Humana rides MA wave, beats Q4 earnings expectations

The payer reported revenues of $14.17 billion for the year, compared to $13.9 billion in 2017. CFO Brian Kane attributed the growth to Medicare Advantage membership, which grew by more than 9%.

By Tony Abraham • Feb. 6, 2019

Consumers aren't using health savings accounts for long-term savings strategy, study finds

Spending HSA funds on regular care leaves consumers at risk of paying out-of-pocket costs for emergencies and hospital visits, according to the report from Lively, Inc.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 6, 2019

Hospitals sparked industry job growth in January

The healthcare sector gained 42,000 jobs for the month, with ambulatory services showing the best growth, according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics numbers.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 4, 2019

Dignity-CHI merger creates largest nonprofit health system by revenue

The $29 billion system, called CommonSpirit Health, has more than 700 care locations and 142 hospitals in 21 states.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 4, 2019

Just 13% of hospital CFOs ready for new payment models

Financial leaders' top priority for 2019 is cutting organizational costs.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 1, 2019

Cigna posts revenue jump, but Wall Street not so impressed

The payer's CEO said the change to Medicare drug rebates HHS proposed Thursday won't have "a meaningful impact" on the company or its growth, but analysts question that outlook.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 1, 2019

Narrow networks can effectively control health costs, report finds

But excluding hospitals in narrow plans may harm patients who live near those facilities, according to the American Economic Association paper.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 30, 2019

California hospital revenue, profitability rose under ACA, Medicaid expansion

Expansion replaced nearly all county-run safety net programs in the state, according to a new National Bureau of Economic Research working paper.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 29, 2019

HCA ended 2018 with hike in revenue, admissions

The Nashville-based hospital chain beat analyst expectations again, finishing its 19th consecutive quarter of admissions increases.

By Tony Abraham • Jan. 29, 2019

Richmond, Virginia, has $500M+ of hospital projects planned or under construction

Hospitals and health systems in some areas are building and expanding despite difficult financial circumstances arising from softening admissions, among other factors.

By Kim Slowey • Jan. 28, 2019

Financial worries keep hospital CEOs up at night

Government mandates, patient safety and difficulty finding and keeping employees also were top of mind for executives, an American College of Healthcare Executives poll found.

By Rebecca Pifer • Jan. 28, 2019

ACA exchanges showing stability after rocky years

More payers are offering Affordable Care Act plans and premium increases are relatively modest despite attempts from Washington to undermine the law, according to a report from the Urban Institute.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 25, 2019

Diabetes costs escalated since 2012, mostly from insulin price hikes: report

The average cost of managing Type 1 diabetes in employer-sponsored health insurance plans rose by nearly $6,000 to $18,500 in 2016, according to the nonprofit Health Care Cost Institute.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 23, 2019

Health industry employee benefit costs up 14.6% since 2004

The annual cost of benefits per employee averaged $21,364 in 2018, according to an analysis by Bay Alarm Medical.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 22, 2019

Private equity boost, upskilling workers among 2019 sector trends, PwC reports

With the average health insurance deductible triple what it was a decade ago, the consultancy believes 2019 could also be the year for value line products and services — similar to the Southwest Airlines approach.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 18, 2019

Last year broke records for digital health funding, M&A

Nearly 700 deals accrued $9.5 billion in venture capital and private equity in 2018, a 32% increase compared to the $7.2 billion raised in 2017 according to research firm Mercom.

By Tony Abraham • Jan. 17, 2019

Optum drives UnitedHealth Group's Q4, yearly earnings increases

The payer's health services arm, known for driving vertical integration at the nation's largest commercial insurer, surpassed $100 billion in revenue for the first time in 2018.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 15, 2019

Healthcare M&A now more about strategy than opportunity, Kaufman Hall says

The average size in revenue of healthcare sellers was more than $400 million last year, according to the analysis.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 14, 2019

S&P sees mostly stable outlook for nonprofit hospitals this year

Overall, 81% of nonprofit hospitals are stable, with a roughly even split between security ratings upgrades and downgrades, according to the ratings agency.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 14, 2019

Louisiana launching 'Netflix model' in Medicaid for hepatitis C drugs

The state is looking for a pharmaceutical partner on the project that will cap state spending on expensive treatments for the disease.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 14, 2019

Digital health funding soared to record $8.1B last year

Despite continued surges in deal volume and size, digital health is not yet in a bubble, according to a new Rock Health report.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 9, 2019

Alphabet's Verily snags $1B in funding round

Leading the pack of investors was private equity firm Silver Lake. The money will go toward strategic partnerships, global business opportunities and potential acquisitions.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 7, 2019

Beaumont moves home health, hospice care to for-profit Ohio firm

The joint venture, Beaumont Home Health and Hospice, launched Tuesday.

By Meg Bryant • Jan. 4, 2019

Hospitals see 'modest' 3% savings using Medicare joint replacement model, study finds

Those participating didn't see a significant difference in complications or percentage of procedures among high-risk patients, according to the report in the New England Journal of Medicine.

By Les Masterson • Jan. 4, 2019

Uncompensated care costs flat in 2017 despite uptick in uninsured

Hospitals provided $38.4 billion in uncompensated care, according to the latest survey from the AHA. 

By Samantha Liss • Jan. 4, 2019