A $50B rural health fund was negotiated with hospitals in mind. Experts are split on whether it will help them at all.

The fund was created to help Republicans secure critical votes for their reconciliation bill. But experts aren't quite sure how it'll work, creating a $50 billion dollar question with major ramifications for rural hospitals.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 26, 2025

Johns Hopkins, UnitedHealthcare end contract negotiations after failing to reach agreement

The Baltimore-based system and the major insurer called off contract negotiations, keeping some 60,000 patients out of network.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Sept. 18, 2025

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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

The ultimate guide to digital healthcare marketing

Learn the top digital marketing strategies for hospitals and healthcare organizations to reach more patients, personalize communication, and strengthen engagement.

By Constant Contact • Aug. 25, 2025

Judge approves $2.8B Blues settlement with providers

The final settlement wraps up 12 years of litigation over Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans’ alleged collusion to lower reimbursement to U.S. providers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 22, 2025

Pay gap between hospital CEOs and workers on the rise: study

The average wage of chief executives rose by 27.5% from 2009 to 2023, while the average pay for all hospital employees rose 9.8%, according to research in Health Affairs.

By Emily Olsen • Aug. 19, 2025

CentraCare will shed 353 employees

The cuts will affect mostly administrative roles, however 30% of the impacted positions will be frontline workers. The Minnesota-based provider is the latest health system to reduce headcount this year, citing headwinds.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 15, 2025

Providence narrows operating loss in Q2, but challenges remain

The Renton, Washington-based provider said it’s closer to “breakeven” after implementing efficiency initiatives, including staffing cuts.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 14, 2025

HCA, Mission settle monopoly allegations in North Carolina

Mission has agreed to funnel $1 million into a new charity care fund for low-income patients and keep a regional hospital open for another three years. The settlement puts to bed a yearslong legal dispute with local governments.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 14, 2025

Kaiser raises operating income in Q2 but eyes looming headwinds

The nonprofit said it’s feeling growing pressure from higher utilization in its health plan and heightened care delivery costs. It’s also preparing to face fallout from policy changes in Washington.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 13, 2025

Proposed deal would bring former Prospect exec back to distressed hospitals

Nor Healthcare Systems Corp. will set the floor price for Prospect’s California hospital portfolio should an auction occur. Nor’s director, Michael Sarian, helmed Prospect’s hospital operations more than a decade ago. 

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 12, 2025

Physicians are working more but reimbursement isn’t keeping pace, report finds

Physicians are working harder now than in past years, but they’re getting less for that work, according to new research from Kaufman Hall. The situation could worsen as more Americans lose health insurance.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Aug. 12, 2025

Hospitals prepare for $149B cut to Medicaid state-directed payments

New limits to the program could force hospitals to slash capital spending while bracing for millions of newly uninsured patients.

By Michael Brady • Aug. 12, 2025

Depressed volumes hounded for-profit providers in Q2

Executives at major for-profit hospital chains gave conflicting explanations for the softer volumes in the second quarter, from flagging consumer confidence to lower Medicaid admissions. 

By Sydney Halleman • Aug. 11, 2025

CHS to take another stab at selling its Pennsylvania hospital portfolio

Tenor Health Foundation signed a letter of intent to purchase the hospitals from Community Health Systems. The proposed deal comes nine months after a separate sale collapsed.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 8, 2025

Healthcare bankruptcies dipped to 3-year low in the second quarter

Although fewer companies are expected to file for Chapter 11 protections in 2025 relative to last year, significant headwinds remain on the horizon, according to a new report from Gibbins Advisors.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 7, 2025

More urban hospitals dually classifying as rural under Medicare: study

Dually classifying allows urban facilities to benefit from rural health programs, even as many rural facilities struggle financially and are at high risk of closure, researchers wrote.

By Emily Olsen • Aug. 6, 2025

States sue to stop ‘unconstitutional pressure campaign’ on gender-affirming care

A coalition of 16 states and Washington, D.C., argue the Trump administration is trying to ban gender-affirming care for minors without going through Congress.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 5, 2025

CMS finalizes inpatient payment rate increase for 2026

Medicare finalized inpatient pay rates that are slightly higher than those proposed in April. Hospital groups were pleased with the increases, but said they were still inadequate.

By Sydney Halleman • Aug. 1, 2025

Trump administration to pilot 340B rebate model next year

The pilot is a significant departure from the current model, which gives hospitals upfront discounts for some drugs. Hospitals say 340B is a lifeline, while drugmakers say hospitals have abused the program.

By Susanna Vogel • Aug. 1, 2025

UHS posts softer-than-expected volumes for second consecutive quarter

In light of the results, executives backed away from prior behavioral health growth targets for 2025, though they slightly raised the midpoint of overall revenue guidance.

By Susanna Vogel • July 30, 2025

HCA raises 2025 guidance despite softening volumes

The health system is the latest to report softer-than-expected patient volumes, which HCA tied to slow Medicaid, Medicare and self-pay volume growth.

By Susanna Vogel • July 28, 2025

Depressed volumes drag CHS’ second-quarter earnings

Executives said the declines were due to flagging consumer confidence. Also, CEO Tim Hingtgen announced he plans to step down in September.

By Sydney Halleman • July 25, 2025

Labcorp to buy some CHS assets for $195M

The deal includes outreach laboratory services in 13 states. Community Health Systems will continue to operate its inpatient and emergency department labs along with other hospital-based testing services.

By Susan Kelly • July 24, 2025

Tenet raises 2025 expectations, but dodges questions about policy impacts

During an earnings call, the system's executives declined to say how the GOP's recently passed megabill, which includes steep cuts to healthcare programs, would impact the company.

By Sydney Halleman • July 23, 2025

10M people will lose insurance due to GOP policy law: CBO

The final tally from the nonpartisan budget scorekeeper estimates the law will decrease federal healthcare spending by $1.1 trillion over the next decade.

By Emily Olsen • July 23, 2025