2022 healthcare trends driving change in patient financial engagement
Disruptive changes brought on by rising medical costs and increased patient cost sharing require an evolution in traditional patient billing and collection practices. Rapidly changing state and federal regulations, COVID-19, consumer behaviors and expectations, disrupters, technology and operational challenges impact healthcare in parallel.
The financial crunch of the pandemic is unlikely to subside anytime soon for hospitals
A leading credit-rating agency says the not-for-profit hospital sector will face significant headwinds for the rest of this year and beyond.
Aaron Crane: It’s past time for a prescribed burn in the healthcare industry
HFMA National Chair Aaron Crane compares our healthcare system to an unmanaged forest and encourages healthcare finance professionals to act to bring about needed change and innovation.
Road to value begins with addressing social determinants of health
Lance Robertson, a former HHS leader, is encouraged by the federal response to the nation’s need to address problems such as health inequity, increased health risk and avoidable high costs for populations that are adversely affected by social determinants of health (SDoH). He sees addressing SDoH as a necessary preliminary step on the nation’s journey to achieving value in healthcare.
David Johnson: Cracks in the foundation – Overcoming regulatory headwinds
Healthcare leaders have an important opportunity today use the new regulations to drive value-based care throughout their organizations. But that doesn’t mean completely relinquishing their traditional revenue streams. To seize this opportunity, they should undertake a dual transformation that promotes more efficient operation of their traditional businesses, while nurturing and growing new businesses focused on population health and value.
Ken Perez: U.S. demographic realities and the productivity mandate for healthcare
COVID-19’s impact on nursing is undeniable. But focusing too much on the pandemic can obscure longstanding and inexorable demographic trends that are also contributing to growing nursing shortages.
To achieve effective nurse staffing, you need CFO-CNO alignment
To respond effectively to ongoing disruptions in the nursing workforce, which have been exacerbated by COVID-19, health system finance and nursing leaders need to come together to find a new financial, clinical and operational approach to improving performance.
Why real estate should be an integral part of a health system’s resources strategy
The changing healthcare landscape following the pandemic — including, among other factors, the new competitive dynamics as a result of the migration away from inpatient care and the heightened focus on health equity — is making it incumbent on health system leaders to align their real estate resources within their overall approach to strategy, operations and finance.
Why health systems may find an acute care at home strategy attractive
The potential for improved outcomes is just one important reason to consider pursuing an acute care at home strategy. Even in the absence of payment, health systems may ultimately find pursuit of such a strategy beneficial.
Healthcare industry leaders speak out against gun violence after the latest tragedy
Advocates say hospitals and clinicians have a role to play in violence intervention strategies, but federal funding is needed to ensure such measures have maximum impact.