St. Margaret's Health-Peru (Ill.) notified staff it would temporarily close Jan. 28 after its contract with an emergency room provider ends, according to a report from Shaw Local News Network.

Ten hospitals or health systems recently posted job listings seeking revenue cycle management expertise.

Lebanon, N.H.-based Dartmouth Health is freezing hiring and reviewing all vacant jobs at its flagship hospital and clinics in an effort to close a $120 million budget gap, the Valley News reported Jan. 21.

Pittsburgh-based UPMC is transitioning the 25-bed rural hospital UPMC Lock Haven (Pa.) to an outpatient emergency department.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health System is apparently bucking the trend by reporting positive net operating income in the three months ending Sept. 30, according to a Jan. 20 filing.

California holds more hospitals than any other state except Texas, and CMS rated 22 of them with one star, based on five quality categories.

The following hospital and healthcare systems have experienced affirmed credit ratings in recent weeks as their operating performance continues to hold up relatively well in a sustained difficult market:

The Federal Trade Commission on Jan. 5 issued a proposed rule that would ban noncompete agreements, but whether that rule will apply to nonprofit hospitals is unclear. 

West Reading, Pa.-based Tower Health, which has recently reduced its hospital count and laid off a number of employees, has pledged greater transparency with its current bondholders, according to a Jan. 20 filing.

Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' 2023-24 budget proposal would provide $9.7 million to Arizona State Hospital to improve staffing and operations.

Boston-based Mass General Brigham is restructuring its community hospital leadership and consolidating oversight of its community physicians to further integrate operations and reduce expenses across the health system, The Boston Globe reported Jan. 20.

R1 RCM recently got a new CEO, president, CFO and chief commercial officer. Here is information about the company's refreshed leadership team, according to its website: 

Eight revenue cycle management companies — including Conifer Health Solutions and R1 RCM — have announced executive leadership changes since Nov. 8:

The back and forth continues.

Moody's Investors Service downgraded the revenue bond ratings of Minneapolis-based Fairview Health from "A3" to "Baa1." 

Washington hospitals are projecting between a $3.5 and $4 billion operating loss by the end of the fiscal year as the financial fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic proves to be immensely damaging for hospital revenue in the state, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported Jan. 20.

Adena Health System is eliminating 69 positions — 1.6 percent of its workforce — and sending 340 revenue cycle department employees to Ensemble Health Partners' payroll in a move President and CEO Jeff Graham hopes will boost the health system's financial stability.

Visalia, Calif.-based Kaweah Health has embarked on a new strategy to cut costs after three years of financial losses totaling around $133 million, according to a Jan. 19 report in The Sentinel.

Two Pennsylvania lawmakers are setting their sights on UPMC, elevating allegations published in a report from the American Economic Liberties Project that accuses the Pittsburgh-based health system of building a monopoly.

Hundreds of hospitals in the U.S. are at immediate risk of closing, largely due not to financial mismanagement but inadequate reimbursements, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform.