A bipartisan group of lawmakers are looking to increase transparency in private equity-backed healthcare deals, Politico reported Sept. 11.

More health systems reported on their debt levels as increasing numbers of second-quarter results were reported in August. Some of the information below on such debt levels is also taken from credit rating reports.

The hospital labor market may have permanently turned a corner as wage growth slows while payrolls continue to rise, according to a Setp. 11 Fitch Ratings report.

Two hospitals and CVS Health recently expanded their CFOs' roles.

Despite financial hardships last year, AMCs continue to lean into their mission of providing advanced care, research and education to their communities.

Bloomberg reported Walmart is interested in purchasing majority ownership in ChenMed, a chain of primary care clinics focused on health for older adults.

In a Sept. 8 letter to CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, the AHA voiced its concern about the 2024 proposed hospital outpatient market basket update, arguing that it does not reflect the "unprecedented inflationary environment or the other persistent financial headwinds hospitals and health systems are experiencing."

The Hospital at Westlake Medical Center, a physician-owned hospital in Westlake Hills, Texas, is filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

Central Health — Travis County, Texas' public hospital district — on Sept. 6 voted to approve its fiscal year 2024 budget, which includes $7 million in emergency funding, according to NPR affiliate KUT 90.5.

After posting a $54.8 million loss in the fiscal year 2022, Providence, R.I.-based Lifespan Health CFO Peter Markell said that the health system is headed in the right direction, Providence Business First reported Sept. 8.

Operating margins fell to "unsustainable levels" in 2022, according to a Sept. 7 Moody's report. Here, Becker's breaks down more of the key comparative statistics to come out of the report using 2022 data.

Here are 13 revenue cycle management mergers, acquisitions and partnerships reported by or shared with Becker's in 2023:

Lynchburg, Va.-based Centra Health, a four acute care hospital system, saw its default credit rating upgraded to "A" amid an "improving financial profile," Fitch Ratings said Sept. 7.

Last year was one of the worst financial years for hospitals and health systems in decades. Many of the same challenges — including staff shortages, inflation and the rising costs of drugs, supplies and services — have continued into 2023, but the good news for hospitals is that patient volumes are rebounding and contract labor expenses are falling, helping operating margins to move in the right direction again.

Nonprofit hospital expenses continued to grow last year while liquidity fell to pre-pandemic levels, according to Moody's Investor Services.

Cleveland Clinic is one of a few top health systems that has expanded its international presence in recent years, increasing the diversity of its healthcare operations while promoting its clinical expertise in new markets. 

Huntington Bancshares is investing in healthcare fintech Veuu to develop artificial intelligence-based solutions to common revenue cycle challenges. 

Los Angeles-based Prospect Medical Holdings-owned Waterbury (Conn.) Hospital has notified 26 staff they will lose their jobs at the facility. Seventeen of the 26 are in clinical positions including patient assistants and surgical technicians while the remainder are non-clinical, Prospect said.

Walmart may have become a less attractive workplace for some employees after restructuring pay for hourly employees, according to The Wall Street Journal.

New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health posted an operating income of $146.6 million (1.8 percent margin) in the six months ended June 30, up from $40.8 million (0.5 percent margin) during the same period last year, according to financial documents published Aug. 29.