Weak patient admissions to bug hospital operators through 2018

Weak patient admissions that plagued U.S. hospital operators in the June quarter are likely to persist through 2018, as patients worry about soaring out-of-pocket costs and the future of the Affordable Care Act remains uncertain. Companies including HCA Healthcare Inc., the largest for-profit hospital operator, and Tenet Healthcare Corp. have reported dismal quarterly results and cut their forecasts for the year.