National Daily Hospital Executive Briefing
Friday, November 7, 2025
Global & Health Sector Headlines (U.S.)
GAO analyzes recent urban hospital closures and community impact (five hospitals, closures 2022–2023); findings highlight payer mix, labor costs, and deferred capital as common drivers. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106473
Health Policy & Industry Updates
FY 2026 IPPS Final Rule home page centralizes the final rule, tables (including VBP, HRRP), and impact files for FY 2026. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page
HHS OIG audit: 17 of 25 sampled hospitals did not comply or may not have complied with PRF balance-billing restrictions for COVID-19 inpatients. https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2025/seventeen-of-twenty-five-selected-hospitals-did-not-comply-or-may-not-have-complied-with-the-provider-relief-fund-balance-billing-requirement/
Infection Control
EID Journal: C. auris colonization surged in Orange County LTACHs; cumulative incidence 22.5% after a 30‑day stay during first COVID wave, with elevated transmission across waves. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/9/24-1342_article
EID Journal case study: Multiyear C. auris outbreak in an Illinois burn ICU (2021–2023) documents 28 cases and control measures. https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/3/24-1195_article
CDC tracking update: 4,514 new clinical C. auris cases reported in 2023, with continued year‑over‑year growth; emphasizes screening and IPC adherence. https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/tracking-c-auris/index.html
Early Morning Briefing Highlights
Finance/Access: Review GAO’s closure analysis for parallels to your market (payer mix, capital backlog, staffing) and refresh risk indicators for early warning. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106473
Policy/Quality: Pull FY 2026 IPPS files (VBP, HRRP, DSH) to update your hospital’s readmissions, VBP, and uncompensated‑care projections ahead of December board reviews. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page
Infection Control: Re‑validate C. auris screening, cohorting, and environmental cleaning—especially in LTACH transfers and burn units—given recent U.S. case growth and outbreak reports. https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/tracking-c-auris/index.html
Strategic Implications for Leadership
Stand up a quarterly service‑line risk review using GAO closure drivers (labor premium, payer mix erosion, capex deferral) and build mitigation triggers. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106473
Use FY 2026 IPPS tables (HRRP/VBP/DSH) to scenario‑test penalties and revenue at risk; align case management and quality projects to the highest‑impact conditions. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page
Tighten C. auris control program: admission screening from higher‑risk settings, contact precautions, environmental cultures where indicated, and LTACH-to-acute transfer protocols. https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/tracking-c-auris/index.html
Quality Metrics to Share with Your Team (≤7)
1) C. auris U.S. clinical cases: 4,514 in 2023 (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/tracking-c-auris/index.html
2) Orange County LTACH C. auris cumulative colonization risk: 22.5% after 30 days during first COVID wave (EID study). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/9/24-1342_article
3) Illinois burn ICU C. auris outbreak: 28 cases documented 2021–2023 (EID study). https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/3/24-1195_article
4) GAO review sample: 5 urban hospitals analyzed for closures and post‑closure access impacts (2022–2023). https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106473
5) OIG sample: 17 of 25 hospitals non‑compliant or potentially non‑compliant with PRF balance‑billing protections. https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2025/seventeen-of-twenty-five-selected-hospitals-did-not-comply-or-may-not-have-complied-with-the-provider-relief-fund-balance-billing-requirement/
6) FY 2026 IPPS: CMS posts final HRRP payment adjustment factors (Table 15/373) and VBP factors (Table 16B/386) for FY 2026 payment updates. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page
Leadership Call to Action (≤5)
1) Run an ‘access at risk’ assessment using GAO closure drivers; brief execs on top three vulnerabilities and immediate mitigations. https://www.gao.gov/products/gao-25-106473
2) Pull HRRP and VBP factors from the FY 2026 IPPS tables; create a 90‑day plan with service chiefs to reduce penalties tied to the top two conditions. https://www.cms.gov/medicare/payment/prospective-payment-systems/acute-inpatient-pps/fy-2026-ipps-final-rule-home-page
3) Refresh C. auris bundle (screening, isolation, cleaning, lab alerts) with a focused audit in LTACH transfers, burn, and long‑stay units. https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/tracking-c-auris/index.html
4) Validate PRF balance‑billing compliance and patient‑financial‑communications workflows; remediate gaps identified by OIG’s findings. https://oig.hhs.gov/reports/all/2025/seventeen-of-twenty-five-selected-hospitals-did-not-comply-or-may-not-have-complied-with-the-provider-relief-fund-balance-billing-requirement/
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