FastFinance with Rich Daly

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. Commercially insured individuals with average incomes are avoiding care at the highest rates because of cost concerns, a recent survey found. Also, this week’s Weird Number: 332,500. That’s the number of annual ACA marketplace enrollment reductions projected by a proposed rule implementing new requirements for enrollee subsidy applicants, starting in 2028. One More Thing: Workforce initiatives garnered the biggest share of $4 billion in federal rural healthcare grants provided by midsummer, according to an analysis. Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more and sign up ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. For some hospital and health systems, the potential of a coming stock market crash is more worrying than looming policy changes. Also, this week’s Weird Number: 96. That's how many labor and delivery units closed at hospitals from 2024 to early 2026. That's according to tracking by the Market of Dimes. Those closures followed 107.obstetric unit closures from 2021 to 2022. One More Thing: Hospital groups are asking a federal court to prevent the government from implementing or enforcing a planned 340B rebate model. Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more and sign up ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. A proposed rule to implement provider tax provisions of the 2025 Medicaid overhaul would be far more strictive than that law required, according to hospital advocates. Also, this week’s Weird Number: $1 billion. That was how much Medicare WOULD save on 2027 payment rates under the Clinical Laboratory Fee Schedule (CLFS) based on an INITIAL methodology used to set the rates. One More Thing: CMS has canceled roughly 315,000 enrollments encompassing 760,000 people in Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace plans, citing suspected fraud and the numbers soon could grow. Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more and sign up ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. Physician union activity is picking up this year, including at an unexpected health system. What's driving it? Also, this week’s Weird Number: $2.5 million. That’s the average annual cost per hospital of denied claims stemming from inaccurate patient identification or information, according to a Black Book survey. One More Thing: Rural hospitals have struggled in some instances to meet the paperwork requirements of the new federal rural health transformation program. Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more and sign up ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. A seven-state health system has garnered federal rural funding under the 2025 federal healthcare overhaul, even as it prepares for adverse impacts next year. Also, this week’s Weird Number: $1.8 trillion. That’s the amount that Medicare and Medicaid cost the federal government in FY24, and was more than 26% of total federal spending that year, according to CMS actuaries.   One More Thing: Hospitals obtained a victory in a recent ruling over Medicare disproportionate share hospital (DSH) payments. It could mean big money for hospitals in certain states. Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more and sign up ⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.