HFMA launches FastFinance as a new member benefit for healthcare finance executives
In 2024, HFMA’s award-winning editorial team set out to engineer a weekly newsletter product exclusively aimed at busy hospital and health system CFOs. Since launching the pilot in November, it has quickly gained a following among CFOs and other provider executives. In fact, in a recent survey of participating CFOs: HFMA’s FastFinance is written and…
States with highest employee healthcare costs are mostly rural, new report finds
A new Commonwealth Fund study found significant variation in healthcare costs across the country, with rural states having the highest costs and Maryland being the exception among the top five highest-cost states for ESI family coverage.
Hospital ED volumes hike 40% since 2020, according to Moody’s report
Hospital emergency department volumes have increased 40% since 2020, driven by an increasingly sick population seeking high-acuity care in one convenient location.
Medicaid taxes target of coming regulations
The White House is reviewing a proposed rule to change Medicaid taxes, potentially cutting federal spending by $48 billion to $630 billion over 10 years, and could impact the funding for state-directed payments (SDPs) and designated state health programs (DSHPs).
More rural hospitals adopt critical access status to boost finances
Rural hospitals are converting to critical access hospital status to reduce their inpatient beds and become eligible for the 340B discount drug program, which is helping some facilities improve their financial operations.
Congressional Republicans signal on Medicaid cuts
Twelve Republican House moderates have expressed support for Medicaid and "cannot and will not support a final reconciliation bill that includes any reduction in Medicaid coverage for vulnerable populations," while other Republicans have signaled openness to Medicaid cuts, including work requirements and Medicaid eligibility changes.
Idaho is fourth state to require financial data from 340B entities
Idaho has enacted legislation requiring 340B covered entities to report a range of financial information to the state, joining three other states with similar laws and five other states considering similar requirements in the current legislative session.
For-profit health systems turn to AI and automation to manage payer denials
Some for-profit health systems are increasingly looking to AI and other automation tools to tackle the worsening problem of payer denial management, as 73% of providers have seen claims denials increase.
Medicaid work requirements gain support in polls, but cuts to federal funding have mixed reactions
Congressional Republicans have proposed several Medicaid cuts, including work requirements, provider tax reductions, and a reduction in the federal match for ACA enrollees, which have received mixed reactions from the public in recent polls.
Hospital employment sees 8.3% increase since pre-pandemic high
Hospital employment has increased by 8.3% since the pre-pandemic high, with the latest data showing a 11% increase in February 2025, and healthcare job creation rate quickened in February 2022, with healthcare jobs outpacing non-healthcare industries for 31 consecutive months.