Latest news with #Glenn'GT'Thompson
Business Wire
15-05-2025
- Health
- Business Wire
Vizient Hosts Congressional Briefing on the Complexities of Hospital Financing
IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yesterday on Capitol Hill, Vizient, Inc. hosted a congressional policy briefing titled, "Hospitals' Financial Health: The Complex Ecosystem of Provider Reimbursement," at the Rayburn House Office Building. The event featured remarks from Rep. Dave Min (D-CA) and drew an engaged audience of congressional staff and industry stakeholders. While unable to attend in person, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA) and Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) shared remarks in support of the briefing. The discussion focused on how hospitals are navigating a complex financial environment shaped by shifting reimbursement models, evolving policy changes, and increasing care demands. 'Academic medical centers like UCI Health are training future clinicians while delivering essential care,' said Rep. Min (D-CA). 'However, growing financial pressures, especially around Medicaid reimbursement, threaten their ability to keep their doors open. We need to advance policies that ensure reliable reimbursement and protect access to care for all Californians.' 'As a former therapist and licensed nursing home administrator, I've seen first-hand the essential need for access to quality care,' said Rep. Thompson (R-PA). 'Reliable health systems are necessary for the health and economic well-being of rural communities. I look forward to working with all stakeholders to strengthen quality, lower costs, and increase the availability of care.' 'In neighborhoods across Orange County, hospitals are essential for delivering care, supporting jobs, and keeping our families healthy,' said Rep. Correa (D-CA). 'When hospitals in our district face financial strain, the ripple effects are real and immediate. We need strong, common-sense public policy that ensures hard-working American taxpayers have access to the care they need when they need it.' Moderated by Michael D. Busch, FACHE, senior vice president, member networks at Vizient, the panel featured key healthcare leaders, including: Stephanie Daubert, Chief Financial Officer, Nebraska Medicine Steven M. Fontaine, Chief Executive Officer, Penn Highlands Healthcare Randolph P. Siwabessy, Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer, UCI Health & UC Irvine School of Medicine Panelists discussed the growing financial instability facing hospitals, particularly given the uncertainty around governmental funding. As noted during the briefing, hospitals are a unique combination of public utility, clinical enterprise, and academic mission, which makes their financing inherently complex. Adjusting one policy can unintentionally unravel other parts due to the system's interconnectedness. Panelists also highlighted rising operating costs, persistent labor shortages, delayed reimbursements, and the widening gap between payment rates and the actual cost of care, especially for Medicaid and Medicare patients. The panel underscored the need for sustainable policy solutions to protect hospital viability and patient access, highlighting priorities such as stabilizing government reimbursement programs, protecting safety net payments and programs and preserving graduate medical education support. Learn more about Vizient's advocacy and public policy efforts. About Vizient, Inc. Vizient, Inc., the nation's largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, serves more than 65% of the nation's acute care providers, including 97% of the nation's academic medical centers, and more than 35% of the non-acute market. The Vizient contract portfolio represents $140 billion in annual purchasing volume enabling the delivery of cost-effective, high-value care. With its acquisition of Kaufman Hall in 2024, Vizient expanded its advisory services to help providers achieve financial, strategic, clinical and operational excellence. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposed cuts to SNAP benefits could deepen hunger and hurt local economies, experts warn
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program has long been a crucial lifeline for millions of Americans facing food insecurity. Each year, approximately 42 million people rely on SNAP to meet their food needs. However, recent proposals from the Trump administration and Congressional leaders to roll back SNAP benefits nationwide are raising alarms, with many wondering how these cuts would impact their local communities. New data from the Urban Institute sheds light on just how significant the gap between SNAP benefits and local food costs could become if these cuts move forward. A proposed rollback of the 2021 update to the Thrifty Food Plan — which determines the amount of SNAP benefits — would leave recipients with insufficient support to meet even the most basic meal costs in any U.S. county. According to the Urban Institute, the average meal cost would surpass the maximum SNAP benefit by 51%, leaving recipients on average $105 short per month. Some regions, especially those with high food costs, may face even steeper challenges. In response, The Food Research & Action Center (FRAC) and over 1,600 national, state, and local organizations from every state have urged Congress to reject any cuts to SNAP. In a March 6 letter, these groups emphasized the crucial role SNAP plays not only in alleviating hunger but also in improving health outcomes and boosting local economies. 'Cuts to SNAP would not only increase food insecurity but also shift the burden of food assistance to local governments and charities, which cannot fully meet the need,' the letter read, in part. 