Healthcare News of Note: 10 hospital system CEOs pledge to create new safety standard for healthcare workers
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles, including movement on safety standards to protect healthcare workers, the increasing role of PCPs in COVID-19 vaccinations and reductions in ACA out-of-pocket costs.
A now-or-never moment for telehealth? Demand will remain strong as long as technology and the healthcare industry can meet it
Payers and providers adapted quickly to the need for telehealth services, and most patients responded in kind. Demand will remain strong as long as technology and the industry can meet it.
Key payment details in the Medicare FY22 Inpatient Prospective Payment System proposed rule
CMS’s FY22 proposed rule for the Inpatient Prospective Payment System includes a 2.8% payment increase for general acute care hospitals.
Herd immunity and the prospect of seeing an end to the COVID-19 crisis
There are widespread expectations that the United States will achieve herd immunity against COVID-19 within the coming year, and possibly by this summer.
The AAHA and the tumult of Medicare
Passage of Medicare in 1965 would have a profound effect on the American Association of Hospital Accounting, resulting in a change of name and direction for the Association.
Physician practice performance suffered during the 2020 pandemic year
Recent research shows that volatility driven by COVID-19 rocked physician practices throughout 2020, but there were signs of recovery toward the end of the year.
News briefs: CMS reduces Medicare payments by 25% for many providers as part of loan recoupment
News briefs for May include recoupment of Medicare advance payments, a potential issue with hospitals' 340B eligibility, and more.
Hospital M&A activity was low in Q1 2021 but could increase soon
Hospital M&A tracking firms reported low volumes in the first quarter of 2021 but also saw indications that the lessons of the COVID-19 pandemic will drive higher levels of activity.
Hospital investments should emphasize the virtual over the physical, Wall Street panelists say
Virtual-care capacity represents a better investment for healthcare providers than brick-and-mortar expansions, according to a Wall Street analyst.
40% of hospitals reconsidering traditional budgeting amid pandemic: HFMA poll
A n October 2020 HFMA survey, by Strata Decision Technology, found that the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many U.S. hospitals to consider moving from a traditional budgeting process to rolling forecasting, with one in five already having made the move.