Healthcare Finance News | Community Benefit

Following the release of a financial report last week by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), the Hospital & Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania (HAP) has said that the state's hospitals will be facing an uncertain financial future.

Winners of HFMA's MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle announced

May 18, 2012 |

Rene Letourneau

The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) announced Friday this year's winners of the MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle. Seventeen organizations received the honor.

Studies find correlation between busy hospitals and higher readmission rates

May 18, 2012 |

According to two recent studies conducted by several researchers at the University of Maryland's Robert H. Smith School of Business, there is a correlation between hospital readmission rates and how full the hospital was at the time of discharge. This suggests that many patients went home earlier than they should have.

Research finds readmission rates linked to availability of care, socioeconomics

May 17, 2012 |

According to research that was presented last week at the American Heart Association's Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions 2012, the differences in regional readmission rates for heart failure are more closely connected with the availability of care and socioeconomics rather than with hospital performance or a patient's degree of illness.

National Alzheimer's plan released

May 16, 2012 |

Stephanie Bouchard

The Obama administration released the country's first national plan to address Alzheimer's disease on Tuesday. Calling it a roadmap, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the new national plan "addresses every aspect of what it is to confront Alzheimer's disease."

AMA offers online tool for physicians to assess driving ability of older patients

May 15, 2012 |

Rene Letourneau

The American Medical Association (AMA) launched a free Web-based educational course this week to help physicians address the driving safety of their older patients.

R.I. hospitals contributed $6.3B to state's economy in 2010

May 15, 2012 |

According to a new report released by the Hospital Association of Rhode Island (HARI), Rhode Island hospitals contributed more than $6.3 billion to the state's economy in 2010.

Maine company offers innovative wellness program to employees

May 14, 2012 |

Two companies in Maine have recently teamed up to provide an innovative and affordable healthcare plan to employees. The plan not only pays claims but also rewards those in good health with cash incentives.

Healthcare leaders report concerns about overcrowded EDs

May 14, 2012 |

According to a HealthLeaders Media report released last week, nearly half (46 percent) of healthcare leaders around the country have emergency departments that are overcrowded. Furthermore, 51 percent of those respondents also said that they are very concerned that the overcrowding issue will jeopardize patient safety.

Improving Point of Service Collections: A Rural Hospital Perspective

March 2, 2012 |

In this webinar, hear how Saint Alphonsus Medical Center, a critical access hospital located in eastern Oregon, increased upfront cash collections and improved patient satisfaction by incorporating patient payment estimation technology into their workflow. Michelle Paoletti, Patient Access Manager, will describe how her organization transitioned to a culture of point-of-service collections by having meaningful payment discussions with patients upfront. Additionally, Michelle will reveal what's next for Saint Alphonsus, including their plans to streamline the financial assistance process.

How Revenue Cycle Improvements Increase POS Cash Collections, Reduce Bad Debt and Improve Patient Satisfaction

November 7, 2011 |

In today's market of uncertainty and change, healthcare executives must learn to adapt their business processes or continue to fall behind the curve in information technology and analytics. Additional regulations, declining reimbursements and the increase in patient out-of-pocket expenses are squeezing margins that were already razor thin. Healthcare executives are left to wonder, "How can I do more with less?" In an effort to answer this question, Scott Hawig, VP of Finance for Shands HealthCare at the University of Florida, will discuss how his organization is incorporating technology, data and analytics into their revenue cycle processes to improve the patient experience and drive better financial outcomes.

Deceased Patient Receivables: Four Factors for Successful Recovery

October 25, 2011 |

Deceased debt - money owed by the estates of decedents - makes up a significant part of most healthcare organizations’ accounts receivable, a share that may approach 100 percent for hospice-care facilities and other specialized providers. Although recovery of this debt can generate meaningful revenue streams in exchange for very modest investments, many providers pursue it ineffectively or outsource it to non-specialists who deliver poor results and introduce avoidable costs and risks. This paper outlines the revenue opportunity available by recovering deceased patient receivables, shows where current approaches fall short, and describes the four essential elements of a successful recovery program.

