Research and Commentaries
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Texas Senate Bill 745 Would Expand Medicaid Fraud Recovery and Prosecution
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Skyrocketing Medicaid costs were already threatening to overpower every other priority in state budgets before the pandemic. As COVID-19 spread, national Medicaid enrollment ballooned from 23 million people to 95 million as eligibility requirements were relaxed. States were given enhanced funding from the federal government to load more people onto Medicaid while simultaneously being unable […] -
South Carolina Bill Expands Interstate Counselors Compact
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Telemedicine has benefited from a steep COVID-19 learning curve. After restrictions on telemedicine were eased or eliminated to allow virtual treatment as a temporary replacement for in-person office visits during the pandemic, most patients are returning to in-person consults. However, as the formal pandemic emergency ends, public health officials are allowing many COVID-19 emergency rules […] -
South Carolina Bill Proposes Sweeping Repeal of Antiquated Certificate of Need Laws
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Certificate of Need (CON) laws were intended to reduce costs and improve access to health care by controlling the availability of medical facilities through state-based regulation. In the 1960s, policy makers began to worry that the free market would concentrate an oversupply of lucrative medical services in some areas, while creating an undersupply of services […] -
Ohio Considers Creating Interstate Physician Assistants Licensure Compact
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Connecting doctors and their patients across state lines has become commonplace, thanks to the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which now includes 37 states, the District of Colombia, and Guam. By allowing physicians to practice in multiple states, the compact has significantly increased access to doctors, particularly in rural areas. However, access to care gaps continue […] -
“Right to Treat” Iowa Bill Expands Right to Try Legislation
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Suffering patients deserve more access to investigational treatments. In Iowa, HF225 would expand access to drugs and therapies that have not yet been completely approved by the FDA, but could help patients who have no other options. Iowans are currently restricted to limited expanded use of investigational drugs to only those patients who are near […] -
Iowa Bill Puts Focus on Medicaid Fraud
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Before the COVID-19 pandemic upended the delivery of health care in America and throughout the world, states were realizing that skyrocketing Medicaid costs threatened to devour all discretionary spending. During the pandemic, Medicaid enrollment ballooned by 23 million people to 95 million as eligibility requirements were relaxed and states were given enhanced payments to load […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hikes Will Only Hurt Small Businesses in Texas
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Texas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 169, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Lone Star State from its current $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour, beginning September 1, 2023. Historically, some state lawmakers have advocated for quick “fixes” in response to perilous economic situations. However, minimum wage increases almost […] -
Research & Commentary: Texas Economy Does Not Need Minimum Wage Hikes
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Texas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 1126, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Lone Star State from its current $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour, beginning January 1, 2025. HB 1126 would incrementally raise the minimum wage beginning with an increase to $12.50 per hour for the remainder of […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hike Is an Ill-Advised Move for The Lone Star State
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Texas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 1919, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Lone Star State from its current $7.25 per hour to $17 per hour, beginning January 1, 2025. HB 1919 would initially increase the minimum wage to $13.50 per hour for the year 2024, before moving onto the […] -
Research & Commentary: Texas Does Not Need to Urge Congress for Federal Minimum Wage Increase
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Texas Legislature is considering HCR 50, a concurrent resolution that would implore Congress to raise the federal minimum wage from its current $7.25 per hour, to $15 per hour. HCR 50 also requests that the Texas Secretary of State forward official copies of the resolution to the president, leader of the Senate, Speaker of the […] -
Research & Commentary: Minimum Wage Hike Would Be a Bad Move for Lone Star State
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Texas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 737, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Lone Star State from its current $7.25 per hour to $15 per hour, beginning September 1, 2023. Historically, some state lawmakers have advocated for quick “fixes” in response to perilous economic situations. However, minimum wage increases almost […] -
Research & Commentary: EPA Finds Greenhouse Gas Emissions Continue to Decline Despite Soaring Oil and Gas Production
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2023 Draft Greenhouse Gas Inventory (GHGI) was released in early March, revealing total greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the United States were 2 percent below their 1990 levels in 2021, falling from a high of 15.7 percent above 1990 levels in 2007. According to the GHGI, all GHG emissions […] -
