Beth Jones Sanborn
Premier scored a 95.6, the highest rating of all companies analyzed, dominating in value-based care and financial improvement.
Providers have been waiting years for payments, applications for benefits have been stalled up to a year, lead attorney says.
The deal is expected to close before the end of the year, company says.
State says the funding will help it invest in partnerships between public higher education institutions and healthcare providers.
Lack of protections, rising number of attacks, value of healthcare information to hackers, makes industry a ripe target.
Also, more than 850,000 renewed coverage in past two weeks.
Other workforce issues, drug shortages and price hikes are also top of mind, Premier's Fall 2016 Economic Outlook shows.
Measures helped lower these payments by $6.03 billion in 2016, federal agency says.
The four hospitals combined will require more than $300 million in state operating assistance in FY2017 to keep doors open, the report said.
HHS Office for Civil Rights said lack of firewall to blame; breach exposed private information of more than 1,600 people.