Study: Wildfire smoke raises hospital borrowing, patient care costs
Editor's Note Wildfire smoke is driving up borrowing costs for hospitals and healthcare facilities, potentially leading to higher patient care costs, according to new research from the University of Nevada, Reno. As detailed in a February 18 article in Nevada Today, findings show municipal bond investors are factoring wildfire smoke…
Rural hospital closures remain a growing concern despite slight financial improvement
Editor's Note While fewer rural hospitals are operating at a loss than last year, more are now at risk of closure, according to a new report from Chartis. Fierce Healthcare reported the news February 13. As detailed in the article, the analysis found that 46% of rural hospitals are operating…
Montana legislators' prior authorization reform push mirrors national trends
Editor's Note Montana legislators are moving to restrict health insurers’ use of prior authorization as frustration over the practice mounts nationwide, KFF News reported February 13. The outlet reports that two Democratic and Republican lawmakers have introduced or are drafting bills for the 2025 Montana Legislature to limit these insurer-mandated…
Human trafficking in healthcare supply chains often underrecognized, expert argues
Editor's Note Although human trafficking’s infiltration into healthcare labor and supply chains is pervasive, many clinicians and other professionals remain unaware of the extent of the issue, according to a February 3 opinion piece in MedPage Today. While efforts have focused on identifying trafficking victims in clinical settings, healthcare organizations…
Session: Cracking the Code: Innovative Hacks for Preference Card Management and C-Suite Support
Editor's Note Outdated and inaccurate preference cards cost hospitals millions of dollars in delayed surgeries wasted supplies—but with the right strategy, they can become a powerful tool for efficiency and cost reduction. This was among the main takeaways of a 2025 OR Business Management Conference presentation from Jason Goodwin, MPH,…
Session: Crew Incentives: 3 Guiding Principles to Leverage Value Analysis Teams
Editor's Note Jasmine Hampton-Nicholson MSN, RN, CNOR, learned the value of a value analysis team (VAT) the hard way. “I thought that we had a very solid process for our value analysis team,” said the VP of perioperative services at Temple University Health System in a presentation at 2025 OR…
Session: Modernizing OR Scheduling—How Northwell Health Streamlined Block Management
Editor's Note Driving efficiency in perioperative scheduling requires a combination of the right technology, cross-team collaboration, and a commitment to change management. This was among the primary takeaways of an OR Business Management Conference session on Northwell Health's approach to optimizing operating room (OR) workflows. Adam Becker, MPA, assistant vice…
Session: Anchoring Profits—Restructuring Inventory Practices to Secure $200 Million in Cost Savings
Editor's Note Restructuring inventory management has slashed costs and enhanced efficiency at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), presenters revealed at the OR Business Management Conference, touting an initial savings estimate of $200 million. Presented by Paul Flaherty, CRCST, Senior Manager Customer Service, Joshua Gomez, MPH, Business Operations Manager, and Steve Spring,…
Moody’s downgrades health insurance outlook as medical costs surge
Editor's Note Moody’s Ratings has shifted the health insurance industry’s credit outlook from stable to negative, according to a February 3 article in Fierce Healthcare. According to the article, the downgrade is due to escalating medical costs that outpace reimbursement rates. Analysts project an 8% rise in commercial market spending…
Legislation proposes to halt Medicare physician payment cuts
Editor's Note A January 31 statement from the American Medical Association (AMA) announces the organization’s support for bipartisan legislation aiming to reverse steep Medicare reimbursement reductions threatening physician practices and patient care access. Introduced by a coalition of 10 House members, the "Medicare Patient Access and Practice Stabilization Act" would…
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- Study: Pulse oximeters may misestimate oxygen saturation in darker skin tones
- FDA issues Class 1 recall for vascular cannulas
- Renewed push for healthcare price transparency faces familiar challenges