Sanford-Fairview merger dead, following significant stakeholder pressures

Sanford and Fairview explored all options to keep the merger viable, but ultimately were forced to end the process due to a lack of support in Minnesota, Sanford CEO Bill Gassen said.

By Susanna Vogel • July 28, 2023

Centene’s 2024 outlook hampered by Medicaid redeterminations

The payer lost 262,700 Medicaid members in the second quarter, dropping its total Medicaid lives to just over 16 million.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 28, 2023

Nevada to shut down Friday Health Plans

State regulators will liquidate the failing insurtech, leaving about 3,000 enrollees to look for new coverage.

By Emily Olsen • July 27, 2023

HCA raises full-year outlook on strengthening admissions

The hospital chain's second quarter earnings beat Wall Street’s expectations on Thursday, as revenue rose off of increased utilization of inpatient and outpatient services.

By Susanna Vogel • July 27, 2023

Molina reports Medicaid redeterminations proceeding as expected

Despite concerns about high early levels of disenrollments, the payer lost 93,000 Medicaid members during the second quarter — well within forecasts, CEO Joe Zubretsky said.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 27, 2023

UHS beat Wall Street estimates for Q2 earnings on ‘high demand’ at acute care hospitals

The hospital operator raised lower-bound revenue expectations for 2023 after reporting a year-over-year increase in profit and revenue.

By Susanna Vogel • July 26, 2023

This year will not bring ‘full rebound’ for nonprofit hospitals

Many nonprofit hospitals suffered their worst operational year on record in 2022. This year is unlikely to bring a complete end to financial hardships, according to Fitch Ratings.

By Susanna Vogel • July 25, 2023

PE ownership worsens quality, raises costs, according to BMJ review

The analysis comes as private equity investments in healthcare soar and regulators look to crack down on roll-up acquisitions.

By Sydney Halleman • July 24, 2023

Elevance curbs elevated medical costs, raises 2023 forecast

Although it’s still early in the redeterminations process, Elevance is seeing “encouraging” signs that many Medicaid members who lose coverage are transitioning onto ACA plans, according to its CFO.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 19, 2023

Colorado to shut down failing Friday Health Plans

State regulators had initially hoped the insurtech could operate for the rest of the year, but Colorado’s insurance division became concerned about Friday’s longevity after placing the insurer into rehabilitation.

By Emily Olsen • July 18, 2023

UnitedHealth beats Q2 expectations, despite medical cost growth fears

Rising outpatient utilization among seniors that spooked investors earlier in the quarter left the payer’s bottom line largely unscathed.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 14, 2023

M&A transactions heat up to pre-pandemic levels, Kaufman Hall finds

Transactions in Q2 were the most in a single quarter since the COVID-19 pandemic began — a sign the M&A market is “regaining momentum.”

By Susanna Vogel • July 14, 2023

CFPB urged to abolish deferred interest amid medical debt concerns

Panelists who spoke during a recent hearing on medical billing and collections identified deferred interest credit cards as a prime culprit saddling patients with medical debt.

By Caitlin Mullen • July 13, 2023

Humana, Elevance, Centene downgraded days before second-quarter earnings kickoff

J.P. Morgan and Wolfe Research analysts cited uncertainty and pricing concerns in Medicare Advantage in addition to cost pressures in the commercial market when downgrading major U.S. payers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • July 13, 2023

New normal: Less money, fewer investors for digital health

Rock Health’s latest report found U.S. startups raised $6.1 billion across 244 deals in the first half of 2023. If investment stays at the same pace, the sector is facing its lowest funding year since 2019.

By Emily Olsen • July 11, 2023

Feds drill down on medical cards

With consumers increasingly tapping medical credit cards to pay for healthcare costs, the Biden administration is zeroing in on regulations to police such financial services.

By Lynne Marek • July 10, 2023

Home health industry group sues CMS, HHS over payment cuts

The National Association for Home Care and Hospice said regulators used “an illogical and invalid methodology” in a new payment model.

By Emily Olsen • July 7, 2023

Healthcare costs will grow 7% next year, PwC finds

Providers are expected to seek rate increases from payers as they struggle with labor costs, while health plans will face pressure from increased pharmaceutical expenses.

By Emily Olsen • June 29, 2023

Primary care compensation growth outpacing other specialties

Primary care doctors have particularly benefited from CMS coding tweaks in 2021, according to a new survey. The gains could help narrow the compensation gap between primary care physicians and other specialties.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 29, 2023

MA beneficiaries with chronic conditions have lower utilization, spending, industry-backed report finds

The Better Medicare Alliance-funded analysis compared beneficiaries with hypertension, hyperlipidemia and diabetes across MA and traditional Medicare and found that spending was “consistently higher” among FFS beneficiaries.

By Emily Olsen • June 28, 2023

Hospital operating margins positive for third consecutive month: Kaufman Hall

Hospitals’ financial health has yet to return to pre-pandemic levels, but it appears to be stabilizing as Congress debates changing federal payments to providers.

By Susanna Vogel • June 28, 2023

FTC proposes updates to merger review that could slow healthcare dealmaking

A new rule proposed by antitrust regulators would ask companies to provide additional information about planned mergers to help the Federal Trade Commission keep pace with increased deal volume and complexity.

By Emily Olsen • June 28, 2023

Walgreens stock plummets after pharmacy chain cuts 2023 outlook

“Our performance in the third quarter did not meet our overall expectations,” Walgreens CEO Roz Brewer told investors Tuesday morning.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 27, 2023

Babylon to go private, merge with MindMaze

The take-private proposal from AlbaCore Capital comes after the digital health firm has fared poorly on the stock market.

By Emily Olsen • June 26, 2023

UnitedHealth to acquire Amedisys for $3.3B after home health provider reneges on Option deal

The deal would be UnitedHealth’s second purchase of a home health and hospice company, as the integrated healthcare giant looks to capture revenue from medical care increasingly delivered outside of hospitals.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 26, 2023