Washington hospitals sue state over expanded interpretation of a charity care law

A state hospital association says the updated charity care guidance, which would require facilities to offer subsidized care for patients regardless of residency, risks making Washington a “medical tourism destination."

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 19, 2023

Henry Ford, Ascension enter joint venture to create $10.5B system

The no-cash deal will combine Detroit-based Henry Ford Health with Ascension’s southeast Michigan and Genesys healthcare facilities and create an organization spanning more than 550 sites.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 19, 2023

Explore the Trendline➔

Provider burnout

Hospitals are still struggling with provider burnout, after the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated underlying staffing issues and prompted workers to quit their jobs.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Atrium Health ends policy of suing patients for unpaid medical debt

The North Carolina-based health system sparked controversy by filing 2,482 lawsuits against patients with medical debt between 2017 and 2022.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 17, 2023

Financial distress is driving health system M&A, Kaufman Hall reports

More than a third of transactions announced in the third quarter included a party that cited financial distress as a reason behind the deal.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 17, 2023

Healthcare worker exodus continued through 2022, new data shows

Physicians accounted for nearly half of departures from 2021 through 2022, with staffing shortages putting care quality at risk, according to a new report from Definitive Healthcare.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 17, 2023

California sets $25 per hour minimum wage for healthcare workers

The law, backed by healthcare unions, is expected to affect approximately 469,000 healthcare workers and will be phased in over the next several years.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 16, 2023

Kaiser workers ratify new contract, ending prolonged labor conflict

The agreement raises wages for 85,000 union workers by 21% over four years. It's the culmination of months of labor unrest, including a historic strike.

By Susanna Vogel • Updated Nov. 9, 2023

UnityPoint Health, Presbyterian Healthcare Services call off cross-market merger

Amid financial woes and the exit of key executives, Presbyterian Healthcare Services and UnityPoint Health have decided against pursuing a merger, which would have formed a system of nearly 50 hospitals. 

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 13, 2023

Sanders criticizes nonprofit hospitals for not providing enough charity care

The report from the Chair of the Senate HELP Committee calls for more federal oversight into nonprofit hospitals' charity care, accusing the systems of providing "paltry amounts" of charity care

By Sydney Halleman • Oct. 12, 2023

Sutter unveils Bay Area innovation center as nonprofit leans toward VC

In an interview on the center’s launch, Sutter’s chief innovation officer also said that venture firm General Catalyst, which announced plans to buy a health system this week for product testing, will face "real trial and error.”

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 11, 2023

Ascension faces negative outlooks following weak earnings

Both Fitch Ratings and S&P recently affirmed negative ratings for Ascension. However, the credit agencies said the nonprofit health system could rebound.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 10, 2023

General Catalyst wants to buy a health system as testing ground for new venture

The impending purchase is part of a new health business being spun out by General Catalyst, called the Health Assurance Transformation Corporation.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 9, 2023

Kaiser and unions reach ‘tentative agreement’ after historic strike

On Friday morning, Kasier Permanente and unions announced they reached a “tentative agreement” on new contract terms for 75,000 healthcare workers. The possible deal follows a three-day strike.

By Susanna Vogel • Updated Oct. 13, 2023

Leadership 101: Emeritus Healthcare’s Ranil Herath on the skills executives need in 2023

Herath, president of education program provider Emeritus Healthcare, discussed healthcare executive burnout and the skills clinicians need in an age of virtual care and AI-powered tools.

By Brian T. Horowitz • Oct. 6, 2023

Novant Health cuts 160 jobs, citing a ‘challenging healthcare environment’

The layoffs come after the North Carolina-based nonprofit system reported rising salary and employee benefit expenses in quarterly earnings this year.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 6, 2023

GE HealthCare imaging CEO Jan Makela talks Mayo Clinic partnership

GE and Mayo Clinic plan to collaborate on imaging, artificial intelligence and cancer treatment.

By Elise Reuter • Oct. 6, 2023

Physician burnout rate doubled between 2019 and 2021, study finds

Women physicians, less tenured clinicians and those working in primary care were more likely to report higher levels of burnout, according to research published in JAMA Network Open.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 6, 2023

How Memorial Sloan Kettering is consolidating its supply chain

The health system is leveraging data to improve forecasting, in addition to streamlining its reporting and purchasing procedures, to consolidate its supply chain operations.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • Oct. 5, 2023

Hospitals and digital health companies: making an emulsion from oil and water

Andreessen Horowitz partner Julie Yoo and Bassett Healthcare executive Paul Uhrig share their playbook for digital health entrepreneurs looking to partner with health systems.

By Julie Yoo and Paul Uhrig • Oct. 5, 2023

Top healthcare conferences in 2024

From digital health events to payer and provider summits, here are upcoming healthcare conferences for the organized executive to keep in mind.

By Sydney Halleman • Updated Dec. 4, 2023

McLaren Health Care confirms ransomware attack

The Grand Blanc, Michigan-based health system is investigating whether some of its data is available on the dark web.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 4, 2023

Froedtert signs deal with Ascension Wisconsin to take full ownership of health plan

The Milwaukee-based health system plans to buy the remaining 50% stake in Network Health, which offers commercial and Medicare plans in 23 Wisconsin counties.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 4, 2023

‘Labordemic’ to continue for nonprofit hospitals into next year, report finds

Expense management will be key for nonprofit hospitals as high labor costs are likely contribute to weaker margins in 2023 and 2024, according to a new report from Fitch Ratings.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 4, 2023

75,000 Kaiser Permanente workers begin strike as negotiations continue

Kaiser Permanente workers began the largest strike in the industry's history on Wednesday morning after contract negotiations failed to produce a new agreement.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 4, 2023

Trinity Health expenses surpassed operating revenue in fiscal year 2023

The nonprofit’s contract labor expenses continued to grow following “unprecedented highs” last year.

By Susanna Vogel • Oct. 3, 2023