1. 17 hospitals that saw credit rating upgrades in 2021 Full story

2. COVID-19 hospitalizations up in 29 states Full story

3. No Surprises Act takes effect Jan. 1: 9 things for hospital leaders to know Full story

4. Penn Medicine met revenue cycle labor shortages with revolutionary efficiency — here's how. 

5. 10 hospitals seeking RCM talent Full story

6. 9-month nurses strike estimated to cost Tenet hospital $40M+ Full story

7. HHS proposal prioritizes ACA plan comparison, health equity: 5 things to know Full story

8. CMS approves California's Medicaid overhaul Full story

9. Hefty fines for not complying with price transparency are on the way. Here's how hospitals can avoid them. 

10. No. 1 RCM priority heading into 2022: 5 hospital leaders weigh in Full story

11. Mayo Clinic urges patients, visitors to ditch cloth masks Full story

12. 20 things to know about Aetna Full story

13. Cutting corners on medical device maintenance can backfire. Click here to learn what services are worth the upfront costs.

14. 10 most read finance stories in 2021 Full story

Becker's Learning Opportunities

1. Orthopedic spine procedures are linked to higher risks of opioid dependence. See how to mitigate this risk here.

2. The obesity reckoning is here — What happens next will determine the health of most Americans. Click here to read the 3-part report.

3. The patient experience isn’t as great as healthcare leaders think. Find out what 1,800 patients, physicians and healthcare leaders in 13 countries had to say in a new study from Abbott.