Latest news with #AshleyThompson
Axios
16-07-2025
- Health
- Axios
Medicare proposes $8.1B boost for hospital outpatient care
The Trump administration wants to boost Medicare payments for hospital outpatient services by $8.1 billion next year — while simultaneously decreasing hospitals' reimbursement for services like chemotherapy. Why it matters: The payment proposal reveals that the administration is pushing hard for site-neutral reimbursements, or paying the same rate for services regardless of whether they're delivered in hospital outpatient facilities or doctors' offices. Hospitals typically bill Medicare more for the same services. Health systems have successfully lobbied against similar proposals in Congress in recent years. State of play: Hospital outpatient departments overall could expect a 2.4% increase in their Medicare payments, mostly due to an increase in the index that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services uses to measure changes in prices. But Medicare administrators want to decrease what they pay hospitals to administer outpatient drugs at off-campus facilities, including chemotherapy, to make the sums equal to what is paid to physicians in private practices. This year, Medicare pays physician offices around $119 for a chemotherapy infusion, while off-site hospital outpatient facilities collected about $341, per the proposal. What it says: "We believe that financial incentives have driven volume from the office setting to the higher paying [outpatient department] setting, creating unnecessary increases in the volume of OPD services," the proposed rule states. CMS expects the change to decrease Medicare patients' cost-sharing by $70 million in 2026, and to reduce Medicare spending on hospital outpatient services by $210 million. The American Hospital Association called the proposal "inadequate." "We oppose the proposal to expand 'site-neutral' cuts and eliminate the inpatient-only list, as both policies fail to account for the real and crucial differences between hospital outpatient departments and other sites of care," Ashley Thompson, senior vice president of public policy analysis and development, said in a statement. CMS also wants to phase out over three years the list of services Medicare will only pay for when delivered in an inpatient setting. Medicare created the list in 2000 on the premise that some procedures could only be safely delivered at an inpatient hospital. The list currently includes 1,731 procedures. CMS proposed eliminating the list in 2021 but ultimately decided not to. Now, the agency says it's decided that innovations in medicine have made outpatient procedures much safer. "We agree with past commenters that the physician should use clinical knowledge and judgment, together with consideration of the beneficiary's specific needs, to determine whether a procedure can be performed appropriately in a hospital outpatient setting or whether inpatient care is required for the beneficiary," the proposal says.
Yahoo
29-06-2025
- Yahoo
A Pregnant Mom and Her Small Children Died in House Fire. Now, 2 Suspects Have Been Charged with Murder
Ashley Thompson and her two children were killed in an arson fire in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood on June 13 According to reports, Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, have since been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder and related offenses Newell is reportedly the sister of a 54-year-old woman, who escaped the blaze with a third childTwo people have been arrested after an arson fire killed a pregnant woman and her two young children in Philadelphia. On Wednesday, June 25, Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, were arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder and related offenses, following the death of Ashley Thompson and her two children on June 13, according to 6ABC, NBC 10 and Fox 29. Firefighters found the 31-year-old mother deceased on the second floor of the rowhouse in the 2500 block of N. Corlies Street in the Strawberry Mansion neighborhood after an arson fire broke out just before 5 a.m., per NBC 10. Her two children, who were identified as 6-year-old Assad Thompson and 4-year-old Alaya Thompson-Newell, later died in the hospital, 6ABC reported. "Upon arrival, officers found the property fully engulfed in flames," according to a Philadelphia Police Department press release. "While firefighters worked to extinguish the fire, five individuals were discovered inside the residence." A 54-year-old woman escaped the fire with a third child, police said. One of the suspects arrested, Newell, is the sister of the 54-year-old survivor, identified as Sherry Jackson, NBC 10 reported. The victim told the outlet that she had been arguing with Newell over the house for a year. She alleged that the suspect previously threatened to "burn the house with her in it." Jackson claims that no action was taken when she reported the threat. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. According to 6ABC, Sumpter and Newell were interviewed on the day of the arson but were not arrested until Wednesday when they were served a warrant. A family member previously told NBC 10 that Thompson was seven months pregnant at the time of her death. She is described as "a loving mother, daughter, and friend" in a GoFundMe page. "Her children were her joy, her purpose, and the light of so many lives around them," per the fundraiser. The Philadelphia Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for additional information on Sunday, June 29. Read the original article on People
