HEALTHSTREAM INC

Current report

Risks Related to Our Business Model

Current report

We have been impacted, and may continue to be adversely impacted, by unfavorable conditions and uncertainty impacting the healthcare industry and the U.S. economy more generally.

Current report

Macroeconomic conditions in the U.S. continue to be challenging in certain respects, driven by, among other things, persistent inflationary pressures, elevated interest rate levels, ongoing policy-related uncertainty, declining consumer sentiment, heightened geopolitical tensions, including as a result of ongoing conflicts abroad and strained global trade relations. Additional challenges related to macroeconomic conditions in the U.S. that are impacting or may impact healthcare more directly include current or potential policy and regulatory decisions to reduce government funding for certain healthcare provider organizations or programs, tariff-related policies that impact goods and services on which healthcare organizations rely, and uncertainty around potential reduction to payment rates, including through cuts to Medicaid or other payment programs, and potential loss of insurance coverage by individuals. These conditions, have, among other things, limited our ability to forecast future demand for our products and services, contributed to increased volatility in customer demand, and could constrain future access to capital for ourselves, our suppliers, customers, and partners. Moreover, while inflation has decreased in comparison to recent periods, we have experienced, and believe that many of our customers have experienced, increased labor, supply chain, capital, and other expenditures associated with inflationary conditions.

Current report

We sell our products and services to large, mid-sized, and small healthcare organizations whose businesses fluctuate based on general economic and business conditions. As such, our operating results may vary based on the level of demand for our solutions by healthcare organizations and the impact of changes in our industry or the economy on us or our clients. For example, we have recently experienced a decrease in demand for certain of our solutions, such as health equity and belonging content, that may be viewed as a more elective type of offering by some of our customers. In addition, a portion of our revenue is attributable to the number of users of our products at each of our clients, which in turn is influenced by the employment and hiring patterns of our clients and potential clients. To the extent that economic uncertainty or weak economic conditions cause our clients and potential clients to freeze or reduce their headcount or operations, demand for our products may be negatively affected. Moreover, current economic conditions and uncertainty have resulted in and may continue to result in overall reductions in spending by some healthcare providers as well as pressure from some clients and potential clients for extended payment terms. If current economic conditions deteriorate, our clients and potential clients may elect to decrease their budgets for our solutions by deferring or reconsidering purchases or could file for bankruptcy, which has occurred from time to time. Such budget decreases or bankruptcy filings would limit our ability to grow our business and negatively affect our operating results.

Current report

Economic, regulatory, policy, or other recent developments that adversely or disproportionately impact the healthcare industry may reduce spending on information technology by healthcare organizations and otherwise adversely affect our customer base and our financial results. Healthcare organizations continue to face persistent labor shortages, elevated wage and operating costs, and ongoing uncertainty regarding reimbursement levels. Furthermore, the margins of many healthcare providers are modest, and potential decreases in reimbursement for healthcare costs – whether due to federal or state budgetary constraints, deficit reduction initiatives, reduction or elimination of programs such the 340B Drug Pricing Program, reduction of insurance coverage readily available to individuals, or changes to Medicare and/or Medicaid policy – may reduce the overall solvency of our customers or cause further deterioration in their financial or business condition.

Current report

In addition, the U.S. government has recently imposed tariffs on certain foreign goods and has raised the possibility of imposing significant additional tariff increases or expanding the tariffs to capture other countries and types of foreign goods. Trade policies and tariffs affecting imported medical equipment, technology components, and other healthcare-related infrastructure have the potential to increase costs for healthcare organizations, which may reduce demand for our products and adversely impact financial results.

Current report

Moreover, budget pressures at the federal and state levels have had and may continue to have a negative impact on spending for many health and human services programs, including Medicare and Medicaid, which represent significant payor sources for our customers. Federal budget initiatives in 2025 include potential significant reductions to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) and significant proposals such as the restructuring of Medicaid financing. Alteration or elimination of the ACA and the related insurance coverage available to individuals in connection with the ACA is also under consideration. We anticipate that federal and state budget deficits combined with growing governmental healthcare expenditures will continue to place pressure on governmental healthcare programs. Any actual or potential reductions in government healthcare spending or reduction to readily available health insurance coverage for individuals could result in reduced demand for our products or heightened pricing pressure.

Current report

Further, there is ongoing uncertainty regarding the federal budget and federal spending levels, including the possible impacts of a failure to increase the “debt ceiling” and any possible U.S. governmental default on its debt. Additionally, the current presidential administration has implemented the "Department of Government Efficiency" ("DOGE"), an advisory commission focused on restructuring and streamlining government agencies and reducing or eliminating regulations and federal government programs and other expenditures, which has also given rise to separate efforts at the state level to reduce government spending. In March 2025, in accordance with the DOGE Workforce Optimization Initiative, HHS announced a significant agency restructuring, reducing the HHS workforce and consolidating divisions of the agency. Pressures on and uncertainty surrounding the U.S. federal and state annual appropriations, holds on congressionally authorized spending, or interruptions in the distribution of governmental funds, could adversely affect our financial results due to the reliance of many of our customers on payments from third-party healthcare payors, including Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-sponsored programs.

Current report

We believe that conditions and uncertainties impacting the healthcare industry and our healthcare customers as described above have adversely affected, and may continue to adversely impact, our business and results of operations, including by lengthening sales cycles, increasing pricing sensitivity, and delaying investment decisions among our customers and potential customers. Moreover, if economic or conditions impacting the healthcare industry or U.S. economy significantly deteriorate, our results of operations, financial position, and/or cash flows could be materially and adversely affected.

Current report

As noted above, on May 8, 2025, the Company announced that its Board of Directors approved a new share repurchase program for the Company’s common stock, under which the Company may repurchase up to $25 million of outstanding shares of common stock. Pursuant to the authorization, repurchases may be made from time to time in the open market, including under a Rule 10b5-1 plan, through privately negotiated transactions, or otherwise. In addition, any repurchases under the authorization will be subject to prevailing market conditions, liquidity and cash flow considerations, applicable securities laws requirements (including under Rule 10b-18 and Rule 10b5-1 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as applicable), and other factors. The share repurchase program will terminate on the earlier of May 31, 2026 or when the maximum dollar amount has been expended. The share repurchase program does not require the Company to acquire any amount of shares and may be suspended or discontinued at any time.