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 Parduhn • 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

Court rejects 340B payment cuts in big win for hospitals

The district court judge asked the federal government and hospitals to come to an "appropriate remedy."

By Les Masterson • Dec. 31, 2018

3M picks up MModal's tech business for $1B

The deal is expected to close in the first half of 2019.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 21, 2018

340B hospital drug spending higher than at non-340B facilities, report says

The analysis funded by the pharmaceutical industry is the latest in a heated battle between 340B hospitals and drugmakers over the benefits to the program and the impact on drug spending.  

By Les Masterson • Dec. 21, 2018

Humana signs up first health systems for new value-based contracting program

The inaugural participants are Cleveland Clinic Florida, Jackson Health System in Florida, TriHealth in Ohio and WellStar Health System in Georgia.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 20, 2018

Centene predicts 17% revenue growth for 2019

The payer, which specializes in Medicaid managed care, has grown membership by 17% this year and plans to continue expansion.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 17, 2018

FastMed, NextCare announce merger

The combined urgent care company would have 251 clinics across 10 states, but the deal is still subject to regulatory approval.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 17, 2018

Don't count on stock market to keep hospitals afloat, report warns

Hospitals average about 47% of their net margin in investment income revenue, according to a recent Juniper Advisory analysis.

By Meg Bryant • Dec. 14, 2018

Fitch says payer sector stable, buoyed by MA rate increase, robust economy

There are debt issues related to M&A and concerns about the ACA exchanges over the next year, according to the ratings agency.

By Les Masterson • Dec. 14, 2018