HCA Healthcare, a 182-hospital, for-profit system based in Nashville, Tenn., contributed more than $44 million to community organizations in 2022, up from $41 million in 2021. 

Oregon hospitals and health systems are asking the state legislature to help them with additional funding that could easily top $1 billion as they struggle with spiraling costs, according to a Feb. 23 article in The Lund Report.

In a Feb. 23 letter to CMS, 14 senators called for a four-year extension of the Low Wage Index Hospital Policy, which helps rural hospitals compete for and retain high-quality staff by increasing payments to hospitals with lower overall wages.

Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health posted a $715 million net loss in 2022 — down from a net gain of $861.5 million the prior year — as labor costs and other expenses outpaced a slight uptick in operating revenue.

Several healthcare organizations have recently closed medical departments or ended services at facilities to shore up finances, focus on more in-demand services or address staffing shortages.

Chicago-based CommonSpirit, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the country, will focus on five key areas to restore positive cash flow in the current fiscal year, CFO Dan Morissette told an investor call Feb. 23. The health system reported $451 million operating losses in the second half of 2022.

Winston Salem, N.C.-based Atrium Wake Forest Baptist reported an overall loss of approximately $223 million as declines in investment returns hit hard in 2022.

Jefferson, Mo.-based Capital Region Medical Center will close two clinics in Holts Summit and St. Elizabeth, Mo., effective April 15, according to the News Tribune.

Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Chris Murphy and Rep. Jahana Hayes are pushing back on plans by Sharon (Conn.) Hospital, part of Danbury, Conn.-based Nuvance Health, to turn its intensive care unit and surgical unit into one "progressive care unit," Fox61 reported Feb. 22.

Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont submitted a pair of bills to the state's Legislature that aim to reduce the cost of healthcare. 

Raleigh, N.C.-based WakeMed Health revealed its labor expenses surged approximately 33 percentage points in the period from Sept. 30, 2020, to Sept. 30, 2022.

Moses Lake, Wash.-based Samaritan Healthcare finished 2022 with a net income of $799,000, the Columbia Basin Herald reported Feb. 22. 

Hershey, Pa.-based Penn State Health said it had 90.3 days of cash on hand as it reported an overall loss of $110.4 million for the six months ended Dec. 31.

Labor shortages. Shrinking margins. Shifting patient expectations — these challenges are a constant reality for healthcare providers today.

Here are 12 revenue cycle management mergers and acquisitions reported by or shared with Becker's since Aug. 23, 2022:

Charlotte, N.C.-based Advocate Health, a 67-hospital system formed through the merger of Advocate Aurora Health — dually headquartered in Milwaukee and Downers Grove, Ill. — and Atrium Health was completed in December.

The Madera County (Calif.) Board of Supervisors continues to press legislators and work on possible plans to restore healthcare access to the community after the city's sole hospital closed at the start of the year. 

The change in federal policy for calculating Disproportionate Share Hospital limits will cost some hospitals millions of dollars and could accelerate closures, according to Matt Doyle, president and CEO of Merrillville, Ind.-based Methodist Hospitals.

Lawrence, Kan.-based LMH Health's board of trustees has voted to approve a strategic clinical partnership with the University of Kansas Health System in Kansas City.

Butler (Pa.) Health, which merged with Greensburg, Pa.-based Excela Health on Jan. 1 to form a $1 billion revenue entity, saw its credit watch revised to negative after it breached a debt coverage agreement, Fitch Ratings said Feb. 22.