Hospitals brace for omicron as margins weaken further, Kaufman Hall reports

New uncertainties raised by the variant are likely to challenge hospitals as they grapple with shrinking operating margins as a result of escalating labor costs.

By Susan Kelly • Dec. 1, 2021

Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in 340B case with billions of dollars at stake

A lower court initially sided with the American Hospital Association, a decision that was later reversed by an appeals court, which AHA characterized as a "legal error."

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 30, 2021

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Surprise Billing

Federal legislation banning surprise bills has hit a barrage of roadblocks, complicating efforts to protect consumers from unexpected out-of-network charges.

By Healthcare Dive staff

Healthcare worker vaccine mandate blocked nationwide in second ruling

A federal judge granted a preliminary injunction Tuesday in a suit brought by 14 states challenging the requirement, following separate pauses in other states.

By Hailey Mensik • Updated Dec. 1, 2021

UnitedHealthcare to appeal after jury awards TeamHealth $60M in damages

The payer is arguing the Las Vegas jury didn't get to hear several key pieces of evidence in its ongoing legal fight with private equity-backed TeamHealth. 

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Dec. 8, 2021

Banner Health posts turnaround as finances rebound

Banner Health's finances are back in the black, though labor costs continue to challenge the Arizona-based system.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 29, 2021

UPMC more than quadruples net income to $1.2B amid returning care and investment gains

Though patients returning to medical care delayed earlier in the pandemic helped its provider division, UPMC's health plan margin shrank due to higher medical claims in the period.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 29, 2021

Medtronic blames revenue miss on COVID-19 resurgence, hospital staffing shortages

CEO Geoff Martha said the medtech was hit in its second quarter by pandemic-related challenges that weighed on procedure volumes, particularly in the U.S.

By Greg Slabodkin • Nov. 24, 2021

Humana, Allina Health expand value-based care partnership in Minnesota

The insurer also announced it extended another value-based care partnership for Medicare Advantage members with Hutchinson Clinic, a physician group in central Kansas.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 24, 2021

Weak investment markets drive Cleveland Clinic's income down 30%

Like its peers, the nonprofit giant reported expense growth outpacing revenue growth in the third quarter, though the disparity between the two wasn't as sharp as other systems'.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 24, 2021

Kaiser Permanente's historic labor-management deal survives again

Over the years, workers describe a dwindling partnership. Some believe it is this deterioration that led the organization to where it is today — recently on the brink of a major work stoppage following disputes over a new contract.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 23, 2021

Biden admin investing $1.5B to quell healthcare staffing shortages, promote workforce equity

The funding will go toward scholarship and loan repayment programs for healthcare students committing to work in hard-hit and high-risk communities, according to the White House.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 23, 2021

Advocate Aurora hit by margin pressure in Q3

The nonprofit system saw a major increase in spending on contracted medical services as well as a jump in supply costs.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 23, 2021

Labor, supply chain pressures mount for US hospitals, Fitch says

Staffing shortages, higher transportation costs and trouble sourcing some materials threaten healthcare revenue and operating margins in the near term, the ratings agency said.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 22, 2021

Ground ambulances, excluded from surprise billing ban, to get scrutiny from federal committee

Recommendations from the new federal advisory committee will help inform policy changes to improve how charges and fees for ground ambulance services are disclosed to consumers, CMS said.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 22, 2021

Ascension reports second-highest COVID-19 inpatient count

The St. Louis-based nonprofit reported operating income of $25 million for the quarter, a steep decline from the prior-year period.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 22, 2021

Mayo Clinic reports jump in operating income during Q3

The Rochester, Minnesota-based nonprofit reported robust financial results as revenue grew 10%, outpacing expense growth during a quarter in which rising costs challenged many systems due to heightened labor demands.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 19, 2021

30% of hospital healthcare workers remained unvaccinated as of September

Healthcare workers in children's hospitals had the highest vaccination rates, along with those working in metropolitan counties, according to the analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 18, 2021

Congress, alongside provider and consumer groups, continues spat over surprise billing ban rules

While payers and providers must start complying with the No Surprises Act by Jan. 1, the fight over rules implementing the ban is heating up as provider groups object to what they think is a favoring of insurers.

By Hailey Mensik • Nov. 17, 2021

CMS guides hospitals on co-location of staff, services

The agency's final guidance on the practice of sharing resources in an effort to improve provider efficiency drew praise from the American Hospital Association.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 17, 2021

CommonSpirit continuing to pursue Midwest deal as delta pressures operations

The nonprofit is currently in discussions with an undisclosed third party to negotiate the divestiture of its North Dakota and Minnesota facilities, according to its first quarter results.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 17, 2021

Providence posts operating loss amid delta surge

The nonprofit's volumes increased even though its COVID-19 census plateaued later in the quarter, as patients who deferred care during the pandemic sought treatment, hiking expenses.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn , Samantha Liss • Nov. 16, 2021

Baylor Scott & White sees income dip in Q1 as costs climb

Labor costs at the largest nonprofit health system in Texas surged 12% in the quarter ended in September, contributing to a 7% drop in income from operations.

By Susan Kelly • Nov. 15, 2021

Zelis helps address new NSA and TiC regulations

Learn more about innovative solutions that can help you comply with new regulations.

Nov. 15, 2021

Kaiser Permanente strike averted as union reaches tentative agreement

The work stoppage, which would have been the largest in the U.S. so far this year, had the potential to significantly disrupt operations at the nonprofit's 14 hospitals and more than 200 clinics in the region.

By Shannon Muchmore • Nov. 13, 2021

Advocate Aurora bumps minimum wage to $18 per hour

The pay increase will affect roughly 41% of the health system's more than 75,000 employees. Workers set to see a boost in pay include food and environmental service workers, pharmacy techs and licensed practical nurses.

By Samantha Liss • Nov. 12, 2021