HRSA curtails pandemic-era 340B flexibilities for hospitals’ off-campus outpatient facilities
In an expected move that stands to affect the savings reaped by health systems from the 340B Drug Pricing Program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is tightening participation requirements for off-campus outpatient facilities. In a published alert, HRSA announced plans to end pandemic-related flexibilities that have made it easier for off-campus outpatient facilities…
Healthcare News of Note: With new treatments emerging, Medicare increases coverage of PET screening for Alzheimer’s disease
Over the past few weeks, I have found these industry news stories that should be of interest to healthcare finance professionals. 1. CMS updates Medicare coverage of PET scans as a screening tool for Alzheimer’s disease CMS recently moved to expand Medicare coverage of screening for a primary marker of Alzheimer’s disease, a key step…
Hospital, physician advocates disagree over the role of physician-owned hospitals as policymakers ramp up focus
Hospital advocacy groups hope to stanch momentum that’s building in policy circles to increase the number of physician-owned hospitals. The American Hospital Association (AHA) and Federation of American Hospitals (FAH) issued a joint statement Oct. 18, saying permitting greater numbers of physician-owned hospitals (POHs) would have adverse effects on healthcare costs, access and quality. The…
Honor Roll: HFMA certifications were awarded to 1,833 members in Q3
HFMA offers eight certifications for members to validate their expertise and demonstrate their commitment to the profession. The HFMA certifications are as follows: Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, Certified Specialist Accounting and Finance (CSAF), Certified Specialist Business Intelligence (CSBI), Certified Specialist Physician Practice…
Healthcare News of Note: Physician burnout patterns are a potential threat to patient safety, study says
Over the past few weeks, I have found these industry news stories that should be of interest to healthcare finance professionals. 1. Physician burnout rate is increasing and needs ‘immediate solutions,’ says new study Authors of two published studies reviewing clinician burnout found increased burnout affecting clinician mental and physical health and posing concerns for…
In response to a congressional RFI, provider advocates give input on ways to bolster rural healthcare
Hospital and physician groups were among the respondents to a request by a key congressional committee for information on improving rural healthcare. In an RFI issued in September, the House Ways and Means Committee sought policy solutions for augmenting access to — and the quality of — healthcare in relatively remote areas. “The committee will…
Amid positive signs financially, hospitals continue to grapple with high costs in labor and other areas
The latest financial metrics for the hospital sector reflect a period of increasing stability but also sustained challenges. August financial data from more than 1,300 hospitals, as reported by Syntellis Performance Solutions, showed improvements in key metrics. The month-over-month increase in median operating margin was 3.5 percentage points, helping the year-to-date margin rise to 1.4%…
Hospitals push back on Senate report that calls out lack of spending on charity care
Not-for-profit (NFP) hospitals continue to be the subject of congressional scrutiny, with the chair of a key Senate committee issuing a report that questions whether they provide levels of charity care that are commensurate with their tax exemption. The report was released Oct. 10 by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), chair of the Senate Health, Education,…
Healthcare labor union activity gains steam: The consequences for hospitals and health systems
Note: The lead section of this article was updated Oct. 16 with news of a tentative agreement between Kaiser Permanente and the unions. When around 75,000 staff at Kaiser Permanente went on strike for three days starting Oct. 4, they represented more than just the largest-ever labor stoppage in the healthcare industry. They also exemplified…
HHS: Insurers won’t be penalized if they don’t update their No Surprises Act qualifying payment amounts as required
Providers may not immediately benefit from a favorable court ruling that affects the methodology for determining the qualifying payment amount (QPA) under the No Surprises Act. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) issued guidance Oct. 6 that says the Biden administration will not enforce the court decision until at least May 1.…