Hospital Sisters Health System is ending its agreement with Millikin University and will close its walk-in clinic in Decatur, Ill., effective Dec. 27.

Since Lisa Goodlett was named senior vice president, CFO and treasurer of Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System in March, one of the health system's main goals has been to increase access to the health system from 8% of North Carolina's population to more than 25%.

Denver voters will choose in November whether to approve a sales tax increase for Denver Health, which has struggled financially because of rising uncompensated care, among other issues, The Colorado Sun reported Oct. 21.

Greenfield, Iowa-based Adair County Memorial Hospital, part of Greenfield-based Adair County Health System, will resume all services Nov. 11.

Here are five health systems that had their outlooks upgraded by Fitch Ratings or Moody's Investors Service since Sept. 26: 

Bangor, Maine-based Northern Light Health is outsourcing 500 housekeeping and cafeteria jobs to Compass One Healthcare, effective Jan. 1, a spokesperson for the health system confirmed to Becker's on Oct. 20. 

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is taking on additional debt to pay for a new patient tower and research building, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.

CMS is applying pressure on health systems to transition from fee-for-service to value-based care by 2030. While value-based care has been discussed for years, many institutions are not yet fully prepared for its impact, as this transformation is set to influence not only Medicare but also other payer systems that benchmark against Medicare’s policies.

Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings and Yale New Haven (Conn.) Health are taking shots at one another amid a monthslong legal battle and public dispute that centers around Yale's proposed acquisition of three Prospect hospitals in Connecticut. 

Leaders of large nonprofit and for-profit health systems have detailed a growing emphasis on outpatient care during recent investor calls and healthcare conferences. 

Springfield, Mass.-based Baystate Health plans to lay off an unspecified number of managers by Thanksgiving, The Boston Globe reported Oct. 18. 

Moody's downgraded Brewer, Maine-based Northern Light Health's rating to "Ba3" from "Ba2."

Bassett Healthcare Network has eliminated 100 administrative jobs, officials with the Cooperstown, N.Y.-based system confirmed to local news outlets Oct. 17. 

Many hospitals and health systems are reconfiguring executive incentive pay amid heightened scrutiny on executive pay and evolving performance metrics, according to SullivanCotter.

The Ascension Foundation for Health Equity granted more than $1 million to nonprofit organizations across the U.S. to support postpartum mothers and their families.

Moody's has downgraded Meadowbrook, Pa.-based Redeemer Health's rating to "B1" from "Ba2." 

The largest Medicare Advantage insurers have prioritized profits over patient care by increasing the use of prior authorization in recent years to frequently deny post-acute care services to older adults, according to a report published Oct. 17 by the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.

Midland-based MyMichigan Health's operating income jumped 294% year over year to $51.3 million for the fiscal year ending June 30, one month before the health system acquired three underperforming hospitals, according to financial documents published Oct. 17. 

An Alabama circuit court has ruled that a receivership must take over Thomasville (Ala.) Regional Medical Center, a 29-bed acute care facility that shut down operations last month due to financial challenges and staff shortages, The Clark County Democrat reported Oct. 16. 

Emergency department boarding not only complicates hospital operations and hampers care quality, but it also places a significant financial burden on health systems, a recent study suggests.