Ballad Health increased lobbying spending in 2025

Ballad Health spent about $550,000 in lobbying last year, marking the most it's paid in those expenses in at least five years. According to lobbying disclosure reports, firms FrogueClark and DB3 (formerly known as The Daschle Group) lobbied for the health system to both chambers of Congress and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. They focused on hospital reimbursement issues and regulatory relief for low-wage hospitals. One firm also lobbied on the Save Rural Hospitals Act of 2023, a bill that proposed a national minimum Medicare reimbursement rate for hospitals. A letter of support from the American Hospital Association that year noted that Medicare reimbursement rates majorly impact the financial sustainability of rural hospitals. In a statement emailed to Six Rivers Media, Ballad Health said it seeks to ensure policymakers consider the needs of rural regions when making decisions. "Workforce issues, policies that impact financing of rural healthcare and the sustainability of rural hospitals are top priorities," the statement said. "Health systems that serve urban and suburban communities invest heavily in efforts to influence public policy, and it's important our issues as a rural system are considered." In previous years, Ballad has spent the following on lobbying: 2024: $420,000 2023: $520,000 2022: $520,000 2021: $490,000 In the fourth quarter of 2025 alone (Oct. 1 to Dec. 31), Ballad spent $170,000 on lobbying. That outpaces spending from every other quarter last year, as well as every fourth quarter since 2022. The increased spending isn't unique to the local health system — overall health care lobbying expenditures spiked 16% in the first three quarters of 2025, according to Modern Healthcare. The rise is likely due to sweeping cuts to Medicaid and other health policies. Individual lobbyists did not respond to requests for comment.