Moody's Investors Service has issued a negative outlook on the nonprofit healthcare and hospital sector for 2019. The outlook reflects Moody's expectation that operating cash flow in the sector will be flat or decline and bad debt will rise next year.
Moody's said operating cash flow will either remain flat or decline by up to 1 percent in 2019. Performance will largely depend on how well hospitals manage expense growth, according to the credit rating agency.
Moody's expects cost-cutting measures and lower increases in drug prices to cause expense growth to slow next year. However, the credit rating agency said expenses will still outpace revenues due to several factors, including the ongoing need for temporary nurses and continued recruitment of employed physicians.
Hospital bad debt is expected to grow 8 to 9 percent next year as health plans place greater financial burden on patients. An aging population will increase hospital reliance on Medicare, which will also constrain revenue growth, Moody's said.
More articles on healthcare finance:
Fitch: Healthcare profit margins will face pressure in 2019
Cleveland Clinic's operating income jumps 76% in Q3
CHI's operating loss shrinks to $73M in Q1