Latest news with #AHCA
Politico
7 days ago
- Business
- Politico
Newly released records linked to Hope Florida reignite intra-GOP political battle
The Florida settlement stems from an Ohio lawsuit alleging Centene's former pharmacy benefit manager pocketed tens of millions in drug rebates meant to benefit the state's Medicaid program. Centene subsequently established a $1.2 billion trust fund to settle similar claims filed by several other states. 'I am hopeful this will help the folks in the governor's office gain a better understanding of the fact that FL is receiving 3.4 times more than the most aggressive actual damages calculation,' Mississippi lawyer Matthew C. McDonald wrote to Tallahassee lobbyist Crystal Stickle, as detailed in the records. 'As we have discussed on multiple occasions, pursuing litigation in FL based on the conduct alleged in Ohio would result in the state recovering far less than is being offered as part of this settlement.' The records also detail the roles played by several key officials who took part in putting the settlement together. They include emails from Chief Deputy Attorney General John Guard, who is still awaiting Senate confirmation after being nominated by President Donald Trump in late May to become a federal judge. Guard signed off on the finalized settlement in September after he removed the attorney general's office as the designated recipient of the settlement funds because they involve Medicaid. Guard determined the funds should instead be managed by the state Agency for Health Care Administration, which regulates most of the state's Medicaid program and is funded by $34.6 billion in federal and state dollars. Guard, who previously prosecuted cases on behalf of the attorney general's Medicaid Loss Control Unit, also said the settlement was different from others involving Medicaid funding. 'Normally, the federal share is explicitly detailed in the settlement agreement, and I am not sure AHCA wants us to get the remainder of the money,' Guard wrote in a Sept. 13 email to Andrew Sheeran, the top legal advisor at AHCA. 'If it is just going to the Legislature and [general revenue], I can probably make it work, but I believe this is different than I have seen in a settlement with Medicaid monies.' When Jeremy Redfern, spokesperson for the attorney general's office, was asked if Guard would offer comment, he said the records spoke for themselves. Uthmeier, who only met with Centene about the settlement when he was chief of staff for Ron DeSantis, appears to have had minimal involvement based on the records. Uthmeier was appointed by DeSantis in February to replace former Attorney General Ashley Moody after she was appointed to the Senate. He is now gearing up for a race to keep his position in next year's elections. Meanwhile, Casey DeSantis has been considering a run for Florida governor and has yet to make a decision. The controversy and outrage among state lawmakers over Hope Florida's $10 million donation throughout this year's legislative session led them to strip funding for the program in this year's state budget. The state Senate also failed to confirm Children and Families Secretary Taylor Hatch and AHCA Secretary Shevaun Harris due to concerns about the program. But most of the fury died down by the time Ron DeSantis signed this year's budget at the end of June.
Yahoo
03-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Unpacking claims nursing homes say they will 'close their doors' if GOP passes budget bill
A June 2025 survey by the American Health Care Association (AHCA) found that 27% of nursing home providers said they would have to close facilities if Medicaid funding was reduced in the 2025 congressional budget bill One Big Beautiful Bill Act. However, the survey represented responses from 363 nursing home providers about hypothetical actions they would take, not confirmed closure plans. The survey was conducted by a trade association representing nursing home interests, to highlight industry concerns about proposed federal Medicaid cuts. House Republicans have proposed approximately $880 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade in the bill, while the Senate passed its own version with a projected $930 billion Medicaid reductions. In late June 2025, after U.S. House Republicans passed (archived) budget legislation proposing cuts to Medicaid, social media posts spread claiming that many nursing homes would be forced to close if the legislation advanced. For example, on June 28, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D‑Mass., wrote (archived) on Facebook: " BREAKING: 1 in 4 nursing homes say they will be forced to close if Republicans pass Trump's Big Beautiful Bill. No grandma should be kicked out of her nursing home so that Mark Zuckerberg can buy another Hawaiian island." (Sen. Elizabath Warren/Facebook) The post had received more than 140,000 reactions and 8,200 shares as of this writing. Similar claims appeared on Facebook (archived) from Social Security Works, an American political advocacy group that calls