stakeholders from Healthcare Anchor Network members.
Closely aligned local partners from the fields of housing, community development, and workforce training and development who are accompanying HAN health systems.
Additional Background
Our health systems are critical local economic engines and mission-driven organizations inextricably linked to the long-term well-being of those we serve—and as such, we as healthcare leaders, are uniquely positioned and incentivized to play an active role in building and advocating for strategies that create engaged, connected, and economically strong communities. We believe the Healthcare Anchor Network—a health system-led collaboration of 70+ health systems representing more than 1200 U.S. hospitals—is a critical platform that will help us realize the healing mission of our organizations in the 21st century.
| WHEN | April 22, 2026, 9:30 AM (ET) |
| WHERE | Rayburn House Office Bldg, 45 Independence Ave, SW, Room 2045 Washington, DC and Online |
| CONTACT | Sandra Contreras, Manager Communications and Policy |
The Healthcare Anchor Network’s (HAN) Policy Day 2026 involves hospitals and health systems addressing health-related social needs by supporting and investing in strategies that create strong local economies, especially the need for affordable and healthy housing and strong workforce development programs.
April 22, 2026
- 9:30 AM Welcome from HAN President David Zuckerman
- 9:40 AM Congressional Policy Briefing
- Congressional Members Share Affordable Housing and Workforce Development Priorities
- 10:00 AM
- National Advocates Discuss Affordable Housing and Workforce Development Priorities
- Health Systems Present on Affordable Housing and Workforce Development Activities
- 11:00 AM Discuss Strategies, Talking Points, and Event Logistics (for those conducting Congressional Visits)
- 1:00 – 5:00 PM Congressional Meetings (In-person or via Zoom meetings)
Rayburn House Office Building, Washington DC and Online
| WHEN | April 22, 2026, 9:30 AM (ET) |
| WHERE | Rayburn House Office Building, 45 Independence Ave, SW, Room 2045, Washington, DC and Virtual |
| CONTACT | Sandra Contreras, Manager, Communications and Policy |
