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How the move could affect emergency departments and the patients who depend on them.

The CMS Proposed Rule May Unintentionally Exclude Our Most Vulnerable Patients

By 2050, it's estimated that 139 million people worldwide will have dementia, but by today's standards, 60% will be undiagnosed. It's clear that there's a significant gap in dementia detection and care, but what can your organization do about it?

Get perspectives from clinical leaders and neuroscience experts about the underlying causes and consequences of these gaps, practical opportunities to address them, and a proven roadmap that shows how leading health systems have successfully transformed their dementia screening and care processes.

Closing the Dementia Care Gap: Expert Insights and Proven Strategies for Health Systems

The Federal Trade Commission says it objects to Union Health’s planned acquisition of Terre Haute Regional Hospital, marking the second time the merger bid has rankled federal regulators.

 that it opposed the transaction. Facing some public opposition, 

Union Health and Terre Haute Regional paused their merger plans last November

, but then filed a revised proposal to come together in February.

But federal regulators said Monday that the new proposal contains the same problems as the initial consolidation plan. The FTC says if Union Health and Terre Haute Regional come together, it will lead to higher prices for consumers and workers will see lower wages. The FTC voted 4-0 to send comments outlining its objections to the Indiana Department of Health.

Clarke Edwards, acting director of the FTC’s Office of Policy Planning, said the revised Certificate of Public Advantage is still insufficient.

“This repackaged COPA application presents the same problems as before. Competition consistently results in better outcomes for patients and workers than consolidation subject to COPAs,” Edwards said in a statement. “The Indiana Department of Health should deny this attempt by Vigo County’s only two hospitals to eliminate competition and avoid antitrust review.”

Federal regulators note that Union Health has been trying to acquire the hospital for four years. In its 

 to Indiana’s health department, the FTC said the new proposal “presents little new information.”

“FTC Staff continues to doubt that the regulatory conditions imposed by the IN DOH would effectively mitigate the potential anticompetitive harms to patients in the Terre Haute area—both in the near term and in the decades to come. Instead, the proposed merger is likely to lead to higher costs and worse healthcare outcomes for Indiana consumers, as well as lower wage growth for hospital workers,” the FTC letter states.

When Union Health submitted its revised application to acquire Terre Haute Regional last month, the system said the deal would expand the level of healthcare services to residents in Wabash Valley. Union Health said the merger would lead to better care coordination, more specialty services, expanded population health initiatives, and more behavioral health options.

Steve Holman, the CEO of Union Health, wrote in 

 in the Indianapolis Star that the merger with Terre Haute would be best for the region.

“The merger is not merely a business transaction; it is a strategic effort to improve healthcare delivery in our community,” Holman wrote. “By combining resources and expertise, Union Health and Regional Hospital aim to expand services, enhance the quality of care, and ultimately improve health outcomes while maintaining cost efficiency for consumers.”

Terre Haute, a 278-bed hospital, is owned by HCA Healthcare, the nation’s largest for-profit hospital system. Union Health, a nonprofit system, operates its main hospital in Terre Haute, as well as a critical access hospital in Clinton, Indiana.

Zack Cooper, an associate professor at Yale University, has spoken out against the merger. In an interview with Chief Healthcare Executive® last fall, Cooper says the Union Health-Terre Haute merger would result in a local hospital market with no competitors. In addition to higher prices, Cooper said he’s concerned that the deal would lead to lower quality healthcare services.

“What we care about here is the reduction in competition,” Cooper said. “These are two competing hospitals in a fairly close geographic area. It would form a monopoly for local care. It would be the largest employer in the area. It's going to clearly benefit the merging hospitals. It's not going to benefit the local community.”

The FTC has generally raised concerns about hospitals using a state’s certificate of public advantage to come together. Regulators contend that such certification doesn’t allow for sufficient scrutiny, and 

the FTC has raised objections to other mergers and acquisitions under such certificates in other states

Union Health is still seeking to acquire Terre Haute Regional Hospital, but the plan continues to meet objections from federal regulators.

Topic

Proposed Indiana hospital merger meets FTC opposition for the second time

Hospitals and other healthcare organizations are facing constant changes, and they need to ensure their teams are equipped for those changes.

