The most important hospital firm within the nation received’t overhaul its outpatient facility improvement technique ought to a site-neutral funds system turn out to be Medicare coverage, its CEO stated Jan. 24.
Healthcare stakeholders have staked out opposing positions in recent times in response to a number of proposals to institute site-neutral funds, which might pay suppliers the identical quantity whatever the care setting. Organizations together with the American Faculty of Physicians and the American Academy of Household Physicians (in addition to America’s Well being Insurance coverage Plans) have backed proposals to equalize funds whereas the American Hospital Affiliation has been out entrance in opposing these efforts.
On a convention name discussing Nashville-based HCA’s fourth-quarter outcomes, executives reiterated that they’re in opposition to fee reforms that might decrease hospitals’ reimbursement charges. However CEO Sam Hazen additionally stated that the corporate’s efforts to develop its well being techniques anchored by 190 hospitals wouldn’t be affected.
“We’re discovering alternatives to increase the attain of our networks into new communities […] after which totally combine that exact facility into the bigger hospital-centric well being system,” Hazen advised analysts. “I don’t see any adjustments to that on account of a Medicare site-neutral provision if one have been to be applied.”
HCA has because the finish of 2020 added about 400 websites of care to its community, which now numbers 2,400 places, whereas it has grown its hospital rely by a web of solely 5 amenities. Hazen and his staff have made that enlargement—comprising hospice care and rehabilitation companies in addition to surgical procedure and imaging facilities, amongst different issues—considered one of their key progress methods as: In a late-2023 presentation to buyers, they pointed to community enlargement as a key driver of HCA’s three-percentage-point acquire in inpatient market share over roughly the earlier decade.
Community enlargement usually accounts for about half of HCA’s capital spending annually. Hazen stated that received’t change in 2025, when the corporate plans to spend about $5.2 billion on upkeep and progress tasks—a determine that’s up from $4.9 billion final yr and $4.7 billion in 2023.
Among the many different forecasts HCA leaders introduced together with their fourth-quarter numbers is equal admissions progress of three % to 4 %. That’s down from 4.5 % in 2024 however nonetheless above the historic vary by a few share level and indicative of the robust rebound in affected person exercise because the finish of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shares of HCA (Ticker: HCA) fell greater than 3 % to about $313 after executives’ earnings report and convention name. They’ve fallen about 8 % over the previous six months, which has trimmed the corporate’s market capitalization to about $79 billion.
