Provider Relief Fund updates: First reporting deadline is imminent, and new distributions have been sent to rural providers
Providers have until Nov. 30 to report on their use of distributions received from the Provider Relief Fund during the first several months of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cost Effectiveness of Health Report, October 2021
The October HFMA’s Cost Effectiveness of Health Report, sponsored by Kaufman Hall, presents Part 2 HFMA’s of Healthcare 2030, which examines workforce challenges facing healthcare organizations and the types of response that will be required to meet those challenges. Also included is an interview with HFMA’s Todd Nelson, who explains why it is so important for all stakeholders in the United States to work collaboratively toward improving cost effectiveness of health in the United States.
Healthcare provisions in massive legislation could improve care access but also reduce federal funding for some hospitals
In pending legislation, reductions to disproportionate share hospital payments would be used to subsidize commercial insurance for low-income residents of states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.
CMS cancels regulations that would ensure coverage of breakthrough medical devices, but new legislation could fill the void
Citing patient safety concerns among other issues, CMS formally canceled a Trump administration rule that would have required Medicare to cover breakthrough medical devices.
Healthcare News of Note: 53% of U.S. adults say they prefer in-person healthcare to telehealth visits moving forward, survey says
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: A majority of people prefer in-person healthcare to telehealth visits, patients have trouble grasping information during doctor visits, and Walmart taps an Ochsner exec to lead its healthcare expansion.
Healthcare News of Note: Medicare would save $8 billion a year if all hospitals achieved the outcomes of the most cost-efficient performers, says Lown Institute
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: America’s most cost-effective hospitals are identified, employers have boosted telemedicine and mental health benefits during the pandemic, and risk-based Medicare Advantage models gain popularity with health systems.
A New Era of Health Consumerism & Flexible Financing
The American healthcare system is experiencing significant shifts, moving past long-standingnorms. Health consumers increasingly want the new point-of-purchase financing options synonymous with today’s retail experience for their healthcare. Hospitals and health systems are turning to flexible financing solutions to meet today’s health consumers wherethey are,helping themplan forthe carethey needwithin theirbudgets.
The pandemic cast a new light on mental health, and telemedicine provided a new avenue to access. How is the industry likely to view mental health and behavioral health in the future?
Dr. Ranga Krishnan of Rush University System for Health discusses the future of mental health payment and practice. He addresses how provider organizations can address workforce shortages by becoming partners in training and by changing the way they provide care to patients. He also talks about improving mental and behavioral healthcare in a value-based payment environment.
CMS finalizes vaccination requirements for hospitals and most other healthcare settings
If hospital staff aren’t fully vaccinated by Jan. 4, their organization will be deemed noncompliant with Medicare and Medicaid regulations, according to a new rule handed down Thursday by CMS.
Healthcare News of Note: Patients in the U.S. shouldered more than $21B in cancer care costs in 2019
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: U.S. patient cancer care costs totaled $21.09 billion in 2019, healthcare safety scores fell amid the pandemic, and states are leveraging MCO contracts to improve community SDOH.