Economics

This channel highlights factors that impact hospital and healthcare economics and revenue. This includes news on healthcare policies, reimbursement, marketing, business plans, mergers and acquisitions, supply chain, salaries, staffing, and the implementation of a cost-effective environment for patients and providers.

Former ACA Marketplace enrollee: ‘This is ridiculous—$1,200 and an $8,000 deductible for a healthy person. Really?’
A new KFF survey shows almost 10% of people who had an Obamacare Marketplace plan in 2025 decided to head into 2026 with no coverage at all. Another 28% re-enrolled but with a different—presumably lesser—plan.
Healthcare price transparency startup earns $40M in seed funding, bringing the total to $95M
San Diego-based Turquoise Health was founded in 2020 and has evolved to be a healthcare pricing engine used to develop health plan networks and contract rates. The company said its end goal is complete price transparency to make it easier for all organizations and patients to navigate the U.S. healthcare system.
EP advocacy group details 6 key policy issues
The Heart Rhythm Society's advocacy arm is monitoring such issues as prior authorization, outpatient payment policies and cancelled research funding.
Consolidation, competition, consumer costs: Healthcare econ experts break it all down, make it make sense
Market forces like competition cannot stem the urge to merge among and between payers and providers, so neither will they staunch the price hikes in premiums.
MGMA outlines path and pitfalls in CMS 2030 value-based care push
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) has tested nearly 40 APMs, of which only two turned out to be successful, which does not bode well for meeting a 2030 deadline to transition to value-based payments.

Radiologist reaches settlement with hospital system he claimed fired him for requesting remote work

Richard Heiden, MD, has a compromised immune system and had asked NYC Health and Hospitals to reassign him to teleradiology duties after the COVID-19 pandemic hit.

New data highlight ‘massive gap’ between what Medicare, Medicaid pay for diagnostic imaging

The chasm between the two public payment programs has continued to grow since 2012, the Neiman Health Policy Institute reported recently.

Nearing a ‘breaking point’: Cardiologists support legislation designed to mitigate Medicare cuts to office-based services

These latest cuts could be a "breaking point" for physicians, according to a new letter to lawmakers.

Walmart is raising wages for thousands of its healthcare workers

The retail giant recently announced plans to invest in its pharmacists and opticians.

Layoffs up 287% in first 5 months of 2023; healthcare sector not immune

Healthcare companies, including manufacturers that produce health products, announced a total of 33,085 layoffs in the first five months of 2023—an 81% increase compared to the same time frame in 2022.

ACR ‘concerned’ some commercial insurers are requiring cost-sharing for USPSTF-endorsed services

The issue surfaced after a Texas district court judge declared a key Affordable Care Act provision unconstitutional in March.

CMS announces coverage decision for new Alzheimer's drugs

The agency indicated that, in order for such drugs to be covered, patients with Medicare Part B must be enrolled in registries that collect real-world data on the treatment’s effectiveness.

District of Columbia DC congress capitol hill

Radiologists support bipartisan bill to mitigate Medicare cuts tied to clinical labor costs

H.R. 3674 would provide a pay boost for procedures performed in office settings that require high-tech devices.

Economics

Former ACA Marketplace enrollee: ‘This is ridiculous—$1,200 and an $8,000 deductible for a healthy person. Really?’

Healthcare price transparency startup earns $40M in seed funding, bringing the total to $95M

EP advocacy group details 6 key policy issues

Consolidation, competition, consumer costs: Healthcare econ experts break it all down, make it make sense

MGMA outlines path and pitfalls in CMS 2030 value-based care push