Preventable deaths rise, reproductive care quality varies by region, Commonwealth Fund reports

Massachusetts, Hawaii, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont had the best overall health system performance, according to the report.

By Brian T. Horowitz • June 22, 2023

SEIU accuses HCA of inappropriate patient transfers to hospice to boost profits, executive pay

HCA called the allegations “not serious” and “propaganda filled with misleading and absurd accusations that are not supported by facts” in a statement following the union report’s release.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated June 22, 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

HHS warns industry about resurfaced ransomware group after attack on cancer center

The department sent a cybersecurity notification to the sector about TimisoaraHackerTeam after an attack on a U.S. cancer center that “significantly reduced” its capability to treat patients.

By Emily Olsen • June 21, 2023

MedPAC recommends return to lower telehealth payments

The group that advises Congress on Medicare policy also suggested more closely setting payment rates across outpatient facilities for some services, which hospital lobbyists oppose.

By Emily Olsen • June 16, 2023

New York to approve staffing requirement in critical care units

On Thursday, New York is expected to greenlight a component of its 2021 staffing law that requires one nurse for every two critical care patients.

By Susanna Vogel • June 15, 2023

Uber Health adds grocery, over-the-counter item delivery

The rideshare provider, which already offers non-emergency medical transportation and prescription delivery, has been expanding beyond medical transportation to coordinate care across multiple benefits.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 13, 2023

Wage growth at nonprofit hospitals falls below 2022 highs, but remains elevated

Nonprofits continue to add to payrolls as wage growth remains elevated above pre-pandemic levels, forcing hospital systems to consider cost-saving measures to offset labor costs.

By Susanna Vogel • June 12, 2023

SCOTUS rulings on COVID-19, guns, abortion will lead to increase in preventable deaths, JAMA Network Open finds

The authors said the impacts could be long-lasting, writing, “the findings of this study suggest that these Supreme Court decisions may harm the health of US citizens for years, and possibly decades, to come.”

By Susanna Vogel • June 12, 2023

Health systems monitor air quality as wildfire smoke covers Northeastern US

Most health systems contacted by Healthcare Dive did not report significant spikes in patient volumes, but they urged residents to stay indoors as much as possible, especially those in vulnerable groups.

By Emily Olsen • June 8, 2023

Google, Mayo partner to explore generative AI in hospitals

Mayo Clinic, a longstanding collaborator with Google, will be an early adopter of a Google Cloud tool that allows organizations to create chatbots and other search applications using generative AI.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 7, 2023

Patients of color disproportionately suffer adverse health events, regardless of hospital safety ratings

Rather than suggesting problems with individual hospitals, the data points to a “systemic issue impacting the quality of care for Black and Hispanic patients and those with public insurance plans,” according to a new Leapfrog report.

By Susanna Vogel • June 7, 2023

FTC urges North Carolina legislators to drop UNC Health antitrust exemption bill

The bill’s sponsor previously told local media that it could give the nonprofit, state-owned system the chance to save struggling rural hospitals.

By Emily Olsen • June 7, 2023

Nonprofit hospitals have decreased charity care spending even as operating profits, cash pools grow

The new study is the latest in a string of research suggesting nonprofit hospitals’ balance sheets benefit from the latitude they have regarding charity care spending.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • June 6, 2023

Sutter Health names first chief physician executive

Todd Smith will be responsible for delivering systemized service line standards, deepening relationships between medical groups and community physicians, and reducing clinical variation.

By Sydney Halleman • June 6, 2023

How Allina Health is rethinking supply chain spend

The hospital operator is deploying supply chain staff to the front lines, using group purchasing for diversity and building data transparency.

By Deborah Abrams Kaplan • June 5, 2023

Tenet to pay over $29M to settle kickback allegations at Detroit Medical Center

The Department of Justice alleged two DMC hospitals offered the services of mid-level practitioners to physicians in exchange for Medicare patient referrals.

By Emily Olsen • June 2, 2023

BJC HealthCare, Saint Luke’s Health System merge

The Missouri-based health systems closed their merger on Monday, after announcing plans to create a $10 billion health system in May.

By Emily Olsen • Updated Jan. 2, 2024

Medicaid changes, end of COVID emergency hampered hospital margins in April

Inflation and high expenses are placing a burden on hospitals as they recover from COVID-19 challenges. Hospital labor expenses rose 3% in April from March, according to Kaufman Hall.

By Brian T. Horowitz • June 1, 2023

Advocate Health reports 0.1% operating margin in inaugural Q1 earnings

The nonprofit giant formed in December barely made it into the black, after revenue of $7.54 billion squeaked past expenses of $7.53 billion.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 31, 2023

Kaiser pledges $10M to safety-net hospital to stem ‘unprecedented financial challenges’

Denver Health — the largest provider of care for uninsured people in the city — has struggled with rising costs and a surge in sicker patients.

By Sydney Halleman • May 31, 2023

Persistent expenses drove Ascension to $1.8B operating loss

Improving volumes, especially outpatient surgeries and emergency room visits, failed to outpace growing expenses in the nine-month period.

By Sydney Halleman • May 30, 2023

Cleveland Clinic outpaced expense growth to return to profitability in Q1

The health system noted that growing expenses are still a concern, with labor costs like overtime increasing.

By Emily Olsen • May 25, 2023

Providence narrowed losses as patient volumes increased

The Renton, Washington-based health system said inflation, labor shortages, delayed reimbursement from payers and supply chain problems are still affecting its bottom line, but its financial outlook is improving.

By Emily Olsen • May 23, 2023

Intermountain posts $549M profit after revenue grew in Q1

The health system’s expenses, though, climbed 44% to $3.7 billion, with a large portion coming from employee compensation and benefits.

By Emily Olsen • May 23, 2023

What 3 key congressional hearings last week mean for the industry

Political will seems to be rising to address drivers of growing medical costs and poor access to care, according to lawmaker comments on the Hill.

By Sydney Halleman , Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • May 19, 2023