Medicaid provides critical care for over 72 million Americans—from children and pregnant women to individuals with disabilities, and seniors. It’s also a lifeline for the facilities that care for them, including hospitals and long-term care providers. In this episode, Chip Kahn welcomes Clifton Porter Jr., President and CEO of the American Health Care Association and National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL), to explore the critical role long-term care providers play in the health care con...
Jul 09, 2025•26 min•Ep. 110
As Congress focuses on budget reconciliation and debates over Medicaid dominate the headlines, another major shift in health coverage continues quietly but powerfully—the explosive growth of Medicare Advantage (MA). Now covering more than half of all Medicare beneficiaries, MA plans are transforming the health care landscape in ways that can no longer be ignored. In this episode, Chip Kahn sits down with Molly Turco, a former CMS senior policy advisor and health policy expert at her firm MTT Str...
Jun 04, 2025•39 min•Ep. 109
Medicaid is making headlines on Capitol Hill, and the debate is about more than just crunching numbers—it’s about people. This joint federal-state Medicaid program is a lifeline for millions of Americans, including children, seniors, people with disabilities, veterans, and low-income adults. From primary care to nursing home services, Medicaid provides critical coverage and support. But today, policy proposals under consideration in Washington could put that care at risk. In this episode, host C...
May 14, 2025•38 min•Ep. 108
“Hospitals in Focus” takes a high-level look at how Americans really feel about two cornerstones of health coverage in our country: Medicaid and the enhanced premium tax credits available through the individual marketplace. Joining Chip Kahn on this episode is Bob Ward, a partner at polling firm Fabrizio Ward, whose team recently conducted two national surveys examining public opinion on these programs. The findings might surprise you—voters from across the political spectrum, including MAGA Rep...
Apr 30, 2025•24 min•Ep. 107
Medicaid, together with the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), forms the backbone of pediatric care in the United States — providing nearly 40 million children with access to routine checkups to life-saving hospital services. But that care is at risk. Congress is considering cuts to Medicaid funding, which could have devastating consequences for kids and the specialized hospitals that serve them. In this episode, Chip Kahn is joined by Matthew Cook, President and CEO of the Children’s H...
Apr 16, 2025•18 min•Ep. 106
Rural America is a vital part of our nation—rich in culture, community, and resilience. But potential Medicaid cuts coupled with the impending expiration of enhanced tax credits further threatens rural communities’ access to health care and puts the strength of rural communities at risk. In this episode, Chip Kahn is joined once again by Alan Morgan, CEO of the National Rural Health Association, to explore the impacts of Medicaid cuts and Americans’ loss of health coverage on rural hospitals and...
Apr 02, 2025•18 min•Ep. 105
Medicaid provides health coverage for more than 70 million Americans, including children, veterans, seniors, and people with disabilities. But as Congress works toward a reconciliation bill, proposed cuts totaling $880 billion have raised serious concerns about the program’s future and the impacts on patients and providers. In this episode, Chip Kahn sits down with Dr. Bruce Siegel, President and CEO of America’s Essential Hospitals, as he reflects on his 15 years of leadership, the critical rol...
Mar 19, 2025•20 min•Ep. 104
Medicaid, the largest health insurance program in the country, provides critical coverage for more than 79 million Americans—including children, pregnant women, seniors, and people with disabilities. As Congress considers ways to achieve $2.5 trillion in deficit reduction, Medicaid is at risk of significant changes and proposals that could seriously harm patient care. In this episode, Chip Kahn sits down with Hemi Tewarson, Executive Director of the National Academy for State Health Policy, to d...
Feb 19, 2025•32 min•Ep. 103
With a new Administration and a Republican-controlled Congress stepping into power, a wave of changes is sweeping across Washington. From immigration and military renewal to energy dominance and tax cuts, the agenda is ambitious. But what does this mean for health care policy, hospitals, and patient care? In this episode, Joel White, President and CEO of Horizon Government Affairs, unpacks the evolving health policy landscape. Together, Chip and Joel explore how federal priorities, budgetary con...
Feb 05, 2025•40 min•Ep. 102
In this episode of Hospitals in Focus , we revisit a vital topic—disaster preparedness and response. Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused devastating impacts across the Southeast, including catastrophic flooding in Asheville, North Carolina. FAH-member HCA Healthcare stepped up to the challenge, and their Mission Hospital became a beacon of resilience, treating over 500 emergency patients in the first hours after Hurricane Helene, flying in 400 nurses and 40 physicians from sister facilities, and...
