Cover Story
Managing Cybersecurity Threats
Hospitals and health systems are more vulnerable than ever to cyberattacks and must take action to protect themselves.
By Laura Ramos Hegwer
From the President’s Desk
|
Figure: exit rich text editor to add content |
Expanding on thoughts in his February 2017 column in hfm, HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer talks about patient safety and clinical quality. |
HFMA Video Spotlight
Video: Taking Career Risks Can Pay Off
Joanne Judge, co-chair of the Health Law Department at Stevens & Lee, talks about risks she has taken as CFO, CEO, and as a healthcare attorney and how risk-taking has benefited her career.
Early Edition
What to Expect from the New Administration’s Approach to Health Policy
Providers should prepare for the possible impacts on the transition to outcome-based payments, on the Medicaid program, and on payment rates to the overall healthcare sector resulting from actions taken by the Trump administration.
By Chad Mulvany, FHFMA
Healthcare Matters
Self-Pay Patient Financial Liability: A Hospital’s Biggest Post-Election Challenge
A repeal of the Affordable Care Act and rising self-pay responsibility among consumers could raise financial challenges for providers a growing number of consumers may find themselves unable to pay their portions of their healthcare bills.
By Jeff Goldsmith, PhD
Managing the True Costs of Health Care: A Roadmap to Cost Analytics
Facing rising costs of care and the need for greater integration of care, health systems require innovative new ways to look at costing.
By Pietro Ferrara
From the Editor
Productivity Growth Remains a Key Success Factor in the New Healthcare Economy
It is likely that 2017 will be another year of unprecedented change for health care, with the result that the industry could take another positive step toward aligning health systems to achieve the Triple Aim.
By Daniel R. Verdon
Features
Cybersecurity: An Enterprise Risk Issue
Providers require a strategy to safeguard themselves against the growing threat of cyberattacks that could compromise the security of protected health information and even put patients’ health at risk.
By Tom Andre
The Power and Potential of Telehealth: What Health Systems Should Know
Healthcare leaders should play a role in advocating for new payment policies that will promote the continued expansion of telehealth services throughout the healthcare marketplace.
By Samantha Burch, David Gray, and John Sharp
Focus Area
Technology
Medical Device Security: Patient Safety and Cost Considerations
Hospital IT departments and leaders must work together to ensure the security of networked medical devices.
By Adam Brand
Columns
From the Chair
Technology as a Thriving Enabler
Technology and technology-enabled access to data are profoundly beneficial to health care, making it critical for healthcare boards to give priority to ensuring cybersecurity.
By Mary Mirabelli, FHFMA
From the President
Patient Safety and Quality: Reimagining the Role of Finance
Healthcare finance leaders should not focus only on meeting externally imposed payment requirements; they should collaborate with clinicians and health plan leaders on sustainably improving healthcare safety and value.
By Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA
Eye on Washington
The ACA—and Other Healthcare Issues Confronting a New Congress
Republicans have promised to repeal the Affordable Care Act when Congress convenes in 2017, but they have other healthcare considerations to address, as well.
By Gail R. Wilensky, PHD
Integration
Reengineering Integrated Care Relationships
Leaders of integrated care networks should be alert to opportunities for improvement in changing circumstances, whether the organization requires only small adjustments or a complete overhaul.
By Keith Moore, MCP and Dean Coddington
Business Intelligence
Solid Information Technology Control Hygiene
A healthcare organization must have strong IT controls in order to build brand confidence and protect patients and employees’ private information.
By Paul M. Perry, FHFMA, CITP, CISM, CPA
Healthcare Value
Treating the Mind and Body as One
U.S. health plans are pursuing ways to integrate behavioral health care and primary care with the goal of improving care for patients with mental health conditions.
By Ceci Connolly
Capital Finance
Strategies for Time of Deep Uncertainty
Healthcare capital planners should respond volatility in the healthcare marketplace by attending to nuances in financial planning, understanding risk, and preparing for business model shifts.
By Kelly Arduino
Departments
Data Trends
Bad Debt Expense Benchmarks
Bad debt becomes a difficulty as patients with high-deductible health plans struggle to pay their bills.
Etcetera
Club and a Dream
At 60 years old, Robin Bradbury finally reached his 50-year goal to become a world-ranked golfer.
