Cover Story
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UChicago Medicine grows into role of innovator after successful AI adoption
The health system found its efforts to implement AI surpassed its expectations in revenue cycle and operational performance.
HFMA Report
Curing Patient Confusion
Despite increased attention from financial executives, hospitals are losing the battle to create a financial experience that doesn’t confuse, confound or enrage patients. It’s not too late to get billing operations in order.
Expert Reviewed
How nonprofit health systems can benefit from post-acute care partnerships
Many nonprofit health systems that have been losing money on post-acute care are now achieving operational and financial success partnering with for-profit operators.
CMS's 2024 MA rule brings improvements but falls short of addressing all provider concerns
After CMS’s issuance of its 2024 final rule for Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, providers face many questions about next steps in their strategies for working with these organizations.
How healthcare providers can streamline A/R through partnerships
Improving revenue cycle operations/metrics, reducing costs, increasing cash flow and boosting patient satisfaction are all reasons a healthcare provider might want to form an accounts receivable (A/R) partnership.
Features
Proposed rule to halt credit reporting of medical debt would have big ramifications for hospitals and other providers
An analysis projects that the liquidation rate for medical accounts reported to collection agencies will fall significantly if the regulations are implemented.
Columns
Marc Scher: Successful innovation calls for an ‘always forward’ approach
HFMA National Chair Marc Scher says healthcare finance leaders must embrace risk to be innovative and also be prepared to accept temporary setbacks as an inevitable part of the process.
Jill Geisler: Leadership is the best antidote to office politics
HFMA contributor and leadership expert Jill Geisler shares seven areas where leaders can take action to defeat the appearance or reality of office politics.
Grace-Marie Turner: Medical innovation should not be stymied by misguided policy
Medical progress is essential to support healthier lives. Yet the drivers of progress in healthcare are often targeted by politicians.
David Johnson: Walmart Health’s demise is emblematic of the nation’s primary care conundrum
The U.S. overinvests in healthcare delivery while underinvesting in preventive care. The future belongs to those focused on primary care.
Voice of Experience: Success in healthcare finance leadership is about setting ambitious goals
Long-time HFMA member Julie Lautt attributes her 30 years of success in healthcare finance leadership to always promoting a team approach.
Departments
Inside HFMA: HFMA recognizes top 9 articles published in hfm, 3 awarded for editorial excellence
Three articles published in hfm during FY23-24 are the winners of the Helen Yerger/L. Vann Seawell Best Article Award for outstanding editorial achievement. Also lauded are the top three runners-up and top three staff-written articles.
People: Kristina Bouyea and Cynthia Low Johnson earn women of the year laurels
Kristina Bouyea and Cynthia Low Johnson were named women of the year by the Northern California Chapter. Colleen Blye, Greg McCulloch and Lakmini Kidder have new professional roles.
News Briefs: Supreme Court ruling on Chevron makes regulations more vulnerable to legal challenges
As published in the August-September 2024 issue of hfm, this news roundup presents the top stories for healthcare finance professionals.
Chapter News: Wyoming Chapter proves simplicity yields success
The HFMA Wyoming Chapter proves a simple philanthropy project plan can raise funds to provide almost 12,000 meals for Wyoming citizens facing food insecurity.
Supplements
FinThrive: Healthcare organizations increasingly rely on third-party solutions for RCM tasks
Healthcare organizations are increasingly looking to third-party solutions to manage some revenue cycle management (RCM) tasks, especially as they prioritize the patient and RCM staff experiences, according to new research conducted by HFMA and FinThrive.
Premier’s AI platform offers a data-driven solution for medical group leaders
Premier’s PINC AI™ Provider Practice Benchmarking is a solution designed to provide standardized, actionable, real-time performance data that covers critical aspects of medical group operations.