Anthony Brino

For some nurses, the emergence of the Ebola virus is increasing a sense of hospital leadership's underinvestment and under-appreciation. The resulting union-driven strikes could cost health systems in their budgets and reputations.

In eastern Massachusetts, Steward Health Care is closing the 196-bed Quincy Medical Center, amid continuing financial losses, competition from rivals and a decentralization of traditional hospital care.

How will a long-time health insurance executive fix the healthcare financing crisis in a state with some of the most expensive and advanced medical care on the planet? Starting in January, Massachusetts is going to find out.

Hospitals dependent on Medicaid disproportionate share allocations must discover new financing models for low-income patients, or else lobby their state governments to make policy changes.

Hospitals' struggle for financial sustainability continues and may be getting worse, as CFOs say information technology investments draw more resources than expected and threaten to crowd out other priorities.

While some health systems are reluctant to publish prices without reforms of insurance practices and proper context for patients, some are trying to embrace transparency as a new model. Washington State's Everett Clinic is one of those pioneers.

Two health systems set to merge want to "reimagine" healthcare and bring it to the masses, and in a fairly crowded metropolitan area they need economies of scale.

HCA's bet on walk-in clinics in a bustling metropolitan area is the latest evidence of the urgent need to improve and diversify the customer experience.

The hospital merger wave may have slowed down a bit, but for health systems facing financial challenges and looking to evolve clinically, it's still an option for consideration.

Flexing its anti-kickback muscles, the federal government is clamping down hard on some profit-focused patient referral and healthcare joint venture practices.