How to ensure a positive patient financial experience
Creating the ideal patient billing experience not only improves revenue cycle performance, but also boosts patient satisfaction and quality scores.
Report finds fewer than a third of physicians continue to practice independently
About 70% of physicians were employed by health systems or corporate entities such as private equity firms and health plans at the start of 2021.
Financial metrics show a steady recovery for hospitals as the COVID-19 pandemic subsides
The latest financial data from the hospital sector paints a picture of a continuing recovery from the depths of the pandemic.
Government agencies issue the first set of regulations restricting surprise billing
In a development that many healthcare stakeholders have awaited for months, four federal agencies on Thursday, July 1 released new regulations prohibiting surprise billing in many scenarios.
Healthcare News of Note: S&P says outlook is stable for not-for-profit healthcare sector
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: The not-for-profit healthcare sector outlook was upgraded to stable, new research explores the higher risks facing certain racial and ethnic groups during COVID-19, and OIG finds that CMS lacks the tools to assess hospital quality and safety during an infectious disease outbreak.
Hospital groups raise red flags about spending offsets in bipartisan infrastructure bill
The bill would be paid for in part by extending the duration of the 2% reduction in Medicare payments and by tapping into the Provider Relief Fund.
Medicare should update its policies for separately payable drugs in the Outpatient Prospective Payment System, MedPAC says
Worthwhile changes include requiring drugs to be proven clinically superior before granting them pass-through payment status, according to a new report.
Healthcare News of Note: Struggling rural hospitals have option to become stand-alone EDs to receive more funding
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: An upcoming option for rural hospitals to receive more funding, a key factor in outcomes of Black patients who receive COVID-19 care, and predictions about the hospital room of the future.
In response to requests, HHS offers accommodations on deadlines for Provider Relief Fund spending and reporting (updated)
The new deadlines apply to allocations received after June 30, 2020. Reporting on use of funds is required only for designated time periods during which a provider’s payment exceeded $10,000.
HFMA survey of healthcare finance professionals highlights continuing pandemic-related challenges and some reasons for optimism
Results of HFMA's Outlook Survey show that the healthcare industry is still coping with the challenges of COVID-19 but has started to adapt to a post-pandemic future.