PwC Behind the Numbers 2027: Medical Cost Trend Hits 9%
Commercial medical cost trend is projected to reach 9% in 2027 — the highest in 17 years — according to PwC’s Behind the Numbers 2027 report. Five inflators…
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The Next Phase of Price Transparency: Why Medicare Advantage Should Be the Focus
Medicare Advantage (MA) already offers substantially greater price predictability than traditional Medicare — MA enrollees saw monthly out-of-pocket costs 18–24% lower than traditional Medicare from 2014 to 2019,…
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Why Orthopedic Groups Are Walking Away from Medicare
Independent orthopedic practices across the U.S. are reducing Medicare exposure — and in some cases dropping it entirely — as reimbursement rates fail to keep pace with rising…
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Buy, Sell or Fight: The New Calculus of Health System Growth in 2026
Health systems in 2026 are applying a “buy, sell, or fight” calculus to market strategy — acquiring where they can build density, divesting where they’re subscale, and competing…
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ACA Coverage Cliff Fallout: Q1 2026 Revenue Impact at Major Health Systems
Enhanced ACA premium subsidies expired at the end of 2025, and major health systems are now reporting the financial fallout in Q1 earnings. HCA Healthcare saw a 15%…
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The Recurring Revenue Dental Membership Programs Can Unlock for DSOs
Over 80 million Americans lack dental insurance — and many are already patients at DSO-affiliated practices. Dental membership programs convert uninsured patients into recurring revenue by bundling preventive…
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21 Health Systems Exit Medicare Advantage Contracts in 2026
Becker’s Hospital Review is tracking 21 health systems that have terminated or are exiting Medicare Advantage contracts in 2026, citing persistent prior authorization denials and inadequate reimbursement from…
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UHS Reaffirms 2026 Volume Targets Despite Q1 Seasonal Headwinds
Universal Health Services reported Q1 2026 volume declines in both its acute care and behavioral health divisions, driven by a weak respiratory season and winter storms. Despite the…
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Insurers and Providers Agree AI Scribes Are Raising Costs—But Disagree on What to Do
Both health systems and health insurers privately acknowledge that AI ambient scribes are driving up healthcare costs — though they frame the issue very differently. Providers argue scribes…
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PwC’s 2026 Healthcare Investment Outlook: Where Capital Is Moving and Why
PwC’s 2026 healthcare investment outlook projects a more consistent year for private equity deal activity, supported by lower interest rates, available dry powder, and LP pressure for liquidity…