Rich Daly
About the Author
Rich Daly is senior editor, policy affairs with HFMA, based in Alabama. His healthcare policy and finance reporting experience includes staff writer positions with Modern Healthcare and Congressional Quarterly (both focused on healthcare regulatory and legislative developments); editor-in-chief of 340B Report (the only news outlet focused on daily policy, legal, and business developments in the 340B program); and serving as a content director for Sg2/Vizient Inc (producing reports on financial pain points and solutions for health systems). He previously covered daily news for HFMA and wrote features for Healthcare Financial Management magazine, where his recognitions included the Stephen Barr Award (the only individual achievement award) from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
Latest Work
Hospital ED volumes hike 40% since 2020, according to Moody’s report
Hospital emergency department volumes have increased 40% since 2020, driven by an increasingly sick population seeking high-acuity care in one convenient location.
Medicaid taxes target of coming regulations
The White House is reviewing a proposed rule to change Medicaid taxes, potentially cutting federal spending by $48 billion to $630 billion over 10 years, and could impact the funding for state-directed payments (SDPs) and designated state health programs (DSHPs).
More rural hospitals adopt critical access status to boost finances
Rural hospitals are converting to critical access hospital status to reduce their inpatient beds and become eligible for the 340B discount drug program, which is helping some facilities improve their financial operations.
Congressional Republicans signal on Medicaid cuts
Twelve Republican House moderates have expressed support for Medicaid and "cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations," while other Republicans have signaled openness to Medicaid cuts, including work requirements and Medicaid eligibility changes.
Avalere analysis shows mixed results for federal value-based payment models
Avalere analysis found that 18 value-based payment models implemented by the CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) drove a net increase of $7.7 billion in federal spending, with some models yielding substantial net Medicare savings while others generated substantial net Medicare losses.
Four financial challenges EDs face
Flat-to-declining payment rates, increasing Medicaid volumes, downcoding by payers, and increasing costs from waits and boarding have combined to increase financial challenges for hospital emergency departments in recent years.
Medicaid underpayments increasingly drive community benefits for nonprofit hospitals
Medicaid underpayments have increased from 32% to 45% of community benefits reported by nonprofit hospitals from 2011 to 2021, while financial assistance, or charity care, has decreased from 23% to 14% over the same period.
2025-2026 healthcare policies timeline
The Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress have launched a flurry of healthcare initiatives and proposals since their first days. To help readers keep track of the wave of initiatives, below is a timeline of federal actions and our related coverage. All dates below are for 2025, unless marked “2026.” Executive Actions Aug. 25: Healthcare…
Idaho is fourth state to require financial data from 340B entities
Idaho has enacted legislation requiring 340B covered entities to report a range of financial information to the state, joining three other states with similar laws and five other states considering similar requirements in the current legislative session.
For-profit health systems turn to AI and automation to manage payer denials
Some for-profit health systems are increasingly looking to AI and other automation tools to tackle the worsening problem of payer denial management, as 73% of providers have seen claims denials increase.