Rich Daly
About the Author
Rich Daly is senior editor, policy affairs with HFMA, based in Alabama. His healthcare policy and finance reporting experience includes staff writer positions with Modern Healthcare and Congressional Quarterly (both focused on healthcare regulatory and legislative developments); editor-in-chief of 340B Report (the only news outlet focused on daily policy, legal, and business developments in the 340B program); and serving as a content director for Sg2/Vizient Inc (producing reports on financial pain points and solutions for health systems). He previously covered daily news for HFMA and wrote features for Healthcare Financial Management magazine, where his recognitions included the Stephen Barr Award (the only individual achievement award) from the American Society of Business Publication Editors.
Latest Work
FastFinance: M&A outlook; 2026 prep for cuts
HFMA’s FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. Health systems are expected to ramp up their dealmaking activity next year but deep divides have emerged between for-profit and not-for-profit approaches. Also, this week’s Weird Number: $172 billion. That the…
Health System M&A Trends in 2026 Point to More Deals, Different Targets
Hospitals and health systems were expected to accelerate the trend of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) in 2026, although the type and size could change, said an industry advisor. Anu Singh, managing director for Kaufman Hall, said that overall, he expects health system M&A trends in 2026 to continue those of previous years. Those trends include:…
How Health Systems Are Preparing in 2026 for Medicaid Cuts
Hospitals and health systems rated by Fitch Ratings are using 2026 to boost revenue and cut expenses in preparation for federal Medicaid cuts that start next year. Overall, those organizations’ operating margins and operating cash flow margins improved in 2025 and were expected to further bolster both of those key performance metrics in 2026, according…
Hospitals not yet a fraud focus
The Trump administration has ramped up high-profile healthcare fraud prevention efforts across a range of areas. Hospitals are not yet in the crosshairs. Ryan Thurber, an attorney with Polsinelli, said the focus of much of the administration’s healthcare and Medicaid fraud detection is on “nontraditional providers” of services around the periphery of healthcare, such as…
Federal scoring system spurs state action on certificate-of-need laws
Spurred on by the Trump administration, five states plan to undertake changes in their certificate-of-need (CON) laws this year: Their plans were highlighted in late 2025 applications for a share of the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation (RHT) program, authorized by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA). That law allowed the Trump administration to…
FastFinance: Union trends at hospitals; 2026 changes to 340B
HFMA’s FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. Union activity is expected to accelerate at hospitals in 2026. But financial pressures are leading some organizations to push back. Also, this week’s Weird Number: 24%. That’s the share of providers…
Hospital labor trends in 2025 show slower hiring but continued workforce growth
High profile layoffs were dwarfed by new hires in 2025 at hospitals, as organizations positioned for coming turmoil. Hospitals added 163,000 positions in 2025 to reach 5,804,200 positions, seasonally adjusted, by December, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). Hospital hiring averaged 13,600 personnel each month. That hiring pace was the fastest among various…
340B program changes in 2026 test compliance, cash flow and margins
Beyond a high-profile legal battle over a rebate pilot, a range of changes are poised to hit the 340B program in 2026, say policy watchers. The latest development came Jan. 15 when Eli Lilly expanded its requirements for covered entities to submit claims-level data for its own pharmacies, in addition to previously requiring that data…
States advance hospital price caps
Three states enacted hospital price caps in 2025 and more could act this year. The new state laws varied widely but all targeted some type of limit on hospital prices. Indiana The highest profile new law came in Indiana. That law (HB1004) went into effect in July 2025 and imposes price controls and additional price…
Some states to focus on rural hospital solvency
Some of the states that recently received a share of $50 billion in federal rural health funding explicitly aim to use some of it to bolster the finances of struggling rural hospitals. The funding comes through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), which intended to help rural healthcare providers succeed amid the projected cutbacks in…