Q3 2026 hospital earnings show ACA coverage losses and rising Medicaid risks
Changes to federal coverage and Medicaid financing are manifesting in hospital volumes, payer mix and earnings both currently and in projections, according to Q3 2026 investor calls held recently by hospital companies. The most immediate issue is that coverage losses in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) insurance marketplaces continue to create uncompensated-care pressure. For example,…
Healthcare purchasing falls amid financial pressures
Amid rising costs and constrained margins, healthcare and life sciences organizations are pulling back on new purchasing commitments, in contrast to other major industries, according to a new report. Although the data in the report do not establish causation, the trend suggests how healthcare organizations are responding to financial uncertainty. “Healthcare experienced real shocks and…
Compliance audit efficiency, a new learning experience from HFMA and updates on Medicaid eligibility
Erika Grotto talks with Dawn Crump from MRO about audit efficiency. Michael Grant, HFMA’s director of learning experience, discusses updates to HFMA’s learning platform. In the news segment, Nick Hut talks with HFMA policy director Katie Gilfillan about Medicaid eligibility updates.
Medicare Worksheet S-12 adds to cost-reporting demands for hospitals
Acute care hospitals are taking steps to incorporate a required new worksheet in their Medicare cost reporting. Effective for cost-reporting periods that end on or after Jan. 1, 2026, most hospitals paid under the Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) must fill out Worksheet S-12. An analysis by Baker Tilly notes that the worksheet is the…
Transparency in Coverage and Payer Contracting Strategy Survey Analysis
Download key findings from a report sponsored by Trek Health.
SUSTAIN 340B Act proposes major changes for hospitals and pharmacies
A bipartisan working group in Congress released a preliminary legislative draft that attempts to resolve some of the most disputed aspects of the 340B Drug Pricing Program. One noteworthy provision in the legislation would curtail the 340B rebate model, which was finalized by the Health Resources and Services Administration on July 31 and is scheduled to begin Jan.…
Hospital financial performance strained by payer mix and rising costs
Hospital financial performance remained uneven in the second quarter as policy changes and broader economic pressures affected the not-for-profit (NFP) and for-profit segments. In the NFP sector, median health system operating margin ticked upward to 0.4% year-to-date (YTD) through May, according to monthly data from Strata Decision Technology. But the metric wasn’t quite as steady…
Healthcare price transparency legislation gains momentum in Congress
Price transparency bills continue to be a focus in Congress as an area to pursue in possible year-end healthcare legislation. Two House committees and a Senate committee approved bills within the past two weeks. Among various other healthcare bills that have made it out of the committees are: There was significant bipartisan support at the…
House bill would increase tax-exempt hospital reporting requirements
A bill that advanced out of a House committee Wednesday would add significant reporting requirements for tax-exempt hospitals. As passed by the Ways and Means Committee, the Tax-Exempt Hospital Transparency Act includes increased reporting obligations in areas such as community benefit, charity care, the 340B Drug Pricing Program and service-line spending. Requirements would be more…
Transforming financial complexity into clarity: Healthcare CFOs share insight
Healthcare finance leaders face a multitude of pressures, from rising operational costs and cash flow constraints to reimbursement complexities and federal funding uncertainties. When Sage partnered with HFMA last year to survey healthcare leaders about the factors influencing their finance strategies, “The results were surprising in that there’s a lot on everyone’s minds,” said Melissa…