In this video, Penelope Elebash, a managing director at Huron, talks about the importance of organizations having a human capital management strategy.

She outlines keys for health systems to get the most out of their teams and how that’s an essential ingredient for growth. Organizations with an effective human capital management strategy will find that they are best positioned for success. And those workers will also see greater employee satisfaction and patient satisfaction.

“Any type of thing you're trying to move the needle on, you are always going to be most successful if you fuel the engine of the people who get that work done, and that's why the human capital strategies matter so much,” she says.

Check out the video for insights on human capital management and why it matters to hospitals and health systems.

Penelope Elebash of Huron talks about getting the most out of employees as a key for growth

Human capital management in hospitals and health systems

Penelope Elebash of Huron discusses getting the most out of staff, the benefits for organizations, and the impact on patient satisfaction.

Why hospitals and health systems must embrace human capital management

In a week, the NFL Draft comes to Green Bay, Wisconsin, and HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital presented its top picks.

The hospital in Green Bay celebrated its own rookies of the year: the babies in the newborn intensive care unit. The hospital staff shot pictures and videos of its promising picks, accented by tiny footballs and gridiron-themed bibs and apparel.

It’s a moment of levity with the children’s hospital getting in the spirit of one of the biggest dates on the pro football calendar, as the draft comes to one of the NFL’s most storied cities.

A Green Bay hospital sets up a football-themed photo shoot ahead of the NFL Draft.

As NFL Draft nears, Green Bay hospital celebrates its babies

But it’s also about boosting the spirit of parents whose babies are in the NICU, said Jim Burke, manager of the NICU at HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital.

“For families that have a baby being cared for in our NICU, especially for extended periods of time, it can feel like they’re missing out on a lot of moments while they’re at the hospital,” Burke said in a statement provided by the hospital.

“By doing photo shoots like this, we help create some positive and fun memories for our NICU families,” Burke said. “It’s important to my team to not only offer expert care for these precious babies, but also to help lift the spirits of our moms and dads.”

Undoubtedly, the parents view their little rookies as superstars.

HSHS St. Vincent Children’s Hospital gets in the spirit with its own rookies, the infants in its NICU Unit. Hospital staff aimed to give parents a boost. 

With NFL Draft, Green Bay hospital presents its top picks

After years of planning, New Jersey’s first freestanding cancer hospital has opened its doors.

RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute teamed to build the 12-story hospital in New Brunswick. The new hospital, the Jack & Sheryl Morris Cancer Center, is connected to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Rutgers Cancer Institute. Officials tout it as one of only 13 freestanding cancer hospitals in the country.

The institutions say the new hospital is part of a $1.5 billion effort to expand cancer care in New Jersey. 

They first announced plans for the hospital in 2019

The hospital includes 96 inpatient beds and surgical space, along with 80 exam rooms for outpatient care of adult and pediatric patients. The hospital’s pediatric space was designed to be more welcoming for children with a “Jersey Shore” theme.

Mark E. Manigan, president and CEO of RWJBarnabas Health, said the opening of the hospital “is true to our mission of building and sustaining a healthier New Jersey."

“It is further evidence of RWJBarnabas Health’s commitment to taking care of the communities we serve and providing patients the most advanced care possible, close to home,” he said in a statement. “I am proud to say that RWJBarnabas Health, together with Rutgers Cancer Institute, is advancing a bold vision – to beat cancer together.”

Steven K. Libutti, MD, director of Rutgers Cancer Institute and senior vice president of oncology services at RWJBarnabas Health, said the new hospital will allow more people to get cancer care without having to leave the state.

“While New Jersey has long been a nationwide leader in the delivery of outstanding, world-class cancer care, patients in the region have previously needed to visit nearby New York or Philadelphia to access comprehensive inpatient cancer treatment,” Libutti said in a statement.

The new cancer hospital includes surgical space and 88 infusion bays, along with radiation oncology.

To support cancer studies, the hospital has laboratories to support 10 research teams. Officials say the hospital will be able to house clinical trials. Officials also have said that they want the hospital to be able to connect researchers with physicians.

The hospital is named in honor of Jack Morris, the chairman of Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, and his wife, Sheryl, in honor of their philanthropy.

