Patient Financial Communications

Finding our way to meaningful price transparency

Healthcare organizations have the technology to deliver meaningful transparency to patients, including out-of-pocket estimates prior to service and clear, understandable patient statements.

Joseph J. Fifer, FHFMA, CPA September 24, 2019

2018 patient out-of-pocket costs increase 12%

A recent analysis found that about 59% of patients in 2018 had an average out-of-pocket expense between $501 and $1,000 during a healthcare visit. This was a dramatic increase from 39% in 2017.

HFMA September 13, 2019

Analysis: Groupon for healthcare services fills a void for consumer-focused pricing

It should be no surprise to U.S. healthcare providers that Groupons are available for healthcare services given the high cost of healthcare and lack of price transparency.

Chad Mulvany, FHFMA September 10, 2019

How providers should adapt to the demands of a consumer-driven healthcare system

Insights during a 2019 HFMA Annual Conference cohort revealed various approaches that providers can use to meet the increasingly urgent challenge of improving the patient experience.

HFMA September 4, 2019

Change Healthcare: Curbing Bad Debt by Improving the Patient Financial Experience

In this roundtable, several revenue cycle leaders discuss how they are tackling escalating patient responsibility, exploring the value of putting individuals on pathways toward payment that boost satisfaction and revenue.

HFMA August 31, 2019

Supporters of releasing privately negotiated health plan rates dominate public comments

Supporters of a proposal for hospitals to release their health plan-negotiated rates, so far, have dominated comments on it to CMS.

Rich Daly August 31, 2019

Search for federal funding driving surprise bill legislation: advisers

A search for new federal funding is driving fast-moving surprise billing legislation and will ultimately determine if it is enacted, according to legislative advisers.

Rich Daly August 29, 2019

A look at the financial ramifications hospitals may see from ‘public charge’ changes

Hospitals could lose billions of dollars nationally in Medicaid and CHIP revenue due to a new change in rules for legal immigrants.

Rich Daly August 27, 2019

Analysis: Out-of-pocket costs increased faster than wages in 2018

The latest TransUnion Healthcare report shows a 12% increase in patient out-of-pocket costs while wages grew only 3%, proving the need for hospitals and health systems to engage patients in a discussion about their out-of-pocket responsibility.

Chad Mulvany, FHFMA July 15, 2019

How one hospital improved patient access, specialty referrals and completed-appointment rates

Texas Children’s Hospital achieved financial and operational improvements after streamlining referral and scheduling processes to better accommodate providers and patients.

Richelle Fleischer, CPA, MPH July 3, 2019
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