MedPAC steps away from advocating doctor pay be tied to inflation

The advisory group wants Congress to approve a 0.5 percentage point increase for doctors in Medicare next year. But some commissioners dissented over MedPAC’s about-face on underlying payment reform.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 16, 2026

Doctors focused on scope of practice, Medicaid cuts in state legislatures this year: AMA

The physician lobby surveyed 64 medical societies and found that most of them were worried about nurses, physician assistants and other practitioners getting more freedom to provide care this year.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Jan. 12, 2026

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

Top healthcare provider trends in 2026

Health systems that address costs, workforce planning and portfolio strategy may be better positioned as reimbursement headwinds intensify this year.

By Michael Brady • Jan. 8, 2026

UnitedHealthcare raises bar for doctors to get paid for radiology services

The change runs counter to the company’s broader efforts to pare back red tape for physicians amid widespread discontent with health insurers.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Updated Jan. 9, 2026

CMS distributes rural health funds for 2026

States received an average of $200 million to expand rural care access. Texas received the most money, while New Jersey received the least.

By Sydney Halleman • Jan. 5, 2026

UnitedHealth commits to changes after independent review

The healthcare behemoth released results of three highly anticipated external reviews that drilled down on a number of areas for improvement.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 22, 2025

Medicare unveils successor to ACO REACH

The value-based care pilot will be replaced by ACO LEAD, a new model that providers and analysts say seems to address many of the problems posed by its predecessor.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 19, 2025

Trump administration moves to bar hospitals from providing youth gender-affirming care

Under new proposed rules, hospitals would lose federal funding if they offer treatments including puberty blockers, hormone therapy or surgical procedures to minors. 

By Sydney Halleman • Dec. 18, 2025

Cencora takes majority stake in cancer care platform OneOncology for $5B

The drug distributor has been steadily building up its specialty support assets as it looks to increase access to drugs.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 16, 2025

Goliath v. Goliath

A Medicare Advantage network spat between Optum and Humana in Washington state appears to be benefiting UnitedHealthcare at the expense of its biggest rival. Antitrust experts are alarmed.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 16, 2025

Hospitals look to manage expenses as uncertainty looms: report

Only 30% of hospital leaders expect balance sheets to improve next year as health systems grapple with costs and changes to federal healthcare policy, according to Kaufman Hall.

By Sydney Halleman • Dec. 12, 2025

Provider groups urge Trump administration to drop proposed HIPAA update

The proposed cybersecurity rule, released during the waning days of the Biden administration, would add “substantial new financial burdens” on providers, the groups wrote to the HHS.

By Emily Olsen • Dec. 11, 2025

CVS to launch ‘engagement’ platform in gamble on consumer, industry interest

CVS is bringing together its disparate businesses onto one platform, and giving its rivals the option to add their products and services as well. The goal is to improve consumers’ health engagement while generating more revenue.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 10, 2025

CVS agrees to pay $38M to settle insulin fraud claims

For a decade, CVS knew it was skirting rules meant to limit overprescribing but did nothing to stop, according to the Department of Justice.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Dec. 3, 2025

[Podcast] Beyond Documentation: Transforming Healthcare Workflows With AI

This podcast explores how AI is transforming clinical care and reshaping how healthcare teams work.

By Healthcare Dive's studioID • Updated Dec. 2, 2025

Family physicians are departing rural areas: report

Between 2017 and 2023, the share of family physicians working in rural areas dropped 11%, according to a study published in the Annals of Family Medicine.

By Susanna Vogel • Dec. 2, 2025

Why Medicare Advantage contract negotiations are getting heated

“There’s simply more at stake in these negotiations for payers and providers than there used to be,” one expert said.

By Michael Brady • Nov. 26, 2025

CMS finalizes 2.6% outpatient pay bump, site-neutral policies

Hospitals lambasted the final rule as inadequate, arguing the sector is facing significant financial pressures.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 24, 2025

Optum Health names new CEO

Krista Nelson replaces Dr. Patrick Conway, who was appointed as CEO of UnitedHealth’s healthcare delivery unit in June. Conway will stay on as CEO of the company’s broader health services division.

By Susanna Vogel • Nov. 17, 2025

More rural hospitals shutter labor and delivery units in 2025: report

Only 41% of rural hospitals in the U.S. deliver babies, according to a report by the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. In some states, fewer than one-third of these facilities offer labor and delivery services.

By Emily Olsen • Nov. 13, 2025

4 tips on protecting health systems from cyberattacks

Healthcare organizations should invest in post-attack recovery and carefully evaluate risks from vendors, according to industry experts who spoke at a Healthcare Dive virtual event.

By Sydney Halleman • Nov. 7, 2025

UnitedHealthcare pays Optum doctors more than other doctors: study

Researchers said the results suggest UnitedHealth may be sidestepping government rules meant to keep a lid on exorbitant payer profits. UnitedHealth said the study was “flat-out wrong.”

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Nov. 4, 2025

CVS hikes 2025 guidance despite goodwill impairment charge on healthcare delivery

The healthcare giant beat Wall Street expectations in the third quarter, but reported a net loss after recording a $5.7 billion charge linked primarily to decelerating clinic growth at Oak Street Health.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 29, 2025

Health systems are racing to adopt AI. But can they prove its value?

Measuring financial returns from AI can be challenging, experts said at the HLTH conference. But other metrics, like provider and patient satisfaction, are important too — and also impact providers’ bottom lines.

By Emily Olsen • Oct. 27, 2025

High volume of surprise billing disputes are ineligible for arbitration, insurers allege

Plans found 39% of claims submitted to independent dispute resolution last year were actually ineligible for the process, but arbiters themselves caught only 17% of improper cases, according to AHIP and the BCBSA.

By Rebecca Pifer Parduhn • Oct. 27, 2025