Today's healthcare providers walk a precarious financial tightrope. On one side, they face rising operational costs and complex reimbursement models. On the other, they must manage the expectations of patients who demand high-quality care at affordable prices. In this high-stakes balancing act, efficient revenue cycle management (RCM) isn't just desirable—it's essential for survival.

Medicare Advantage is "failing patients" and "jeopardizing" Nebraska hospitals, according to a survey of 92 member hospitals from the Nebraska Hospital Association. 

A health system, drugstore chain and value-based primary care provider have recently emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy: 

Phoenix-based Banner Health saw operating income increase 12.3% year over year in the first half of 2024. 

Gardner, Mass.-based Heywood Healthcare exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy after addressing contract issues, seeking commercial rate improvements and organizing finances.

Lifespan will pay $1.5 million in lieu of taxes to the city of Providence, R.I., where it is based, according to a three-year proposed agreement.

A nonprofit founded by Alice Walton, the heiress to the Walmart fortune with an estimated net worth of $91.3 billion, gave $249 million to help fund a new medical school in Arkansas, Forbes reported Oct. 1. 

Private equity company Accel-KKR has acquired revenue cycle management company VisiQuate. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based Vanderbilt University Medical Center posted an operating income of $168.3 million (2.2% margin) in fiscal 2024, up from an operating income of $51.7 million (0.8% margin) in 2023, according to its Sept. 30 financial report.  

By achieving greater efficiency in the operating room, some of the nation's largest health systems have put wind in their financial sails and improved patient care.

Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University has narrowed its projected operating loss after performing better than expected in the first two months of the fiscal year beginning July 1. 

Chicago-based CommonSpirit saw its total operating revenue grow by 10% year over year to $37.5 billion in fiscal 2024. Net patient revenues were $34 billion, up from $30.4 billion, and premium revenues were $1.5 billion, up from $1.4 billion. 

Here are 10 revenue cycle management updates that Becker's reported in September: 

Median health systems margins decreased to 1.9% in August, a fourth straight month of declines, according to Strata Decision Technology's Monthly Healthcare Industry Financial Benchmarks report released in September.

Chicago-based CommonSpirit reported a $581 million operating loss (-1.5% margin) in the fiscal year ending June 30, improving on the $1.3 billion loss (-3.6% margin) the previous fiscal year.

Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System reported an operating loss of $385.7 million (-13.8% margin) in fiscal year 2024, compared to an operating loss of $93.5 million (-3.2% margin)  in 2023, according to its Sept. 28 financial report. 

Beth Israel Lahey Health is eliminating jobs as it navigates rising costs, a spokesperson for the Cambridge, Mass.-based system confirmed to Becker's Sept. 28. 

Norfolk, Va.-based Sentara Health is cutting about 200 positions, with a majority of the cuts coming from its health plan division. 

Flint, Mich.-based Insight Health System launched as a small physician office in 2006 and has evolved into a multistate hospital system with more than 5,000 employees and $450 million in revenue. 

Gov. Maura Healey has seized control of Dallas-based Steward Health Care's St. Elizabeth's Medical Center in Brighton, Mass., through eminent domain to ensure the hospital remains open and transfers operations to Boston Medical Center.