Search Sort by Newest to OldestOldest to NewestRelevanceA-ZZ-A Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 … Next page › Last page Last The Implications of Losing Access to Tax-Exempt Financing Of the long list of possible federal budget cuts released on January 17, the suggestion to eliminate the tax-exempt status for interest payments on municipal bonds is an item of particular concern. While it is too early to wager on any of the items on the list, the implications of this move for not-for-profit hospitals would be severe. Thoughts from Ken Kaufman 2025 Healthcare Credit and Capital Markets Outlook Despite overall industry improvements for not-for-profit health systems, the divide between stronger and weaker performers continues to increase. Other challenges to the sector include the still-challenged labor market, the continued difficult payer environment and potential policy changes from the new Trump administration. Article Pace of Downgrades Slowed in 2024: Five Key Takeaways Downgrades continued to outpace upgrades in 2024 although at a lower rate than in 2023. Many of the downgrades reflected ongoing expense pressure that exceeded revenue growth. Rating affirmations remained the majority rating action in 2024, as in prior years. Blog Rating Agency Update: Supplemental Funding Programs, Cybersecurity, and Industry Outlooks Supplemental funding programs, cybersecurity risks, and industry outlooks were the themes of this year’s Therese L. Wareham Rating Agency Panel at the 2024 Kaufman Hall Healthcare Leadership Conference. Article Hospital Industry Enterprise Growth Strategy A growth strategy focused on access, accretive opportunities, and ambulatory represents a new “Triple A” for hospitals and health systems. Blog Building Treasury Operations Excellence for Tomorrow’s Needs Numerous headwinds in recent years have threatened liquidity, exposed organizations to counterparty risk, and heightened uncertainty about long-term financial sustainability. This report discusses six trends and related action steps to help position your organization for tomorrow’s Treasury Operations needs. Research Report Energy-as-a-Service Opportunities for Health Systems Health systems with substantial energy infrastructure may derive significant value from an energy-as-a-service (EaaS) partnership. Knowing what your health system wants from the partnership will help you identify the right structure for a successful partnership that aligns with your objectives. Article Thoughts on Servant Leadership A servant leader needs to be intellectually curious and strive to learn more from their employees as they lead. Every moment spent with caregivers and colleagues is a learning and a teaching moment. Blog Preparing for a Timely Basis Swap Execution Favorable execution levels for basis swaps can emerge quickly, and last for a short period of time. Health systems that have laid the groundwork for execution of a basis swap are positioned to promptly take advantage of what may be a short-lived opportunity. Article Stronger Hospital Financial Performance Continues Midway through 2024, we are seeing a sustained trend of stronger performance. Revenue and expense trends and length of stay will be indicators for the months ahead, but for now, good planning and tough decisions are translating into better results. Blog Positioning Short-Term Assets in the Current Rate Environment Because it has been so long since we have experienced a rate environment that provides for noticeable earnings, the art of generating excess earnings from cash assets may have gone dormant in the minds and busy days of treasurers. If so, it is time to bring that art back to life. Article Can One Drug Change the Hospital Industry? The new generation of weight-loss drugs has the potential to help reduce prevalence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, two of the most prevalent chronic conditions. How might that affect hospital operations and capital and financial planning? Blog Pagination Current page 1 Page 2 Page 3 … Next page › Last page Last
The Implications of Losing Access to Tax-Exempt Financing Of the long list of possible federal budget cuts released on January 17, the suggestion to eliminate the tax-exempt status for interest payments on municipal bonds is an item of particular concern. While it is too early to wager on any of the items on the list, the implications of this move for not-for-profit hospitals would be severe. Thoughts from Ken Kaufman
2025 Healthcare Credit and Capital Markets Outlook Despite overall industry improvements for not-for-profit health systems, the divide between stronger and weaker performers continues to increase. Other challenges to the sector include the still-challenged labor market, the continued difficult payer environment and potential policy changes from the new Trump administration. Article
Pace of Downgrades Slowed in 2024: Five Key Takeaways Downgrades continued to outpace upgrades in 2024 although at a lower rate than in 2023. Many of the downgrades reflected ongoing expense pressure that exceeded revenue growth. Rating affirmations remained the majority rating action in 2024, as in prior years. Blog
Rating Agency Update: Supplemental Funding Programs, Cybersecurity, and Industry Outlooks Supplemental funding programs, cybersecurity risks, and industry outlooks were the themes of this year’s Therese L. Wareham Rating Agency Panel at the 2024 Kaufman Hall Healthcare Leadership Conference. Article
Hospital Industry Enterprise Growth Strategy A growth strategy focused on access, accretive opportunities, and ambulatory represents a new “Triple A” for hospitals and health systems. Blog
Building Treasury Operations Excellence for Tomorrow’s Needs Numerous headwinds in recent years have threatened liquidity, exposed organizations to counterparty risk, and heightened uncertainty about long-term financial sustainability. This report discusses six trends and related action steps to help position your organization for tomorrow’s Treasury Operations needs. Research Report
Energy-as-a-Service Opportunities for Health Systems Health systems with substantial energy infrastructure may derive significant value from an energy-as-a-service (EaaS) partnership. Knowing what your health system wants from the partnership will help you identify the right structure for a successful partnership that aligns with your objectives. Article
Thoughts on Servant Leadership A servant leader needs to be intellectually curious and strive to learn more from their employees as they lead. Every moment spent with caregivers and colleagues is a learning and a teaching moment. Blog
Preparing for a Timely Basis Swap Execution Favorable execution levels for basis swaps can emerge quickly, and last for a short period of time. Health systems that have laid the groundwork for execution of a basis swap are positioned to promptly take advantage of what may be a short-lived opportunity. Article
Stronger Hospital Financial Performance Continues Midway through 2024, we are seeing a sustained trend of stronger performance. Revenue and expense trends and length of stay will be indicators for the months ahead, but for now, good planning and tough decisions are translating into better results. Blog
Positioning Short-Term Assets in the Current Rate Environment Because it has been so long since we have experienced a rate environment that provides for noticeable earnings, the art of generating excess earnings from cash assets may have gone dormant in the minds and busy days of treasurers. If so, it is time to bring that art back to life. Article
Can One Drug Change the Hospital Industry? The new generation of weight-loss drugs has the potential to help reduce prevalence of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, two of the most prevalent chronic conditions. How might that affect hospital operations and capital and financial planning? Blog