Hospital merger tally increases as organizations come to grips with the policy environment
Hospital merger-and-acquisition (M&A) activity accelerated in Q3 2025, indicating that executive teams are getting a handle on the prospective impact of major healthcare policies. “Now that the One Big Beautiful Bill has passed, hospitals and health systems have more policy clarity to inform their growth strategies,” Anu Singh, managing director at Kaufman Hall, which published…
Senate committee examines ways to strengthen the supply chain for hospital drugs
Vulnerabilities in the supply chain for pharmaceuticals are putting patients at risk and hampering healthcare providers, according to testimony at a recent Senate hearing. The flaws manifest in shortages of vital drugs and in issues of quality and transparency, experts said during the Oct. 8 hearing of the Senate Special Committee on Aging. In Q1…
OIG report could lead to additional inspection of hospitals’ Provider Relief Fund usage
Some hospitals that received funding support from HHS during the COVID-19 pandemic may need to prepare for additional auditing based on findings of a report by the department’s Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report examined a small sampling of Provider Relief Fund (PRF) recipients and found that 17 of 25 hospitals did not comply…
No Surprises Act arbitration has been a bonanza for a few provider groups
In a span of 2.5 years through 2024, providers reaped more than $2.2 billion from the No Surprises Act’s arbitration process, relative to the applicable in-network payment rates for the disputed care episodes. The awards received through the NSA’s independent dispute resolution (IDR) process largely arise from “disputes that are primarily initiated and won by…
Hospitals still face a heavy lift getting ready for the TEAM bundled payments model
For the quarter of U.S. hospitals that will participate in the mandatory Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) starting Jan. 1, 2026, the preparation curve has been steep. In early August, among more than 90 client hospitals of the solutions company Rainfall Health, none was where participants soon need to be, said Eddie Qureshi, founder and…
News Briefs: Medicare offers a restrained inpatient payment update for FY26
Hospitals collectively will receive a base payment increase of 2.6% in Medicare reimbursement for inpatient care provided in FY26, according to a final rule published Aug. 6 in the Federal Register. Advocates were seeking a bigger update. With rising costs and reimbursement constraints projected in upcoming years, especially after passage of the budget reconciliation bill known as the…
Government shutdown watch: Various hospital funding sources to be curtailed (updated 11/17/25)
Nov. 17 update: Sizable Medicare payment cut avoided The continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 30 has language canceling a looming PAYGO reduction to federal programs, including a 4% cut to Medicare that would have taken effect in 2026. PAYGO is a statutory across-the-board spending reduction to be implemented when legislation increases the…
People: Alyson Belz recognized as a member of 40 Under 40 Class of 2025
Selected from hundreds of fellow nominees, Alyson Belz, FHFMA, MBA, has been named to Crain’s New York Business 40 under 40, which highlights dynamic young professionals across industries who demonstrate meaningful leadership in their communities. The honor caps Belz’s more than a decade of leadership experience focused on improving outcomes and reducing inefficiencies. She currently…
CareCloud Announces Acquisition of HFMA’s MAP App to Expand AI-Driven Benchmarking in Hospitals and Integrated Health Systems
CareCloud, Inc. announced its definitive agreement to acquire MAP App to deliver next level innovation and improvements. The transition period is through the end of 2025. There should be no significant changes to MAP App users, and clients should continue in the tool as they would normally.
HFMA and Third Horizon launch price transparency data tool Starset Analytics
Exclusive to HFMA Enterprise Solution Provider Members, the tool transforms complex pricing data into actionable insights for negotiation, benchmarking and strategy. CHICAGO (Sept. 29, 2025) – The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) and Third Horizon today announced the launch of Starset Analytics, a new toolset that helps hospitals unlock the full potential of price transparency…