Healthcare finance news for hospital and health system leaders

Many large health system layoffs in 2026 feature a common theme: Leadership is cutting corporate and administrative support roles while protecting positions that focus on patient care. It’s a pattern that shows how organizations are deciding what to cut as…

Meadowbrook, Pa.-based Redeemer Health’s credit rating was downgraded to “Caa3” from “B1” on Oct. 9 after the system missed scheduled debt service payments. Moody’s tied the downgrade to the missed payments and the acceleration of about $87 million in obligations…

Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., one of the authors of the No Surprises Act, is introducing legislation that would replace the law’s arbitration process with a payment benchmark based on the median in-network rate. The Lower Premiums, Faster Payments Act…

States had obligated about $4 billion of nearly $10 billion in first-year Rural Health Transformation Program funds as of July 31, according to a CMS report based on state-reported data. The 105-page report covers Dec. 29, 2025, through July 31,…

Here are 28 health systems that recently had their outlooks upgraded by Fitch Ratings or Moody’s Investors Service in 2026. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Health systems were compiled from credit rating reports. Adena Health System’s outlook was…

Some patients are bringing insurance coverage disputes directly to health insurer CEOs, seeking another avenue for review when recommended care is denied, MedPage Today reported Oct. 8. Two patients recently obtained coverage approvals after contacting insurance company executives, according to…

Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, one of the largest for-profit health systems in the U.S., is seeking CFOs at eight of its hospitals.   Tenet operates 50 acute care and specialty hospitals serving primarily urban and suburban communities, as of June 30.  Tenet…

Durham, N.C.-based Duke University Health System recorded operating income of $453.1 million (5.4% margin) for fiscal year 2026, compared with operating income of $179 million (2.5% margin) in fiscal 2025, according to its Oct. 5 financial report.  Five things to…

A $75,000 donation from Covenant Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas, has helped erase $14 million in medical debt for 10,865 residents through a partnership with nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, The Austin American-Statesman reported Oct. 9. The church used part of…

Fifty-seven hospitals across 22 states have converted to rural emergency facilities since the law that created the designation took effect in January 2023, according to data from CMS. Here are the hospitals that have converted to rural emergency status, by…