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Third Way

Series

Fixing America's Broken Hospitals

Fixing America’s Broken Hospitals seeks to explore and modernize a foundation of our health care system. A raft of structural issues, including lack of competition, misaligned incentives, and outdated safety net policies, have led to unsustainable practices. The result is too many instances of hospitals charging unchecked prices, using questionable billing and aggressive debt collection practices, abusing public programs, and failing to identify and serve community needs. Our work will shed light on issues facing hospitals and advance proposals so they can have a financially and socially sustainable future.

Policy Products

Wisconsin Hospital Prices HG
Memo Published October 13, 2026

The Heartland Battle Over Hospital Prices: Why Wisconsin Is Losing

David Kendall

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Report Published December 17, 2025

How Congress Should Keep Fighting Surprise Medical Bills

Darbin Wofford

FA Qs Site Neutral Payments HG
Memo Published December 4, 2025

10 FAQs on Site-Neutral Payment Reforms

Darbin Wofford

Third Way Applauds Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Hospital Prices
Press Release Published November 24, 2025

Third Way Applauds Bipartisan Legislation to Reduce Hospital Prices

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Memo Published September 17, 2025

The Progressive Case for Hospital Reform

Darbin Wofford, David Kendall, Gabe Horwitz

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Memo Published August 26, 2025

The GOP’s New Rural Health Program: All Show and No Go

Darbin Wofford

Third Way Statement of Support for the Bipartisan Fair Billing Act
Press Release Published August 1, 2025

Third Way Statement of Support for the Bipartisan Fair Billing Act

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Memo Published July 23, 2025

Revenue Cycle Managers—A Hidden Middleman Increasing Health Care Costs

Darbin Wofford

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Memo Published June 25, 2025

340B Hospitals are Lacking on Charity Care

Blair Elliott, Darbin Wofford

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Memo Published April 16, 2025

Your Guide to Legislation on the 340B Drug Pricing Program

Darbin Wofford

Medicaid cuts hurt hospitals v8
Memo Published March 25, 2025

Cuts to Medicaid Would Hurt Rural & Safety-Net Hospitals

Darbin Wofford, Blair Elliott

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Report Published February 12, 2025

How Hospitals are Raising Drug Prices

Darbin Wofford

The Cassidy Hassan Hospital Reform Bill HG
Memo Published February 4, 2025

Explainer: The Cassidy-Hassan Hospital Reform Bill

Darbin Wofford

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Memo Published January 22, 2025

Questions for Lawmakers to Ask Their Hospitals

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published December 5, 2024

A Policymaker’s Guide to America’s Hospital Financing System

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published October 30, 2024

Lowering Prices and Six Other Big Challenges for US Hospitals

David Kendall, Darbin Wofford

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Report Published August 15, 2024

Tale of Two Hospitals: Why Some Hospitals Succeed and Others Do Not

David Kendall, Darbin Wofford

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Letter Published July 10, 2024

Third Way Leads Coalition Letter on the SITE Act

Darbin Wofford

Stop Hospitals from Dumping Patients HG
Report Published June 20, 2024

Stop Hospitals from Dumping Patients

Darbin Wofford

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Memo Published May 22, 2024

The Polling Numbers Behind Hospital Reform

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published March 27, 2024

Same Service, Same Price: Tackling Hospitals’ Add-On Facility Fees

Darbin Wofford

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Talking Points Published March 12, 2024

Same Service, Same Price: Reasons to Support

Darbin Wofford

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Memo Published March 12, 2024

Lowering Hospital Prices while Protecting Rural Patients

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published February 13, 2024

A National Charity Care Law to Improve Nonprofit Hospitals

Darbin Wofford, Kylie Murdock, David Kendall

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Memo Published January 4, 2024

An Agenda to Fix America’s Broken Hospitals

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published January 4, 2024

Fixing Maine’s Broken Hospitals: A Case Study

Darbin Wofford

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Blog Published November 14, 2023

Small State, Big Hospital Costs

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published November 14, 2023

Fixing a Critical Safety Net Program: 340B

Darbin Wofford, David Kendall

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Report Published November 14, 2023

Revitalizing Safety Net Hospitals: Protecting Low-Income Americans from Losing Access to Care

David Kendall, Darbin Wofford, Kylie Murdock

Hc memo
Memo Published September 5, 2023

Hospital Consolidation Suppresses Workers’ Wages

Darbin Wofford

Shock Therapy How to Treat Out of Control Hospital Prices through Collective Negotiation HG
Report Published September 5, 2023

