Andrew Cass

A former Emory Healthcare finance department employee filed a class-action lawsuit alleging the Atlanta-based system violated the federal WARN Act by laying off workers without the required 60 days’ notice. On Aug. 12, Emory laid off some financial services and revenue cycle positions in an “effort to streamline operations and…

CEOs are turning to front-line employees for insights shaping systemwide strategies. Since becoming president and CEO of Joplin, Mo.-based Freeman Health System in April, Matthew Fry has held front-line listening sessions he described as invaluable. A recurring theme quickly emerged: The organization needed clear direction. “They felt like they were…

More hospitals and health systems should be focusing on developing evidence-based clinical pathways as part of broader efforts to free up capacity and improve operational efficiency, according to Chhavi Katyal, MD, senior vice president and chief quality officer at Catholic Health in Rockville Centre, N.Y. “One thing that gets overlooked…

A study conducted by the American Cancer Society found that climate-related weather disasters are threatening the stability of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply chain.  Here are three things to know:  The study, published Aug. 20 in JAMA, highlighted how weather disaster events such as Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Maria triggered national…

A national survey of 812 clinical and nonclinical staff positions across 20 job families identifies the top 10 fastest-growing IT roles in healthcare. SullivanCotter’s “2025 Health Care Staff Compensation Survey Report,” released in July, includes data on nearly 2.5 million healthcare employees from more than 2,660 participating organizations. The following…

Hospital and health system CFOs continue to face mounting pressures, from ongoing workforce headwinds to sudden regulatory shifts. To meet these challenges, sometimes a CFO needs to step beyond their role as financial steward and act as a strategic partner to operational leaders.  Becker’s connected with Brian Zimmerman, who became…

The University of Alabama at Birmingham has opened a $157 million inpatient rehabilitation pavilion.  The 134-bed facility offers specialized neurorehabilitation care for patients recovering from stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury and other conditions, according to an Aug. 18 news release from the university.  The pavilion features indoor and outdoor…

A blood test developed by Somerville, Mass.-based Mass General Brigham researchers can accurately identify HPV-associated throat cancers, according to a study published Aug. 14 in Clinical Cancer Research.  There are currently no tests to detect early-stage HPV-associated throat cancers, leading most cases to be detected and diagnosed after the cancer…

Nearly all small healthcare practices are exposing themselves to cyberattacks and federal compliance violations, according to a recent survey conducted by Paubox. The technology company’s survey, released Aug. 19, of 214 healthcare IT leaders and practice managers at organizations with fewer than 250 employees found that 98% said they believe…

Lubbock, Texas-based Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center received a $1.3 million, four-year grant from the Health Resources & Services Administration, an agency of HSS, to expand telehealth services in Texas and Louisiana. The TexLa Telehealth Resource Center, housed at the center, will receive $325,000 annually through 2029 to strengthen…

The University of Chicago Medicine has launched a national cancer network, and has selected AdventHealth Cancer Institute Shawnee Mission in Merriam, Kan., as its first affiliate.  The UChicago Medicine Cancer Network will allow national affiliates to remain independent while aligning with UChicago Medicine’s clinical care, medical education and biomedical research…

Physicians treating Medicare patients have seen their real income drop by more than 33% since 2016, fueled by stagnant reimbursement, growing Medicare Advantage enrollment and surging operating costs, according to a report published Aug. 18 by Omniscient Health, a data science, research and consulting firm. As financial pressure mounts, some…

Hospitals nationwide are showing signs of stronger financial footing, though the pace of recovery varies by region, according to a report from Moody’s.  Rising revenues and moderating expenses are contributing to healthier margins, while liquidity and leverage trends highlight both opportunities and ongoing pressures. At the same time, reliance on…

Orlando-based University of Central Florida opened a new nurse training facility, made possible in part by financial support from three Florida health systems. The Dr. Phillips Nursing Pavilion will enable UCF to graduate an additional 150 licensed nurses each year, according to an Aug. 18 news release from the university. …

The share of unemployed Americans with no prior work experience reached 13.4% in July — its highest level since April 1988, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. One possible driver is uncertainty around trade policies, which research shows can dampen hiring, according to an Aug. 12 analysis from the…

North Carolina Medicaid providers will see at least a 3% cut in reimbursement rates beginning Oct. 1, with services like long-term behavioral healthcare, hospital care, nursing homes and physicians seeing 8% to 10% in cuts. The cuts come after state lawmakers passed a stopgap “mini budget” spending plan, which leaves…

Twenty hospitals were named to healthcare staffing firm Soliant’s 2025 Most Beautiful Hospitals list, which recognizes both architectural beauty and quality of care. Leaders from eight of the hospitals shared with Becker’s how redesigned spaces have improved patient flow in the past year. Note: Responses have been lightly edited for…

Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Avera will use $1 million in federal funding to expand its virtual nursing program. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s distance learning and telemedicine program awarded Avera $1,017,126 over three years to enhance access to virtual patient care at 28 rural healthcare sites in South Dakota, Minnesota, Nebraska…

Median hourly base pay for registered nurses varies across states, with RNs in California earning the most, according to SullivanCotter’s “2025 Health Care Staff Compensation Survey Report.” The survey, released in July, covers nearly 2.5 million healthcare employees across over 2,660 participating organizations, including more than 800,000 individual RNs, licensed…

The $50 billion rural hospital transformation program that is part of the recently passed One Big Beautiful Bill Act might aim to support rural healthcare, but an Aug. 19 Bloomberg editorial said it amounts to “something of a slush fund.” The funds, which will allocate the $50 billion over five…

Tech companies are accelerating their push into healthcare, unveiling new AI tools aimed at everything from documenting patient visits to supporting medical care in space. Here’s a look at recent moves by tech giants expanding their footprint in healthcare AI: Google and NASA are collaborating on a new AI-powered tool…

In a departure from the CDC’s recommendations, the American Academy of Pediatrics said all children between 6 months and 2 years old should receive a COVID-19 vaccine for the 2025-26 virus season.  The AAP released the recommendations Aug. 19. They differ from the CDC’s guidance published in May, which advises…

Here are 21 health systems that recently had their outlooks upgraded by Fitch Ratings or Moody’s Investors Service in 2025. Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Health systems were compiled from credit rating reports. Boston Children’s Hospital’s outlook was revised to stable from negative by Moody’s. The revision reflects…

AI has been firmly integrated into revenue cycle management (RCM) as organizations look to boost efficiency, enhance patient experience and prepare for a rapidly evolving future. In a recent discussion hosted by Becker’s Healthcare and Zotec Partners, leaders shared strategies for balancing cutting-edge innovation with operational realities. The conversation featured…