CVS hikes 2025 guidance despite goodwill impairment charge on healthcare delivery

The healthcare giant beat Wall Street expectations in the third quarter, but reported a net loss after recording a $5.7 billion charge linked primarily to decelerating clinic growth at Oak Street Health.

Tenet pledges more money for high-acuity growth in 2025

The hospital operator will invest more in organic hospital growth and high-acuity service lines as it sees strong demand for services.

Centene posts $6.6B loss on massive value writedown

The goodwill impairment charge is meant to realign Centene’s value on its own books with its value in the market, which has plummeted this year. Still, Centene upped its earnings outlook for 2025.

FDA, aiming to lower drug costs, moves to speed approval of biosimilars

The agency will no longer require studies comparing copycat biologics to their branded counterparts, which could help developers bring them to market more quickly and cheaply. 

UnitedHealth maps path back to Wall Street’s good graces

The healthcare giant beat Wall Street expectations in the third quarter and raised its 2025 earnings guidance, albeit modestly.

Voters blame insurers for medical debt: poll

More than 60% of respondents said insurance companies are most at fault for medical debt, compared with just 9% who blamed hospitals, according to a survey by nonprofit Undue Medical Debt.

UHS raises revenue guidance for 2025

The operator increased its outlook after posting earnings growth in the third quarter, aided by strong demand for services in its acute business and a newly approved Medicaid state supplemental payment program.

National payers OK on price transparency compliance: Turquoise Health

The company has started to score insurers on their success in making rate data available online. Large payers tend to do better than their smaller peers.

Health systems are racing to adopt AI. But can they prove its value?

Measuring financial returns from AI can be challenging, experts said at the HLTH conference last week. But other metrics, like provider and patient satisfaction, are important too — and also impact providers’ bottom lines.

Cigna’s Express Scripts to transition away from rebate drug model

The massive PBM also said it will move to a cost-plus reimbursement model for in-network pharmacies. The moves come as the controversial drug middlemen attempt to lessen regulatory scrutiny.

High volume of surprise billing disputes are ineligible for arbitration, insurers allege

Plans found 39% of claims submitted to independent dispute resolution last year were actually ineligible for the process, but arbiters themselves caught only 17% of improper cases, according to AHIP and the BCBSA.

Top healthcare conferences to attend in 2026

These are the events healthcare leaders should plan for next year, covering topics like digital health, rural care and financial management.

CHS promises more hospital divestitures during Q3 earnings call

The Tennessee-based health system will continue to sell hospitals as it looks to focus more on capital-efficient outpatient care.

HCA raises 2025 guidance, but eyes looming headwinds

The for-profit operator's guidance raise is "cautious," one analyst said. Still, HCA is staring down challenges like the potential expiration of more generous Affordable Care Act subsidies.

5 minutes with Sutter Health’s CHRO

Learning and development has proven key to fighting burnout and ensuring the success of Sutter’s people managers, according to executive Deborah Yount.

CMS calls back furloughed employees to help with Medicare, ACA enrollment periods

Roughly 3,000 employees went back to work on Monday, funded by user fees as the shutdown drags into its fourth week.

Senators show bipartisan support for reforming 340B during HELP hearing

Lawmakers called for more transparency about how hospitals are using 340B revenue, including audits of participating facilities. 

Optum taps its second CFO in 6 months

It’s the latest management shakeup at UnitedHealth as the company attempts to shore up investor confidence.

Teladoc finance chief to step down

Mala Murthy, who has served as CFO of the telehealth company since 2019, will leave the position next month for an opportunity outside the healthcare industry.

Ballad Health sues UnitedHealth for Medicare Advantage ‘manipulation’

The Appalachian system said it is turning to the courts as a last resort after failing to resolve years of payment and patient care issues.

Molina slashes 2025 profit guidance again on ACA woes

Molina’s profit in the third quarter plummeted as the insurer was hit with an increase in marketplace medical costs that one analyst called “staggering.”

Health systems say AI is helping with care management, documentation burden

Executives from Houston Methodist, Risant Health, UPMC and Advocate Health took the stage at HLTH 2025 to discuss early results of their AI investments.

AHA urges tariff exceptions for certain PPE, medical devices

The American Hospital Association warned future tariffs arising from the Trump administration’s Section 232 investigation could disrupt access to an array of tools and personal protective equipment.

Top RFK aide lashes out against healthcare industry for profiting off of illness

Calley Means stopped short of accusing hospitals, insurers and drug companies of actively working to keep Americans sick, but said it was an "economic fact" that the companies benefit financially when people are ill.

‘A quiet alarm bell going off’: Job-based family coverage hits $27K annually

Premium increases are outpacing wage growth and general inflation at a time of intense focus on healthcare affordability, according to new research from KFF.