The number of patients admitted with opioid use disorder and injection-related infections opting to be discharged against medical advice before completing treatment increased by 82% in 4 years, a recent Penn Medicine study found.

Approximately 20% of individuals listed as alive with a severe illness in their medical records were, in reality, deceased, according to findings published Dec. 4 in JAMA Internal Medicine. 

Epic Systems is integrating patients' experience data into its EHR. 

CVS Pharmacy is taking a cue from Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drugs and will launch a pharmacy reimbursement model built around a drug's cost, a pharmacy services fee and a set markup.

Experts estimate that the arrivals of least 10,000 foreign nurses have been postponed indefinitely by the United States' mismatched demand and supply of immigrant visas, Bloomberg reports. 

Google has a plan for incorporating artificial intelligence into its healthcare offerings and now its lobbyists are working to influence future regulations, according to Politico.

When you call Epic — no matter whether it's day or night — an Epic employee will answer the phone, according to company founder and CEO Judy Faulkner.

Banner Health is closing its hospice operations in the Phoenix and Tucson, Ariz., metropolitan areas and transferring patients and employees to a nonprofit provider, according to the Phoenix Business Journal. 

R1 RCM completed the restatement of previously issued financial statements after it previously identified "errors related to the accounting for certain acquiree compensation costs (e.g., transaction bonuses and accelerated equity award vesting) incurred as a result of historical acquisitions." 

Kettering (Ohio) Health Chief Administrative Officer Michael Mewhirter, who also has served as interim CEO, CFO and, at the campus level, as president and in financial leadership roles, is leaving the organization next year, the health system confirmed in a statement shared with Becker's on Dec. 5.

The current population of billionaires is aging — meaning trillions of dollars will soon switch hands, CNBC reported Nov. 30. 

Moody's Investor Services expects healthcare company defaults to increase next year as credit ratings deteriorate.

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. 

Shifting 835 employees to Optum will help Pewaukee, Wisc.-based ProHealth Care remain independent at a time of increasing mergers and acquisitions, CEO Susan Edwards told the Milwaukee Business Journal Dec. 4. 

CVS Health launched a rebrand of its healthcare delivery services and made other strategic moves to improve company performance.

Three of the largest for-profit health systems entered into multiple transactions this year as part of strategic plans to bolster their hospital portfolios, offload certain facilities or explore ways to expand their reach.

When Epic created its first billing system, it charged $3,000 — less than it cost the EHR vendor to make.

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.

Becker's is excited to honor 34 hospitals and health systems with innovation programs. 

With 2023 coming to a close, Becker's connected with Shelly Schorer, CFO of the California division of Chicago-based CommonSpirit Health, to discuss the continued financial challenges plaguing the healthcare industry and to get her thoughts moving into 2024.