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Though most indicators were down, hospital performance remained relatively stable overall, according to September data. Both inpatient revenue and average lengths of stay increased.

In the third quarter of this year, the median investment/subsidy per physician was $304,312—rising above $300,000 for the first time. Other expense metrics such as the total direct expense per provider FTE and labor as a percentage of total expenses increased.

Hospital financial performance remained relatively stable during the month of August, and despite higher patient volume, revenue and expenses declined on a volume-adjusted basis.

Hospital financial performance remains strong this year, with continued stabilization in the month of July. Outpatient revenue and average lengths of stay showed signs of improvement.

After several challenging years, hospitals and health systems are experiencing modest improvements in financial conditions.

The latest Kaufman Hall National Hospital Flash Report shows that the Calendar Year to Date Operating Margin Index for hospitals was 4.1% in June.

Health systems are confronting a new normal of shrinking revenue and rising labor costs. In the second quarter of 2024, increased labor expenses accounted for 83.9% of total expenses. Additionally, the median investment/subsidy per provider rose 3% since Q2 2023.

In this week’s graphic, we take stock of both the evolving usage and employer coverage of GLP-1 drugs, specifically for weight loss.

In this week’s graphic, we highlight the most recent data from software and analytics firm Strata Decision Technology to assess how hospital volumes have changed since 2022.

A judge orders a partial, preliminary injunction of the FTC’s noncompete ban, Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic announce plans to combine, and CMS proposes a nearly 3% cut to Medicare physician pay for 2025.

Using the latest data forecast from Sg2, a Vizient company, the graphic below illustrates how the outpatient shift will continue to accelerate through 2034.

Hospitals face enormously complex operational challenges every day. The advanced analytics used by large commercial businesses can offer solutions that improve revenue, lower expenses, and enhance patient outcomes.