The White House finalizes mental health parity rules, CMS notifies 1M beneficiaries of data breach, and Humana is exiting 13 MA markets.

We’re pleased to welcome you to our Strategy Spotlight blog, a space where we intend to regularly share our insights—and those of our colleagues—on the evolving challenges and opportunities healthcare organizations are confronting.

A shift in meaning of the term “brat” during the summer of 2024 marks a fundamental change in the notion of how to communicate with the public. This shift offers lessons that often contradict some of our deepest instincts about how to convey a message.

In an increasingly competitive environment, colleges and universities must define and assert where they have a competitive advantage and ensure that they are reaching their full market of potential enrollees. The ultimate goal of these efforts is to enhance market essentiality.

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.

A question often asked by health system leaders is what will be required for future success. Responses from some of Kaufman Hall’s smartest consultants are featured in this new blog from Ken Kaufman. One common element: The need to make and stick with really hard decisions.

CMS releases results from the first round of Medicare Drug Price Negotiations, Steward finds a buyer for its physician group, and employers are using price transparency data in their suits against Aetna.

CVS to roll out co-located Oak Street Health clinics amid reduced profit outlook, CMS finalizes inpatient payment rule that includes new mandatory bundled payment model, and an appeals court gives providers another win in No Surprises Act litigation.

Community Health Systems plans to sell its three Pennsylvania hospitals, a bankruptcy judge allows Steward Health Care to close two Massachusetts hospitals, and CMS approves North Carolina’s medical debt relief program.

The House Oversight Committee criticizes PBM pricing tactics, Humana’s CenterWell plans to open primary care centers at Walmarts, and a federal judge upholds the FTC’s noncompete rule, diverging from a previous district court ruling.

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?

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.