for expansion of Social Security, as well as on X (archived) from Jesse Ferguson, former deputy press secretary for Hillary Clinton's 2016 campaign. The posts referenced survey data from the American Health Care Association (AHCA), a nursing home industry trade group. According to the organization's June 2025 "Provider Insights: Medicaid" survey of 363 nursing home providers, 27% indicated they would "close facility(ies)" if the federal government reduced Medicaid funding under the bill. The survey asked: "If the federal government reduces Medicaid funding, what changes would your facility(ies) have to make?" Respondents could select multiple options. Beyond the 27% who said they would close facilities, 55% said they would reduce their Medicaid census (lowering the number or percentage of residents whose care is paid for by Medicaid), 58% said they would reduce current staff, and 77% said they would defer modernization efforts. Snopes attempted to contact AHCA for additional details about the survey methodology and respondent characteristics. We have not yet received a response as of publication. The AHCA survey provides context for why nursing home operators have expressed concern about potential Medicaid cuts. According to the survey, 80% of nursing homes were operating at a loss or with narrow profit margins of 3% or less. Specifically, 30% reported operating at a loss, while 50% reported operating with total margins between 0-3%. Medicaid serves as the primary revenue source for nursing homes, accounting for 59% of their income on average, according to the survey. However, 62% of providers report that Medicaid reimburses less than 80% of their actual costs of care, with 24% saying Medicaid covers less than 60% of costs. The survey found that 79% of nursing home providers were "extremely concerned" about potential Medicaid reductions, with an additional 13% "moderately concerned." Meanwhile, a June 2025 analysis by Brown University School of Public Health researchers Vincent Mor and Fangli Geng commissioned by Senate Democrats identified 579 nursing homes nationwide at high risk for closure. According to the study, these facilities represent approximately 4% of all U.S. nursing homes and met three criteria: over 85% of patients on Medicaid, occupancy rates below 80%, and quality ratings of 1-2 stars on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Five-Star Quality Rating System. The facilities were distributed across 45 states, with Illinois having 93 high-risk facilities, Texas 66, Ohio 41, Missouri 39, and Georgia 37. Regarding potential impacts of Medicaid cuts, the researchers wrote: It is difficult to say for sure, but a payment freeze lasting more than a year could nearly double the closure rate. People tend to enter nursing homes that are close to their homes or near where their families live, so closures often result in greater travel for residents and their families. In many communities, nursing homes are a major employer of low-skilled workers, particularly in rural and exurban areas. When they close, those in the community have to look further afield for employment, and in rural areas, discharged workers may need to relocate. The Brown analysis focused on facilities currently meeting specific risk indicators, while the AHCA survey asked nursing home operators about their anticipated responses to hypothetical funding reductions. The researchers noted that facilities with high Medicaid populations would be "differentially adversely affected" by payment freezes since they have limited non-Medicaid revenue sources. On May 22, 2025, House Republicans passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a budget reconciliation package that includes major changes to Medicaid. According to the Congressional Budget Office, baseline federal Medicaid outlays were projected to total $8.2 trillion over the next 10 years. Independent analyses, including those by the Kaiser Family Foundation (archived) and State Health and Value Strategies, estimated that the House legislation would reduce Medicaid spending by approximately $880 billion over that period. The Senate approved its version, with deeper projected reductions of around $930 billion, on July 1, 2025. As of this writing, the legislation was back in the House, which must decide whether to adopt the Senate-passed version or negotiate a final bill through a conference committee. American Health Care Association. "Provider Insights: Medicaid." June 2025. Accessed 1 July 2025. Congressional Budget Office. "Re: Mandatory Spending Under the Jurisdiction of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce." 5 Mar. 2025. Accessed 1 July 2025. House Budget Committee. "What They Are Saying: President Trump Congratulates House Republicans on Passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act." 27 May 2025. Accessed 1 July 2025. Burns, Alice. "The Math is Conclusive: Major Medicaid Cuts Are the Only Way to Meet House Budget Resolution Requirements." Kaiser Family Foundation. 7 Mar. 2025 Accessed 1 July 2025. Mor, Vincent and Fangli Geng. "Response to Senate Finance Nursing Home Request." Brown University School of Public Health. 23 June 2025. Accessed 1 July 2025. State Health and Value Strategies. "Medicaid Provisions in the House Budget Reconciliation Bill." 22 May, 2025. Accessed 1 July 2025. U.S. Congress. "H. Con. Res. 14 - Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2025 and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2026 through 2034." 119th Congress. Accessed 1 July 2025. U.S. Senate Committee on Finance. "Wyden Statement on New CBO Numbers Showing More Than $930 Billion in Medicaid Cuts in New Senate Draft." 28 June, 2025. Accessed 1 July 2025.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. Thanks Clifton J. Porter II for His Board Service
