Though hospital operating margins seem to be recovering, first-quarter results have been a mixed bag, and 40% of hospitals are still losing money, according to Kaufman Hall. 

Inflation in the U.S. declined for a second month in May, an encouraging sign for the Federal Reserve, which is looking for indicators that it can begin lowering interest rates, according to Bloomberg. 

Cone Health, a Greensboro, N.C.-based health system with five hospitals, executed a $100 million financial turnaround last year through strategic maneuvering and a focus on workforce transformation.

Strong leadership is the most important factor contributing to a successful revenue cycle, according to a June 4 report from Sage Growth Partners. 

Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University has released more information regarding its plans to lay off at least 500 employees.

Altru, Memorial Health, Penn State Health and Sharp HealthCare are among the systems that reported improved year over year operating performance in their most recent financial reports. 

Health system CFOs around the country are working to expand access to care, either organically or through strategic partnerships, and grow their businesses after a financially challenging couple of years. 

Dallas-based Steward Health Care has snagged an additional $225 million loan commitment from a group of lenders to keep its 31-hospitals and physician group, Stewardship Health, operational ahead of auction.

The American Medical Association House of Delegates approved new prior authorization reform policies during its annual meeting. 

Understaffing is the top workforce challenge facing health system revenue cycle departments, according to a June 4 report from Sage Growth Partners. 

Columbus-based OhioHealth plans to outsource its home health and hospice services to Compassus, a company that specializes in providing integrated home-based care. 

On average, supply costs comprise about 10.5% of a hospital's budget, the American Hospital Association said its May 2 "Cost of Caring" report, citing data from Strata Decision Technology. 

The American Hospital Association has pushed back against CMS' proposed Transforming Episode Accountability Model, which is part of the inpatient prospective payment system role for fiscal year 2025. 

University of Missouri Health Care Women's Hospital in Columbia, Mo., will close after it transitions all services to the new MU Health Care Children's Hospital and Birthing Center, which opened May 22. 

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 10 agreed to review a court ruling that sides with HHS on how the agency calculates disproportionate share hospital payments for Supplemental Security Income benefits. 

Med-Metrix has acquired revenue cycle management company Hospital Billing & Collection Service.

MLK Community Hospital in Los Angeles could face closure as it continues to deal with overwhelming patient volumes that exceed the safety net hospital's capacity.

Healthcare bankruptcies spiked in 2023 amid high debt levels and rising interest rates as 73 healthcare companies — including 12 hospitals and health systems — filed for bankruptcy. Private equity firms, which owned 21% of the healthcare companies that filed for bankruptcy last year, have come under greater scrutiny by lawmakers and other healthcare stakeholders. 

California lawmakers are considering a bill that would tighten oversight of private equity and hedge fund buyers of hospitals and healthcare facilities.

Denver Health is working with city council members on a November ballot initiative seeking a .34% sales tax increase that, if approved, would help pay for uncompensated care, NBC affiliate KUSA reported June 5.