Finances: Page
-
Labor, supply chain pressures mount for US hospitals, Fitch says
Staffing shortages, higher transportation costs and trouble sourcing some materials threaten healthcare revenue and operating margins in the near term, the ratings agency said.
By Susan Kelly • Nov. 22, 2021 -
Ascension reports second-highest COVID-19 inpatient count
The St. Louis-based nonprofit reported operating income of $25 million for the quarter, a steep decline from the prior-year period.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 22, 2021 -
CVS unveils new health-focused retail strategy, explicit move into primary care
Along with outlining three new store formats — including sites for primary care delivery, a new area for the retail drugstore behemoth — CVS plans to close 900 stores over the next three years as consumer buying patterns change.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 19, 2021 -
Mayo Clinic reports jump in operating income during Q3
The Rochester, Minnesota-based nonprofit reported robust financial results as revenue grew 10%, outpacing expense growth during a quarter in which rising costs challenged many systems due to heightened labor demands.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 19, 2021 -
Insurtechs notched feverishly high MLRs in Q3. But it's not necessarily a mark of poor cost management
Despite strong year-over-year revenue growth, the finances of Bright, Clover and Oscar were walloped by coronavirus and risk adjustment headwinds.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 17, 2021 -
CommonSpirit continuing to pursue Midwest deal as delta pressures operations
The nonprofit is currently in discussions with an undisclosed third party to negotiate the divestiture of its North Dakota and Minnesota facilities, according to its first quarter results.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 17, 2021 -
As Congress weighs drug price restraints, ICER calls out 'unsupported' increases
In a new report, ICER highlighted AbbVie's price hikes on Humira, which the group said resulted in more than $1 billion in U.S. spending last year without any new evidence of health benefits.
By Jonathan Gardner • Nov. 16, 2021 -
Providence posts operating loss amid delta surge
The nonprofit's volumes increased even though its COVID-19 census plateaued later in the quarter, as patients who deferred care during the pandemic sought treatment, hiking expenses.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn , Samantha Liss • Nov. 16, 2021 -
Baylor Scott & White sees income dip in Q1 as costs climb
Labor costs at the largest nonprofit health system in Texas surged 12% in the quarter ended in September, contributing to a 7% drop in income from operations.
By Susan Kelly • Nov. 15, 2021 -
Providers were protected from pay cuts, layoffs as volumes fell during pandemic, survey finds
"You saw how groups tightened their belts and there was some learning from this that you're not going to let go of," Elizabeth Siemsen, one of the report's authors, said.
By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 12, 2021 -
Delta surge spurs Amwell's urgent care growth as specialty, behavioral visits drop off
Urgent care visits generate less revenue, so the shift in mix had an unfavorable impact on total revenue per visit. Amwell's revenue was down 1% year over year to $62.2 million, lower than analyst expectations.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 11, 2021 -
Family premiums rise as employers boost virtual, mental health benefits, KFF finds
About half of employers with at least 200 workers reported healthcare utilization among their plan enrollees was in line with expectations for the most recent quarter, while 32% said it was below estimates.
By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 11, 2021 -
1 in 3 patients defer healthcare due to existing medical debt, TransUnion finds
The credit bureau's healthcare data analytics unit also reported a 55% rise in financial assistance transactions from September 2020 to September 2021.
By Susan Kelly • Nov. 10, 2021 -
Oak Street faces DOJ inquiry into third-party marketing, transportation relationships
Analysts said the inquiry, while in early stages, could pressure the company's stock. "This creates a new potential risk factor that we are unlikely to get clarity on for some time," SVB Leerink analyst Whit Mayo said.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 9, 2021 -
Kaiser's operating margin dwindles as COVID-19 expenses, labor costs rise
Along with ongoing pandemic stresses, the California nonprofit is facing rising expenses amid intense workforce pressure as it faces the start of a major strike next week.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 8, 2021 -
Insurer profitability remained strong in Q3 despite unexpectedly high COVID-19 costs
For most payers, higher-than-expected coronavirus costs were offset by patients continuing to delay nonessential medical care.
Nov. 5, 2021 -
Cigna reports special enrollment period led to bump in medical claims, still posts $1.6B profit
Analysts characterized the third quarter results as mixed, even as the payer hiked its forecast for the remainder of the year.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 4, 2021 -
Adults support major changes to US healthcare system amid rising costs, survey finds
Those surveyed showed the widest support for policy changes that could lower drug costs, followed by measures limiting what both hospitals and doctors can charge for services, according to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 4, 2021 -
Iora boosts One Medical's 50% revenue growth, but medical costs ding Q3 bottom line
Currently, at-risk membership makes up less than 5% of One Medical's overall membership base. But Medicare revenue in the quarter made up more than a fifth of the primary care chain's topline.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 4, 2021 -
Humana cuts outlook after delta surge raises utilization expectations
Hospitalization trends were on par with January 2021, the height of the pandemic. As a result, Humana expects utilization to run higher than its original forecast, cutting into earnings expectations for the full year.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 3, 2021 -
CMS finalizes plans to hike price transparency penalties, extend telehealth flexibilities
The agency is also moving forward with a plan to stop the elimination of the Medicare inpatient-only list, which is a win for hospitals.
By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 3, 2021 -
COVID-19 medical costs drag Aetna's commercial business, but CVS still posts $1.6B in Q3 profit
Though the pandemic continues to stress CVS' payer segment, drugstores continue to benefit from COVID-19 testing and vaccinations, particularly as a greater number of employers begin to mandate the shots.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 3, 2021 -
Delta dragged down hospital margins in September, Kaufman Hall says
Patient volumes declined in almost every key category, including emergency room visits and operating room minutes, according to the consulting group.
By Samantha Liss • Nov. 2, 2021 -
For-profit hospitals had more COVID-19 admissions in Q3
While the ongoing pandemic exacerbated labor strains for operators, volumes rose across the board — especially in emergency departments.
By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 2, 2021 -
Deep Dive
Why are women more likely to use telehealth?
As Washington mulls over telehealth regulations post-COVID-19, it's important not to roll back access in a way that could disproportionately affect women, experts say.
By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 2, 2021