National health spending reached $4.3 trillion in 2021

Increases in healthcare utilization and insurance coverage were offset by lower government spending on COVID-19, according to new CMS data.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 14, 2022

Nonprofit hospitals’ staffing challenges easing, Fitch says

Still, the ongoing pandemic, influenza and RSV cases are causing capacity issues that pose a major near-term risk to labor costs.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 14, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

The Healthcare Dive Outlook on 2023

COVID-19 will continue to be a key presense in 2023, as the public health emergency is slated to end in May, sparking a major transition for the industry.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Bright Health in danger of being booted from NYSE

The insurtech, which went public last year, has struggled with medical costs during the pandemic and has shrunk its business over the past year.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 13, 2022

5 hospital shipping oversights that create financial waste

Shipping and receiving may not get much attention in busy healthcare environments, but there are untapped efficiencies that can come from a more robust and centralized strategy. 

Dec. 12, 2022

Centene reaches $17M settlement with Oregon

The payer has reached settlements with 13 states over allegations it overcharged Medicaid programs.

By Samantha Liss • Dec. 9, 2022

For most of COVID-19 pandemic, major for-profit hospitals’ operating margins exceeded years prior

HCA and Tenet had operating margins of at least 10% and at least 5%, respectively, in nine out of 11 quarters, according to a report out Monday from the Kaiser Family Foundation.

By Hailey Mensik • Dec. 5, 2022

Key healthcare stories from 2022

This year has been especially tumultuous for healthcare, with the overturning of Roe v. Wade, numerous labor disputes and major M&A announcements.

By Shannon Muchmore • Dec. 5, 2022

Cleveland Clinic losses top $1.5B amid inflation pressures

Hospital operators are continuing to report rising losses in a tricky operating environment, with staffing shortages and high labor costs pressuring finances.

By Rebecca Pifer • Dec. 1, 2022

Hospitals to end year with negative margins, Kaufman Hall reports

Systems face continued staffing shortages and fewer discharges amid increased expenses, according to Kaufman Hall’s report.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 30, 2022

UnitedHealth Group projects up to $360B in 2023 revenue, buoyed by Optum growth

The projected revenue growth comes after the Department of Justice announced this month it would appeal a federal judge’s decision that allowed UnitedHealth’s $13 billion purchase of Change Healthcare to close.

By Sydney Halleman • Nov. 30, 2022

Advocate Aurora plans to hike rates at Wisconsin locations

The Midwest hospital system said the increases are necessary to offset continued market and industry challenges compounded by inflation, inadequate reimbursement rates and ripple effects from the COVID-19 pandemic.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 30, 2022

Amwell in talks to acquire Talkspace: report

The reported $200 million transaction reflects Talkspace's declining value since the therapy company went public last summer at a $1.4 billion valuation.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 28, 2022

Midwest health systems on track to merge

At a time when the pace of healthcare mergers has slowed, Bellin Health and Gundersen Health System are forming a system of 11 hospitals.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 23, 2022

Intermountain ekes out slim profit, weighed down by supply, labor costs

The Salt Lake City-based system, which merged earlier this year with Colorado-based SCL Health, said labor expenses are up 45% from a year ago.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 22, 2022

Health tech companies weigh options to stem cash burn as IPO market sags

Healthcare technology companies are delaying initial share sales as public market stocks and valuations plunge across the sector. Where will they turn in the meantime?

By Sydney Halleman • Nov. 21, 2022

Mayo Clinic income slumps as expenses climb in Q3

Expenses outpaced revenue growth as the Minnesota-based health system became the latest provider to report a recent drop in operating income.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 21, 2022

Morgan Health nabs Walmart executive to accelerate strategy around population health

Cheryl Pegus is leaving Walmart’s health division to work as a managing director for JPMorgan’s venture attempting to lower employer health costs.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 21, 2022

‘Not in la la land’: As digital health funding ebbs, VCs urge startups to be conservative

The explosion of funding during the pandemic was a good thing, but the ongoing market correction is a good thing too as only the best business models will survive, prominent investors argued at HLTH.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 18, 2022

Advocate Aurora remains in the red with reduced investments, higher labor costs

The nonprofit health system’s results add to the chorus of hospital providers reporting continued labor challenges.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 18, 2022

CommonSpirit posts $400M loss due to higher labor costs, dip in volumes

The health system said its payer mix has softened, as revenue from commercial members dropped compared to the first quarter of last year.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 16, 2022

Elevance plans to continue aggressive M&A, CEO says

CEO Gail Boudreaux said the insurer plans to grow "very aggressively" into adjacent care services.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 15, 2022

General Catalyst adds 10 new health system partners, including UHS

The venture capital firm connects health systems to health tech startups, allowing partner hospitals to develop new technologies in exchange for the startups testing their products on the ground.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 15, 2022

Slower digital health funding prompts rise in M&A activity: report

Companies are expected to continue to explore tie-ups during an unfavorable fundraising period.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 10, 2022

Bright Health ceases MA operations in Florida in latest business cut

The newest reduction for the insurtech comes less than a month after Bright announced it was leaving the Affordable Care Act exchanges and slashing its Medicare Advantage footprint to just Florida and California.

By Rebecca Pifer • Nov. 10, 2022

Profits continue to climb for payers as possible recession looms

Despite talk of a recession, all major insurers expect a rosier end to 2022 than previously predicted. On the other hand, profits fell for large hospital operators faced with pricier labor and lower volumes.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 9, 2022