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.

SCOTUS dismisses the Idaho abortion law case, leaving the state’s emergency abortion ban paused, an appeals court mostly upholds the ACA preventive services mandate, and Cone Health plans to join Kaiser Permanente subsidiary Risant Health.

Strategic planning and financial planning are highly interrelated and interdependent disciplines. Institutional financial literacy creates the perfect environment and means of communication in which an integrated strategic financial planning process can thrive.

Health systems are faced with two conflicting realities. The first is that partnerships will continue to be a necessary and critical part of healthcare strategy. The second is that antitrust enforcement will continue to create strong barriers to these same partnerships.

Novant cancels its plan to acquire two North Carolina hospitals from CHS amid an FTC challenge, Amazon expands its RxPass generic drug subscription service to Medicare, and the DOJ accuses two executives at telehealth startup Done of an Adderall distribution scheme.

For Medicaid plans that enjoyed a surge in business during the pandemic, this rapid decline in the market may be disheartening, and the large rapid shifts in the Medicaid risk pools will be challenging to manage to target profit margins in the near-term.

An FDA advisory committee recommends approval of Eli Lilly’s Alzheimer’s drug, the Biden administration proposes banning medical debt from credit reports, and Elevance becomes the second insurer to win a MA star ratings lawsuit.

Rating meetings should include a meaningful discussion of notable achievements along with a frank, no-spin discussion of the risks the organization is facing. This balance will build credibility with the rating analyst and, ultimately, the rating committee.

Portland, OR-based health systems OHSU and Legacy sign a definitive merger agreement, Dollar General ends its mobile health clinic pilot, and a House subcommittee focuses on the need for 340B transparency.

Ozempic trial shows the drug slows kidney disease progression, a blood-based colorectal cancer test is endorsed for FDA approval, and nursing home trade groups sue over the new staffing mandate.

Promoting financial literacy serves two important purposes. First, it makes everyone aware of the institution’s current financial health. Second, it makes everyone aware of what will be required to ensure the institution’s financial health over the long term.

Telehealth company Hims & Hers unveils $199 weight-loss shots, CMS launches an emergency care complaint portal for patients, and the Senate Finance Committee signals interest in Medicare physician payment reforms.