There's a quiet shift happening in hospital finance, and if your team hasn't felt it yet, you likely will soon. The recent Supreme Court decision in Advocate Christ Medical Center v. Kennedy didn't make national headlines, but the implications are real and immediate for hospitals that rely on DSH support. The Court ruled that only [...]
You've probably felt the financial squeeze lately if you work in hospital administration or revenue cycle management. Between looming cuts to the 340B Drug Pricing Program and reductions in Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital (DSH) payments, it's getting harder to make the numbers work, primarily if your hospital serves many uninsured or underinsured patients. But here's [...]
On April 10, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a sweeping update that could significantly impact how states and providers leverage federal Medicaid dollars. CMS announced it will no longer approve or extend funding for Designated State Health Programs (DSHPs) and Designated State Investment Programs (DSIPs), two financing mechanisms that have [...]
HHS Budget Cuts and Their Potential Effects on Hospitals Potential Implications for Healthcare Access and Financial Stability Overview of HHS Budget Cuts The recently proposed fiscal year 2025 budget reductions to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) present a serious concern for hospitals and the communities they serve. With an overall $7.5 billion [...]
Chronic Underfunding: SSA's administrative budget has decreased by 19% since 2010 (adjusted for inflation), while the number of beneficiaries has grown by 25%. This funding gap has led to understaffing and reduced resources for processing claims. Staffing Shortages: High turnover rates, retirements, and insufficient hiring have left SSA and state-level Disability Determination Services (DDS) [...]
