The Business of Surgery U.S. Reps. John B. Larson (D-CT) and Beth Van Duyne (R-TX) last week introduced the bipartisan Outpatient Surgery Access Act of 2026, which intends to lower surgery costs at ASCs for seniors on Medicare. “Outdated Medicare policies are limiting access to high-quality and lower-cost care,” said Rep. Van Duyne. “Our…
Health policy organization KFF on Friday published an updated study that finds just one or two health systems controlled the entire market for inpatient hospital care in nearly half of U.S. metropolitan areas in 2024. “Consolidation may allow providers to operate more efficiently and help struggling providers keep their doors open…
An article published in The National Law Review this week examines new guidance from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Inspector General (OIG) on “physician transfers of ASC ownership interests in estate planning contexts.” The article, written by Stephen M. Fatum and Thomas N. Hutchinson of…
Medical office building (MOB) occupancy is at a record high of 92.7% and “institutional investment is increasing, but policy changes and financial pressures are heightening risk for both occupiers and investors,” according to a report from JLL, a professional services firm specializing in commercial real estate. JLL says the high occupancy…
Arkansas news organization Talk Business & Politics reports that Little Rock-based Baptist Health plans to “end hospital operations” at 492-bed Baptist Health-Fort Smith with the exception of “emergency room and possibly limited surgery services.” Additionally, it reports that “some or all” of the hospital’s existing physician agreements “may” expire June 29,…
Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) reports that some rural hospitals in the state are suffering from a “Medicare billing snafu” that is “generating steep financial hardships” for the already struggling facilities. The report says hospital leaders have been “vexed by a recent payment processing change” by CMS that is “effectively holding…
National Nurses United (NNU), which identifies itself as the nation’s largest union of RNs with more than 225,000 members, was scheduled to bring its nationwide Red Alert tour to Alameda (Calif.) Hospital on Saturday. It would be the third stop on the tour, which visits a community hospital on a…
The fact that many U.S. hospitals and health systems are in financially fragile positions is widely acknowledged. New reports from Strata Decision Technology, which offers cloud-based business decision support, offer quantitative confirmation of this trend, finding that rising expenses and decreasing revenue, including upcoming reimbursement changes and policy changes, are…
Media outlet Mississippi Today reports that Greenwood Leflore Hospital received temporary relief from making payments to the state’s Medicaid system after an order issued by a Hinds County Chancery judge last week. The judge ordered the Mississippi Division of Medicaid to temporarily stop collecting money owed by Greenwood Leflore after…
Baptist Health reached a definitive agreement to acquire South Arkansas Regional Hospital in El Dorado, Ark., and add it to the Baptist Health system. Although the transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals, Baptist Health stated that it will officially change the name of the 151-bed hospital to Baptist Health…
