Dive Brief:
- UNC Health Care has reported $121 million operating income, 142 percent higher than the $50 million budgeted.
- The health system's $2.9 billion operating revenue is 5.8 percent higher than budgeted.
- UNC Health Care president of Affiliated Hospitals, Christopher Ellington, said some of the factors that drove net income to exceed budget included opening new clinics, monitoring expense growth and installing new Epic-based EHR system, called Epic@UNC.
Dive Insight:
The hospital system recorded fewer than expected discharges and surgery cases for the fiscal year ending June 30, but higher ED visits totaling 61,149 -- representing a figure 25 percent above budget. The higher number of ED visits has prompted Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina to request a big increase in health insurance premiums for those who buy ACA plans.