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
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
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
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
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
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
In an unexpectedly broad ruling issued December 14, 2018, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas declared the Affordable Care Act (“ACA”) as unconstitutional in its entirety. This decision, if ultimately...more
In a bipartisan effort to combat the opioid crisis, H.R. 6, the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment (SUPPORT) for Patients and Communities Act (the Act), was enacted on October 24,...more
Tuesday’s midterm elections showed that healthcare is now a top issue among voters, according to exit polls. In an NBC News poll, healthcare was the top issue for a plurality of voters, ahead of the economy, immigration, and...more
Healthcare was a top voter priority in the 2018 midterm elections, with 41 percent of national voters stating that healthcare was their "most important" issue. Accordingly, the Democratic strategy to focus on healthcare...more
Q: Mr. Crumpton can you describe briefly your background and the business of Caswell Family Medical Center? A: Our organization, Caswell Family Medical Center (CFMC), is a federally qualified health center (FQHC). FQHCs...more
Congress passed a funding bill early this morning just after the February 8th deadline. The new legislation will make several changes to the Medicare program, delay cuts to disproportionate share hospitals, provide two years...more
Uncertainty and pressures continue to mount for healthcare providers, creating a new operating environment – Uncertainty around Medicaid and other programs, the shift to value-based care, margin pressures, the need to search...more
Congress’s official budget scorekeepers this week will release analysis of the House-approved bill repealing most of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), and that data will inform Senate Republicans on a path for passing their...more
Republican leaders on Capitol Hill face growing cross pressures from different factions of GOP lawmakers over their emerging legislation to replace the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Conservatives in the House and Senate...more
President-elect Donald Trump announced on November 28, 2016, that current House Budget Chair Representative Tom Price is his choice for Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary. Many providers are wondering what health care...more
This Week: FDA Begins Device User Fee Talks with Patients and Consumers Sept. 15... CMS Extends Partial Enforcement Delay of Two-Midnight Policy Through 2015... Alaska Legislature Sues Governor Over Medicaid Expansion....more
ACA Repeal Votes Continue: As part of a rare Senate Sunday session to consider a bill to replenish the highway trust fund for six years, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) brought up an amendment to repeal the ACA—in...more