Hospitals reached steadier ground financially as they moved into 2024
Hospitals came into 2024 with some financial momentum, even as expenses continued to rise and pivotal decisions loomed. The year-to-date median hospital operating margin reached 2.3% in December, the high mark for 2023 and the 10th consecutive month in which margins were positive, according to monthly data from Syntellis Performance Solutions, part of Strata Decision…
HFMA strategy session highlights challenges and opportunities for healthcare finance leaders: payer relations, supply costs, AI and more
The legacy healthcare provider’s position in the industry could grow tenuous if leaders don’t respond boldly and strategically to ongoing trends, according to insights recently presented to HFMA leaders. “We’re at a crossroads right now,” Ashraf Shehata, principal and U.S. national sector leader for healthcare and life sciences with KPMG, said in November during a…
Medicare’s final $9 billion remedy plan for 340B providers doesn’t address hospitals’ key concerns
Hospitals received final details on a $9 billion remedy payment plan for participants in the 340B Drug Pricing Program, with advocates expressing disappointment that corresponding reductions to other payments will go through as previously proposed. CMS issued a Nov. 2 final rule describing the terms of the remedy payment, which was necessitated after the Supreme…
Summary: 10 vital responses to healthcare disruption
Note: This article is a summary of a report on HFMA’s Spring Thought Leadership Retreat. The full report is available to download. Disruption is reverberating throughout the healthcare industry, and it’s incumbent on legacy organizations to develop strategic responses for the benefit of their consumers, their communities and themselves. With that overarching challenge becoming ever…
Pandemic brought increases in the number of patients leaving the ED without being seen
Deferred care appeared to become more widespread in the emergency department amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a study.
Craneware is transforming the business of healthcare
Learn how one company offers its customers value cycle solutions that go beyond traditional revenue cycle to include pharmacy, supplies and service line optimization.
ElevatePFS delivers exceptional, patient-focused revenue cycle management services
Are you a provider dealing with government regulations, recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, and adapting to technological advancements? Find out how to alleviate stress while navigating the complex revenue cycle challenges, while also delivering a positive patient experience.
Steve LeFar talks about the implications of care deferrals due to COVID-19
The economic and social impacts from deferred healthcare due to COVID-19 were already a major concern in the pandemic’s first year, portending severe declines in health status for Americans who stopped seeking care for fear of exposure to the coronavirus. In this Q&A, Strata Decision Technology’s Steve Lefar shares insights based on extensive data that tell the story of deferred care across the nation, and the likelihood that providers will see a rising tide of severely ill patients.
Ken Perez: Healthcare assailed by a labor crisis, with pharmacy technicians particularly affected
The healthcare sector lost more than half a million workers from February 2020 to September 2021, contributing to labor shortages in the sector. An often-overlooked yet important element in this trend is the acute shortage among pharmacy technicians, who play a vital role in the delivery of pharmacy services.
Latest data shows positive financial trends for hospitals, but will the good news be fleeting?
June was a promising month in terms of hospital financial performance, but the delta variant of the coronavirus threatens to reverse many of the gains.