Revenue cycle management company Alpha II has a new name and brand identity. 

Hospital margins increased slightly in September to 5.1%, according to data from Strata.

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare reported an operating income of $1.1 billion (21.3% margin) in the third quarter, nearly double the $568 million operating income (11.2% margin) reported in the third quarter of 2023, according to financial documents published Oct. 29.

Louisville, Ky.-based Kindred Hospitals will close two of its Chicago market acute care hospitals in the spring as part of plans to consolidate its four long-term acute care facilities in the area.

From two firms striking a deal to take R1 RCM private to Arsenal Capital Partners signing an agreement to acquire Knowtion Health, here are six private equity-related revenue cycle management company moves that Becker's has reported since Aug. 1:

Hartford, Conn.-based Trinity Health of New England has named Antonio Perugino vice president and CFO, according to an Oct. 28 post on his LinkedIn page. 

Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health will officially convert to a private nonprofit health system following a vote by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.

Oregon State Hospital, a psychiatric facility based in Salem and managed by the Oregon Health Authority, is now in substantial compliance with federal requirements for participating in Medicare and Medicaid programs.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare's board of directors authorized a $0.66 per share cash dividend to be paid on Dec. 27. 

In a complex and rapidly evolving healthcare environment, payer dynamics and regulatory demands are top concerns for healthcare leaders. Health systems are frustrated with payers’ selective interpretations of medical necessity, which often complicate the process of delivering timely, essential care to patients.

Eric Dickson, MD, president and CEO of Worcester, Mass.-based UMass Memorial Health, is predicting that, without significant change, more hospitals in the state will close, The Boston Globe reported Oct. 25.

HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen said the Nashville, Tenn.-based system's objective for Valesco is to "get to an appropriate level of financial performance."

Hospitals and health systems aim to ensure financial sustainability without compromising patient care. Doing so amid the current healthcare landscape means securing enough revenue to cover expenses. However, they must do so amid pressures such as rising operational costs and reimbursement challenges.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare has reported a modest reduction in prior authorization denials for accounts with two midnights or more, but still has "way too many denials," with large Medicare Advantage payers driving a significant portion of these denials, CEO Sam Hazen said during the company's third-quarter earnings call on Oct. 25. 

In an interactive session at Becker's 9th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Conference, Colleen Goethals, Vice President of Mid-revenue Cycle at Xtend Healthcare, a CorroHealth Company, addressed the persistent issue of claim denials in healthcare. She highlighted the increasing complexity and frequency of denials, noting that 89% of hospitals report a rise in denials, with some experiencing up to a 22% increase year-over-year.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare reaffirmed its 2024 outlook on Oct. 25, but officials are now expecting its full-year results to fall on the lower end of that range due to the effects of Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton. 

Arcata, Calif.-based Mad River Community Hospital will end its labor and delivery services Oct. 31.

Effective June 15, Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Heath will no longer provide labor and delivery services at Catholic Medical Center in Manchester, N.H., ending a long-standing contract between the two. 

A growing number of health systems are outsourcing home health and hospice operations to third-party specialists with broader geographic reach to reduce cost and administrative burdens and focus on core services. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare posted an operating income of $1.9 billion (10.9% operating margin) in the third quarter of 2024, up from an operating income of $1.6 billion (10.1% margin) over the same period last year, according to its Oct. 25 financial report.