---
title: "Inside the Healthcare Overhaul: HCA's Payer Headwinds and Novartis's Pipeline Push"
type: "News"
locale: "en"
url: "https://longbridge.com/en/news/293818155.md"
description: "Large U.S. pharmaceutical and healthcare providers are navigating a major restructuring in 2026. I'm told HCA Healthcare's recent outlook cut stems from unexpected payer mix shifts, while Novartis is aggressively scaling new treatments like Pluvicto to offset the patent cliff of its blockbuster Entresto."
datetime: "2026-07-25T09:12:42.000Z"
locales:
  - [zh-CN](https://longbridge.com/zh-CN/news/293818155.md)
  - [en](https://longbridge.com/en/news/293818155.md)
  - [zh-HK](https://longbridge.com/zh-HK/news/293818155.md)
generator: "portal-rs"
---

# Inside the Healthcare Overhaul: HCA's Payer Headwinds and Novartis's Pipeline Push

The U.S. healthcare and pharmaceutical sector is undergoing its most significant overhaul since early 2026. I am told that shifting payer dynamics and impending patent cliffs are forcing major players to fundamentally reassess their growth strategies. According to people familiar with the matter, hospital operators are grappling with sudden revenue leaks, while drugmakers are racing to acquire new biotech assets before the next earnings cycle.

### HCA Healthcare (HCA.US)

Shares of HCA Healthcare have taken a hit recently following a surprisingly downbeat full-year forecast. I'm told the primary culprit is an unfavorable shift in its payer mix, which erased approximately **USD 400 million** in revenue during the second quarter of 2026 alone. While the hospital operator actually topped Q2 estimates with **USD 20.23 billion** in revenue, management has lowered its annual revenue target to a range of **USD 77.0 billion to USD 79.0 billion**. Investors are now closely watching how the company will integrate its recent acquisition of The College of Health Care Professions later this year.

### Novartis (NVS.US)

Meanwhile, Novartis is working aggressively to overcome one of the most substantial portfolio challenges in its history. With its blockbuster heart-failure drug Entresto losing exclusivity, the company is pivoting hard. Q2 2026 results showed that sales of the cancer therapy Pluvicto surged **43.4%** to **USD 651 million**, helping the company deliver a core operating profit of **USD 5.94 billion** that easily beat Wall Street estimates. To secure its future pipeline, the Swiss giant recently completed a massive **USD 12 billion** acquisition of RNA specialist Avidity Biosciences in February and rolled out its new drug, Rhapsido.

### Also

-   **Looking ahead**: Industry watchers expect further consolidation in the pharma space and ongoing pressure on hospital margins as we head into the second half of 2026.

*This article does not constitute investment advice.*

### Related Stocks

- [HCA.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/HCA.US.md)
- [NVS.US](https://longbridge.com/en/quote/NVS.US.md)

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---
> **Disclaimer: This article is for reference only and does not constitute any investment advice.**