Research & Commentary: South Carolina General Assembly Is Standing Up to Big Tech
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The South Carolina General Assembly has introduced House Bill 3102, which would protect free speech on social media platforms for South Carolinians. This legislation provides citizens of the Palmetto State an avenue to seek a private cause of action and possible financial damages if their online free speech has been blocked, restricted, suspended, terminated, removed, or […] -
Research & Commentary: ‘Making Work Pay’ Act Is Ill-Advised Move for Kansas
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Kansas House of Representatives is considering House Bill 2368, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Sunflower State to $16 per hour by January 1, 2027. Also known as the Making Work Pay Act, this would be a substantial increase from Kansas’ current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. HB 2368 works in […] -
Research & Commentary: ‘Making Work Pay’ Act Would Undermine Kansas Economy
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Kansas Senate is considering Senate Bill 70, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Sunflower State to $16 per hour by January 1, 2027. Also known as the Making Work Pay Act, this would be a substantial increase from Kansas’ current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. SB 70 works in tandem with House […] -
Research & Commentary: Garden State Bill Would Protect Online Free Speech
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The New Jersey General Assembly has introduced Assembly Bill 1416, which would protect free speech on social media platforms for New Jerseyans. This legislation provides citizens of the Garden State an avenue to seek a private cause of action and possible financial damages if their online free speech has been blocked, restricted, suspended, terminated, removed, […] -
Research & Commentary: Hawaii Bill Would Clarify Gubernatorial Power During a State of Emergency
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Hawaii Legislature is attempting to elucidate the extent of gubernatorial powers during a state of emergency with House Bill 522. Under current law, during a state of emergency, the governor maintains the power to suspend electronic media transmission. HB 522 considers how broad and vague the verbiage is in the current statutes and would […] -
Research & Commentary: Anti-ESG Bill in Nebraska Will Ensure Cornhusker State Pension Funds Invested Appropriately
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Nebraska Legislature would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure state pension funds are invested solely to achieve the maximum return on investment for pensioners, rather than advancing social or political causes that may likely lead to lower returns and / or underperformance. ESG scores are essentially a risk […] -
Research & Commentary: ESA Program For Low-Income and Special Needs Children a Non-Brainer for Louisiana
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Louisiana House of Representatives would establish the Education Scholarship Account Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to low-income Louisiana children, as well as those with special educational needs. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, textbooks […] -
Research & Commentary: Texas Parental Empowerment Program Would Be Game-Changer for Lone Star State Families
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Texas House of Representatives would establish the Texas Parental Empowerment Program, an education savings account (ESA) program open to all children in the state. These accounts would cover tuition, fees, and curricula for eligible children at private and parochial schools, as well as educational therapies, transportation costs, textbooks, supplemental course materials, supplemental technological […] -
Research & Commentary: Oregon Legislature Standing Up to Governor Overreach Post-Pandemic
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Oregon legislature is attempting to take a significant swing at emergency powers granted to their governor and any future governors with Senate Bill 640. If passed, SB 640 would create stipulations on future states of emergency in the Beaver state. HB 640 safeguards citizens from gubernatorial overreach by stating that an executive order terminates 31 […] -
Research & Commentary: Anti-ESG Bill in Indiana Will Ensure Hoosier State Pension Funds Invested Appropriately
Publication -Research and Commentaries -Legislation in the Indiana House of Representatives would combat environmental, social and governance (ESG) scoring systems and ensure state pension funds are invested solely to achieve the maximum return on investment for pensioners, rather than advancing social or political causes that may likely lead to lower returns and / or underperformance. ESG scores are essentially […] -
Research & Commentary: A Minimum Wage Hike to $20 Per Hour Is an Ill-Advised Move for the Rhode Island Legislature
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Rhode Island General Assembly is considering Senate Bill 37, legislation that would raise the minimum wage in the Ocean State to $20 per hour by January 1, 2025. This is a dramatic increase from the current minimum wage of $13 per hour. The bill would initially increase the minimum wage to $15 per hour on […] -
Research & Commentary: Tennessee Legislature Could Amend State Code Relative to Governor’s Emergency Powers
Publication -Research and Commentaries -The Tennessee legislature is attempting to take a significant swing at gubernatorial emergency powers with House Bill 189. If passed, HB 189 would establish legislative oversight over the continuation of gubernatorial powers during a state of emergency. HB 189 stipulates that an executive order or proclamation issued by the governor expires no later than 45 days […]