TUSTIN, Calif., June 12, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Rick Matros, the Chair and Chief Executive Officer of Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc. ("Sabra" or the "Company") (Nasdaq: SBRA), issued the following statement today thanking Clifton J. Porter II for his five years of Board service to the Company: "On behalf of our Board of Directors, I want to thank Clif for his exemplary service to our Company. I know our Board and leadership team benefited greatly from his insights and expertise—I certainly did. We look forward to continuing to work with Clif in his capacity as the President and CEO of the American Health Care Association/National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), where we know he will continue to provide great leadership for the healthcare industry." Mr. Porter stated, "These past five years on the Sabra Board have been one of the highlights of my career. It has been a rewarding experience to work with such an accomplished group of leaders. An operational culture drives Sabra and I am confident that the organization will continue to flourish. I look forward to continuing to support Sabra's mission in my new role." About Sabra Sabra Health Care REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation, operates as a self-administered, self-managed real estate investment trust (a "REIT") that, through its subsidiaries, owns and invests in real estate serving the healthcare industry throughout the United States and Canada. View source version on Contacts Investor & Media Inquiries: 1-888-393-8248 or investorinquiries@ Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Dead bills resurface in budget talks
Legislators are meeting in Tallahassee to hammer out the fiscal year 2025-26 budget and avoid a government shutdown before July 1 Florida legislators are using budget negotiations to revisit substantive legislation related to education and health care that didn't pass during the 2025 regular session. DeSantis' push to shakeup cancer funding could be in trouble in the House One House bill would have revised how low-performing schools are classified and how Schools of Hope can be started. HB 1267 passed the House on party lines; however; the Senate never took it up. The issue resurfaced in the budget conference on Tuesday when the House proposed to allow charter schools to open inside low-performing public schools. The budget document shared with the public outlining the House's offer didn't contain any additional details. The School of Hope program started in 2017 and allows charter schools to open near persistently low-performing schools. In 2023-2024, there were 51 persistently low-performing schools. The bill would've classified more schools as persistently low-performing by changing the definition. 'The House has been pretty consistent that we want students to have access to the best educational opportunities,' House budget chief Rep. Lawrence McClure told reporters Tuesday. The two chambers have already agreed to $6 million in nonrecurring funding for Schools of Hope for the state fiscal year 2025-26 budget. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX The House agreed to adopt a number of Senate-coveted issues related to nursing homes that were contained in SB 170, including requiring long-term care facilities to conduct patient safety and culture surveys at least once every two years. The Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) would be required to include the results in its nursing home guide. Additionally, the House agreed with the Senate's proposal to require nursing home medical directors to obtain designation from the American Medical Director Association or to hold a comparable credential or be in the process of seeking those credentials by Jan. 1, 2026. The House agreed to the Senate's proposal to fine nursing homes or headquarters of nursing homes that don't submit their financial data to AHCA's financial reporting system. The Senate wants to amend the Medicaid law to include a $10,000 fine per violation. SB 170 was sponsored by Sen. Colleen Burton and was a priority for Senate President Ben Albritton. who fast-tracked it through the chamber, with the Senate passing the bill unanimously on April 9. But the House never considered the