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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.

Why autonomous coding is having a moment in healthcare

Autonomous coding is growing in the healthcare industry, and the market is expected to reach $88 billion by 2030, up from $35 billion in 2022. Some expected outcomes of this include: Faster revenue cycle, less human intervention and improved patient satisfaction and care.

Ramifications of a proposed rule to halt credit reporting of medical debt

A proposed rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) would curtail the inclusion of medical debt in credit evaluations, potentially shaking up healthcare billing and collections processes. The CFPB framed part of its rationale for the June 11 rule in the context of privacy, noting Congress previously limited the sharing of a patient’s medical…

As revenue cycle challenges accumulate, a new survey suggests hospitals are taking a closer look at automation

For hospitals and health systems, survey results show that the ongoing labor crunch in revenue cycle operations has provided an impetus to expand process automation.

Professional Credit eases the collections process for both staff and healthcare consumers

Debt collections are often the last communication touch point a patient has, and health systems should ensure their business partner is representing the organization in the best possible manner. See how one company eases the collections process for staff and consumers.

Leadership

Keep up with the latest leadership trends for healthcare finance executives, staff development, and financial leadership.

Expense increases offset physician practice productivity and revenue gains

Physician groups across the country saw productivity and revenue improvements in the second quarter of 2021 compared with both the same period in 2020 and pre-pandemic levels seen in Q4 2019, according to Kaufman Hall’s latest Physician Flash Report. However, significant increases in expenses and continued high levels of physician investment compared with the pre-pandemic period remain areas of concern.

Dennis Dahlen: It’s time to look at what’s working — and what isn’t — in reducing care costs 

There’s a surprising phenomenon taking place in Medicare spending — and it points to the need to look deeper when it comes to healthcare cost containment.  For years, Medicare was viewed as the nation’s “budget buster,” with spending spiraling so quickly that some budget experts predicted no amount of tax money could sustain it. And…

How to design a national strategy to end the healthcare workforce crisis

Signs that the United States is in the midst of a healthcare workforce crisis are everywhere: A mounting national problem While exacerbated by the pandemic, the crunch has built for decades. The biggest driver is demographics: By 2029, one in four Americans will be 65 or older, translating into declining labor force participation, including in…

Congress passes legislation to support programs designed to bolster mental health among healthcare professionals

Hospitals will be among the potential recipients of federal grants for establishing programs that support the mental health and well-being of healthcare professionals.