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.

private equity corporatization business consolidation

Major insurer partners with private equity firm for care coordination

Elevance said the move aims to expand patient access to primary care services for its Carelon Health patients.

Money bankruptcy debt liquidation

Private equity bankruptcies in healthcare explode 112% in 5 years

According to the Private Equity Stakeholder Project, 21% of all healthcare bankruptcies in 2023 involved organizations owned by financial firms.

healthcare money economics dollar stethoscope acquire merger

Cardiologist salary update: Compensation jumps to $525K per year, No. 3 among all specialties

In addition, cardiologists average an additional $75,000 per year in incentive-based bonuses. That number is only higher for two other specialties. 

Rite Aid closing stores bankruptcy

Recent Rite Aid store closings exceed 200

Right Aid is turning out the lights in 53 more stores across nine states.

Healthcare systems set up at the ACC.24 career fair in hopes of filling open positions, including a large and growing number of general cardiologist positions. Photo by Dave Fornell #ACC24 #ACC2024

The growing shortage or general cardiologists and recruiting crisis in rural America

There is a rapidly growing shortage in general cardiologists and for positions in rural areas, numerous healthcare system recruiters set up at the ACC reported.

CMS proposed rule would boost Medicare inpatient rates by 2.6%

CMS has issued a proposed rule that would result in a net increase of 2.6% to the Medicare inpatient prospective payment system rate for fiscal year 2025, a raise that hospital trade groups say doesn’t go far enough.

Medicare money payment physician

Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments

CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open. 

CMS drug price negotiations

Drug price dialogues represent ‘an opportunity for CMS to clarify negotiation policies and their potential impact for the future’

CMS must ensure transparency, clarity and predictability by providing detailed guidance on comparator drug selection and the evaluation of evidence, according to a group of D.C.-based health policy researchers.

Around the web

Compensation for heart specialists continues to climb. What does this say about cardiology as a whole? Could private equity's rising influence bring about change? We spoke to MedAxiom CEO Jerry Blackwell, MD, MBA, a veteran cardiologist himself, to learn more.

The American College of Cardiology has shared its perspective on new CMS payment policies, highlighting revenue concerns while providing key details for cardiologists and other cardiology professionals. 

As debate simmers over how best to regulate AI, experts continue to offer guidance on where to start, how to proceed and what to emphasize. A new resource models its recommendations on what its authors call the “SETO Loop.”