Health care news from around the web: July 14 – 17, 2025

Hospitals feel summer squeeze as margins, volumes dip: 5 things to know 

Hospitals headed into the summer on slightly weaker financial footing, as operating margins narrowed, outpatient revenues declined and expenses continued to rise — most notably for prescription drugs. 

Scams are getting smarter — is your facility ready? 

The US Senate Special Committee on Aging’s 2025 fraud report, “Age of Fraud: Scams Facing Our Nation’s Seniors,” paints a troubling picture. Older Americans lost $4.8 billion to scams in 2024, up from $3.4 billion the year before. What’s behind this surge? A powerful new accomplice: artificial intelligence. 

Hospital, health system M&A falls in Q2 as Medicaid cuts loom: report 

Medicaid cuts, tariffs and market volatility have dampened M&A activity this year, according to Kaufman Hall. 

Survey says commercial denials are top threat to revenue cycles 

The volume of commercial payer claim denials continues to rise and the appeals process has slowed, according to a new survey.