Healthcare Business Trends

Omicron, swelling expenses characterize end of another challenging year for hospitals, physician groups

The nation’s hospitals, health systems and physician groups closed the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic amid ballooning expenses exacerbated by nationwide labor shortages and global supply chain challenges.

Matthew Bates February 18, 2022

Omicron, swelling expenses characterize end of another challenging year for hospitals, physician groups

The nation’s hospitals, health systems and physician groups closed the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic amid ballooning expenses exacerbated by nationwide labor shortages and global supply chain challenges.

Matthew Bates February 18, 2022

Eric Jordahl: Preparing health system balance sheets for the journey to normalization

The Federal Reserve's recent signal that it will transition to a tighter monetary policy is an indication that the organization and the economy have entered a new, more stable stage.

Eric Jordahl February 15, 2022

Healthcare News of Note: Amazon Care’s virtual health services are now available nationwide, and in-person care services are launching in more than 20 new cities in 2022

Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Amazon Care plans to expand in-person care to 20+ new cities in 2022, GAO raises concerns about HHS’s leadership and coordination of public health emergencies, and a new study shows more physicians suffered burnout in 2021 than in 2020.

Deborah Filipek February 11, 2022

Senate panel discusses ways to address Medicare financing — and the consequences of not acting

Medicare Part D and Medicare Advantage could be prime targets as Congress seeks to shore up the Hospital Insurance Trust Fund before it becomes insolvent in 2026 as projected.

Nick Hut February 9, 2022

Paul Keckley: The healthcare regulatory climate for 2022 — What to expect

Hospitals, physicians and long-term care and ancillary service providers can anticipate significant changes in the regulatory climate in 2022. Although such changes are predictable, context is key: Regulatory policymaking in healthcare in the current environment is limited by disfunctional gridlock in Congress, the fact that 2022 is a mid-term election year and a high level of public anxiety about the economy and healthcare.

Paul H. Keckley, PhD February 7, 2022

Healthcare News of Note: Drug manufacturers reap $6.7 billion in provider relief funding, leaving hospitals and health systems with no aid allotted for the delta and omicron surges

Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: $7 billion from the Provider Relief Fund was used by the Biden administration to pay drug manufacturers, HHS takes a strong stance on requiring health plan/insurance issuers to deliver parity for mental health and substance-use disorder benefits, and investors show continued interest in healthcare M&A in 2022.

Deborah Filipek February 4, 2022

Newly released financial data show pandemic-related challenges intensifying for hospitals

Issues with expenses and unstable volumes hindered hospital finances and operations as 2021 drew to a close.

Nick Hut February 4, 2022

Optimizing the revenue cycle by streamlining and automating payment collections

Nine healthcare finance professionals dive into strategies to help entities evolve to meet challenges faced by providers and payers in finding qualified employees in today’s workforce.

HFMA February 3, 2022

Tammie Jackson: In healthcare finance, bold pursuits require persistence and curiosity

HFMA's 2021-22 Chair says addressing health system challenges such as racial and ethnic disparities in quality of care and limited access to care among some populations due to social determinants of health requires boldness and persistence.

Tammie L. Jackson, FHFMA, MHA, CHFP February 1, 2022
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