CBS News
27-06-2025
- CBS News
2 arrested in connection to Philadelphia fire that killed pregnant woman, 2 children
Two people were arrested and charged in connection with a fire in Philadelphia's Strawberry Mansion neighborhood that claimed the lives of a pregnant woman and two of her children on June 13. Charles Sumpter, 67, and Fleitte Newell, 44, were taken into custody after police served a search warrant Wednesday at a home in the 2800 block of West Albert Street. Both have been charged with multiple counts of murder and related offenses connected to the deaths of Ashley Thompson, 32, Assad Thompson, 6, and Alaya Thompson-Newell, 4, according to Philadelphia police. Just before 5 a.m. on June 13, officers arrived at a house fire in the 2500 block of North Corlies Street. Police said the home was fully engulfed in flames. Firefighters found five people inside the home. Assad Thompson and Alaya Thompson-Newell were taken to the hospital, where they later died. A third child was also taken to the hospital and remains in stable condition, police said. Two women were also found in the home. A 54-year-old woman was hospitalized in stable condition and Ashley Thompson, who was eight months pregnant, died at the scene. There is no word on a possible motive at this time.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Yahoo
Hiker recalls 'terrifying' ordeal being stalked by cougars on popular Garibaldi trail
As Ashley Thompson reached the four-kilometre mark while hiking a popular Garibaldi Park trail earlier this week, she saw a cougar and had a gut feeling she was being stalked. Then she saw another one heading her way. 'It was terrifying,' said Thompson, a Whistler resident. Another solo hiker on the trail, Damien Bernard, first alerted her to the danger by yelling. 'Damien and I were yelling to each other, to try and move closer together to face the cougars as a unit,' she said. 'I immediately stood up on a large boulder to make myself look big, started waving my trekking poles, and screaming obscenities to try to scare it off.' Thompson and Bernard were among several hikers who reported being stalked by cougars on Sunday and Monday, prompting closure of the Rubble Creek trail, and the evacuation of the Garibaldi Lake and Taylor Meadows campsites. Thompson said she's sharing her story to inform other people how to stay safe in the wilderness. An experienced solo hiker, Thompson said this was by far the scariest encounter yet. Bernard said he first saw one of the cougars on the side of the trail. 'As the cougar stared at me without moving, I spoke to it in a firm voice — but it still didn't react. So I took out my bear spray and got ready to use it if necessary,' he said. He slowly backed away from the animal. Running was out of the question. Cougars can sprint up to 80 kilometres an hour, he said. Then he saw Thompson ahead of him, making herself look big and speaking in a loud voice. 'At that point, I realized the cougar might have moved forward toward her, so I decided to approach and team up with her to scare it away. That's when we noticed — it wasn't just one cougar. There were two of them, and they were hunting, squatting down and walking towards us very slowly.' Bernard said the cougars were just staring at them, and also hiding and crouching. 'Ashley had the bigger cougar below her path, I was in the middle, and the smaller cougar was behind me. From there, it was obvious — we were in the middle of a hunting setup,' he said. 'I was more surprised than anything, and I immediately wondered whether I was being stalked or if it was just a random encounter.' The animals were in a crouched position as if ready to leap, 'not sitting there curiously looking at us in a casual manner. I can't stress that enough,' said Thompson. 'These animals were so big, and though terrifying, they are gorgeous. Maintaining eye contact with apex predators for that long is indescribable.' At one point she thought her life was over. 'If I'm being perfectly honest, especially once I saw that there were two, and that they were slinking towards me rapidly, regardless of my screaming and making myself larger, and intimidating, I thought, 'Oh wow, this is it for me.' It was really just a sinking feeling of dread, given what I've been taught my whole life about these animals. And how dangerous and rare I knew this was. I thought it was over for me.' As they made their way back to the parking lot, the cougars trailing behind them, they caught up with a group of other hikers and felt a bit safer in numbers. 'After a long while of holding the cougars off with our behaviour, we were eventually joined by other hikers coming up and down the trail, and were able to start moving downwards together, which was the major turning point in the situation,' Thompson said, adding the two cougars still stalked them for a while even though they were in a group of 10. 'That part was extra wild to me, very rare.' Later, they notified B.C.'s Conservation Officer Service. B.C.'s Ministry of Environment and Parks said conservation officers went to the Rubble Creek trail on Sunday and Monday. Campers and hikers were safely escorted out of the area by the officers due to 'the aggressive behaviour of these cougars,' a ministry spokesperson said. To ensure public safety, B.C. Parks closed the trail for a week. It's expected to reopen on June 17 along with the campsites. Hikers can still get to Garibaldi Lake on the Helm Creek trail, but the ministry warns this is an 18-kilometre detour, hiking through snow for long periods of time. Thompson said she wants people to understand that humans are encroaching on the animals' territory, not the other way around. 