Nick Hut
About the Author
Nick Hut is a former newspaper reporter with more than a decade of experience at HFMA. His HFMA Daily reporting is considered a top benefit of membership as members have come to rely on Hut’s daily insights on policy, legal and business developments. He has been at the forefront of major industry news, garnering a following from national media. Nick has earned multiple national awards, including two first-place honors in 2024 from the American Society of Business Publication Editors for excellence in analysis and reporting.
Latest Work
‘The responsibility is to work together’: HFMA’s Jordan, other healthcare leaders discuss how stakeholders are navigating turbulent times
With a new presidential administration bringing the potential for drastic changes and emotions about the industry running high, significant strain is on healthcare leaders. The best response is to search for opportunities to collaborate in the promotion of patient-centered policies, according to insights from a Jan. 24 conference hosted by the University of Miami’s Herbert…
Where do we go now? Action needed to address public dissatisfaction with U.S. healthcare
Healthcare providers are examining their approaches to understanding and responding to mounting discontent, including addressing access, affordability and elimination of friction, as part of their responsibility to get healthcare right.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. articulates his views on chronic disease, vaccines, Medicaid
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will seek to chart a new course for U.S. healthcare if he becomes HHS secretary, he explained during a Jan. 29 confirmation hearing before the Senate Finance Committee. “President Trump has asked me to end the chronic disease epidemic and make America healthy again because I’m in a unique position to…
Medicaid funding questions swirl after White House orders widespread spending pause (updated)
Jan. 29 update: The White House on Wednesday retracted the OMB memo implementing the general pause of federal grant and loan spending, saying a stringent review of agency spending nonetheless will continue and funding for agencies and programs could still be frozen if deemed to be used in a way that’s contrary to the administration’s…
Proposed MA rate notice for 2026 looks promising for health plans, which soon could reap more gains
The Biden administration’s final action with respect to Medicare Advantage (MA) provided a boost to health plans, which could fare better yet under the Trump administration. For 2026, MA plans would receive a 2.23% increase in their payment benchmarks, according to an advance rate notice posted Jan. 10. That would represent a reversal from 2024…
Medicare Part D drug price negotiations are set to include GLP-1s, but questions abound
GLP-1 medications made the second round of drugs that are subject to price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), according to a CMS announcement during the final days of the Biden administration. However, the future of Medicare’s price negotiation authority is uncertain following the transition of power in Washington, D.C. Congressional Republicans have criticized…
GOP puts ideas for major healthcare spending cuts in writing
Big healthcare provisions and programs face the prospect of cutbacks as congressional Republicans look to pass a budget for the remainder of FY25. With Donald Trump in place for a second presidential term starting Monday afternoon and narrow Republican majorities in both chambers of Congress, the GOP has a chance to influence federal policy on…
UnitedHealth Group leaders reflect on slain colleague, how the industry can improve
In their first investor call since the targeted killing of their colleague spawned intense debate about aspects of the U.S. healthcare system, UnitedHealth Group leaders said a systemwide focus on improvement is needed. CEO Andrew Witty began this week’s Q4 earnings call by paying tribute to Brian Thompson, UnitedHealthcare’s chief executive, who was fatally shot…
Hospital financials projected to continue trending upward despite various X-factors
Hospitals are coming off a year of improved stability that should continue even with looming questions and challenges for 2025, according to recent data and insights. As reported in December, Fitch Ratings upgraded the sector outlook (login required) for not-for-profit (NFP) hospitals to neutral/stable after more than two years in which the outlook was categorized…
In pushing through restrictions on medical debt reporting, CFPB brushes off criticisms and concerns
Rebuffing apprehensions of healthcare providers and debt collectors, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published a final rule to block medical debt from appearing in a consumer’s credit history. As initially proposed in June, the regulations prohibit lenders from obtaining and using information about medical debt when determining a consumer’s credit eligibility (exceptions may include…