Jan 22, 2025•36 min•Ep. 101
Every year, millions of Americans face the life-changing news of a cancer diagnosis. Beyond the battle for survival and recovery, there is another critical fight—the battle to ensure patients and their families have access to affordable care. In this episode, we look at the intersection of health care policy and cancer care with Pam Traxel, Senior Vice President of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN). ACS CAN champions cancer patients, survivors, and their loved ones by a...
Jan 08, 2025•14 min•Ep. 100
As the Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) prepares for a pivotal year ahead, this special episode takes a moment to reflect on the progress made in health care policy and the challenges and opportunities on the horizon. Join host Chip Kahn as he sits down with retiring Executive Vice President of Policy, Steve Speil, to discuss his nearly four decades of experience in health care policy and his reflections on his remarkable 27-year tenure at FAH. Steve’s career has spanned transformative dec...
Dec 18, 2024•30 min•Ep. 99
In this episode of Hospitals in Focus , host Chip Kahn explores the digital renaissance revolutionizing health care—a golden age of pioneering technologies not seen since the 1960s, when computers first standardized medical records and diagnostics. Today, with nearly everything digitized, organizations are actively discussing the regulatory and ethical frameworks necessary to navigate these advancements, while protecting against the increasing prevalence of cyber threats. The future of health ca...
Nov 20, 2024•16 min•Ep. 98
In this episode of Hospitals in Focus, we’re pulling back the curtain on an often-overlooked yet truly “critical” aspect of our health care system—the supply chain. It’s the backbone of our hospitals, ensuring that essential medical supplies reach patients in need. But what happens when that chain breaks? Host Chip Kahn is joined by Ed Jones, President and CEO of HealthTrust Performance Group, to discuss recent events that exposed vulnerabilities in this intricate network. Following Hurricane He...
Nov 05, 2024•28 min•Ep. 97
With over nine million veterans enrolled, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is well known for its health care services. However, the VA’s support extends beyond medical care, helping veterans navigate life after military service. The VA has undergone a significant transformation since the establishment of the Veterans Experience Office in 2015, focusing on improving veterans’ experiences through the use of qualitative and quantitative veteran-customer service data. In this episode, Dr. Car...
Oct 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 96
Before the Change Healthcare cyberattack, hospitals were already grappling with insurers' tactics of delaying and denying payments for patient care. The cyberattack only amplified the challenges providers face—not just in delivering care, but also in getting reimbursed for that care. Despite the crisis, insurers continued to use these tactics. Now, six months later, Matt Szaflarski, a director and revenue cycle intelligence leader at Kodiak Solutions, and his team have uncovered something alarmi...
Oct 09, 2024•22 min•Ep. 95
In June, the Supreme Court issued a 6-3 decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo , overturning the 40-year-old legal precedent known as the "Chevron doctrine." This doctrine had allowed federal agencies to interpret ambiguous statutes within their jurisdiction. The ruling marks a significant shift in the regulatory landscape, with major implications for how federal agencies operate and how regulations are enforced—particularly in health care. The decision presents both challenges and opp...
Sep 11, 2024•20 min•Ep. 94
The work, dedication, and resilience of hospital providers and staff is centered on providing high-quality care for their patients. In this special episode of Hospitals in Focus , we spotlight two compelling stories of patient care from the frontlines, offering unique perspectives from both a health care provider and patient. Join us as we hear firsthand from Amy Capella Smith, CEO of Foundations Behavioral Health, a UHS hospital in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, as she navigates the challenges and r...
Aug 14, 2024•18 min•Ep. 93
Today, we are celebrating the 59th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid being signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson and discussing the profound effect these programs have had in providing health care coverage to the country’s most vulnerable populations. Medicare and Medicaid laid the foundation for public health insurance in the United States, ensuring that the elderly, low-income families, and individuals with disabilities receive essential health care services. The Affordable Care Ac...
Jul 30, 2024•20 min•Ep. 92
Measles, eradicated in the United States in 2000, is making a comeback. Meanwhile, an estimated 300,000 people died from COVID-19 in cases that could have been prevented through vaccination. Why are we seeing an uptick in conspiracy theories, misinformation, and outright science denial? The consequences of losing trust in science are harmful and even deadly. Dr. Reed Tuckson, MD, FACP, has dedicated his career to restoring public confidence in scientific research and health care. He joins Chip o...
