A North Carolina medical debt protection bill that stalled last year has been reintroduced in the state Senate, The Carolina Journal reported April 21. 

Fifteen states reported double-digit percentages of increased medical liability premiums in 2022 — up from 12 states in 2021 — an American Medical Association data analysis revealed.

As COVID-19 hospitalizations decline and part of the healthcare sector stabilizes, Goldman Sachs healthcare analyst Asad Haider said that he sees healthcare cost and pricing pressures easing, The Wall Street Journal reported April 21.

Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, the largest hospital system in the country, has reported first-quarter 2023 net income of $1.36 billion on $15.6 billion of revenue. That compares with net income of $1.27 billion in the same period last year and $2.1 billion in the final quarter of 2022.

Los Angeles-based Cedars-Sinai posted $259.2 million in operating income for the year ended June 30, representing a 36.1 percent drop from the $405.7 million it reported in the previous year, according to its most recent annual financial report.

Flagstaff, Ariz., city planners in the Planning and Zoning Commission have raised concerns about Flagstaff-based Northern Arizona Healthcare's plan to build an $800 million new hospital and "wellness village," NPR affiliate KNAU reported April 20.

The American Hospital Association is urging the passage of a House bill that would delay cuts to the Medicaid Disproportionate Share Hospital program until fiscal year 2026. 

A healthy CEO and CFO relationship is crucial to maintaining the stability of a health system's finances and leadership.

Stanford (Calif.) Health Care reported continued operating profit in the six months ending Feb. 28, recording a $214.5 million operating income even as expenses rose approximately 8 percent on the year.

Johnson City, Tenn.-based Ballad Health is evaluating services at Elizabethton, Tenn.-based Sycamore Shoals Hospital for possible consolidation, local news outlet WJHL reported April 20.

Hospitals and healthcare providers are turning to a variety of options besides raising pay to help cope with staff shortages, according to Moody's April 2023 edition of Healthcare Quarterly.

Minneapolis-based Fairview Health Services reported a net operating loss of $315.4 million for 2022 amid a 6.4 percent increase in operating costs which are "driving intense margin pressure," according to an April 20 filing.

Health systems have done their best to improve the patient financial experience with simplified statements, multi-channel billing, and payment plans.

Here are eight hospital and health system CFO moves Becker's has reported on since April 1:

Becker's has reported on eight health systems that have opted to outsource finance jobs or other revenue cycle functions in 2023: 

Renton, Wash.-based Providence could see $585 million of new debt increased to $888 million if some of the to be issued bonds is used to finance existing debt, Moody's said April 13.

Toledo, Ohio-based ProMedica plans to lay off 26 skilled nursing support staff, effective June 17, according to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification filed April 18.

Montebello, Calif.-based Beverly Hospital has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as it hopes to pursue a buyer and avoid closure, the Los Angeles Times reported April 20.

Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Parkview Health System reported audited operating income of $61.2 million as expenses rose 10.4 percent on the year.

Hartford, Conn.-based Trinity Health of New England is erasing $32.76 million of non-Medicare/Medicaid medical debt belonging to 22,300 patients.