Jonathan Holloway, president of Rutgers University, said that the hospital reflects a commitment to providing cancer patients with better care.

“I am excited for the future of cancer care and bench-to-bedside advances that will emerge from this vital center, leading to new treatments, redefined understanding, and ultimately, lives saved,” Holloway said in a statement.

RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers are continuing to work on two other new outpatient cancer facilities, and they are moving closer to opening.

The Melchiorre Cancer Center at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston is slated to open in the fall.

Next year, the Specialty and Cancer Care Center at the Vogel Medical Campus in Tinton Falls is slated to open.

Cancer in America: Disturbing findings for women and Black Americans

RWJBarnabas Health and Rutgers Cancer Institute teamed to build the freestanding hospital. It’s part of a $1.5 billion investment in cancer services across the Garden State.


At long last, New Jersey’s first cancer hospital opens 

The maternal mortality rate in the U.S. has increased by 

, often due to factors like lack of access to care and inadequate screening for risk factors.

While it may not be the first solution to this crisis that comes to mind, birth doulas can be key to turning these numbers around and beginning to make a meaningful difference in each of the above areas.

Focused on offering comfort, advocacy, and guidance, doulas are trained to provide physical, emotional, and informational support to individuals throughout every stage of the process—before, during, and after birth. Doulas are an extension of support that improves the birthing experience for all, with their presence linked to positive outcomes, including reduced cesarean section rates and fewer preterm births.

Recognizing the benefits of doula support, Washington state’s Apple Health (Medicaid) launched a 

 in January 2025 for the first time, a milestone in addressing birth inequities.

Aiming to enhance maternal and infant health outcomes by making doula support more accessible to Medicaid recipients, the birth doula benefit will support increased access, improved maternal health, and support for doulas across the state. This innovative approach is a powerful model for other states, demonstrating how policy can create more equitable and healthier birth experiences.

More individuals can access essential doula services by reducing financial barriers for patients and widening geographic reach. This personalized support improves maternal health through better birth experiences and outcomes, enhanced postpartum support and service coordination and reduced health disparities.

For example, Medicaid members who are American Indian and Alaska Native are less likely to receive a postpartum visit after delivery (48%), but initiatives such as 

’s proactive support and education around birth doulas have helped raise this rate to 61%. The new benefit also supports doulas through increased reimbursement, with birth doulas now eligible for a $3,500 payment per delivery—the highest Medicaid reimbursement for doulas in the nation.

While the new birth doula benefit is crucial to improving maternal and child health equity, there remain significant challenges in ensuring equitable implementation. Throughout the country, workforce capacity, regional disparities, cultural representation, and public awareness remain barriers to access.

With a limited number of doulas—approximately 

, there is a deep need for increased recruitment and retention. Although the recent changes to state programs have introduced new opportunities, they also include complex certification requirements and administrative challenges, which make it difficult for doulas to enroll. 

Efforts to ensure the program is truly equitable requires that healthcare leaders acknowledge existing geographic disparities, especially for those in rural areas who face gaps in availability due to limited resources and fewer trained doulas. Transportation barriers also make it challenging to access these essential services.

Additionally, many Medicaid recipients represent diverse cultural and linguistic communities and often face difficulties finding doulas who are culturally competent and understand their unique needs, which can hinder the effectiveness of doula care.

There are still too many lingering misconceptions regarding the role of doulas and how they can benefit from their support. With a lack of resources and education, underutilization of this valuable service could continue without intentional efforts to inform communities of the options available to them—at no cost.

Developing and expanding doula care is essential to improving maternal and infant health outcomes, particularly for underserved communities. To ensure the new doula benefit is successful, healthcare leaders must focus on increasing access to training, investing in outreach and education, and promoting cultural competency within the profession.

Healthcare providers, policymakers, and community organizations must work to advocate for the equitable reach of Apple Health’s birth doula benefit program, ensuring all birthing individuals receive safe, inclusive, and positive support.

Demetria Malloy, MD MSHS, is the chief medical officer and chief health officer of Community Health Plan of Washington.

Doulas can improve the birthing experience for all, with their presence linked to positive outcomes, including reduced cesarean section rates and fewer preterm births.


Chris Klomp, CEO, Collective Medical

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