National Daily Hospital News — Executive Briefing
October 27, 2025

Global & Health Sector Headlines

1. News: FTC warns healthcare employers and staffing companies about potentially unlawful non-compete practices; review restrictive covenants now. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-chairman-ferguson-issues-noncompete-warning-letters-healthcare-employers-staffing-companies

2. Recommendation: Audit physician and clinical staff agreements for non-compete and no‑poach clauses; tighten non-solicit and confidentiality terms instead. https://www.jenner.com/en/news-insights/publications/the-ftc-drops-ban-on-noncompetes-but-warns-healthcare-employers

3. Case Study: Media and regulator signals show continued scrutiny across sectors—health systems should expect outreach and potential information requests. https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/us-ftc-issues-warnings-non-compete-practices-healthcare-employers-staffing-2025-09-10/

Health Policy & Industry Updates

4. News: CMS finalized the Interoperability & Prior Authorization rule: payers must implement APIs; most API provisions now due by January 1, 2027. https://www.cms.gov/cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization-final-rule-cms-0057-f

5. Recommendation: Map your top 20 high-volume authorizations and build payer-specific SLA dashboards ahead of 2026–2027 deadlines. https://www.cms.gov/data-research/monitoring-programs/medicare-fee-service-compliance-programs/prior-authorization-and-pre-claim-review-initiatives

6. Case Study: CMS announced an ASC prior authorization demonstration across 10 states with a 7‑day standard review window beginning December 2025. https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/medicare-prior-authorization-expands-to-ambulatory-surgical-centers

Early Morning Briefing Highlights

7. News: California SB 525: statewide healthcare worker minimum wage phased in—$24/hr begins July 1, 2025 for many covered facilities. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Health-Care-Worker-Minimum-Wage-FAQ.htm

8. Recommendation: Update labor models, call schedules, and contractor rates to reflect SB 525 phase‑ins and compression effects through 2033. https://www.camft.org/Advocacy/SB-525-Health-Care-Worker-Minimum-Wage

9. Case Study: Implementation advisories detail phase schedule and facility tiers to plan budgets and staffing well ahead of July 1, 2025. https://callaborlaw.com/blog/new-minimum-wage-for-california-health-care-workers-takes-effect-october-16-2024

Strategic Implications for Leadership

10. News: CMS stepped up hospital price transparency enforcement and standardization (May 22, 2025 guidance & RFI). https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency/accuracy-and-completeness-rfi

11. Recommendation: Close gaps on machine‑readable file (MRF) format and homepage footer link; penalties up to $5,500/day for noncompliance. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hospital-price-transparency-frequently-asked-questions.pdf

12. Case Study: Peer‑reviewed 2025 study links higher ED volume/boarding with an error rate of 500 per 100,000 encounters (supports transparency & capacity focus). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145972/

Quality Metrics to Share with Your Team

13. Emergency department error rate observed at 500 per 100,000 encounters in a 2025 study (n=250,049); boarding and volume increased. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145972/

14. Prior authorization demo (ASCs in 10 states) targets 7‑day standard decisions (2‑day expedited) starting Dec 15, 2025. https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/medicare/medicare-prior-authorization-expands-to-ambulatory-surgical-centers

15. CMS Interoperability & PA rule: most API requirements due by Jan 1, 2027; certain provisions Jan 1, 2026. https://www.cms.gov/cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization-final-rule-cms-0057-f

16. Price Transparency penalties: up to $5,500/day, scaled by bed count per CMS guidance. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hospital-price-transparency-frequently-asked-questions.pdf

17. California SB 525 wage floor milestone: $24/hour effective July 1, 2025 for many covered facilities. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Health-Care-Worker-Minimum-Wage-FAQ.htm

18. CMS enforcement actions are public; confirm your organization is not listed. https://www.cms.gov/priorities/key-initiatives/hospital-price-transparency/enforcement-actions

19. FTC noncompete oversight active in healthcare; warning letters issued Sept. 10, 2025. https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2025/09/ftc-chairman-ferguson-issues-noncompete-warning-letters-healthcare-employers-staffing-companies

Leadership Call to Action

20. Run a rapid non‑compete clause audit across physician and NP/PA contracts; replace risky language with tailored non‑solicit and confidentiality protections. https://www.jenner.com/en/news-insights/publications/the-ftc-drops-ban-on-noncompetes-but-warns-healthcare-employers

21. Stand up payer‑specific prior authorization dashboards (volumes, approval times, denials, appeals); align to CMS 2026–2027 API timelines. https://www.cms.gov/cms-interoperability-and-prior-authorization-final-rule-cms-0057-f

22. Complete an SB 525 impact model (wage compression, differentials, relief staffing) and phase budget adjustments before July 1, 2025. https://www.dir.ca.gov/dlse/Health-Care-Worker-Minimum-Wage-FAQ.htm

23. Finish a price transparency compliance sweep (MRF template, homepage footer link, shoppable services page) and document proof; remediate findings. https://www.cms.gov/files/document/hospital-price-transparency-frequently-asked-questions.pdf

24. Launch an ED boarding huddle metric set (arrival-to-admit, boarding hours, LWBS, ICU hold hours) and escalate daily capacity bottlenecks to exec ops. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12145972/

📍 Published at National Daily Hospital News
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