'For example, while emergency food programs help, they only provide one meal for every nine meals that SNAP supplies. The proposed cuts would further strain food banks, food retailers, and those serving vulnerable populations.' It continued: 'Additionally, reduced SNAP benefits would hurt the broader economy. Food retailers, including grocery stores and farmers' markets, depend on SNAP dollars to stay afloat. In areas where food retailers are already struggling, any reduction in SNAP benefits would have a catastrophic impact on businesses and the local economy.' The Thrifty Food Plan, or TFP, which serves as the foundation for determining SNAP benefit levels, had remained unchanged since 2006. As Salon reported last year (following then-House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn 'GT' Thompson's proposal to cut SNAP's budget by $30 billion) it wasn't until 2018 that Congress passed a bipartisan provision to re-evaluate the plan every five years, with the 2021 update reflecting current dietary guidelines, the rising cost of food, and evolving household consumption patterns. As the Urban Institute's Poonam Gupta and Elaine Waxman wrote in a report at the time, before the 2021 TFP update, the old TFP assumed an average family 'consisting of a man, woman, and two children predominantly purchased milk, potatoes, fruits and rice, and spent roughly two hours a day preparing food from scratch, including tasks like hand-soaking dried beans.' 'All of these assumptions were proven to be grossly out of step with actual food preparation and consumption behaviors and are not grounded in the reality of everyday life,' they continued. 'The reality is, our interactions with our food environment are constantly evolving as people and food systems grow and adapt to climate change and other external factors. In response, dietary guidelines, consumption patterns, and preparation times will continue to shift.' The 2021 update was significant, increasing the average SNAP benefit per meal by approximately 21%. However, proposed policy changes would reverse this progress, reducing the per meal benefit from $2.84 to $2.25. At this reduced level, SNAP benefits would not cover the average cost of a modestly priced meal in any county across the U.S. Nationally, the average meal cost in 2023 is $3.37, leaving a stark gap between what SNAP provides and what families must pay to feed themselves. In total, families would fall short by $105 each month. This shortfall would hit hardest for the nearly 40% of SNAP recipients who rely on the maximum benefit, which is often the only way they can afford to eat. Households that already struggle to make ends meet would face an even steeper financial burden, forcing them to choose between purchasing fewer, lower-quality food items or diverting funds from other essential needs. As established by the Urban Institute, the impact of these proposed cuts will not be uniform. While SNAP benefits are based on a nationwide formula, food prices vary widely across the U.S. In high-cost urban areas like New York County or rural regions like Custer County, Idaho, meal costs are far higher than the average. In some counties, food prices are twice as high as the current SNAP benefit, creating an even greater discrepancy between available benefits and actual food costs. Without adjustments for regional cost variations, SNAP recipients in high-cost areas will experience more severe challenges in feeding themselves and their families. The reduction in benefits could force households to cut back drastically on the quality and quantity of food they purchase, further exacerbating food insecurity, which is already a significant problem in many regions. The economic repercussions of reduced SNAP benefits extend beyond individual families. Studies show that for every dollar spent on SNAP, up to $1.80 is generated in economic activity, particularly during economic downturns. Cutting these benefits would not only hurt families but also harm local economies. The reductions would ripple through food supply chains, impacting farmers, grocery stores, and food retailers. Jobs would be lost, and local businesses would see decreased revenue, especially in rural and southern areas where food insecurity rates tend to be higher than the national average. Beyond the immediate financial strain, cuts to SNAP would also have long-term consequences for public health. Access to sufficient nutrition is directly linked to better health outcomes, including improved birth outcomes, better academic performance, and lower healthcare costs. According to a report by the Food Research & Action Center, SNAP has been shown to improve children's test scores, reduce the incidence of chronic diseases, and lower rates of maternal and infant mortality. For children in particular, the consequences of food insecurity are devastating. Reduced access to healthy meals and school nutrition programs would hinder children's development, both physically and academically. School meal programs, which are often closely linked with SNAP, ensure that children receive at least one nutritious meal each day. Without this support, food insecurity would likely increase, affecting students' ability to focus, learn and thrive in school. FRAC warns that the proposed cuts to school meals, in tandem with reductions to SNAP, would increase the number of children who experience food insecurity, thus perpetuating a cycle of poor health and educational outcomes. As these legislative battles unfold, advocates are speaking out in large numbers. The letter from FRAC and over 1,600 organizations emphasizes the importance of SNAP not just for fighting hunger but for its broader impact on health and the economy. 'SNAP is one of the most effective programs we have to combat poverty-related hunger, improve health outcomes, and boost local economies,' said Crystal FitzSimons, interim president of FRAC. 'Any cut to benefits or reduced access to participation will have serious consequences for children, older adults, people with disabilities, and those living in rural areas who rely on this support to put food on the table.'
