Niraj Waghmare

Hospitals and health systems face relentless financial pressure, yet many continue to forfeit revenue due to outdated and inefficient credentialing and payer enrollment processes. Forward-thinking organizations are breaking this pattern by modernizing these critical functions — shortening credentialing timelines and capturing revenue more quickly. To explore why this shift is…

While nonprofit hospital financial performance has been steady overall this year, the top performing hospitals have continued to shine while lower performing hospitals struggled, according to Kaufman Hall’s “National Hospital Flash Report.” Kaufman Hall, a Vizient company, gathers data from 1,300 hospitals across the U.S. to measure profitability and financial…

A recent Kaufman Hall “Physician Flash Report” for the third quarter of 2025 found that medical group investment dropped in September, a first drop since the COVID-19 pandemic.  The median investment or subsidy per provider dipped slightly from $239,338 to $237,911, ending multiple years of quarterly increase. Matthew Bates, managing…

In 2025, 2 in 5 healthcare workers report feeling their role is unsustainable, and 1 in 4 are considering leaving the industry entirely, according to Indeed’s “Pulse of Healthcare 2025” report. Indeed surveyed 924 U.S. healthcare workers ages 18-65 between July 23 and Aug. 6. Roles included 197 prescribing providers…

Several years ago, Boston-based Massachusetts General Hospital recognized it was facing a growing challenge with emergency department boarding, particularly among general medicine patients. Like many hospitals, MGH had an ED-managed observation unit for patients requiring short-term care, typically under 24 hours. But the hospital increasingly struggled with that setup and…

An influenza strain that emerged over the summer is causing unusually early and severe outbreaks in Canada, the U.K. and Japan, prompting warnings from public health experts about what could be in store for the U.S. as flu season kicks into gear, NBC News reported Nov. 12. The strain is…

The longest government shutdown in American history ended Nov. 12, but the fate of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits — the sticking point for Democrats — will not be decided until December.  Five things to know: 1. President Donald Trump signed the resolution to fund the government through Jan.…

Eleven U.S. hospitals have earned consecutive “A” safety grades from The Leapfrog Group since 2012. Hospital safety grades are assigned biannually, based on the hospital’s ability to protect patients from medical errors, accidents, injuries and infections, according to a Nov. 13 news release from Leapfrog.  Read where Leapfrog’s 23 straight…

Twenty-three U.S. hospitals received an “F” in The Leapfrog Group’s fall 2025 safety grades — including 11 that were downgraded from a “D.” Twice a year, Leapfrog evaluates more than 3,000 general hospitals nationwide based on performance across up to 22 measures of patient safety from CMS. The ratings focus…

How Healthcare Leaders Can Turn Pilot Projects Into Sustainable, System-Wide Results AI is no longer a buzzword in healthcare. It now has its own budget line, and it’s already reshaping the way healthcare gets delivered and paid for. More than 80% of healthcare organizations report active AI projects, but only…

Wyoming is the most charitable state, with residents spending an average of 29 hours per year volunteering and donating nearly 4% of their adjusted gross income, according to WalletHub.    WalletHub analyzed the 50 states by comparing them across 17 key indicators of charitable behavior, such as the volunteer rate and…

“Access to care” emerged as a top healthcare C-suite buzzword heading into 2025. While much of the conversation has focused on coverage, affordability and capacity, hospital and health system leaders told Becker’s the industry often overlooks the more human elements: trust, navigation and how patients actually experience the care journey.…

Average nonprofit hospital margins hit 2.3% in September but performance was hampered by increased expenses and drug costs, according to Kaufman Hall’s “National Hospital Flash Report” released Nov. 12. The report outlines September financial data from 1,300 hospitals across the U.S. based on data from Strata Decision Technology. The margin…

As health systems await a federal funding solution for hospital at home amid the government shutdown, healthcare organizations are mixed on the care model’s return on investment. More than two-thirds of the roughly 20% of health systems that offer hospital at home say the programs increase access to care, boost…

Rural primary care practices deliver a broader range of services than their urban counterparts, even as workforce shortages and federal policy changes strain access and affordability. These findings were detailed in a Nov. 12 report from the Primary Care Collaborative. The group’s 2025 report found that rural areas have roughly…

The U.S. is home to nearly 400 health systems, with most hospitals now part of a larger network. The American Hospital Association’s latest data offers a snapshot of how the system landscape continues to evolve. Seven things to know: 1. There are 397 health systems in the U.S. These systems…

Innovation does not have to come with a hefty price tag, according to Thomas Jackiewicz, president of UChicago Medicine. New research on the 811-bed health system’s patient advocacy program, using six years of data, shows that minor and nonurgent emergency department visit rates decreased by 45% among patients who received…

Health systems are modernizing career advancement programs to build internal pipelines and keep nurses at the bedside. These programs are being updated to better recognize clinical expertise and support professional growth without requiring nurses to leave direct patient care. Altamonte Springs, Fla.-based AdventHealth, for example, launched a four-level clinical ladder…

AI is already transforming the healthcare workforce and the care they deliver, from automated coding to scribing — with many more advances coming soon. That was the message from Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable’s AI Summit, which took place Nov. 5 in Chicago. Here are 10 of the…

A certain level of competition is healthy in hospitals and health systems, as it can lead to improved outcomes, lower costs and spark innovation. But unchecked competition can cross a line, according to healthcare leaders. Becker’s connected with three executives about where that line is — and how organizations can…

Employment in the nation’s private sector climbed by 42,000 jobs in October, with 26,000 added in the education and health services sector, according to an ADP report released Nov. 5. The October national employment report, produced by ADP Research in collaboration with the Stanford Digital Economy Lab, examines anonymized weekly…

A new federal law set to take effect in 2027 is raising red flags for hospitals — particularly safety-net and rural providers — as it introduces sweeping changes to Medicaid eligibility. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed into law this summer, includes a nationwide Medicaid work requirement that mandates…

Southwest Georgia Regional Medical Center in Cuthbert to Reopen

Every state has submitted applications seeking a share of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, according to CMS.  Five things to know:  1. The program — enacted under the Working Families Tax Cuts Act and expanded through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act — aims to improve access, care…