Growing cyber risks add to hospital cost squeeze, Fitch cautions

Cyber risk mitigation is becoming more expensive, but with hospitals' cost pressures mounting, spending on security may not be a priority, the ratings agency said.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 30, 2022

Hospital margins worse than when pandemic began, report says

Outpatient volumes and surgery times are down, while costly inpatient stays are getting longer, suggesting that patients are sicker, Kaufman Hall said.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 30, 2022

Explore the Trendline➔

Payer/provider relationships

As M&A intensifies and companies embrace more holistic and value-based care models, partnerships have become more closely intertwined.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Court blocks bid to reinstate OSHA pandemic standard for health workers

An appeals court ruled it lacked the authority to force OSHA to make certain rules, leaving discretion up to the workplace safety agency, according to court documents.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 29, 2022

California probes Kaiser over enrollee access to mental health appointments

The investigation comes as a strike by therapists over staffing issues at Kaiser facilities in Northern California enters its third week.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 29, 2022

Healthcare cost growth trails overall price hikes amid record inflation

Prices in the U.S. economy grew 8.5% in July compared to last year, while prices for medical care increased just 4.8%, according to a tracker from the Kaiser Family Foundation and Peterson Center on Healthcare.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 25, 2022

Judge blocks part of Idaho law, allowing physicians to perform abortions in emergencies

The ruling sides with the Biden administration, delivering a partial win for the DOJ in its first legal challenge since the Supreme Court ruled to overturn the constitutional right to an abortion.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 25, 2022

Providence to hold virtual mass hiring event for registered nurses

New hires stand to get sign-on bonuses of $5,000 to $10,000, according to a Linkedin post.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 24, 2022

Advocate posts H1 loss, sees Atrium merger closing this year

Like many of its peers, the Midwest hospital system faced labor cost pressures and depressed investment income in the first half of 2022.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 24, 2022

Texas judge blocks HHS guidance on emergency abortion care

The ruling, which sets back the Biden administration’s efforts to protect abortion access nationwide, comes just days before Texas’ trigger ban will go into effect, toughening abortion penalties in the state.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 24, 2022

4 California healthcare organizations reach $71M False Claims settlement

The organizations allegedly pocketed Medicaid adult expansion program funds meant to be returned to the state, according to a DOJ release.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 23, 2022

Merger with SCL Health spurs Intermountain to $2.7B in net income

The Utah-based nonprofit reported a 46% year-over-year jump in net income for the first six months of the year.

By Rebecca Pifer • Updated Aug. 24, 2022

Federal regulators nix contested language in surprise billing final rule

The final rule removes the earlier requirement that arbiters must first presume that the median in-network rate is the appropriate payment. 

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 22, 2022

Intermountain names interim CEO

Lydia Jumonville has been tapped to lead the Utah-based health system following the departure of former chief executive Marc Harrison.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 22, 2022

Mayo Clinic’s Q2 operating income tumbles as labor costs climb

The system said it is struggling with workforce shortages at a time when its hospitals are operating at near capacity.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 22, 2022

Electronic data sharing between physicians and public health agencies rare, new ONC data finds

Fewer than one in five primary care physicians electronically exchanged patient health information with public health agencies in 2019, according to a new report from the Office of the National Coordinator.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 18, 2022

Outlook for nonprofit hospitals is ‘deteriorating,’ Fitch says

The ratings agency revised its sector outlook from neutral as hospitals are squeezed by pricier labor, more expensive supplies due to inflation and investment losses.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 17, 2022

Kaiser cancels over a thousand appointments amid clinician strike

About 1,600 follow-up therapy appointments have been canceled so far this week, according to a statement from the health system.

By Hailey Mensik • Aug. 17, 2022

Payers, hospitals pleased as Biden signs sweeping health bill into law

The three-year continuation of enhanced subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans should help millions afford coverage and create some revenue stability for payers and hospitals in a tricky operational environment.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 17, 2022

Hospitals are seeing sicker patients after pandemic delays, AHA warns

Rising patient acuity is driving up costs for labor, drugs and supplies and straining finances, the hospital lobby said.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 17, 2022

FTC tells states to avoid shielding hospital mergers from antitrust enforcement

A report released Monday compiles research that shows arrangements, called Certificates of Public Advantage, result in higher prices, lower quality of care and lower wage growth for employees.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 16, 2022

Providence posts $424M operating loss on heels of restructuring plan

COVID-19 volumes receded and weren’t offset by a rebound in surgeries, while the nonprofit had to rely more heavily on expensive agency staffing in the quarter.

By Rebecca Pifer • Aug. 16, 2022

Tracking healthcare worker strikes

Eight hundred Geisinger workers in Pennsylvania say they will strike on Feb. 17 in pursuit of higher wages and increased healthcare benefits.

By Healthcare Dive Staff • Updated Feb. 10, 2025

Mass General Brigham posts $949M net loss, cites ‘unprecedented’ pressures

The Boston-based health system struggled with cost inflation, labor shortages and capacity constraints in its fiscal third quarter.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 16, 2022

Cardinal Health CFO will replace CEO Mike Kaufmann

Jason Hollar, who joined Cardinal as CFO in 2020, will lead the healthcare distributor starting in September.

By Samantha Liss • Aug. 15, 2022

Joint Commission tackles health equity with new accreditation standards

The nonprofit organization said racial and ethnic disparities in healthcare are a quality and safety problem that requires a new approach.

By Susan Kelly • Aug. 15, 2022