On today’s episode of the Gist Healthcare podcast, we hear the second half of host J. Carlisle Larsen’s conversation with Modern Healthcare’s Michael McAuliff about a document making the rounds on Capitol hill that outlines potential federal healthcare spending cuts.

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.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, the median investment/subsidy per physician was $306,792, an increase of 5% compared to Q4 2023.

In 2024, hospital financial and operational performance stabilized. Outpatient revenue increased, and patient observation days decreased. Though expenses in 2024 rose, they did not outpace inflation on a volume-adjusted basis.

OMB memo causes significant confusion, Change cyberattack affected 190 million people, Cigna to limit out-of-pocket drug costs.

This week’s graphic illustrates the challenging operating environment many rural hospitals find themselves in.

As hospitals and health systems respond to the challenges and opportunities of a stabilizing but still challenged market environment, their strategic and financial plans will inevitably change.