2026 Legislative and Policy Update

As president of the Healthcare Association of New York State, Bea Grause is a passionate advocate for New York nonprofit and public hospitals, nursing homes, home care agencies and other healthcare organizations. She also oversees HANYS’ nationally-engaged for-profit business services. Since her tenure began in 2016, she has contributed her extensive clinical, political and legal know-how to the organization’s agenda, most recently helping guide the response to the COVID-19 pandemic by healthcare providers and state and federal policymakers. Throughout the tremendous challenges of the pandemic, Bea Grause’s leadership ensured that New York’s hospitals and health systems have had resources, flexibility and government support needed to preserve care in communities across the state. Grause continues to advocate on behalf of New York’s hospitals and health systems as they face severe and escalating fiscal and workforce crises post-pandemic. Prior to HANYS, Grause served as president and CEO of the Vermont Association of Hospitals and Health Systems for 14 years, successfully leading Vermont hospitals through a variety of reform initiatives, including the state’s single-payer debate, and building the hospitals’ brand as trusted, competent leaders. Grause spent 10 years in Washington, D.C., in a variety of positions. She began as a legislative assistant, first in the office of Rep. Norman Y. Mineta and then for Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy II. After she left Capitol Hill, Grause simultaneously held senior governmental affairs positions with the Tennessee Hospital Association and Massachusetts Hospital Association. She spent three years working as counsel with the law firm of Foley, Hoag. In this role, she developed tailored legislative and regulatory strategies for many healthcare clients. Grause previously worked as a registered nurse, primarily in the emergency room and intensive care areas at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center of California. She completed a three-year term (2012 to 2015) as an at-large member of the American Hospital Association board of trustees, including a 2015 term on the AHA Executive and AHA CEO Search Committees. As part of her AHA board responsibilities, she also served as chairman of the AHA Allied Advisory Committee on Medicaid. Grause earned her Juris Doctorate in 1991. She earned a Bachelor of Science in nursing from Boston College and is a Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives.