A typical U.S. hospital stay lasts nearly five days and carries an estimated $16,353 in hospital expenses, according to an Oct. 5 report from LendingTree.  Americans would need to work 435 hours, or nearly 11 weeks, to earn the equivalent…

Most private equity firms that buy U.S. short-term acute care hospitals sell them within five years, and PE-owned hospitals made up less than 4% of the market in 2024, according to a study published Sept. 10 in Health Affairs Scholar.…

The American Hospital Association has launched a website to help hospitals and health systems prepare for electronic prior authorization requirements that take effect Jan. 1, 2027. Major provisions of CMS’ 2024 Interoperability and Prior Authorization Final Rule begin on that…

Finvi, a revenue cycle and collections software company, named CFO Laura Granahan its CEO, effective Oct. 15. Ms. Granahan has been Finvi’s CFO since 2024, according to an Oct. 15 news release. Since June, she has led the company alongside…

Many Texas nonprofit hospitals send patients bills before checking whether they qualify for free or discounted care, and most won’t refund what patients pay in the meantime, KFF Health News and Tradeoffs reported Oct. 15.  The outlets reviewed financial assistance…

Revenue cycle performance has long been tracked through operational metrics: denial rates, days in accounts receivable, cost to collect. In 2026, hospital and health system CEOs began discussing it as part of a broader strategy, naming it in turnaround plans…

Multiple hospitals and health systems have suffered downgrades to their financial ratings this year amid rising expenses, ongoing operating losses and challenging work environments. Here are 19 hospitals and health systems that received credit rating downgrades from Fitch Ratings or…

A number of hospitals and health systems are reducing their workforces amid ongoing financial strain. Executives have cited a mix of factors, including lower reimbursement, rising labor and supply costs and the need to realign operations, as drivers of these…

At least 13 hospitals and health systems have cut leadership or management roles in 2026 as financial pressures and realignments push organizations to restructure for long-term sustainability. Becker’s covered six hospital layoffs involving leaders in September alone, compared to at…

CMS released 2027 Medicare Advantage star ratings on Oct. 8, giving more insight into the MA landscape beyond health plans’ marketing materials.  Contracts receive a rating each year, ranging from one to five stars. The ratings help beneficiaries compare plans,…