Latest news with #MarcMiller
Yahoo
31-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
UHS posts softer-than-expected volumes for second consecutive quarter
This story was originally published on Healthcare Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Healthcare Dive newsletter. Dive Brief: Certain Universal Health Services growth targets for 2025 are looking less achievable after the for-profit health system reported another quarter of lackluster admissions on Monday. Behavioral health volumes in the second quarter were essentially flat, with adjusted admissions rising just 0.4%. It's an improvement from last quarter, when behavioral health volumes declined. However, executives now consider UHS' plans to grow adjusted behavioral patient days by 2.5% to 3% a long-term target, instead of a 2025 goal. CEO Marc Miller said one of the reasons UHS' patient day target has remained 'elusive' is payers' growing preference for outpatient care, a trend that hasn't favored UHS' inpatient-heavy portfolio. To be competitive in the long term, UHS plans to focus capital spending on outpatient projects, building 10 to 15 freestanding behavioral health facilities per year. Dive Insight: UHS raised the midpoint of its 2025 guidance after posting $353.2 million in net income on $4.3 billion in revenue in the second quarter. The King of Prussia, Pennsylvania-based provider now expects to take in between $17.09 billion and $17.31 billion in revenue this year, compared to its prior range of between $17.02 billion and $17.36 billion. UHS attributed the change to the approval of a Medicaid state supplemental payment program in Tennessee, which accounted for roughly $101 million of the system's guidance raise, and the opening of West Henderson Hospital in Las Vegas. However, problems receiving Medicaid certification and other start-up issues in its newly opened Cedar Hill Regional Medical Center in Washington, D.C., tempered the guidance increase by about $25 million, CFO Steve Filton said on a Tuesday call with investors. The modest lift in UHS' financial forecast was mostly overshadowed by investor concerns about the operator's volumes. UHS' acute care unit didn't fare much better than behavioral, with adjusted admissions rising just 2% and surgical volumes 'slightly' down year over year, according to Filton. The modest growth in both behavioral and acute volumes underperformed analysts' expectations, according to a Tuesday note from Morgan Stanley. Executives blamed lower volumes on numerous factors including staffing challenges, as well as the slower-than-expected opening at Cedar Hills. UHS' behavioral business has also suffered from payers shifting care to cheaper outpatient sides, a trend that's proved tricky for the company as it's historically focused on inpatient care. UHS is the latest health system to report poorer-than-expected patient volumes during the second quarter, though health systems disagree on the reason behind the trend. CHS said consumers are less interested in spending on healthcare in an unstable economy, HCA blamed slow growth in public payer programs and Tenet brushed it off as a product of seasonal changes. UHS said it hopes to ultimately capture more volumes by opening behavioral centers and referring more inpatient cases to UHS outpatient providers for so-called 'step-down' services. 'A number of the insurance companies, as they have been talking about their increase in medical loss ratios, have pointed to the increase in spending on behavioral care,' Filton said. 'We believe that a significant chunk of that increase is in outpatient, and we are determined to get a larger share of that, I'll call it, 'outpatient pie' as we go forward.' Executives also commented on how the recently passed 'Big Beautiful Bill' will impact UHS' business over the coming years. Starting in 2028, the federal government will cap provider taxes and state directed payments in Medicaid, which previously have boosted the health system's revenue. UHS said the changes could cost it between $300 to $400 million by 2032 if the law is carried out as currently outlined. Miller cautioned that this is a worst case scenario and one he hopes to avoid. 'In talking with all the folks in D.C., representatives from many of the states we cover, they are starting to recognize what they passed can't be left as is because of the effect on some of the healthcare programs in their state,' he said. Still, Filton said that UHS will be ready for potential changes, noting the company weathered similar headwinds during the COVID-19 pandemic. The CFO said UHS would consider headcount reductions and other spending cuts if necessary. 'We have great confidence in our ability to shift and be flexible, especially with several years of notice and preparation that we'll have this time around,' Filton said. Recommended Reading Tenet's net income tumbled in Q3
Toronto Sun
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Toronto Sun
$3.7 million in fines laid for breach of migrant labour regulations in first half of 2025
