Cover Story
Financing a Digital Transformation
To keep pace with the rapid proliferation of digital technologies in health care, healthcare organizations must develop a framework for identifying the best funding source for each element in their digital strategies.
By Matt Robbins, CFA, Munzoor Shaikh, and Therese L. Wareham
Web Exclusives
The Truth About Blockchain and Its Application to Health Care
Healthcare organizations have growing opportunities to begin applying blockchain technology to solving industry challenges, and today’s practical applications may be first steps toward more-sophisticated applications that could transform the industry.
By John Bass
10 Ways to Enhance the Patient Payment Experience
Patients represent a fast-growing source of payment for healthcare providers, so it is important for providers to take steps not only to increase collections but also to enhance their patients’ financial experience.
By Bird Blitch
Treatment of Addiction: Incentivizing Recovery, Not Relapse
Substance use disorder has too often been treated as an isolated infectious disease. The ARMH-APM, a proposed alternative payment model, aims to restructure provider incentives to promote more appropriate treatment of the disorder as a chronic disease.
By Greg Williams, MA, and David E. Smith
Features
A CFO’s Guide to AI Strategy
As artificial intelligence is growing in popularity in the healthcare industry, hospitals and health systems are beginning to realize significant ROI from the technology.
By Neil Shah, Utsav Shah, and Devanshu Yadav, MBA
Improving CAH Medicare Part-A Payment Accuracy Using Bluetooth-based RTLS
A real-time location system (RTLS) provide critical access hospitals with an effective means for accurately tracking physician availability time for delivering emergency department services, thereby potentially increasing Medicare payments.
By Marc B. Westle, DO, FACP, Randy Burkert, and Clint Stewart, CPA, CHFP
SKU Optimization Initiatives Can Create Cost Savings in an Era of Value-Based Care
By assigning stock-keeping unit (SKU) information to equipment and supplies, hospitals can realize cost savings.
By Dennis Mullins, MBA, CMRP, Elizabeth J. Persaud, Nicole C. Ferko, Brenda Knight, Debbie Tripodi, and Paul Delatore
Focus Area
Cost and Quality
Textile Budget Considerations: A Laundry List
An efficient textiles program can help a health system maximize dollars allocated to linens and uniforms and result in better patient outcomes and satisfaction.
By Mark Whitten and Phil Charlton
Columns
From the Chair
HFMA Helps Convert Imagination into Innovation
HFMA highlights innovative ways healthcare finance professionals are using technology to lower costs, improve care, and increase patient satisfaction.
By Kevin Brennan, FHFMA, CPA
Eye on Washington
The Texas Federal District Court’s Ruling on the Constitutionality of the ACA
The 2018 ruling in by the Texas District Court declaring Affordable Care Act unconstitutional is expected to be overturned, but the decision still could have an adverse effect on the future of value-based payment.
By Ken Perez
Integration
The Art and Science of Integration
Healthcare organizations should consider seven key factors and related initial questions when contemplating a proposed integration initiative.
By Keith D. Moore, MCP, and Dean C. Coddington, MBA
Healthcare Innovation
Innovation in Health Care—It’s Not Just an App
Innovative technology often is seen as the means for transforming health care, but what ultimately is required is innovative thinking that doesn’t rely solely on technology but also looks at ways to improve processes.
By Jeff Helton, PhD, FHFMA, CMA, CFE
From the President
Valuing Patients as Consumers
February marks National Wise Health Care Consumer Month. HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer encourages healthcare finance leaders to reflect on what their organizations are doing to help patients and community members feel valued as consumers.
By Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA
Supplements
HFMA Action Brief
Five Considerations When Moving Technology to the Cloud
Tips-focused article on how to prepare for and optimize a transition to the cloud.
Sponsored by Oracle Healthcare
Advertising
Business Profile
R1 RCM: Partnering with Healthcare Organizations to Reimagine the Revenue Cycle
Two senior leaders at R1 talk about the advantages of working with an innovative revenue cycle partner that offers technology-enabled revenue cycle and patient experience services.
