More cities could take steps to relieve medical debt for their residents, after local officials in Toledo, Ohio, committed American Rescue Plan funds to pay off medical debts, The Toledo Blade reported Jan. 2. 

The U.S. nonprofit healthcare system faces a very long road ahead to any potential financial recovery as it deals with persistent operating pressures and investment market volatility, S&P Global Ratings said in a December report where the agency also downgraded its sector view to negative.

The Nebraska Hospital Association is asking state lawmakers for a 9.6 percent Medicaid reimbursement rate in 2023 and a 7.7 percent rate in 2024, CBS affiliate KMTV reported Jan. 2. 

A long-delayed hospital in rural Arkansas is due to open Jan. 10 now that it has received its state license, the hospital's CEO told Becker's.

The New Orleans City Council included a line item in the city's 2023 budget aimed at eliminating up to $130 million in medical debt, the Louisiana Illuminator reported Jan. 2. 

Five revenue cycle management companies — including R1 RCM and Wakefield & Associates — have announced executive leadership changes since Nov. 8. 

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

After declaring bankruptcy last year, Watsonville Community Hospital became publicly funded in August and is expected to unveil a new three- to five-year strategic business plan next year, according to the Santa Cruz Sentinel.

Across the U.S., 220 rural hospitals — more than 10 percent nationwide — are at immediate risk of closing because of financial losses and lack of financial reserves to sustain operations, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. 

Hospitals have been paying astronomical prices for staff turnover, according to the "2022 NSI National Health Care Retention & RN Staffing Report."

Louisville, Ky.-based Baptist Health has reported audited losses for fiscal 2022 of over $176 million amid a steep decline in the value of its investments.

The percentage of healthcare organizations with an internal minimum wage of $15 or higher increased significantly over the last year, according to the "2022 Health Care Staff Compensation Survey" from SullivanCotter.

Duarte, Calif.-based City of Hope has been downgraded from "A+" to "A" as the health system struggles with declining operating performance and increased debt linked to its acquisition of Cancer Treatment Centers of America, S&P Global Ratings said Dec. 23.

Dozens of U.S. hospitals filed layoff notices in 2022. Some are trimming their workforces due to financial and operational challenges, and some are offering affected workers new positions.

Chicago-based Rush Health has appointed Garth Walker, MD, as its medical director of value-based care. 

Losses on investment, costs associated with converting to the Epic electronic health records system, and excess labor expenses dragged Jacksonville, Fla.-based Baptist Health to an overall loss of over $227 million in fiscal 2022. Much of that loss was experienced in the fourth quarter ending Sept. 30, particularly on the investment side.

Large U.S. companies took a hit this year with six in particular losing more than $4 trillion in market value over the last year, according to The Wall Street Journal and Yahoo Finance.

Here are 30 health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions in 2022, according to reports from Fitch Ratings and Moody's Investors Service.

More than 200 hospitals in the U.S. are at immediate risk of closing because of financial losses and lack of financial reserves to sustain operations, according to the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform. 

A significant improvement in its operating revenues allowed Memorial Hospital at Gulfport (Miss.) to record a decline in its overall losses for fiscal year 2022 when compared with last year.