Hospital obstetric service closures grow as Congress considers responses
Amid deteriorating access to maternity care across the U.S., Congress is trying to find solutions, while recent data indicate how the situation is playing out at hospitals. A September 2026 report by the University of Minnesota’s Rural Health Research Center states that hospital-based obstetric services declined nationwide between 2010 and 2024, with 718 instances of…
340B rebate model takes shape for 2027 with 10 manufacturers, 21 drugs
The new rebate model for the 340B Drug Pricing Program took a step closer to implementation Oct. 1 with the announcement of the initial cohort of participating manufacturers and covered drugs. The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) posted 10 manufacturers and 21 drugs that have been approved for the pilot, which is scheduled to…
A new way to measure nursing productivity: Total labor cost per admission
Since the early 1980s, U.S. hospitals have used a standard method to measure nursing productivity. In recent years, however, the industry has witnessed significant changes in the workplace and the way hospitals are reimbursed, including a shift toward pay-for-performance and value-based care. And at the same time, patient and caregiver expectations have increased substantially amid…
J&J adds 340B claims data requirements amid growing manufacturer restrictions
Johnson & Johnson joined the list of drug manufacturers requiring providers to submit claims data on in-house pharmacy drugs as a condition of receiving discounts in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. Hospitals and other 340B covered entities have 45 days to submit the data after dispensing a covered drug, according to J&J’s policy, although certain…
Hospital cyberattacks underscore growing financial and operational risks
As seen in two incidents over the past month and in a newly issued warning, cyberattacks are a relentless threat to hospitals and their communities. The South Carolina-based health system AnMed and Texas-based JPS Health experienced disruptions that included implementation of downtime procedures and patient-diversion protocols. And in recent days, the American Hospital Association highlighted…
Guilty plea in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing comes amid sustained focus on obstacles to care
Luigi Mangione pleaded guilty Aug. 14 to federal stalking charges in the 2024 fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, potentially bringing resolution to an incident that spurred introspection by insurers and the healthcare industry. The charges, stemming from the killing of Brian Thompson on Dec. 4, 2024, carry a maximum penalty of life in prison. Prosecutors…
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.…
HRSA sets 2027 launch for the 340B rebate model, announces requirements
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) followed through with plans to pilot a rebate model for the 340B Drug Pricing Program beginning Jan. 1, 2027. As described in a notice published July 31, HRSA previously scrapped plans for a 2026 pilot following litigation. In response to that legal challenge, the agency provided additional information…
Medicaid work requirement lawsuit targets CMS exemption rules
July 30 update A federal judge at the U.S. District Court for Massachusetts denied a request for a preliminary injunction of CMS regulations implementing the Medicaid work requirement. The plaintiffs specifically challenged how the regulations defined medically frail as a criterion for an exemption to the work requirement, plus how a specific short-term hardship exception…
Utilization review, HIPAA updates and more
Nick Hut talks with HFMA’s Kathy Stull about the Medicaid work requirement and 340B developments. Erika Grotto discusses utilization review with Kevin Coloton, CEO of HURC and HIPAA updates with Jon Bilotti, enterprise technology consultant at BCS365.