Renton, Wash.-based Providence, a 51-hospital system, has launched a series of "recover and renew initiatives" to strengthen its core operations and ensure near-term sustainability while delivering on its Destination Health 2025 strategy.

CMS has fined 17 hospitals in 10 states and Puerto Rico for alleged price transparency violations. 

New Bern, N.C.-based CarolinaEast Health System has signed a new lease agreement with Craven County, N.C., to pay $1 to the county government in base rent for CarolinaEast Medical Center in New Bern, the Sun Journal reported Jan. 2.

Endeavor Health is planning a new $100 million project to modernize Elmhurst (Ill.) Hospital, according to CBS News.

Indianapolis-based Community Health Network reported a $108.5 million operating loss (-4.1% margin) for the nine months ending Sept. 30, down from a $12.6 million operating gain (0.5% margin) during the same nine-month period in 2023. 

A new California law took effect Jan. 1 that bars health providers and debt collectors from reporting medical debt information to credit agencies, CalMatters reported. 

For Greenville, N.C.-based ECU Health CFO Andy Zukowski, working in healthcare isn't just a job, it's personal.

As rural Medicare Advantage (MA) expansion grows, more insurers are terminating local providers from their networks and requiring rural seniors to travel much longer distances for care. Critics say these changes provide a hidden windfall for MA plans while weakening rural access in ways Congress never intended.

Coral Gables, Fla.-based Baptist Health South Florida reported an operating income of $395 million (6.3% margin) in the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, up from a $9.1 million operating loss (-0.2% margin) in FY 2023. 

Here are eight revenue cycle management updates that Becker's reported in December: 

Medicare Advantage provides health coverage to more than half of the nation's older adults, but some hospitals and health systems are opting to end or not renew contracts with some MA plans over administrative challenges.

Tenor Health Partners, a hospital turnaround company, and Medical Properties Trust have reached an agreement in principle over Dallas-based Steward Health Care's Sharon (Pa.) Regional Medical Center, which is set to close Jan. 6, WKBN reported Dec. 31. 

Indianapolis-based Indiana University Health completed the sale of its health plan to Elevance Health on Dec. 31. 

Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health reported an operating income of $311.3 million (4.9% operating margin) in fiscal 2024, up from an operating income of $67.1 million (1.6% margin) in fiscal 2023. 

CMS has issued fines to 17 hospitals for alleged price transparency violations. 

The relationship between health systems and payers has strained as inflation grows faster than reimbursement rates. Some health systems cut ties with certain payers amid contentious negotiations while others dropped Medicare Advantage plans. WVU Medicine took a different approach.

CMS has fined two hospitals for alleged price transparency violations, according to a Dec. 30 update on its price transparency enforcement website. 

Winner (S.D.) Regional Health has shared plans that it will end labor and delivery services, effective Feb. 1.

Consolidation in healthcare pushes up charges without improving quality of care, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons.

Large health systems' investments rebounded substantially in the third quarter, according to a Becker's analysis of financial documents. This boost in investment income provides an essential buffer for hospitals and health systems grappling with operational losses, as they continue to face rising costs, workforce challenges and reimbursement pressures.