Improving a health system's margins goes beyond cost-cutting in today's challenging healthcare landscape; it requires mastering the fundamentals and creating alignment throughout the organization. 

Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente will lay off 43 employees across several of its California locations Nov. 22, according to multiple WARN notices obtained by Becker's. 

Here are 21 health systems' net patient service revenues for the three months ended June 30 along with the year-over-year percentage increase: 

Two studies released days apart explore nonprofit hospitals' tax-exempt status; one study focuses on the benefits hospitals receive, the other on the benefits hospitals provide.

Chicago-based CommonSpirit posted a $581 million operating loss (-1.5% margin) in fiscal year 2024, up from an operating loss of $1.3 billion (-3.6% margin) posted in 2023, according to its Sept. 26 financial report. 

WoodBridge Healthcare, a nonprofit organization led by healthcare veteran Joshua Nemzoff, plans to acquire Commonwealth Health, a three-hospital system part of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems. 

In a reversal, Maryland will contract with Kaiser Permanente as a Medicaid managed care organization in 2025.

Claims denials continue to torment providers, and the challenge is growing, according to a Sept. 24 report from Experian Health. 

Exeter (N.H.) Hospital, a 100-bed hospital part of Cambridge, Mass.-based Beth Israel Lahey Health, has agreed to delay multiple planned service cuts, according to a Sept. 25 announcement from New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella.

Moody's has lowered St. Louis-based Ascension's outlook to negative from stable. 

Hospitals are seeing higher patient volume and revenue increase on the inpatient and outpatient side, according to Strata's Monthly Healthcare Industry Financial Benchmarks report for September.

Since Julie Leonard became CFO of Libby, Mont.-based Cabinet Peaks Medical Center in January, the 25-bed critical access hospital has seen skyrocketing financial improvement, rising from a projected 2.5% margin by the end of its fiscal year in March to now being on track for an approximate 10% margin.

The operator of Nacogdoches (Texas) Memorial Hospital will no longer be required to fully reimburse Texas Health and Human Services more than $7 million in overpayments by the end of the year, The Daily Sentinel reported Sept. 24. 

Health systems are increasingly trimming executive positions and pay to stabilize their financial footing amid rising operational costs, workforce shortages and inflationary pressures. 

The Faith Community ER in Bowie (Texas), part of Jacksboro, Texas-based Faith Community Health System, will close Oct. 6 nearly one year after opening due to a lack of financial assistance.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a bill that will prohibit medical debt from being included on consumers' credit reports. 

A $100 million investment underway at HCA Houston Healthcare North Cypress will facilitate easier expansion projects in the future and support the hospital's broader strategic goals, the hospital's CEO recently told Becker's. 

Fort Kent-based Northern Maine Medical Center will cut its children's behavioral health unit and has applied for a critical access designation to address financial issues, The County reported Sept. 25.

While some large health systems continue to expand, the typical U.S. health system remains modest in size.

Greenfield, Ind.-based Hancock Health is outsourcing 49 revenue cycle team members to Revology, a revenue cycle management firm, effective Nov. 4, due to increasing difficulties in meeting insurance company demands.