The AHA released the 2026 edition of its annual Costs of Caring report. It shows hospitals and health systems continue to face increases in the costs of people, supplies, medicines and infrastructure needed to provide care and services to their communities.
Telling the Hospital Story
The AHA is continuing our efforts to spotlight the many ways that hospitals and health systems benefit the patients and communities they serve. See AHA's Telling the Hospital Story landing page for additional stories and an opportunity to share what your hospital or health systems is doing to benefit your community.
This Costs of Caring report provides a data-driven assessment of the financial realities faced by hospitals and health systems, and underscores why sustainable affordability solutions must address the structural drivers of cost growth rather than focusing narrowly on hospital prices alone.
St. Charles Health System, based in Bend, Ore., is investing in the future of its workforce — and by extension, the health of the entire central Oregon community — through a new educational initiative.
University of Iowa Health announced in early February 2026 that it had successfully completed its first robotic living donor nephrectomy, a procedure performed by transplant surgeon Ramy El-Diwany, M.D.
The University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) has launched Familyroom.health, a digital platform designed to support families of patients in intensive care.
The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) is leveraging digital health to expand diabetes education and support for rural communities across the state, addressing significant access barriers such as long travel distances and limited local resources.
Several Louisiana health systems have jointly launched MyChart Central, creating the first statewide, unified patient portal experience.
Storks delivering babies may be a flight of fancy, but a real South Dakota maternal-fetal medicine specialist flies hundreds of miles each week to reach rural patients who would otherwise face hours-long drives for specialized care.
This week, March 8-14, is Patient Safety Awareness Week. Delivering safe, quality care to all patients is the top priority for everyone working in hospitals and health systems.
This report outlines the key trends impacting hospital financial stability in 2025.