Ascension operating revenue slides in last six months of 2017

The hospital operator pegged the decrease to its divestiture of Saint Joseph Hospital and Door County Hospital, as well as sales trends from 2016.

By David Lim • Feb. 21, 2018

Anthem's cost-cutting drive riles providers

The payer said the E/M payment cut is one way to reduce costs for its members and employer clients, but critics say the change may require patients to return for another doctor visit. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 21, 2018

Ascension, Presence Health ink deal to merge

The systems signed a non-binding letter of intent to strike a deal last August. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 20, 2018

JAMA: Admin costs vary by type of visit

The researchers said their findings could be used to inform policies that reduce administrative costs.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 20, 2018

Tax cuts a win for most for-profit hospitals, Moody's says

HCA and Universal Health Services will get the most out of the change, while others won’t benefit as much due to interest deductibility limits.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 20, 2018

CityMD to buy urgent care Long Island competitor STAT Health

The New York City-based urgent care provider is also acquiring FirstMed Intermediate Medical Care.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 16, 2018

Healthcare industry 'ripe for disruption,' S&P Global warns

Segments considered most vulnerable include medical and lab supplies, healthcare e-commerce and retail pharmacies.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 16, 2018

CHS sells 60-bed Louisiana hospital

It's the hospital chain's second sale in less than a month.

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 16, 2018

Advocate, Aurora step closer to merger after OK from FTC

The combined company would have 27 hospitals, 3,300 physicians and 70,000 other employees.

By David Lim • Feb. 16, 2018

CMS to watch and wait on Idaho Blue Cross's ACA-skirting plans

HHS Secretary Alex Azar told lawmakers the department would look at the health plans and measure them against ACA requirements once it receives a waiver request from the insurer.

By David Lim • Feb. 16, 2018

Baylor Scott & White reports higher admissions, $595M profit through half of FY18

Despite its mostly positive report, the hospital system's operating expenses increased from $4.3 billion to $4.4 billion, which was partially related to higher labor and supplies costs.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 16, 2018

Georgia hospitals sue Anthem over ER, imaging policies

Anthem will shortly stop paying for imaging in hospitals and for emergency department care that it later deems not an emergency.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 15, 2018

Reducing healthcare costs not one-size-fits-all, report finds

The Network for Regional Healthcare Improvement analyzed healthcare costs for five states and found huge differences in terms of costs and drivers.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 14, 2018

Amazon could shake up healthcare supply chains

While its ambitions aren't well known, the company’s famous (or infamous) disruption could find an entry point in hospital supply chains for a few reasons.

By Jeff Byers , Shannon Muchmore • Feb. 14, 2018

Most healthcare execs say value-based programs led to positive financial results

A Healthcare Financial Management Association survey also said commercial payers haven’t rolled out value-based programs as quickly as expected.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 14, 2018

Hospitals performed small amount of cost-shifting, study finds

Recent research found that hospitals negotiated 1.5% higher average private payer reimbursements to offset cuts from public payers.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 13, 2018

Molina posts $269M Q4 loss after turbulent year

Molina Healthcare went through major changes in 2017, including removing its CEO-president and CFO. 

By Les Masterson • Feb. 13, 2018

$500M donation sparks UCSF hospital plan

UCSF Health must relocate inpatient care from Moffitt Hospital by 2030 to conform with California seismic code requirements.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 12, 2018

Trump budget slashes Medicaid, targets 340B

The proposal is more a political document than anything else, but HHS Secretary Alex Azar said it addresses priorities including a push toward paying for value.

By Shannon Muchmore , David Lim • Feb. 12, 2018

More oversight for 340B needed, White House council says

The Council of Economic Advisers suggested creating an independent agency to oversee the prescription payment program.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 12, 2018

Atrium Health to partner with Navicent Health

Atrium, formerly Carolinas HealthCare System, is also attempting to merge with UNC Health Care.   

By Meg Bryant • Feb. 9, 2018

Smorgasbord of health items in massive 2-year budget deal

The agreement staving off an extended government shutdown includes a delay to Disproportionate Share Hospital payment cuts, a repeal of the ACA's Independent Payment Advisory Board and more funding to fight the opioid crisis.

By David Lim • Feb. 9, 2018

CVS easily beats Q4 forecast, sees Aetna deal on track

CEO Larry Merlo said on an earnings call "nothing that has surfaced" on the Aetna merger bid has come as a surprise, and he still expects the deal to close in the second half of this year.

By David Lim • Feb. 8, 2018

Tax bill sows confusion for nonprofit hospitals

While for-profit healthcare companies celebrate a windfall, nonprofit systems try to figure out how the tax cuts will impact them.  

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018

Management organizations can play key role in ACOs

A Health Affairs report found partnerships helped providers in ACOs with data, administrative, educational and care coordination services.

By Les Masterson • Feb. 7, 2018