Immigration Minister Marc Miller speaks with reporters ahead of the Liberal cabinet meeting on Parliament Hill in West Block, on Tuesday, Oct. 22 2024. Photo by Bryan Passifiume / Postmedia Network Breach of migrant labour regulations are on pace to hit record fines against Canadian employers this year, according to Blacklock's Reporter . This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account Figures show federal inspectors in 2025's first half laid $3,738,000 in fines for various violations, from a few hundred dollars to several thousand. That figure compared to a total of $4.1 million for all of 2024, and $1.54 million for all of 2023. A total of 19 employers were also banned from the program from one to five years and in rare cases lifetime bans have been imposed for failure to address abuse or reprisal allegations. These penalties followed cabinet complaints that Canadian employers had 'gotten addicted' to using the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. 'To some extent the country has indeed gotten addicted to temporary workers,' then Immigration Minister Marc Miller told Senate Question Period in Oct. 8, 2024. 'Businesses have taken advantage of that. They have leveraged that opportunity. I think there is some responsibility there. What we don't want to do I think is over-correct and make sure we are not throwing the country into a recession, that we are not damaging vital industries.' Read More Cabinet proposed this year to cut the migrant workforce by reverting to 2014 regulations that capped employers' hiring of foreigners at 10% of payroll. Among those employers with some of the highest violations in 2025 were Canadian Nectar Products Inc. of Montague, P.E.I. (fined $212,000), Petro Canada of Grassland, Alta. ($164,000) and True North Freight Solutions Inc. of Brampton, Ont. ($150,000). RECOMMENDED VIDEO Toronto & GTA Toronto Blue Jays Toronto & GTA Crime World
Global News
18-06-2025
- Politics
- Global News
Canada's population barely grew in first months of 2025: StatCan
Canada saw little growth in its population in the first three months of this year, new data from Statistics Canada shows. The data, released Wednesday, showed the population increased between Jan. 1 and April 1 by just 20,107, bringing the total number of people in Canada to 41,548,787. According to Statistics Canada, it's the smallest quarterly growth since the third quarter of 2020, when the population dropped by 1,232 in the wake of border restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also marks the sixth consecutive quarter of slower population growth and comes after the federal government announced it would lower the levels of both temporary and permanent immigration. Population levels decreased in Ontario, British Columbia, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador, with Ontario and B.C. seeing their biggest quarterly losses since records began in the third quarter of 1951. Story continues below advertisement The six other provinces and two territories, however, saw population growth, with Alberta, Prince Edward Island, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut seeing a 0.4 per cent increase. 1:05 Poilievre is 'flailing' after his call for 'severe limits' on Canada's immigration: Marc Miller The population growth in Canada during the first quarter was driven completely by international migration, Statistics Canada says, because there were more deaths than births of Canadians. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy The agency, however, notes this is consistent with an aging population, decreasing fertility rate and higher number of deaths that 'typically occur during the winter months.' But while Statistics Canada points to international migration as a key reason for population growth, it also shows that Canada saw the largest reduction in non-permanent residents since 2020, when border restrictions were in place. This group decreased by 61,111 as of April 1 to slightly more than 2.95 million residents, accounting for 7.1 per cent of the total population. But that number is down from the peak of 7.4 per cent seen Oct. 1, 2024. Story continues below advertisement 'The decrease in the number of non-permanent residents in the country is counter to the typical seasonal pattern of an increase in the first quarter,' the report says. The majority of the drop came from the 53,669 people holding study permits, with the biggest declines seen in Ontario and B.C., which have the highest number of permit holders. The data showed that those claiming asylum or considered protected persons and related groups increased in the first quarter, reaching a record high of 470,029. It's not just non-permanent residents that have seen a reduction, with the number of new immigrants admitted the smallest it's been in a first quarter in four years. A total of 104,256 immigrants were admitted as of April 1, which Statistics Canada says reflects the lower permanent immigration target announced by the federal government for 2025. Last fall, the federal Liberals announced they were reversing course on their plan to hold immigration targets steady for 2026, and said they would reduce the number of new permanent residents from 500,000 to 395,000 in 2025. While the agency notes immigration remains high, it was still lower than recent years, with every province and territory except Newfoundland, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut admitting fewer immigrants compared with the first quarter of 2024.
