PR Newswire April 26, 2021
CHICAGO — The COVID-19 pandemic continues to drive uncertainty for the nation’s hospitals, health systems, and physician groups, as signs of progress are tempered by narrow margins, low patient volumes, and high costs, according to two new Kaufman Hall reports.
U.S. hospitals and health systems saw mixed performance in March, as national COVID-19 metrics plateaued early in the month before climbing steadily again with increased spread of COVID-19 variants, as shown in the latest issue of the National Hospital Flash Report. Hospital margins remained narrow. The median Kaufman Hall hospital Operating Margin Index was 1.4%, not including federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding. With the funding, it was 2.0%.