Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare operated 61 hospitals as of Dec. 31. 

The American Medical Association's most recent survey found that 89% of physicians say prior authorization had a "significant or somewhat negative clinical impact," but the organization said there are positive signs on the road to reform.

A New York hospital seeking $83 million in state funding has filed a financial improvement plan that involves aggressively appealing insurance claims denials and limiting overtime and physician bonuses, Newsday reported April 15. 

Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare has bought the real estate of four facilities that comprise Saint Clare's Health in Denville, N.J., and St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, Calif., from Medical Properties Trust for $350 million. 

Multiple April bankruptcy court filings revealed that Camp Hill, Pa.-based Rite Aid has plans to shutter 53 additional locations across nine states after it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and shared it will close 154 locations last October. 

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare is accelerating its portfolio transformation towards a more value-based care enterprise with a leading specialty care platform, the company said in a proxy statement filed April 12 with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

RIP Medical Debt, which has helped to relieve more than $11 billion since its founding in 2014, has rebranded as Undue Medical Debt. 

The Washington, D.C.-based National Rural Health Association and several health systems, hospitals, academic health centers, and state hospital associations have called on lawmakers to help restore the partnership between CMS and states to align with laws passed by Congress and to allow states to properly fund Medicaid programs based on their specific state and local requirements.

Mayo Clinic recently announced plans to make a $5 billion investment in its Rochester, Minn.-based campus late last year to replace old facilities and find "creative growth" areas, said Allison Viramontes, CFO of Mayo Clinic Arizona, at the Becker's 14th Annual Meeting in Chicago on April 9.

From his vantage point as CEO of University of Pennsylvania Health System, Kevin Mahoney sees a math problem unfolding for health systems of all types — one that will require stronger responses than many may be ready for. 

Rob Allen, president and CEO of Intermountain Health in Salt Lake City, is spending a lot of time thinking about changing payment mechanisms and the flow of care for the value-based environment. The health system has been in value-based arrangements since 2011 and Mr. Allen is now challenging his team to think further upstream to manage populations.

The Massachusetts Health Policy Commission is still waiting on "key material" to review the proposed sale of Dallas-based Steward Health Care subsidiary Stewardship Health, the parent of Stewardship Health Medical Group, to UnitedHealth Group's subsidiary Optum. 

What are academic medical centers focusing on most amid increasing pressure to improve performance?

Massena (N.Y.) Hospital, a 25-bed facility that is part of St. Lawrence Heath, has converted into a critical access hospital. 

Fitch Ratings has upgraded Prime Healthcare Foundation's rating on a series of bonds from "BBB" to "BBB+" with its rating outlook at stable. 

Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica is partnering with RIP Medical Debt to relieve $222 million in medical debt for more than 108,000 patients. 

Mississippi hospitals are projected to see an increase of more than $700 million in annual funds after CMS approved the second component of the state's Medicaid reimbursement plan. 

CMS released its annual Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule April 10. Here is how three hospital groups responded to the proposal, via statements:

OSF HealthCare has reopened a hospital in Peru, Ill., 15 months after the facility shuttered under its previous owners. 

CMS released its annual Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule April 10, which proposes a reimbursement boost for acute care hospitals.