Some Texas lawmakers are moving to amend the state's strict abortion laws by introducing bills that would expand exceptions for doctors to intervene in high-risk pregnancies, ProPublica reported Nov. 19. 

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare reported collecting 21,137 pounds of unused or expired medications during its sixth annual "Crush the Crisis" national prescription drug take-back event. 

After a health system acquires an independent hospital, workforces and operating costs shrink as prices and readmissions increase, according to a new report. 

Edinburg, Texas-based Driscoll Children's Hospital Rio Grande Valley will use a $1 million fund to create a workforce retention program, including monetary incentives for staff.

Some hospitals formerly owned by Dallas-based Steward Health Care have transitioned to ownership not affiliated with the Catholic Church and will no longer follow religious doctrine on matters such as abortion and contraception, The Boston Globe reported Nov. 19.

York, Pa.-based WellSpan Health has promoted Cindy Fruitrail to executive vice president and chief strategy officer, and Kasey Paulus, RN, to executive vice president and COO.

Douglas Ross, MD, has been appointed president of Dignity Health St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix.

West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health reported an operating loss of $14.2 million (-3% operating margin) in the first quarter of 2025, ended Sept. 30, 2024, an improvement from a $19.1 million operating loss (-4.2% operating margin) during the same period last year, according to its most recent financial report. 

U.S. News & World Report has recognized seven Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D providers for their national performance across various award categories.

Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center in Medford, Ore., is facing more than $488 million in lawsuits related to a former nurse's alleged drug diversion.

St. Louis-based SSM Health saw an operating loss of $21.8 million (-0.8% margin) in the third quarter of 2024, ended Sept. 30, up from a $35.1 million operating loss (-1.4% margin) during the same time period in 2023, according to its most recent financial report. 

As financial pressures mount and competition intensifies, hospitals and health systems are increasingly pursuing mergers and acquisitions to diversify their portfolios, strengthen bargaining power and pursue economies of scale. 

AFSCME Local 3299 — a union representing University of California service and patient care workers — and members of the University Professional and Technical Employees at the University of California San Francisco are both scheduled to begin strikes Nov. 20. 

Olu Jegede, MD, has been appointed chief health equity and community impact officer at Greensboro, N.C.-based Cone Health.

In his second year as president and CEO of Fairfield, Calif.-based NorthBay Health, Mark Behl is prioritizing ambulatory and outpatient care to meet growing demand and diversify revenue streams.

Many hospitals and emergency departments have been forced to close in 2024 due to circumstances like high costs and shifts in care needs. 

Billings Clinic-Logan Health, based in Kalispell, Mont., will roll out a new Oracle Health EHR system starting in 2025, Flathead Beacon reported Nov. 19. 

Saint Anne's Hospital in Fall River, Mass., previously owned by Boston-based Steward Health Care, has unveiled a new logo reflecting its updated name, NBC Boston reported Nov. 20.

The American Medical Manufacturers Association is calling on Congress to quickly reauthorize the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act before the end of the 118th Congressional Session in January 2025. 

Private equity-owned hospices performed below not-for-profit hospices across all Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems hospice survey measures, according to a study published Nov. 18 in JAMA.