Taking the Pulse, A Health Care and Life Sciences Video Podcast | Episode 187: South Carolina Hospitals and Healthcare Industry Trends with Thornton Kirby, SCHA President
Among the many sweeping changes to the Medicaid program included in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (“OBBBA”), Congress established new statutory caps on state-directed payments (“SDPs”) in Medicaid managed care. SDPs have...more
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (P.L.119-21) (the “OBBB”) passed by slim margins in the U.S. Senate (51-50) and U.S. House (218-214) and was signed into law by President Trump on July 4, 2025....more
Within the first six months of President Trump’s second term, his Administration and the GOP have already implemented significant policies that are reshaping health care in the United States. Through his Administration’s...more
On the afternoon of July 4, President Trump signed into law H.R. 1, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act – comprehensive budget reconciliation legislation that represents the core of President’s second-term domestic agenda and...more
On February 25, House Republicans narrowly passed a budget resolution that requires the House Energy and Commerce Committee to find $880 billion in spending cuts over the next 10 years. Budget realities—including the fact...more
As budget negotiations heat up in Washington, Medicaid has emerged as a key target for cost-cutting measures. With policymakers looking to trim federal spending while maintaining commitments to Social Security and Medicare,...more
For episode 187, Heather and Matthew welcome back a favorite recurring guest of the show, Thornton Kirby, President of the South Carolina Hospital Association. Thornton shares exciting updates on recent SCHA initiatives,...more
“From thirty feet away she looked like a lot of class. From ten feet away she looked like something made up to be seen from thirty feet away.” – Raymond Chandler, The High Window That’s typically true of legislation that...more
In a new form of outreach from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the U.S. Department of Treasury, and the U.S. Department of Labor, a letter was issued to employers, plan sponsors, and insurance issuers (the...more
The House this week passed the health care bill that would expand Medicaid coverage and legislators considered other bills on a variety of topics. Medicaid Expansion - The House on Thursday voted by an 87-24 margin to...more
On March 23, 2023, the North Carolina General Assembly passed legislation that would expand Medicaid for an estimated 600,000 North Carolinians who currently lack health care coverage but do not actively qualify for Medicaid....more
KTS Strategies brings years of experience providing clients in a diverse range of industries with comprehensive policy and advocacy advice before federal, state, and local agencies. In North Carolina, we advise local...more
On September 7, 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a proposed rule in the Federal Register to reduce red tape and make it easier for individuals to enroll and retain eligibility in Medicaid, the...more
Welcome trends in health care put bad news in perspective We've had plenty of gloom-and-doom news about health care lately, but as we near the year-end holidays that focus on giving thanks, let's look at some positive...more
A scandal of the U.S. health system may be far worse than imagined, with the medical debt sold to collection agencies alone amounting to a staggering $140 billion. The $140 billion estimate came from researchers who...more
On June 24, 2020, House Democrats proposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Enhancement Act (H.R. 1425) (the “Proposed Act”), legislation aimed at reinforcing the Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”) by: (i) lowering...more
In 2012, the U.S. Supreme Court in NFIB v. Sebelius struck down a provision in the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (the “ACA”) which, for all intents and purposes, made the expansion of the Medicaid program...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Office for Civil Rights (OCR), the Office of the Inspector General (OIG), and other Federal and State agencies and...more
With crisis comes uncertainty, and even the best-intentioned regulations can leave those combating the current COVID-19 public-health emergency out in the cold. Many have asked whether the recent Declaration under the...more
In light of findings from the COVID-19 outbreak at a nursing home in Kirkland, Washington, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that it will suspend all routine facility inspections and surveys...more
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released a State Medicaid Director (SMD) letter and fact sheet on Jan. 30, 2020, that encouraged states to pursue block grant or per capita cap funding through their Medicaid...more
January 30th, 2020 marked a dramatic change in Medicaid funding, as the Trump Administration and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (“CMS”) showcased a plan, called the “Healthy Adult Opportunity,” that would permit...more
Outlook for This Week in the Nation’s Capital - Budget Release. The President is scheduled to release his Fiscal Year (FY) 21 budget request today. The bipartisan budget agreement passed earlier this year set the FY 21...more
On January 30, 2020, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued its long awaited and highly anticipated State Medicaid Director Letter (SMD Letter) announcing the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” (HAO) initiative...more
UPDATED: It’s out! The much anticipated guidance, entitled the “Healthy Adult Opportunity” (HAO), from CMS introducing ways to revamp Medicaid financing has been out for nearly a week and we have had some time to review the...more