Editor's Note HCA Healthcare reported nearly $1.5 billion in net income for the second quarter (Q2), exceeding expectations, Modern Healthcare July 23 reports. The Nashville-based system attributed part of this success to a significant reduction in contract labor costs, which dropped by more than 25% compared to Q2 2023. This…

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Editor's Note As outpatient surgery continues to gain popularity and the need to cut costs persists, Becker’s ASC Review sat down with Jim Freund, managing partner for Physician Transaction Advisors, to discuss the below three key trends in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) industry, per Becker’s July 18 article. Number…

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Editor's Note Healthcare costs are expected to rise between 7% and 8% in 2025, according to a report from PwC's Health Research Institute. As detailed in a July 17 article from Fierce Healthcare, PwC projections for an 8% increase in the group market and 7.5% in the individual market would…

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Editor's Note Nearly half of Americans struggle to afford health care and prescription medications, according to the latest Healthcare Affordability Index from West Health and Gallup. Newsweek reported on the findings July 17. Based on polling of 5,149 adults, the index shows a decline in affordability by six points since…

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Editor's Note Expected to grow at an average annual rate of 5.6%, US healthcare spending will outpace GDP growth—projected at 4.3%--and rise to $7.7 trillion by 2032, according to a June 28 report in ASC focus. The $7.7 trillion figure amounts to 19.7% of GDP. The report is sourced from…

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Editor's Note Federal regulation of hospital mergers is inadequate, according to an April antitrust enforcement study scheduled to be published by the American Economic Association. According to a June 14 report in Modern Healthcare, researchers at universities including Harvard and Yale analyzed insurance claims data from Aetna, Humana, and UnitedHealthcare,…

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Editor's Note Nearly half of hospital executives report that their hospitals are not fully prepared to cope with patient volumes, Becker’s Hospital Review reported June 13. Citing the June 12 Hospital Operations Outlook Survey from FTI Consulting, Becker’s reports that nursing and mental and behavior health specialists represent the greatest…

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Rural hospitals in the US have been facing a prolonged, multifaceted crisis. The literature presents several reasons for why healthcare facilities in rural areas struggle, including shrinking budgets, rising chronic illness and public health issues like addiction and obesity, poor telehealth and broadband access, aging populations, deteriorating mental health, and…

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Editor's Note Amid growing concerns over healthcare spending and affordability, there is bipartisan interest in aligning Medicare payments for outpatient services across various care settings through "site-neutral" payments, KFF June 14 reports. As a June 2023 Modern Healthcare article explains, last year Congress reviewed legislation to expand site-neutral payment policies,…

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Editor's Note In a recent ASCA Audio Update, Charlie Leonard, public relations and public affairs consultant, spoke with Steven Obrech, associate director of government affairs at ASCA, to discuss various legislative issues affecting ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs). This discussion showcased ongoing legislative challenges and efforts to support ASC operations at…

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