Healthcare Leadership Blog
Decision-ready analysis for hospital executives navigating strategy, operations, workforce, technology, finance, and patient care.
Healthcare Leadership Blog
Decision-ready analysis for hospital executives navigating strategy, operations, workforce, technology, finance, and patient care.
April 2026 in review: FY2027 IPPS proposal, MA rates rise, M&A rebounds
April 2026: CMS proposes a 2.4% FY2027 IPPS update and mandatory CJR-X, finalizes a 2.48% MA increase, and Q1 hospital M&A hits a six-year high.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
March 2026 in review: Sutter-Allina deal, Medicaid renewals, ACA results
March 2026: Sutter and Allina plan a $26B system, CMS details six-month Medicaid renewals, and ACA enrollees shift sharply toward bronze plans.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
February 2026 in review: Extenders pass, margins settle, UMMC goes offline
February 2026: Congress extends hospital at home, telehealth and DSH relief; Kaufman Hall reports flat 2025 margins; ransomware closes UMMC clinics.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
January 2026 in review: ACA subsidies lapse, MA rates and new GME slots
January 2026: enhanced ACA subsidies lapse, CMS proposes a 0.09% MA rate change for 2027, and 400 new residency slots go to teaching hospitals.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
December 2025 in review: ACA credits lapse, rural awards land, HHS eyes AI
December 2025 recap: enhanced ACA subsidies expire, CMS awards first-year rural transformation funds to all 50 states, HHS releases AI strategy and RFI.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Population Health & Clinical Innovation
November 2025 in review: Shutdown ends, OPPS final rule squeezes outpatient
November 2025 recap: shutdown ends with telehealth and hospital at home extended to Jan. 30; CMS finalizes 2.6% OPPS update with site-neutral expansion.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
October 2025 in review: Shutdown stalls virtual care as ACA premiums jump
October 2025 recap: shutdown halts Medicare telehealth and hospital at home, ACA premiums climb about 26%, Q3 hospital M&A rebounds, 2026 PFS finalized.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
September 2025 in review: Shutdown looms, rural fund opens, visa fee hits
September 2025 recap for hospital leaders: shutdown deadline, ACA subsidy cliff, $50B rural health fund opens, and a $100,000 H-1B fee.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
August 2025 in review: 340B rebate fight, BCBS settlement, Epic’s AI push
August 2025: Hospitals pushed back on a 340B rebate pilot, a court approved the $2.8B BCBS provider settlement, and Epic detailed its AI roadmap.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
July 2025 in review: OBBBA becomes law as CMS issues 2026 payment rules
July 2025: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act became law, CMS proposed 2026 outpatient and physician rates, and finalized a 2.6% inpatient update.
- Posted by Greg Wahlstrom, MBA, HCM
- Posted in Blog,Strategy, Finance & Policy