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Farm bill for Pennsylvania would impact ‘everyone,' not just farmers
(WHTM) — Two years late and counting, that's how long it's been since an all-important farm bill expired and congress, while extending it, has not found a permanent solution. Pennsylvania Republican congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson chairs the House Ag. Committee and he is a key player in the negotiations. 'My projections are, we need to get this farm bill done in the first part of this year,' Thompson said. But the five-year, $1.5 trillion bill is two years late and Thompson blames politics and Democratic leaders for sabotaging a bipartisan bill that passed his committee. Over 100,000 new bird flu cases reported in Pennsylvania 'Because they were convinced at that time that Joe Biden was going to win reelection and maybe the Democrats were going to take the House,' Thompson said. 'Obviously, none of that happened.' Democrats blame the holdup on Republicans trying to limit the SNAP program. Regardless, Thompson is enthusiastic about new Democratic Ag. Chair's Senator Amy Klobuchar and Congresswoman Angie Craig, both of Minnesota. 'All the key players are in place so that we can actually get this done,' Thompson said. And Thompson argues, not just for farmers. 'This will be a farm bill that will serve those who produce food,' Thompson said. 'Those who process. And quite frankly, those who consume. Oh, that's everybody.' Thompson is the farmer's best friend but can't support proposed Trump tariffs. 'I'm always concerned with retaliatory tariffs because it seems like agriculture is where these get placed on,' he said. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now He's also nervous about mass layoffs and buyouts of federal employees. 'These are the folks that know how to be the most productive, the most efficient,' Thompson said. 'I actually believe these are people we need encouraged to stick around longer.' As for the frenzied pace of the president's first month? 'I call it diplomacy by sledgehammer,' Thompson said. 'It really is.' And Thompson does think that is a good thing. 'It's amazing what's been accomplished in a short period of time,' Thompson said. 'I also encourage folks to, you know, just take a deep breath when something comes out that gets her attention.' No pauses for the Ag. chair (Thompson). He's been all over the U.S. Met with kelp farmers in Maine to grapefruit growers in several states and even helped them harvest. He gave his recommendation for what to try. 'If you get a chance to go after those Texas white grapefruit, they are amazing,' Thompson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bill to speed up plugging of abandoned oil, gas wells in Pennsylvania
(WTAJ) — A bipartisan effort is underway to address thousands of abandoned oil and gas wells across Pennsylvania and the nation. U.S. Reps. Glenn 'GT' Thompson (R-PA) and Chris Deluzio (D-PA) introduced the Orphan Well Grant Flexibility Act, which aims to remove federal restrictions and speed up well-plugging efforts. Pennsylvania has more than 27,000 documented orphaned wells, many of which pose environmental risks such as water contamination and methane emissions, according to the state Department of Environmental Protection. The bill would ease regulatory burdens on state agencies, allowing them to use federal funds more efficiently. Supporters say the legislation will build on the $4.7 billion allocated under the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for orphaned well cleanup. Western Pennsylvania, one of the hardest-hit regions, has hundreds of these wells, including 25 in Beaver County and 219 in Allegheny County. The bill has backing from several energy and environmental groups, including the Interstate Oil and Gas Compact Commission, the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and The Nature Conservancy. Lawmakers are pushing for swift passage, arguing that the bill will cut red tape, accelerate cleanup efforts, and reduce environmental hazards. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