Shock Therapy: How to Treat Out-of-Control Hospital Prices through Collective Negotiation

David Kendall, Jacqueline Garry Lampert, Darbin Wofford

Header graphic
Memo Published July 26, 2023

Congress Steps Up on Fair Billing and Site Neutrality

Darbin Wofford

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Report Published June 6, 2023

End Hospitals’ Anticompetitive Business Practices

Jacqueline Garry Lampert, David Kendall, Darbin Wofford

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Report Published May 24, 2023

Stop Hospitals from Padding Bills for Routine Care

Darbin Wofford, David Kendall

In the Press

Capitol forum in the news
Third Way in the News Published November 21, 2025, Jodey Arrington

Arrington Fights to Lower Health Care Costs, Increase Transparency (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Senators have outline
Third Way in the News Published October 30, 2025, Roll Call

Senators have outline for drug price program, but vote is elusive (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published September 10, 2025, Inside Health Policy

CBO Report Confirms 340B Contributes To Higher Federal Spending (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Senators Hassan
Third Way in the News Published August 1, 2025, Senator Maggie Hassan

Senator Hassan Introduces Bipartisan Legislation to Increase Hospital Bill Transparency (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published July 25, 2025, Townhall

More Health Care Reform Is Needed (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published July 24, 2025, ThisIsReno

Medicaid cuts in Trump’s tax bill put Nevada hospitals, patients with disabilities at risk (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published July 24, 2025, Capitol Forum

CMS Proposes Site Neutral Payments for Drug Administration; Impacts on Competition, Consolidation Among Oncology Practices (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published July 23, 2025, The Wisconsin Independent

Trump’s changes to Medicaid, Obamacare cause uncertainty in Wisconsin health care (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published June 9, 2025, Inside Health Policy

Advocates Across Political Spectrum Push Site-Neutral Reform As Senate Eyes Medicare Changes In Reconciliation Talks (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published May 27, 2025, Inside Health Policy

Trump’s 340B Request Could Further Convolute Existing Program Issues (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Drug price transparency pills
Third Way in the News Published May 5, 2025, Modern Healthcare

Drug tariffs could boost 340B discounts—and scrutiny (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published April 15, 2025, Axios Pro

States eye 340B changes with Congress stalled (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published March 13, 2025, The Capitol Forum

A Closer Look at Site-Neutral Medicare Payment Proposals Under Trump, Health Care Industry Impacts (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published February 12, 2025, Inside Health Policy

Third Way Floats 340B Reforms Spurred By New Analysis (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published February 11, 2025, Axios

Nonprofit hospital draws backlash for Super Bowl ad (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published December 17, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Congress Moves Forward With 2.5% Physician Pay Fix, Omits Site-Neutral, Prior Auth Reforms (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Third Way Statement on Congressional Agreement to Lower Hospital Prices
Press Release Published December 17, 2024

Third Way Statement on Congressional Agreement to Lower Hospital Prices

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Third Way in the News Published December 5, 2024, Axios Pro

340B reform likely to stretch into next year (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published November 5, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Cassidy, Hassan Unveil Site-Neutral Payment Bill; Propose Reinvestment In Rural, High-Needs Hospitals (external link)

Third Way Statement on Senate Framework to Lower Hospital Prices for Seniors
Press Release Published November 1, 2024

Third Way Statement on Senate Framework to Lower Hospital Prices for Seniors

Senators Cassidyand Hassan
Third Way in the News Published November 1, 2024

Cassidy, Hassan Release Policy Framework on Medicare Site-Neutral Reform to Lower Health Care Costs (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published October 22, 2024, Boston Globe

A doctor’s appointment, a $1,000 ‘room fee’: Hospital acquisitions drive up health care costs for N.H. patients (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published September 16, 2024, Washington Reporter

Op-ed: Shawn Gremminger and Bret Jackson: What is hospital dumping and why should legislators, employers and patients care? (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published August 30, 2024, Axios

1 big thing: Into the hospital margin rabbit hole (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published August 15, 2024, Real Clear Health

Lawmakers Must Stop Hospitals from Taking Seniors Hostage (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published July 15, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Senators Eye Landmark Transparency Bill To Combat Rising Hospital Costs, Industry Noncompliance (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published July 11, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Coalition To Senate Finance: Mark Up SITE Act To Address Rising Health Care Costs, Hospital Consolidation (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published June 20, 2024, Politico Pulse

First in Pulse: A Hospital Pricing Tactic (external link)

Congress
Third Way in the News Published June 7, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Coalition Presses Senate Finance To Hold Hearing On Site-Neutral Policies, APTCs (external link)

