Hospital labor costs rocketed over the last four years, hitting margins and cash flow hard, according to Moody's. And the problem isn't going away any time soon.

The CFO-to-CEO trend is growing in popularity, partially because of the current economic environment, Fortune reported Oct. 16.

The Biden administration has invoked the Defense Production Act to expedite the rebuilding of Baxter International's IV fluid facility, where production was halted in the wake of flooding following Hurricane Helene, CBS News reported Oct. 15. 

The costs of the Change Healthcare cyberattack continue to grow for parent company UnitedHealth Group.

New Jersey has eliminated $120 million in medical debt for 77,000 residents in the second round of its relief plan. 

Chad Patrick has returned to HCA Florida Orange Park Hospital to serve as CEO, according to an Oct. 15 news release shared with Becker's. 

As COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 remains the top circulating variant in the U.S., XEC has climbed from the fifth to second most dominant variant, according to CDC data.

The American Cancer Society has named Wayne Frederick, MD, as interim CEO of the organization and its advocacy affiliate, the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. The news comes one month after the organization announced its current CEO, Karen Knudsen, PhD, was planning her exit.

An OB-GYN working at Miami Beach, Fla.-based Mount Sinai Medical Center was attacked by a patient's son and hospitalized with severe injuries, local10.com reported Oct. 15.

Becker's has reported on five hospitals that have reopened their doors in 2024, including a West Virginia hospital that closed amid COVID-19:

In its 2024 to 2025 Choice Awards, WebMD recognized 164 health systems, including 24 that patients and physicians preferred 2-to-1 over competitors.

The following hospital and health system CFO moves have been shared with or reported by Becker's this year:

Peoria, Ill.-based OSF HealthCare is renaming one of its long-term rehabilitation hospitals to better align with hospital names throughout the system.

Hospital labor costs remain high nationwide amid persistent shortages, inflation and government policy changes, according to an Oct. 15 report from Moody's.

Towson, Md.-based Greater Baltimore Medical Center has finished construction on a new $94 million cancer center where it will begin seeing patients early next year, according to an Oct. 16 report from the Baltimore Business Journal. 

The following hospital and health system CEO moves have recently been reported by Becker's:

More than 230 lawmakers in the House of Representatives have sent a letter to House Speaker Mike Johnson and Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urging House leadership to address the scheduled 2.8% Medicare reimbursement cut for physicians before the end of 2024. 

A California hospital is aiming to reopen just shy of two years after it closed its doors, ABC affiliate KFSN reported Oct. 16 

While 8 in 10 health systems offer at least the same amount of virtual care as two years ago, the rest either stopped or are providing fewer virtual visits, according to the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions.

After Hurricane Helene struck Baxter's site in North Cove facility in Marion, N.C. — the nation's main manufacturer of intravenous and peritoneal dialysis solutions — several healthcare organizations have shared conservation and drug shortage mitigation tips.