As for-profit system Universal Health Services seeks to return to pre-pandemic levels of operating performance, contract labor costs remain an issue.
The King of Prussia, Pa.-based health system, which reported third-quarter net income of $167 million, saw its acute care contract labor costs rise to $69 million in the three months ending Sept. 30, CFO Steve Filton told an analysts' call Oct. 26. He described the increase as between 10% and 15% higher than the last few quarters.
Total costs associated with salaries, wages and benefits rose 6.4% over the third quarter of 2022 to total $1.8 billion. The premium labor figure also includes overtime to employees.