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Business Standard
05-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Canada's new visa rule puts Indian students, workers at legal risk: Decoded
In a major policy update, Canada's immigration authority has redefined how maintained status applies to temporary residents filing multiple visa or permit applications. The move, announced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on May 28, could impact thousands of international students and workers — particularly from India. Until now, applicants could submit a second application to extend their stay if the first was at risk. Their legal status was protected during this time under a maintained status. That protection has now been removed. 'This change, which appears procedural on the surface, has major ramifications for international students and workers, notably those from India,' Zubin Morris, Partner at Little & Co told Business Standard. 'According to IRCC's clarification, if the initial application is refused, any second application—even if submitted in advance—will not be considered. Maintained status ends the moment the first refusal is issued,' he added. The same update also removed the option of applying for work or study permits at ports of entry, ending the practice of 'flagpoling'—where applicants briefly exit and re-enter Canada to fast-track permit renewals. 'Flagpoling has been a way for people to quickly change their status... This is inefficient and causes unnecessary congestion at border points,' said former immigration minister Marc Miller in December 2024. The clampdown aligns with broader efforts to reduce fraud and tighten controls. Last year, Canada scrapped Express Entry points for job offers backed by a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) and granted officials the power to cancel or amend documents in the public interest. Part of a wider reset Canada had already announced a 5 per cent cut in its temporary resident population earlier this year. The number has fallen from around 485,000 to 430,000 in 2025. Another reduction is expected by 2027. 'This rule comes in the context of bigger reforms,' Praneet Singh, AVP – University Partnership at upGrad told Business Standard. 'There's a broader reset underway around the Post-Graduation Work Permit (PGWP), which has been a major draw for students. This also follows the November 2024 decision to phase out the Student Direct Stream (SDS) category due to pressure on public infrastructure.' Will it reduce abuse—or create new risks? Darshan Maharaja, a Canada-based immigration analyst, linked the new rule to rising refugee claims among non-permanent residents. 'The unintended effect might be more people rushing to file asylum claims within the one-year deadline,' he said. 'We saw nearly 500,000 temporary foreign workers enter Canada in just the first four months of 2025. By the end of 2024, over 300,000 asylum claims were pending. So this new rule may have limited impact—and could face legal challenges.' Sharp rise in student asylum claims IRCC data released on May 13 shows a notable rise in asylum claims filed by international students: 5,500 claims in the first quarter of 2025, up 22 per cent year-on-year 20,245 claims in 2024, nearly double the number in 2023 Sixfold increase compared to 2019 levels According to Global News, most claims in 2024 came from India, Nigeria, Guinea, Ghana, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. What Indian students should watch for Morris warned that the revised rule leaves little room for error. 'Students whose permits are near expiry must be precise with their first extension application. A mistake, missing document, or even a delay can now end their legal status—despite a second application being filed. For workers, it could mean immediate job loss and the need to apply for status restoration or leave Canada.' Singh added that students globally are rethinking their destination choices. 'With the US pausing visa interviews, the UK capping international numbers, and Australia tightening entry, students now want flexibility,' he said. 'That's where hybrid, multi-country pathways come in. At upGrad, we've seen nearly 40 per cent growth in interest for EU programmes—in countries like Germany, Finland, and France—since March this year.' 'It's clear students want a model that lets them adapt as policies change.'
Time of India
25-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Canada: PM Carney outlines immigration priorities in new mandate letter
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has issued a new mandate letter to his cabinet, emphasizing two key immigration priorities: reducing overall immigration to sustainable levels and attracting top global talent to support Canada 's economy. These objectives are among the top seven priorities for the federal cabinet moving forward, as per a report by CIC News. The mandate letter reiterates the Liberal government 's commitment to stabilizing permanent resident immigration levels, acknowledging that previous increases had placed strain on housing and public services. The government aims to admit 395,000 permanent residents in 2025, 380,000 in 2026, and 365,000 in 2027, aligning with the goal of keeping admissions below 1% of Canada's projected population of 41.5 million in 2025. In addition to managing immigration levels, the mandate letter highlights the importance of attracting skilled professionals to bolster critical sectors of the economy. Plans include updating the Global Skills Strategy to expedite work permit processing for eligible foreign workers and collaborating with provinces and territories to improve the recognition of foreign credentials and international work experience. Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like The Top 25 Most Beautiful Women In The World Articles Vally Undo According to the CIC News report, these initiatives build upon previous policy adjustments made under former Immigration Minister Marc Miller, which aimed to address affordability and housing concerns by scaling back both temporary and permanent resident admissions. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates)