Jul 17, 2024•21 min•Ep. 91
Artificial intelligence (AI) is dominating headlines and conversations, from how it will change our day-to-day routines to the debate on how far regulation of the ever-changing technology should go. AI's impact on health care is profound, promising advancements in diagnostics, treatment plans, and patient care, but also raising questions about privacy, bias, and the role of human oversight. Our guest, Dr. Michael Schlosser, MD, MBA, Senior Vice President, Care Transformation and Innovation at HC...
Jun 27, 2024•25 min•Ep. 90
Maryland’s 50-year experiment with the hospital rate-setting system stands out as a unique and long-lasting initiative – but has it accomplished its goal of reducing health care costs? This rate-setting scheme has been sustained due to additional Medicare funds supplementing the model, an additional $20.6 billion through 2017. It’s also inspired CMS’s All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development (or AHEAD) pilot program. The Maryland model has come under scrutiny with a paper published in ...
Jun 12, 2024•20 min•Ep. 89
Cybersecurity is a central part of every nation’s infrastructure – especially when it comes to health care. The availability and free flow of health information is critical to providing care. Unfortunately, patient information isn’t just valuable to caregivers, it’s also becoming a primary target for criminals across the globe. In this special episode, Chip Kahn moderates a panel of cybersecurity experts, with significant experience in the health care sector, from around the world. The discussio...
May 30, 2024•50 min•Ep. 88
With zero-dollar premiums, caps on out-of-pocket costs, and perks that range from meal delivery to gym memberships – even loaded debit cards – membership in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans is surging in enrollment and popularity among seniors. In fact, earlier this year, enrollment in Medicare Advantage plans surpassed enrollment in traditional Medicare, with more than 50 percent of eligible seniors now choosing this privatized version of coverage. However, aggressive marketing campaigns and a lac...
May 15, 2024•33 min•Ep. 87
The recent cyberattack on Change Healthcare exposed fissures in the American health care system that are still reverberating - impacting patients and providers alike months after it was exposed. As hospitals, physicians, and other providers get back on their feet, they're also improving their cyber defenses to stay one step ahead of increasingly persistent hackers. This crisis also sparked conversations among policymakers weighing the implementation of new regulations on health care entities, in...
May 01, 2024•38 min•Ep. 86
Good health care depends on good health coverage, particularly for the most vulnerable. The Affordable Care Act expanded Medicaid eligibility and created exchanges where many Americans could access health insurance, often at a subsidized price. These new pathways to affordable coverage led to the uninsured rate dropping to record lows. Unfortunately, those recent gains in coverage and access now face new hurdles. After the end of the Covid public health emergency, states began a process of redet...
Apr 17, 2024•23 min•Ep. 85
The Change Healthcare cyberattack on February 21st upended a huge slice of the U.S. health care system, virtually crippling all aspects of the patient care continuum when the clearinghouse’s services were hacked. That is because Change Healthcare processes 15 billion claims totaling more than $1.5 trillion a year and may handle 50 percent of all medical claims in the country. The impact has been devastating for many patients, hospitals, and providers, particularly those already operating under f...
Mar 27, 2024•22 min•Ep. 84
There are two Americas - rural and urban – particularly when you look at access to health care. With roughly 60 million people, or one in five Americans, living in small communities from coast to coast, how do we ensure patients have access to the care they need when they need it? And what policies can help bridge the gap? Former Senator Heidi Heitkamp has dedicated her life to representing the interests of rural America and fighting to save this way of life. She currently serves as founder and ...
Mar 13, 2024•29 min•Ep. 83
GUEST: Dr. Jonathan Perlin, President and CEO, The Joint Commission IN THIS EPISODE: The Joint Commission is possibly the most impactful health care quality and performance organization in the world. With the rise of AI and concerns growing over issues like environmental sustainability, its mission has never been more critical. Dr. Jonathan Perlin, in his second year at the helm of The Joint Commission, is on a quest to reshape safety and performance measurement and its impact on care delivery f...
Feb 28, 2024•41 min•Ep. 82
IN THIS EPISODE: For the past 15 years, drug shortages have been a persistent problem for hospitals and the patients they serve – and extreme cases can even lead to rationing, delaying, or canceling treatments or procedures. Tackling the drug shortage crisis is a complicated issue requiring creative solutions. That’s where Civica comes in – a non-profit pharmaceutical company created by hospitals and health systems to address these critical shortages. In this episode, Chip speaks with Civica’s S...
Feb 06, 2024•17 min•Ep. 81
