Cerner reports mixed Q3 earnings amid 'eventful' quarter

Revenue of $1.43 billion, up almost 7% year over year, was in line with Wall Street expectations, although the Kansas City-based EHR company slightly missed earnings estimates.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 24, 2019

1/3 of US payments used alternative models last year, but progress stagnant

Medicare Advantage plans had the highest percentage of total payments tied to APMs, followed by traditional Medicare, commercial payers and Medicaid, a study from a private-public partnership found.

By Linda Wilson • Oct. 24, 2019

Health system margins rebounded last year but trail 2015 levels

A drop in average operating margins from 2015 to 2017 was attributed to value-based contracts with commercial payers, a higher percentage of patients with government plans and rising claims denials, according to a Navigant report.

By Shannon Muchmore • Oct. 23, 2019

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 Parduhn • 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. 1, 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. 9, 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

Finance essentials: Capital options for growing medical practices

There are several financial options available to expand your ability to provide the best patient care. It’s time to give your practice a financial wellness checkup and decide the best options for you.  

Aug. 27, 2019

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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • 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 Parduhn • Aug. 9, 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 Parduhn • Aug. 7, 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

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 Parduhn • Updated Aug. 6, 2019

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. 5, 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 Parduhn • Aug. 1, 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 Parduhn • July 30, 2019