Ballad Health posts $45.4 million loss

A new financial report says Ballad Health lost $45.4 million from operating its healthcare system in the six months through December 31. The hospital system’s CEO told WJHL Monday that recent large increases in nursing wages, the cost of subsidizing physician practices and high inflation in drug costs and supplies are the primary factors in the losses. Alan Levine also said the results could be even worse and that some systems are experiencing even steeper losses. He said an improvement in TennCare reimbursements awaiting federal approval would be retroactive to the beginning of the fiscal year and Ballad would benefit.