BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and Cigna are issuing rebate checks to Tennessee residents because their healthcare costs were lower than expected, the state's Department of Commerce and Insurance said Sept. 17. 

CMS finalized its end-stage renal disease treatment choices model and radiation oncology payment models Sept. 18.

Hospitals across the U.S. charge private insurers an average of 247 percent more than what Medicare would pay for the same care, according to a RAND Corp. study published Sept. 18. 

Memorial Health System, a five-hospital network in Springfield, Ill., laid off 143 workers, according to The State Journal-Register. 

An analysis of nearly 20 million Americans showed they have a combined $45 billion of medical debt in collections, according to USA Today, which cited an analysis from Credit Karma, a consumer finance company. 

Beginning Jan. 1, hospitals across the nation must disclose the rates they negotiate with Medicare Advantage plans. Some hospitals considered defying the rule, but a new penalty has them rethinking their decision, according to Bloomberg Law. 

University of Rochester (N.Y.) Medical Center has called back nearly all of the 3,474 employees it furloughed in May, according to Spectrum News. 

The Emergency Triage, Treat and Transport model will begin Jan. 1, CMS announced Sept. 16. 

Moody's Investors Service maintained its negative outlook for U.S. for-profit hospitals due to waning federal aid, shifting payer mixes and varying volume trends.

An Illinois federal court has dismissed a whistleblower lawsuit alleging University of Chicago Medical Center, Medical Business Office and Trustmark Recovery Services violated the False Claims Act, according to Bloomberg Law.