Health systems across the U.S. are growing as more independent hospitals and small chains move to join larger organizations amid financially challenging times.

One health system — and two healthcare disruptors — were included in Morning Consult's list of the fastest-growing brands for 2023.

Primary care is the backbone of healthcare and the only part of the healthcare system where increased supply is linked to improved health, lifespan and equity. Yet access to primary care providers can vary greatly by state.

Nationally, the average percentage of hospitals with uncorrected deficiencies is 0.3%. In Delaware, the rate is 2.6%, according to CMS data. 

Merck took the top spot in Newsweek's fifth annual list of "America's Most Responsible Companies." 

Fortune and Premier collaborated to identify the top 15 health systems of 2023, considering clinical outcomes, operational efficiency and patient experience in the 15th edition of the list.

U.S. News & World Report for the first time has recognized 73 hospitals as Maternity Care Access Hospitals.

U.S. News and World Report released a list Dec. 5 recognizing hundreds of hospitals for maternity care.

Leapfrog is winding down 2023 by recognizing 132 hospitals with its Top Hospital Award, a distinction for hospitals that demonstrate the highest performance in the U.S. on quality and patient safety. 

United Health Foundation released its 2023 America's Health Rankings Dec. 5, which analyzes the overall health of the 50 states and this year identifies a record-high and rising prevalence of chronic conditions.

While Gen Xers and baby boomers flock to warm weather in Arizona and Texas, significant shares of young people are clinging to the coasts, according to a recent series of analyses from SmartAsset. 

Six major health systems have been ranked by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation regarding their inclusivity toward lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer employees. 

Washington is the best state for jobs and West Virginia is the worst, according to analysis from personal finance website WalletHub released Nov. 29. 

The Leapfrog Group, the nonprofit watchdog organization behind hospital safety grades, is proposing several changes to its annual survey for 2024, including the removal of certain questions and tweaks to deadlines. 

Utah is the most charitable state, featuring the highest volunteer rate and most volunteer hours per capita, according to WalletHub.  

U.S. News & World Report is adding new ratings of outpatient surgical centers to its annual series of healthcare ratings.

Of the 269 urban areas in the Council for Community and Economic Research's most recent Cost of Living Index, the Manhattan borough of New York City was the most expensive and Decatur, Ill., was the least expensive. 

The national job openings rate in the United States has risen by 89.29% in the past decade — but some states are seeing even faster job growth, according to a recent analysis shared with Becker's. 

Less than 0.25% of the nation's hospitals have more than five Magnet designations, and only one state has more than one hospital part of the elite list. 

U.S. News & World Report has released a new set of state rankings that compare racial equality across four health categories.