News Briefs: White House healthcare plan would have major implications for the industry
President Donald Trump announced a healthcare framework aimed at boosting transparency, consumer choice and affordability, although numerous details still need to be decided before Congress can act on the proposals. The plan’s Jan. 15 release came as Senate talks to renew the expired ACA subsidies stalled amid disputes over abortion coverage and concerns about cost.…
James Mathews: U.S. nursing homes face stormy waters amid staffing challenges and an aging population
Readers of a certain age may recall Sebastian Junger’s book A Perfect Storm, which describes the last voyage of the Andrea Gail, a Massachusetts swordfishing boat. In October 1991, the boat encountered a violent storm in the North Atlantic Ocean and was lost with all hands. The storm was borne of three converging meteorological conditions: the remains of Hurricane Grace,…
Nathan Kaufman: Hospital-based anesthesia and radiology operate in a broken financial model
The good ol’ days of hospital-based physicians providing services at no cost in exchange for exclusivity are over, creating significant disruptions. Health systems are facing a growing shortage of anesthesiologists and radiologists, a shortfall that is driven by a broken business model for those types of services. Underpayment for anesthesia and radiology care by Medicare and Medicaid combined with a lack of experience in related revenue cycle management and high…
The power of connection: Redefining healthcare collaboration through payer-provider interoperability
By leaning into a new era of payer-provider interoperability through technology investments and collaborative innovation and communication, healthcare organizations can strengthen health outcomes while building better relationships with consumers. Learn more about critical elements for success in this white paper.
Hospital use and service intensity helped fuel healthcare spending growth in 2024
Increasing use and intensity of hospital care, physician and clinical services, and retail prescription drugs led a continued surge in U.S. healthcare spending in 2024, according to newly released data. National health expenditures (NHE) reached $5.3 trillion, a 7.2% increase year-over-year and comparable with the 7.4% jump recorded in 2023. Except for the pandemic year…
Operational resilience is the revenue cycle management imperative of the OBBBA era
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) has altered Medicaid eligibility in ways hospitals can no longer treat as a background policy issue. Reverification of Medicaid coverage now happens so frequently that patients lose coverage for administrative reasons that have nothing to do with whether they actually qualify. Much of the industry dialogue has centered…
Making Financial Transformation a Lasting Leadership Win
The healthcare finance industry has its share of challenges. With this white paper, learn to navigate margin improvement, a clearer and more compassionate patient financial experience, and stronger payer relationships that support long-term growth.
CMS distributes $10 billion for states to use to improve rural health
CMS awarded states $10 billion in rural health funding for 2026, implementing a widely anticipated provision of the legislation known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). The Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) funding is intended to help rural healthcare providers succeed amid the projected cutbacks in federal Medicaid funding over the next decade…
What healthcare investors value most today
The healthcare municipal market continues to navigate a mix of structural headwinds, evolving risk appetites and a shifting credit landscape. An investor conversation at the Kaufman Hall Healthcare Leadership Conference in October offers insights as to where investors are focused today and what borrowers can do to meet the market on favorable terms. Three themes…
News Briefs: ACA subsidies in limbo after government funding deal
After Congress ended the longest federal government shutdown on record at 43 days, the future of enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) remained unresolved. The shutdown officially ended Nov. 12, three days after eight members of the Senate Democratic caucus joined Republicans to help pass a continuing resolution that maintains spending through Jan.…