Continued market losses prompted by the COVID-19 pandemic will likely weaken key liquidity metrics and pressure the ratings of some nonprofit hospitals, according to a new Fitch Ratings report. 

Dallas-based Steward Health Care is informing employees to expect furloughs at its facilities across the U.S. as the system works to overcome the "seismic shock" of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Kaiser Health News. 

Citing a revenue hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, Cincinnati-based Bon Secours Mercy Health will furlough 700 employees and freeze wages of all nonclinical personnel, according to The Cincinnati Business Journal. 

Williamson (W.Va.) Memorial Hospital will close by the end of April, according to TV station WOWK, which cited an announcement from hospital officials. 

Many U.S. hospitals and health systems have suspended elective procedures to save capacity, supplies and staff to treat COVID-19 patients. 

Fayetteville, N.C.-based Cape Fear Valley Health has temporarily closed some services and furloughed about 300 employees to help reduce the spread of COVID-19, according to The Fayetteville Observer.

Legislators, administration officials and others are already working on another stimulus package to combat the economic impact of COVID-19, just days after President Donald Trump signed a $2 trillion emergency spending bill into law, according to The Wall Street Journal.

In response to concerns that patients may avoid seeking medical care related to the novel coronavirus due to costs, several health systems in the U.S. announced plans to suspend bills for the testing and treatment of COVID-19.

Chattanooga, Tenn.-based Erlanger Health system said it is implementing a cost-reduction plan that includes furloughs and pay reductions for leadership prompted by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Citing the financial hit from the COVID-19 pandemic, Greenville, S.C.-based Prisma Health said it plans to furlough both clinical and administrative workers, according to Greenville News.

An option that allows states to cap annual Medicaid funding in exchange for more flexibility would be particularly harmful during a pandemic like COVID-19, according to an analysis from the left-leaning think tank Urban Institute.

Hospitals in Ohio could face $1.2 billion in lost revenue due to suspending nonessential procedures in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Columbus Business First.

CMS has expanded the Accelerated and Advance Payment Program to a broader group of healthcare providers to help offset the financial impact of COVID-19. 

Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said his administration will do everything possible to keep Easton (Pa.) Hospital open.

Appalachian Regional Healthcare, a 13-hospital system in Lexington, Ky., will furlough about 500 employees due to a sharp reduction in business and revenue, according to the Lexington Herald Leader.

UnitedHealthcare is delaying the implementation of a new policy that will affect professional emergency department claims submitted with the level 5 evaluation/management code 99285. 

President Donald Trump on Friday signed a $2 trillion emergency spending bill to combat the economic impact of COVID-19.

Parsons, Tenn.-based Decatur County General Hospital will shut down for restructuring, but the hospital's new interim CEO says the closure will be temporary, according to the Jackson Sun.

Mayo Clinic leaders have adopted several strategies to manage expenses and better shield the Rochester, Minn.-based system from the financial hit of COVID-19, according to local news station KTTC.

Cleveland-based St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has furloughed about 70 employees amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to local news station Fox 8.