The Becker's team took to the exhibit floor at HFMA's Annual Conference to, through conversations with more than a dozen experts, identify the biggest pain points hospitals across the nation are experiencing with reimbursement, cash flow and the revenue cycle.  By Molly Gamble and Ayla Ellison - 7/3/18

Of the 26 states that have seen at least one rural hospital close since 2010, those with the most closures are located in the South, according to research from the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program.  By Ayla Ellison - 7/3/18

Healthcare organizations are more confident about value-based care contracts and their potential effects on finances than they were in 2016, according to a KPMG poll.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/3/18

Sebastopol, Calif.-based Sonoma West Medical Center is facing a financial crisis due to its high debt payments. Hospital officials were deliberating whether to shut down the hospital, but they have now decided to launch an aggressive fundraising campaign aimed at reducing the facility's debt load, according to The Press Democrat.  By Ayla Ellison - 7/3/18

Below are 10 hospitals and health systems that posted job listings seeking CFOs during the past week.  By Ayla Ellison - 7/3/18

A woman suffered a laceration down to the bone in Boston June 29 when her leg got caught between the platform and a commuter train during rush hour. Her only request? Don't call an ambulance.  By Emily Rappleye - 7/3/18

Fundraisers for medical bills and accompanying expenses account for a third of campaigns on GoFundMe, the crowdsourcing website's CEO Rob Solomon told MPR News.  By Morgan Haefner - 7/3/18

Revenue cycle softwaremaker PMMC revealed a healthcare revenue cycle analytics platform on June 25.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/3/18

Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BBB+" rating on Providence, R.I.-based Lifespan's revenue refunding bonds. In addition, Fitch assigned Lifespan an issuer default rating of "BBB+."  By Alia Paavola - 7/3/18

Fitch Ratings downgraded Columbia, Md.-based MedStar Health's bond ratings to "A-" from "A."  By Alia Paavola - 7/3/18

Fitch Ratings downgraded Ashland, Ky.-based King's Daughters Medical Center's bonds to "BBB-" from "A-."  By Alia Paavola - 7/3/18

Fitch Ratings upgraded the rating on Prince Fredrick, Md.-based Calvert Health System's revenue bonds to "AA-" from "A."  By Alia Paavola - 7/3/18

CGH Medical Center in Sterling, Ill., decided to take what it sees as a unique approach to implement new revenue cycle software.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/3/18

The American College of Radiology has come out against provisions to curb surprise billing s in CMS' 2019 Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule released April 24.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/3/18

With the rise of consumerism in healthcare, the industry and states are increasingly focused on the practice of balance billing.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/3/18

A Mississippi man went to a clinic at North Mississippi Medical Center-West Point due to intense back pain. After a urine test revealed he had kidney stones, a physician recommended an abdominal CT scan to confirm the diagnosis and size of the stones. The test cost the man $3,878.25, or 11 times more than it would have at an outpatient clinic, according to the Clarion Ledger.  By Morgan Haefner - 7/3/18

Shares of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems closed July 2 at $3.13, their lowest closing price ever and down nearly 5.7 percent from the day prior.  By Ayla Ellison - 7/3/18

Cost information is becoming more important than ever for patients as they take on greater financial responsibility for their healthcare. To improve price transparency, providers should consider the approach used in the retail industry, and make cost information easily accessible, according to Allen Latham, vice president of revenue cycle management at TriZetto Provider Solutions, a Cognizant company.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/3/18

A majority of Americans concerned about healthcare costs in retirement have taken steps to avoid or minimize their current medical expenses, a survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute found.  By Kelly Gooch - 7/2/18

CMS is ending its provider agreement with Blackfoot-based Idaho Doctors' Hospital July 20, according to KIFI.  By Ayla Ellison - 7/2/18