proposal. While the House has agreed to those nursing home-related issues in its conforming bill offer, technically they still aren't finalized because the Senate hasn't agreed with the House's offer. Conforming bills are budget-related bills that change substantive law to reflect spending decisions. Unlike the budget, which remains in effect for the state fiscal year, conforming bills change substantive law and remain in effect until the laws are changed. With no Medicaid expansion on horizon Florida lawmakers take on scope battles (again) The House also included in its Tuesday healthcare offer a proposal to expand the duties dental hygienists are allowed to perform. The House wants to amend the dental hygienist licensure laws to allow hygienists who practice under general supervision to use a dental diode laser to reduce or eliminate plaque in spaces between a tooth and the gums. Only hygienists who complete a 12-hour in-person course recognized by the Board of Dentistry or the American Dental Association would qualify. House Speaker Daniel Perez has championed giving dental hygienists a larger role in the health care system since he was a freshman. After seemingly rejecting the idea during the 2025 session, the House appears to have changed direction and is proposing to open up to other hospitals $127.5 million that has been, until now, dedicated solely to four National Cancer Institute-designated facilities: Moffitt Cancer Center; University of Florida Health Cancer Center; Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine; and Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center. The House's proposal amends the statutory definition of cancer center to include community cancer centers accredited by the American College of Surgeons as a Comprehensive Community Cancer Program or Integrated Network Cancer Program, to qualify for the funds. It's not clear which hospitals would benefit from the change. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
19-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Mother overcomes challenges to graduate with son at UAHT
HOPE/TEXARKANA, Ark. (KTAL/KMSS)—At 18, Amber Walker became a single mom, which forced her to put her dreams of attending college and becoming a nurse on hold. Amber had her son, Dawson Hinds, at a young age and raised him independently for years before meeting her husband. 'For a long time, I put my own goals on the back burner to focus on giving my children the love, support, and stability they needed,' Amber said. 'Once they reached a point where they were more independent, I finally felt it was time to do something for myself, and that's when I began my journey at UAHT.' UAHT offering free year with Hempstead Guarantee Scholarship Amber started at the University of Arkansas Hope-Texarkana (UAHT) at the same time as her son, who was 16 then. She said she felt inspired by their shared goal of education. 'Dawson was already a few steps ahead, having been part of the Arkansas High Collegiate Academy (AHCA) at UAHT since the 10th grade,' Amber said. 'Since Dawson already had some college experience, he never hesitated to help me when I needed guidance. 'At 34 years old, going to college with my high school-aged son was both humbling and incredibly rewarding. My path to higher education was not a straight one—I had to put it on hold to raise my children and focus on building a life for them. But I never let go of the dream. Though our journeys were different, Dawson and I shared a common goal of growth, perseverance, and lifelong learning. He brought youthful energy and a fresh outlook, while I brought life experience and determination. Together, we supported and inspired each other every step of the way.' UAHT earns five awards at educational advertising competition Amber received multiple scholarships at UAHT and became a member of Phi Theta Kappa, showing her dedication to excelling in the classroom despite her challenges. Dawson simultaneously earned an Associate of Arts degree and a high school diploma through AHCA at UAHT. He heads to the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville this summer, having earned over $24,000 in scholarships. 'My experience at the Arkansas High Collegiate Academy at UAHT was great,' Dawson said. 'The faculty and staff were always friendly, and the courses had excellent content to prepare me for the University of Arkansas. UAHT always prioritized the students.' Free Classes at UA Hope-Texarkana available at select high schools 'Together we pushed through, supported one another, and accomplished a significant milestone side by side,' Amber said. 'Our journey proves that age is just a number, young or older, and that you should never let it define or limit what you can achieve.' Amber and Dawson graduated together at 36 and 18, walking side-by-side across the commencement stage. 'It is one of the best feelings, graduating with my son and reaching our life goals together,' Amber said. 'Thank you, UAHT, for helping make this possible!' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
