The latest issue of the National Hospital Flash Report covers these and other key performance metrics.
Key Takeaways
- Uncompensated care pressures are intensifying. Hospital bad debt and charity care grew both in dollar terms and as a percentage of gross revenue year-to-date through June, accelerating financial pressure for health systems.
- ED demand is growing. ED visits rose in June as compared with last year. With broader payer landscape shifts, more patients may rely on EDs for care, potentially driving further volume increases.
- Hospital performance varies widely in 2026 despite stable margins. While the median operating margin held steady year-to-date through June, performance continues to vary across hospitals, with smaller and rural facilities bearing the greatest strain on already thin cash reserves.
- Expense inflation remains a persistent drain on performance. Supply and drug expense continued rising well above inflation year-to-date through June, reinforcing the need for targeted, disciplined spend management strategies across the system.
To view more insights on trends affecting hospitals and steps you can consider taking to address them, download the latest issue of the National Hospital Flash Report.
