Cover Story
Telehealth is primed for growth despite post-lockdown fade
If our nation is to achieve true cost effectiveness of health, virtual healthcare must play a pivotal role. Here, two health system leaders share lessons learned from their efforts to develop effective telehealth programs as a key component in their long-term value-focused care strategies, and two thought leaders weigh in on keys to telehealth success.
Features
Under Karen DeSalvo, Google Health has big ideas for bolstering public health
Google Health is working to improve the lives of “hundreds of millions” of users while also enhancing operations for healthcare providers.
3 ways the patient financial experience can improve health equity
COVID-19 shined a bright light on disparities in access to care and health outcomes that existed in the U.S. healthcare system long before the pandemic, but far from improving the situation, it has exacerbated those disparities. Now, health system revenue cycle departments have an opportunity to be part of the solution.
Strategic alternative dispute resolution offers providers key to substantial claim recoveries
To be able to effectively handle disputes over healthcare claims, providers must be well-informed about the two basic types of alternative dispute resolution that can help them achieve favorable results: arbitration and mediation.
Steve LeFar talks about the implications of care deferrals due to COVID-19
The economic and social impacts from deferred healthcare due to COVID-19 were already a major concern in the pandemic’s first year, portending severe declines in health status for Americans who stopped seeking care for fear of exposure to the coronavirus. In this Q&A, Strata Decision Technology’s Steve Lefar shares insights based on extensive data that tell the story of deferred care across the nation, and the likelihood that providers will see a rising tide of severely ill patients.
Columns
A bolder, brighter, better healthcare finance industry is within reach
Outgoing HFMA National Chair Tammie Jackson urges healthcare finance professionals to continue making bold moves toward a brighter, better healthcare industry.
Paul Keckley: Inflation’s impact on healthcare: 5 takeaways
For healthcare finance professionals, healthcare inflation requires intensified efforts to address five concerns: increased bad debt, increased operating costs, heightened public scrutiny of pricing policies and executive compensation, increased competition by privately funded competitors offering low-cost solutions and growth of “Occupy Healthcare” movements.
Jill Geisler on how inclusive leaders protect against ‘invisible work’
DEI efforts within organizations can result in extra work for key staff. Jill Geisler shares tips for how leaders can ensure this does not become invisible work that imposes an unrecognized burden..
David Johnson: Cracks in the foundation (Part 4): Overcoming U.S. health systems’ brittle business model
U.S. health systems’ rely on centralized, high-cost platforms (e.g., hospitals) to deliver routine care in an approach focused on optimizing revenues under fee-for-service payment. Yet this approach is inefficient and asset-heavy. To build less brittle, more consumer-centric delivery platforms, health systems must decant procedures to more convenient, lower-cost locations as they pursue full-risk contracting.
Joe Fifer: Beyond healthcare: What consumers want
HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer offers perspectives on consumers’ perceptions of value in healthcare.
Joe Fifer: Solving the nurse staffing crisis — We’re all in this together
HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer offers perspectives on solving the nurse staffing crisis.
Departments
New leadership roles at Adventist Health for Todd Hofheins and John Beaman
Adventist Health promotes Todd Hofheins to COO and John Beaman to CFO. Terri Hays, Leon Choiniere and Dan Bugarin also have new jobs, and Dan Moncher has retired.Abby Birch, Grayson Johnston and Jacob Dalmas, three members of the first HFMA/Boise State master’s in Population and Health Systems Management cohort, discuss their experiences in the program.
News Briefs: Biden administration will apply closer scrutiny to healthcare billing practices
A monthly roundup of top news for healthcare finance professionals.
Supplements
Improve cash flow and cost of reworking denials with the efficientC claim scrubber technology
In five years’ time, denial claims have shot up 20%. Learn about a decision support and claims management technology platform that stops claims before they get denied.
Healthcare finance leaders share innovative approaches to pandemic challenges
In this Roundtable, several senior financial leaders discuss how their organizations are handling new and persistent problems and what role technology plays in solving staffing issues.
Finding solutions to better manage payment process workflows
In this roundtable, revenue cycle leaders share their challenges, how they have enhanced payment processes through automation, and how they have identified opportunities for improvement.
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