Kaufman Hall says hospital uncompensated care pressure intensifies as payer mix erodes

• Kaufman Hall flagged rising uncompensated care, payer mix erosion, expense inflation as key drags on hospital financial performance through June 2026.
• Bad debt and charity care rose year-to-date, tightening cash pressure; smaller and rural hospitals faced the greatest strain.
• Median adjusted year-to-date operating margin remained below 2025 levels, despite broadly stable headline results across the sector.
• Emergency department visits increased in June versus a year earlier, raising risk of further volume shifts tied to payer changes.
• Supply and drug expenses climbed well above inflation year-to-date, extending cost pressure into the second half.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Kaufman Hall and Associates Inc. published the original content used to generate this news brief on August 18, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.