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

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