Finance

Investment income plays important role for nonprofit hospitals, Fitch says

Portfolios can be vital to cushioning hospitals from unforeseen operating challenges, according to a new report from the ratings agency.
By Samantha Liss • Oct. 17, 2019
Hospital M&A for 2019 slightly above last year's pace

The third quarter featured 25 announced transactions valued at $8.14 billion, lagging behind the second quarter's near-record of $11.3 billion, according to a new report from Kaufman Hall.
By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 16, 2019
Medicare, Medicaid hospital payment cuts to hit $252.6B, industry study finds

"Hospitals are nearing the tipping point we have predicted for so long," Chip Kahn, CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals, said of the report commissioned by his group and AHA.
By Linda Wilson • Oct. 16, 2019
UnitedHealth boasts $60B revenue in Q3, buoyed by Optum

The massive healthcare company kicked off managed care organizations' earnings season Tuesday by handily beating Wall Street expectations.
By Rebecca Pifer • Oct. 15, 2019
California bill to end excessive dialysis profits becomes law

Fresenius said it's concerned the new law will result in patients only being able to access care at hospitals due to lack of insurance coverage.
By Susan Kelly • Oct. 15, 2019
Providers mostly applaud CMS over fee schedule, but some specialists fear cuts

Though lobbying groups lauded the agency for walking back a controversial E/M proposal, psychologists predicted a "mass exodus" of those who treat Medicare beneficiaries.
By Samantha Liss • Oct. 01, 2019
Worker health insurance costs surpass wage growth, survey finds

"This survey underscores for me why for most Americans the issue is affordability much more than it is expanding coverage. And it really is just math," Kaiser Family Foundation CEO Drew Altman said of the results.
By Linda Wilson • Sept. 26, 2019
Healthcare job growth continues, but pace slows

Ambulatory care saw the biggest job gains, while nursing care facilities, residential mental health facilities and offices of non-physician healthcare practitioners saw slight seasonally adjusted drop-offs.
By Ron Shinkman • Sept. 09, 2019
Multiple sclerosis drug costs skyrocketed for Medicare and patients, study finds

Out-of-pocket spending on MS medications increased by more than 600% in the decade from 2006 to 2016, while the typical list price quadrupled.
By Andrew Dunn • Aug. 27, 2019
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Oklahoma judge orders J&J pay $572M in landmark opioid case

"We ask the judge to ensure that needed funds are directed to the hospitals and health systems that are on the forefront of caring for the victims of this epidemic," AHA said in a joint statement with the Oklahoma Hospital Association.
By Ned Pagliarulo • Aug. 26, 2019
Mayo Clinic profits almost triple in the quarter to $500M

The Rochester, Minnesota-based health system had revenue of $3.4 billion in the second quarter of the year, up almost 10% year-over-year due to growth in several markets including Rochester, Phoenix and Jacksonville.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 26, 2019
Advocate Aurora posts bump in expenses tied to early retirement incentives

The system has shifted focus to more lucrative outpatient visits in an attempt to recoup volume, a strategy that seems to be paying off with the increase in patient revenue.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 23, 2019
Big health plans pledge to look beyond shareholders. Critics aren't so sure

Skeptics call the letter from the Business Roundtable a political stunt in lieu of concrete action. Kaiser Permanente chose not to sign, citing its not-for-profit status.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 19, 2019
Allscripts reaches $145M settlement with DOJ over subsidiary business practices

The Chicago-based health IT vendor reported a $145 million charge to settle claims that its Practice Fusion unit falsified EHR certification and violated anti-kickback laws.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 09, 2019
CVS handily beats estimates, hikes 2019 forecast

The tailwinds helping the chain in the first quarter kept blowing in the second, generating revenue of $63.4 billion largely due to the Aetna acquisition.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 07, 2019
Admissions growth boosts Tenet Q2 beat

Same-hospital adjusted admissions were up 2.2%, which the hospital chain said represented its strongest volume growth since 2014-15.
By Shannon Muchmore • UPDATED: Aug. 6, 2019 at 1:29 p.m.
CHS posts bigger Q2 net loss, but still beats Wall Street forecasts

As part of its ongoing divestiture strategy, CHS has entered into definitive agreements to sell three additional hospitals and is continuing to look for potential buyers.
By Rebecca Pifer • UPDATED: Aug. 6, 2019 at 12:15 p.m.
Hospitals hit bump, but healthcare jobs showed steady growth in July

Virtually all the healthcare job growth occurred in ambulatory care. The segment accounted for 29,000 new jobs alone.
By Ron Shinkman • Aug. 05, 2019
Still not profitable, but Teladoc reports healthy Q2 membership, visit growth

The company is in late-stage contracts with several Fortune 500 companies and deal volume is expected to ramp up in the latter half of the year, CEO Jason Gorevic told investors.
By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 01, 2019
Molina beats Q2 expectations despite drops in income, revenue

The insurer raised its guidance for the full year, suggesting it "isn't experiencing the challenges some MCOs have mentioned" in earlier reports for the second quarter, analysts at Jefferies said.
By Shannon Muchmore • July 31, 2019
HCA falls short in Q2, unconcerned on CMS price transparency push

Executives at the major hospital chain don't expect the government's plan to reveal negotiated rates will affect financial performance moving into the second half of the year and beyond.
By Rebecca Pifer • July 30, 2019
Hospital profitability down as operators lack flexibility to cut costs, Kaufman Hall says

A drop in June marked the first decline this year. Operating margins were down 1.88%, according to a report from Kaufman Hall.
By Shannon Muchmore • July 29, 2019
Despite some headwinds, healthcare deal volume remains robust

The value of the deals was also on the rise: over 10% higher than the average of the preceding seven quarters, according to a new report from PwC.
By Ron Shinkman • July 26, 2019
Cerner misses Q2 mark on revenue, net earnings down

Bookings were also down 20% year over year, which executives at the EHR giant chalked up to higher-than-usual bookings last year due to a massive $10 billion VA contract.
By Rebecca Pifer • July 24, 2019