New HHS Committee, 2026 IPPS Released, Care Coordination Valuation, and More!

On August 21, 2025, the U.S. Department for Health & Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced the formation of a new Healthcare Advisory Committee. The Committee is expected to be comprised of a group of experts who will make strategic recommendations to HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz. This Health Capital Topics article discusses this announcement and potential implications on the healthcare industry. (Read more...)

Hospital Acquisitions of Physician Practices Increase Prices

A recent study of hospital physician acquisition and employment found that such acquisitions decrease competition and raise prices. A National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) working paper, released in July 2025, “empirically analyze[d] the effects of mergers between complementary firms on competition and pricing,” and found hospital prices increased by an average of 3.3%, while physician prices increased by an average of 15.1%. This Health Capital Topics article reviews the study’s findings and implications for the healthcare industry. (Read more...)

CMS Releases 2026 IPPS Final Rule

On July 31, 2025, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) released its finalized payment and policy updates for the Medicare Inpatient Prospective Payment System (IPPS) and the Long-Term Care Hospital (LTCH) Prospective Payment System (PPS) for fiscal year (FY) 2026. The final rule authorized Medicare inpatient reimbursement increases for 2026 and moved forward with improvements to quality measurement, and provided more information on a new value-based payment model. This Health Capital Topics article will discuss the IPPS final rule and stakeholder reactions. (Read more...)

Valuation of Care Coordination Services: Introduction

As healthcare continues its trajectory toward more risk-based contracts and population health management, the strategic importance and financial value of care coordination services have become paramount considerations for healthcare executives, investors, startups, and other industry stakeholders. This first installment in a five-part series on the valuation of care coordination services provides a brief overview of care coordination. (Read more...)

NEW ARTICLE!

"Valuation of Freestanding Emergency Departments Part II of II" authored by HCC President, Todd A. Zigrang, MBA, MHA, FACHE, CVA, ASA, ABV, and, HCC Senior Vice President and General Counsel, Jessica Bailey-Wheaton, Esq., was featured in the recent issue of The Value Examiner, published by the National Association of Certified Valuators and Analysts (NACVA) .

For more recently published material written by HCC, please visit www.healthcapital.com

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