Medicaid cuts prompt health systems to boost financial performance
Health systems are expected to aggressively pursue cost reductions and revenue improvements in anticipation of impending Medicaid cuts from the OBBBA in 2027, which could lead to increased bad debt, charity care, and M&A activity.
Rising physician departures from Medicare fuel access issues
The rate of physician departures from Medicare has increased since the pandemic, with primary care physicians exiting at a higher rate of 4.4% in 2023, due to increased demands, decreased payments, and new communication methods, leading to access issues for patients.
Hospital advocates urge CMS to hold off on new price transparency requirements
Hospital advocates have urged CMS to hold off on further price transparency requirements and enforcement, while suggesting alternative approaches such as focusing on ensuring accurate pre-service estimates and streamlining policies to reduce confusion and administrative burden.
Medicaid cuts may strip 12% of 340B hospitals of eligibility, analysis finds
Up to 12% of 340B hospitals could lose eligibility for the program due to Medicaid spending cuts in the recently enacted budget reconciliation law, according to a projection by Dan Snow of Turquoise Health.
Hospital advocates optimistic Congress will extend ACA subsidies
Hospital advocates remain optimistic that Congress will extend extra individual marketplace subsidies, despite Republican opposition, as they recognize the potential political exposure of allowing them to expire before the 2026 mid-term elections.
Hospitals seek to mitigate $1.1 trillion in federal healthcare spending cuts
Hospitals and health systems face large federal funding cuts from the recently enacted reconciliation law, but advocates and observers believe there are opportunities to mitigate them through legislative efforts, state initiatives, and potential rollbacks.
Healthcare costs for businesses to rise 8.5% in 2026, PwC survey reveals
Healthcare costs for businesses are expected to increase by 8.5% in 2026, as employers shift more costs to workers, according to a PwC survey, while hospital finances remain strained due to inflation and rising wages.
Second reconciliation bill eyes more healthcare cuts
Congressional Republicans are planning a second budget reconciliation package this year that would include cuts in federal healthcare spending, such as implementing Medicare site-neutral payments, cutting the federal match for ACA Medicaid enrollees, and penalizing states for coverage of undocumented immigrants.
Hospitals plan for OBBB rollout
Health system executives are scrambling to prepare their organizations for numerous health policy changes recently enacted as part of the budget reconciliation law. Hospital and health system executives are looking at a range of responses to the July 4 enactment of enacted One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBB). That law holds 10-year federal Medicaid spending…
Medicaid cuts to hit hospitals before OBBB Medicaid cuts
Hospitals and health systems are facing financial challenges due to a series of regulatory changes and lack of action in other areas, including $24 billion in Medicaid DSH cuts, $90 million in ACA marketplace navigator funding, and potential cuts to Medicaid and ACA marketplace subsidies.