Third Way

Lower Costs More Transparency
Third Way in the News Published May 29, 2024, Fierce Healthcare

House Republicans' new 340B bill 'a pharmaceutical industry wish list,' hospitals say (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Third Way Statement on Legislation to Improve the 340B Drug Pricing Program
Press Release Published May 28, 2024

Third Way Statement on Legislation to Improve the 340B Drug Pricing Program

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Third Way in the News Published May 28, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Bucshon Introduces New Bill To Clarify 340B Intent, Operations (external link)

Darbin Wofford, Gabe Horwitz

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Third Way in the News Published May 28, 2024, Inside Health Policy

House Budget Chair Stresses Site-Neutral Policies To Combat Health Care Consolidation (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Modern HC
Third Way in the News Published April 22, 2024, Modern Healthcare

Medicare Advantage fight shifts to 340B arena (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published April 18, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Burgess: Site Neutral Policies Key To Stable Doc Pay, Lower Overall Costs (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published March 18, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Talks On Another Health Package Broke Down As Spending Deadline Looms (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published February 13, 2024, CQ

Centrist think tank encourages Congress to crack down in nonprofit hospital tax breaks (external link)

Cap Bloom
Third Way in the News Published February 14, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Third Way Pushes For Charity Care Law Amid Hospital Extender Turmoil (external link)

Third Way

Cap
Third Way in the News Published February 8, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Site-Neutral Provisions Remain In Limbo As CR Clock Ticks (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published January 11, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Industry-Wide Site-Neutral Fight Soars As Funding Fight Escalates (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published January 9, 2024, Maine Wire

Maine Healthcare Costs Soar as Competition Dwindles (external link)

Darbin Wofford

US Capitol
Third Way in the News Published January 9, 2024, Inside Health Policy

Hospitals Eye NDAA Transfer For DSH Delay As Site-Neutral Peters Out (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published January 4, 2024, Maine Public

Hospital consolidation drives high health care costs in Maine, according to progressive think tank (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published January 4, 2024, BNN

Hospital Consolidation Linked to Rising Prices in Maine (external link)

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Third Way in the News Published January 4, 2024, The Portland Press Herald

National advocacy group blames hospital consolidation for Maine’s high health care costs (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Fiercelogodarbinhit
Third Way in the News Published December 11, 2023, Fierce Healthcare

House price transparency legislation passes with bipartisan support (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Third Way Statement on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act
Press Release Published December 12, 2023

Third Way Statement on the Lower Costs, More Transparency Act

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Third Way in the News Published November 14, 2023, STAT

What health policies could hitch a ride on a spending bill? (external link)

US Capitol
Third Way in the News Published November 17, 2023, InsideHealthPolicy

Hospitals, Consumers Clash On Site-Neutral Pay Amid Uncertainty On Health Package (external link)

Darbin Wofford

US Capitol
Third Way in the News Published November 2, 2023, 340B Report

340B Lobbying Still on Track for Record Year (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published October 25, 2023, Axios

340B scrutiny grows on multiple fronts (external link)

Darbin Wofford

US Capitol
Third Way in the News Published October 12, 2023, Inside Health Policy

Sanders Issues Non-Profit Oversight Recs As AHA Touts Charity Care Efforts (external link)

Darbin Wofford

US Capitol
Third Way in the News Published September 14, 2023, Inside Health Policy

Sanders, Marshall Debut Workforce, Funding Package As Fiscal Clock Runs Down (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Medstarhealth
Third Way in the News Published September 20, 2023, Inside Health Policy

Hospitals Call For Sanders-Marshall Bill Edits As CHCs Urge Passage (external link)

Darbin Wofford

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Third Way in the News Published September 6, 2023, Inside Health Policy

House Committees Unveil Draft Transparency, Extenders Package (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Capitol guardian
Third Way in the News Published July 25, 2023, Inside Health Policy

W&M To Mark Up Site Neutral, Fair Billing Policies From PATIENT Act (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Third Way Statement on Recent Legislation to Lower Health Care Prices
Press Release Published June 13, 2023

Third Way Statement on Recent Legislation to Lower Health Care Prices

Capitol guardian
Third Way in the News Published May 24, 2023, InsideHealthPolicy

House E&C Advances Site-Neutral Pay Reforms Over NY Dem Worries (external link)

Darbin Wofford

Arnoldventures
Third Way in the News Published May 5, 2023, Arnold Ventures

Why the Left, Right and Center All Agree on Site-Neutral Payments (external link)

Darbin Wofford