Editor's Note Operating margins for health systems declined across the US in early 2025 even as hospitals reported steady revenue growth, according to a February 27 report from Strata Decision Technology. The median operating margin for U.S. health systems dropped to 1.0% in January, down from 2.1% in December, marking…
Editor's Note Large employers are warning hospitals they will not absorb higher costs if plans by Republicans and the Trump administration for deep Medicaid cuts proceed, a February 28 article in Modern Healthcare reports. The threat of reduced Medicaid funding has reignited concerns about hospitals shifting costs onto employers and…
Editor's Note Survey results reveal healthcare finance leaders expect limited financial gains in 2025 and are shifting their focus to operational improvements and cost management rather than margin growth. DotMed reported the news February 24. The article is based on a new report on a survey of over 100 healthcare…
Editor's Note Tenet Healthcare closed 2024 on a high note, reporting robust fourth-quarter results driven by strategic growth in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and effective cost management, Healthcare Finance February 18 and Healthcare Dive February 13 report. Partnering with United Surgical Partners International (USPI), one of the largest ASC platforms…
Editor's Note A cohort study published February 24 in JAMA Pediatrics found that prophylactic antibiotics reduced the odds of surgical site infections (SSIs) by 72% in children undergoing cholecystectomy for uncomplicated cholelithiasis. However, extended-spectrum antibiotics offered no additional benefit over cefazolin, suggesting that simpler prophylaxis protocols could optimize outcomes while…
Editor's Note President Donald Trump signed an executive order to enforce healthcare price transparency regulations, according to a February 25 report in Fierce Healthcare. As detailed in the article, the order directs the Departments of Treasury, Labor, and Health and Human Services (HHS) to rapidly implement and enforce price transparency…
Editor's Note Nearly 5,000 healthcare workers at Providence Health in Oregon secured substantial wage increases and improved staffing plans, ending a historic six-week strike that began January 10, according to a February 25 article in MedPage Today. According to the article, the strike involved eight RN bargaining units and marked…
Editor's Note A February 21 article in Modern Healthcare details how surgical robots are delivering faster procedures, improving patient outcomes, and boosting hospital profits. As detailed in the article, the global surgical robotics market has quadrupled since 2015, growing from $800 million to approximately $3 to $3.5 billion in 2023…
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…
Editor's Note US hospitals face a growing risk of bed shortages as an aging population drives up hospitalization rates, according to research published February 19 in Jama Network. Leveraging COVID-19-era occupancy data, the study projects national hospital occupancy could reach 85% by 2032 for adult beds and by 2035 for…