Hospital financials, on average, worsened in the first quarter, despite a relatively strong start to the year, as operating margins, volume and revenue declined, according to Kaufman Hall's latest "National Hospital Flash Report." 

Piedmont Augusta (Ga.) is reopening the emergency department and inpatient services at its Summerville campus after converting the location into an outpatient campus over a year ago.

UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty expressed that he was "deeply deeply sorry" about the impact that the late February cyberattack against Change Healthcare has had on patients and providers during May 1 congressional hearings.

Winston-Salem, N.C.-based Novant Health is looking to build a 26-bed, cancer-focused hospital.  

The largest health systems, on average, have far less market share than the top three payers in each state, despite concerns from policymakers and the public, according to a report published May 1 by the Association of American Colleges Research and Action Institute. 

Piedmont Atlanta Hospital plans to add 130 beds and hire more than 300 employees to address increased capacity pressures in the wake of Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center's 2022 closure, according to a certificate of need application filed April 1. 

CVS Health cut its earnings guidance for 2024 based on rising medical costs. 

In the first quarter, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare sold nine hospitals while its outpatient business United Surgical International Partners acquired 45 ambulatory surgery centers and added 32 service lines. 

St. Louis-based Ascension named Saurabh Tripathi executive vice president and CFO on April 29 to succeed Liz Foshage, who is retiring in September.

From updates on the Change Healthcare cyberattack to Tower Health outsourcing its revenue cycle operations, here are seven RCM headlines to know from April: 

Fort Worth, Texas-based JPS Health Network agreed to pay former CFO Sharon Clark more than $900,000 in severance after firing her in October, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported April 29. 

Despite changes from the three nationwide credit reporting companies, 15 million Americans still have medical bills on their credit reports, according to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare posted a net income of $2.2 billion in the first quarter of 2024 up from $143 million posted in the same period last year, according to its April 30 financial report. 

New Orleans-based Ochsner Health, a 46-hospital system, reported a $104 million operating gain in 2023, a more than $200 million improvement on the $96.4 million loss posted in 2022. 

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health reported an operating income of $197.7 million in 2023, a 68% improvement on the $117.6 million operating gain posted the previous year.

Walmart Health is closing all 51 of its health centers across five states and shutting down its Walmart Health Virtual Care services.

Prairieville (La.) Family Hospital closed April 29 after the Louisiana Department of Health determined that the hospital violated state hospital laws and regulations, leading to the revocation of its license. 

Nearly 200 rural hospitals have closed since 2005, and some states bear the brunt of this reduction to healthcare access more than others. 

Facing an unprecedented surge in payer denials, the healthcare industry confronts a pivotal challenge that threatens its foundational mission of patient care and jeopardizes hospital stability nationwide.

Long-term debt has long been a staple in healthcare, but many hospitals and health systems are responding to the increasing cost of debt and debt service in the rising rates environment.