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
CMS proposes rule to curb Medicaid provider tax loophole
CMS is proposing a rule to limit the use of provider taxes to finance Medicaid, which would reduce Medicaid funding by $52 billion over the next five years and ensure federal Medicaid dollars go to pay for health care for vulnerable Americans, not to fund unrelated programs.
Rhode Island’s hospital price limits linked to 9.1% cut in hospital prices over 10 years
Rhode Island's unique rate-limiting program resulted in a 9.1% cut in hospital prices over 10 years, much of which was passed along to commercially insured plans and enrollees, and may inform other states on hospital price control initiatives.
Bad debt, charity up 32% since 2022
Uncompensated care costs have increased 32% in 2025 compared to 2022, but they have been offset by increasing hospital incomes, and the trend is driven by increased payer denials, growing ED visits, and Medicaid volumes.
States with highest employee healthcare costs are mostly rural, new report finds
A new Commonwealth Fund study found significant variation in healthcare costs across the country, with rural states having the highest costs and Maryland being the exception among the top five highest-cost states for ESI family coverage.
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.