'We are spoiled here in the Sea to Sky and have many beautiful locations to hike and camp,' she said. 'It's important for the public to understand that extended trail closures after dangerous encounters might mean safety for humans, but it also means safety for these animals. She said repeated exposure to humans and reports could result in the cougars being killed. Both Thompson and Bernard advised people to know the dangers on the trails and in the backcountry and to come prepared with bear spray and other safety gear. Always check the B.C. Parks website to learn how to behave if you come across any of these animals, said Thompson. Added Bernard: 'Carry bear spray, know how to use it, and keep it readily accessible. Educate yourself about wildlife behaviour and always stay aware of your surroundings. Cougars are typically elusive and tend to avoid humans, but it's crucial to respect their space and remain alert.' Although shaken by the experience, Thompson said she won't let it stop her from doing what she loves most. 'Even as an experienced solo hiker who is hyper aware of the possibility of these encounters, it has absolutely shaken my resolve to hike and backcountry camp. But that being said, I am motivated to get back out there and work through my experience and fears,' she said. 'It was an incredibly humbling experience, and I will ensure it makes me a more informed, more confident adventurer, rather than letting it ruin what I love to do.' ticrawford@ Rare cougar sighting reported in Vancouver, far from wilderness Trail closed in Nanaimo after aggressive cougar sighted No need to panic? Cougar prowling Bowen Island has locals divided
Entrepreneur
11-06-2025
- Business
- Entrepreneur
5 CEOs Get Brutally Honest About Leadership in Today's World
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own. There's a unique energy that exists when you put five CEOs around one table. At our latest The CEO Roundtable episode, that dynamic played out in full. I sat down with Danny Wirtz (Chicago Blackhawks, Breakthru Beverage), Ashley Thompson (MUSH), Gregg Majewski (Craveworthy Brands), Emily Groden (Evergreen) and Luke Saunders (Farmer's Fridge) to explore what it actually means to be a CEO in today's world. It was an open, candid exchange of hard-won lessons, gut decisions and the kind of self-reflection that only comes from leading through highs and lows. One of the big takeaways from this discussion was the emotional rollercoaster of entrepreneurship and leadership. Nearly everyone at the table shared stories about the personal weight of leading a company. Emily spoke about how lonely it can feel at the top, and Danny emphasized that when you're in the driver's seat, there's nowhere to hide, specifically when you're the CEO of a professional sports team. Gregg put it simply: "It's not sexy." These weren't just war stories — they were reminders that leadership comes with a cost, one that can't be measured in valuations or press headlines. Related: 5 Founder-CEOs Come Together to Discuss the Realities of Leadership, Entrepreneurship and What It Takes to Succeed Another powerful theme was letting go — or at least, learning to. Each of these leaders started their company or took over a legacy one with a clear vision, but as their businesses grew, so did the need to trust others to execute. Luke talked about the complexity of scaling Farmer's Fridge and the moment he realized he couldn't do everything himself. That same sentiment echoed across the table. Ashley, now with a larger team and investment behind MUSH, spoke about balancing hands-on energy with leadership maturity. Growth, it turns out, means giving up control to gain momentum. We also dug into the unique pressures of consumer-facing businesses. All five leaders are selling something you can touch, taste or experience — products that depend on branding, shelf space and customer emotion. Whether it's the nostalgia of Evergreen waffles or the boldness of Craveworthy's restaurant portfolio, these founders are shaping what Americans eat and how they feel about it. That means rapid feedback loops, tight margins and constant adaptation. No one at the table is insulated from inflation, supply chain pain or labor shortages, but each of them is trying to build resilience into their operations. One thing I didn't expect — but probably should have — was how deeply personal the conversation got. Gregg described feeling almost addicted to the chaos of startup life. Ashley shared how imposter syndrome creeps in, even after massive success. Danny talked about inheriting not just a brand, but a legacy. And Luke reminded us that startup culture isn't always the mental health haven people think it is. There was vulnerability in the room, and it made the dialogue more honest — and frankly, more useful — for anyone trying to understand modern leadership. Related: How the CEO of This Iconic Pizza Brand Is Building on 50 Years of Deep-Dish Dominance and Fueling Sustainable Growth As the moderator, my goal wasn't to extract soundbites. It was to give space for complexity. This wasn't a panel of untouchable icons. These are people navigating real-time decisions in messy, evolving markets. The biggest lesson? Being a CEO today means knowing yourself just as well as you know your P&L. Also, when you're the CEO of a large organization, you have a heavy responsibility to lead with integrity, to serve your employees and customers and to utilize business "for good." Otherwise, what are we doing here?!
