Payers and providers felt the upheaval and instability on the Affordable Care Act exchanges in the first quarter of this year.

Marketplace plans saw significant enrollment declines alongside tier shifts, while providers felt the impact in both volumes and payer mix.

Fierce Healthcare's Dave Muoio and Paige Minemyer sit down this week on “Podnosis” to break down those trends and other first-quarter throughlines, including the effect of winter storms on provider finances and signs of a rebound in Medicare Advantage.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
The ACA exchanges dominated Q1 earnings calls. Here's what payer, health system execs had to say
Tenet Healthcare met Q1's volume curveballs with 'old-fashioned discipline'
Cigna to exit ACA market, pursue strategic alternatives for eviCore unit
Universal Health Services' Q1 2026 earnings growth dampened by volume hits
Centene swings to $1.5B profit as Medicaid business improves even as ACA membership falls by 2 million
HCA Healthcare executives shrug off Q1 volumes disruptions, reaffirm FY2026 guidance

Payers and providers felt the upheaval and instability on the Affordable Care Act exchanges in the first quarter of this year.
Marketplace plans saw significant enrollment declines alongside tier shifts, while providers felt the impact in both volumes and payer mix.
Fierce Healthcare's Dave Muoio and Paige Minemyer sit down this week on &ldquo;Podnosis&rdquo; to break down those trends and other first-quarter throughlines, including the effect of winter storms on provider finances and signs of a rebound in Medicare Advantage.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/finance/aca-exchanges-dominated-q1-earnings-calls-heres-what-payer-health-system-execs-had-say">The ACA exchanges dominated Q1 earnings calls. Here's what payer, health system execs had to say</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/tenet-healthcare-paces-ahead-earnings-despite-q1s-volume-curveballs">Tenet Healthcare met Q1's volume curveballs with 'old-fashioned discipline'</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/cigna-posts-165b-profit-q1-earnings-beat">Cigna to exit ACA market, pursue strategic alternatives for eviCore unit</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/universal-health-services-q1-2026-earnings-growth-dampened-volume-hits">Universal Health Services' Q1 2026 earnings growth dampened by volume hits</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/centene-raises-2026-guidance-strong-q1-revenue-earnings-results">Centene swings to $1.5B profit as Medicaid business improves even as ACA membership falls by 2 million</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/hca-healthcare-executives-shrug-q1-volumes-disruptions-reaffirm-fy2026-guidance">HCA Healthcare executives shrug off Q1 volumes disruptions, reaffirm FY2026 guidance</a></li>
</ul>

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.