CMS' final inpatient payment rule for 2019, hospital closures and bankruptcy filings were among the healthcare finance topics that piqued the interest of readers this past year.
Below are the 10 most popular finance stories published by Becker's Hospital Review in 2018.
1. CMS' final inpatient payment rule for 2019: 9 things to know
CMS released its annual Inpatient Prospective Payment System rule Aug. 2, which increases price transparency for patients and boosts payments to acute care hospitals.
2. Tennessee health system files for bankruptcy, says it owes CHS $28M
Knoxville, Tenn.-based Curae Health and its three hospitals in Mississippi filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Aug. 24.
3. Walmart will require workers to travel for spine surgery in effort to cut healthcare costs
Walmart is aiming to lower healthcare spending by requiring employees to travel to certain hospitals for spine surgeries.
4. Michigan hospital rejects woman's heart transplant, recommends she raise $10K
After rejecting a 60-year-old woman's request for a heart transplant for lack of "a more secure financial plan," Grand Rapids, Mich.-based Spectrum Health recommended that she start a $10,000 fundraiser to come up with the money.
5. 450 hospitals at risk of potential closure, Morgan Stanley analysis finds
More than 15 percent of U.S. hospitals have weak financial metrics or are at risk of potential closure, according to Business Insider, which cited a report from Morgan Stanley.
6. Texas health system files for bankruptcy
Rockdale, Texas-based Little River Healthcare, its parent company and several of its affiliated entities entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy July 24. The health system shut down Dec. 4.
7. A Walmart-Humana giant scares hospitals: 5 reasons why
A potential deal between Walmart and Humana would strengthen Walmart's position as a competitive threat to hospitals, industry consultants and executives told The Wall Street Journal.
8. Operator of 22 freestanding ERs files for bankruptcy
Houston-based Neighbors Emergency Center, which operates 22 freestanding emergency rooms, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August.
9. Anthem's new imaging policy likely to hit hospitals' profits
An imaging policy rolled out by Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in several states could cut into hospitals' profits.
10. Miami hospital files for bankruptcy: 4 things to know
The Miami Medical Center, a 67-bed hospital that suspended patient services in October 2017, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection March 9.
More articles on healthcare finance:
UPMC Pinnacle to close hospital
Private equity pushes into healthcare: 9 latest deals
CMS updates hospital price transparency requirement — again