Hospital margins continue to stabilize but remain below pre-pandemic levels

Rising expenses and thin operating margins have left hospitals vulnerable to a potential recession or a new public health emergency.

By Sydney Halleman • May 4, 2023

Lilly drug slows Alzheimer’s decline in large study

The company plans to quickly submit an application for U.S. approval based on the trial results, which showed a consistent benefit to treatment with the drug.

By Jonathan Gardner , Ned Pagliarulo • Updated May 3, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Labor

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, hospitals need nurses so desparetly they're offering massive sign-on bonuses and staffing firms say open positions for both temporary and permanent nursing roles are at all-time highs

By Healthcare Dive staff

Lower patient acuity, expenses drove CHS to $51M loss in Q1

CHS continued to grapple with heightened expenses in the quarter, including a sequential increase in salary and benefit expenses and supply costs, according to executives.

By Sydney Halleman • May 2, 2023

Biden admin officially ends COVID vaccine mandate for health workers

The CMS on Wednesday issued a final rule lifting the controversial vaccine mandate in early August, though regulators said they wouldn’t enforce the mandate between now and then.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated June 1, 2023

Virtual care company eVisit acquires Bluestream Health

EVisit aims to offer a streamlined interface by integrating its automated care navigation platform with Bluestream’s digital front door platform.

By Brian T. Horowitz • May 2, 2023

CMS launches investigations into denied emergency abortion care

The agency alleges that hospitals in Missouri and Kansas violated EMTALA by failing to provide needed care to a woman whose pregnancy became nonviable at 18 weeks.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 2, 2023

Nurses are less satisfied with careers, more likely to leave profession amid COVID pressures: survey

About half of nurses polled by AMN Healthcare said they were likely to encourage others to take up the profession in 2023, down from 64% in 2021.

By Shannon Muchmore • May 1, 2023

Without vehicle or viable public transit, 1 in 5 miss needed healthcare: report

Adults with a disability, Black adults, people with low incomes and those on public insurance were more likely to report going without needed healthcare because of transportation issues, the Urban Institute found.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 28, 2023

Climate groups call on health systems to divest fossil fuel holdings

Although more than 1,550 organizations representing more than $40 trillion in assets have divested fossil fuel investments, the healthcare industry lags behind, according to a new report.

By Brian T. Horowitz • April 28, 2023

Lawmakers show bipartisan support for site-neutral payments

Political will appears to be rising to equalize Medicare payments to hospitals and doctor’s offices for certain low-acuity services, according to lawmaker comments during a Wednesday hearing.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 27, 2023

UHS continued COVID recovery as behavioral, acute volumes boosted Q1 results

Although the operator is recovering from the pandemic, non-COVID-19 volume recovery has been “a bit slower than anticipated,” executives said Wednesday.

By Sydney Halleman • April 26, 2023

Kaiser names new chief digital officer

Nari Gopala has previously served in leadership positions at Amazon Web Services, Daybreak Game Company and Sony Online Entertainment.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 26, 2023

Kaiser Permanente to acquire Geisinger, form company to operate other nonprofit systems

The new organization, Risant, represents an opportunity for Kaiser to expand its reach nationwide through targeted acquisitions of nonprofit community health systems.

By Shannon Muchmore , Rebecca Pifer • April 26, 2023

LCMC ordered by judge not to close HCA-acquired hospitals as legal battle continues

LCMC Health and regulators have filed dueling court requests over whether state acquisition approval preempts federal antitrust review in LCMC’s acquisition of three facilities from HCA. 

By Sydney Halleman • April 25, 2023

Tenet boosts full-year profit forecast after gains in Q1 volume growth

Surgical cases at the operator’s ambulatory unit climbed 8% year over year, leading to a surge in ambulatory operating revenue.

By Sydney Halleman • April 25, 2023

HCA boosts full-year guidance on Q1 increase in net income, revenue

The operator logged an increase in admissions and a decrease in contract labor spending during the first quarter.

By Sydney Halleman • April 24, 2023

Verizon to deploy 5G in new-build Cleveland Clinic hospital

The project, slated to be finished in July, is Verizon’s first full 5G hospital installation, according to an executive.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 20, 2023

LCMC Health sues feds for blocking Tulane hospital deal despite securing COPA

The lawsuit comes after the Federal Trade Commission blocked the sale to allow for an antitrust review, despite the system receiving a certificate shielding the acquisition from federal scrutiny.

By Susan Kelly • April 20, 2023

When will the ER catch up with value-based care?

Amid transformation, innovation and buzzwords in value-based care, one crucial area absent is the emergency department, argues Troy Williams, vice president of healthcare systems partnership for First Choice Health.

By Troy Williams • April 20, 2023

Hospitals look for immediate return on investments in tough operating environment

“We’re not going after anything that’s kind of cool that takes a couple of years to get to the bottom line. This is about immediate returns,” an Advocate Health executive said Wednesday at HIMSS23.

By Rebecca Pifer • April 20, 2023

Tenet pressured to clarify emergency abortion policies

Shareholders are being asked to approve a proposal requiring the hospital operator to lay out its policies regarding emergency abortions, and to clarify its statement that it will follow “faith-based commitments.”

By Shannon Muchmore • April 18, 2023

Larger hospital mergers expected in post-pandemic market, Kaufman Hall says

Mergers and acquisitions are trending toward cross-regional partnerships, and the size of the smaller party in mergers is increasing to between $250 million and $750 million in annual revenue, according to the report.

By Brian T. Horowitz • April 17, 2023

The simple change hospitals are making to enhance patient care

Discover the transformative power of virtual rounding in healthcare, enabling real-time collaboration between practitioners and enhancing patient experience and outcomes.

By Matt Wall, Director, Business Development, OEM - Tryten Technologies • April 17, 2023

Physician gender pay gap narrowing, but women still earn 19% less than men

Across the board, physician salaries rose by about 4% last year compared to 2021, according to Medscape. The rise in wages was partly attributed to a shortage of doctors and clinician burnout.

By Shannon Muchmore • April 14, 2023

Moody’s report highlights need for investment in healthcare cybersecurity

The ratings agency said healthcare’s vulnerable state makes it “target rich,” which could bring service disruptions and personal data disclosures.

By Brian T. Horowitz • April 13, 2023