Innovating Bad Debt and Charity Care Processing

July 11, 2011 |

The old saying goes "no margin, no mission." Today, economic challenges coupled with changes in the healthcare industry bring new light to that expression. More than ever, health systems need to think creatively about how they use resources and help patients. In 2010, Bon Secours redesigned its process for approving charity care; allowing the revenue cycle team to repurpose expensive FTEs and realize savings through efficiency. Join Nick Dawson, administrative director of community engagement for Bon Secours Virginia Health System, as he discusses Bon Secours's approach to charity care, the process redesign, and the data and automation tools which made the redesign possible.

How Organizations Measure and Improve Workforce Wellness

June 28, 2011 |

Join healthcare experts as they discuss findings from the Thomson Reuters Workforce Wellness Index, which measures the healthcare cost impact of behavioral risk factors in employed populations.

The MLR Report: Just fiddling while Rome is burning

May 2, 2012 |

Robert Laszewski

The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 3.4 million people in the individual market will receive $426 million in consumer rebates because of the Affordable Care Act's new MLR rules.

I don't really want my $127 medical loss ratio rebate

May 1, 2012 |

Under the Affordable Care Act, health plans have to issue rebates to policyholders if they don’t spend at least 80 or 85 percent of premiums on medical costs. Now that the law is in effect, about $1.3 billion is to be paid out.

When will dental and medical insurance be integrated?

March 30, 2012 |

James Ellis and Aaron Razavi

It has never made sense to me to that dental insurance is not included in comprehensive medical insurance.

Two new programs to help curb hospital readmissions

March 28, 2012 |

With Medicare spending an estimated $12 billion on avoidable readmissions, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, two new programs are being introduced to help curb these costly, unneeded expenditures while improving patients’ quality of care.

Health insurance mandate: $1M hospital bills show why it's needed

March 16, 2012 |

Mitt Romney is catching grief for a newly discovered interview where he defends the individual mandate in terms of personal responsibility, and cites the government or private payers picking up the tab for an uninsured person’s hospital care as “socialism.” Whether or not he still stands by that argument, there’s good logic to it.

Connecticut lines up home health aides: Commenter reactions

March 15, 2012 |

Kelly Mehler

In conjunction with NPR news, Kaiser Health News reported this week that the state of Connecticut is divvying out a new plan to replace home nurses with hired home health aides, in order to administer medications for patients with chronic illnesses.

Rick Santorum on healthcare: Not much to write home about

February 10, 2012 |

Rick Santorum won three GOP contests yesterday: Minnesota, Colorado and Missouri, so I decided to take a look at where he stands on healthcare.

Repeal and replace or repeal and do nothing?

February 2, 2012 |

Remember how opponents of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) vowed to “repeal and replace” the measure? It was and is a great slogan but it’s no surprise that the sloganeers have been slow to follow through on the replace part -- even as they retain enthusiasm for pushing repeal.

Getting veterans off Medicaid

January 18, 2012 |

As states grapple with growing Medicaid costs in an era of sluggish economic growth and antipathy to taxes, they are very pleased when they find a way to increase benefits to citizens while reducing their own expenditures.

Maine Governor at odds with providers of care for children, elderly

January 13, 2012 |

Kelly Mehler

Seventy five thousand beneficiaries may be cut by Maine's Medicaid system this year. MaineCare supports Maine's elderly, children and indigent, and while Governor Paul LePage stands by his cuts, beneficiaries and healthcare providers deem them "unacceptable."

2011 Recap: Meet your healthcare consumer

January 12, 2012 |

James C. Bohnsack

Recently, I came across Deloitte’s 2011 Survey of Health Care Consumers and as a Deloitte alumnus, I enjoyed seeing how the firm is tracking industry changes from the eyes of a patient.

Medicaid expansion: Will we get our money's worth?

January 12, 2012 |

Should we just hand uninsured adult diabetics $1000 per year rather than enrolling them in Medicaid?

Consumers remain in denial about planning for long-term care according to new study

November 8, 2011 |

The majority of adults believe that long-term care insurance should be purchased between the ages of 45-64, yet 82 percent of this age group have not purchased a policy, finds a new study from the 3in4 Association. The study, sponsored by Genworth Financial, also shows that since the 2008 financial crisis, only 20 percent of adults have taken any action on their financial strategy and almost half of respondents do not expect to add anything to their plan in the next two years.

Green cleaning study shows breadth of green cleaning programs in hospitals

November 2, 2011 |

Healthcare Finance News Staff

A new research report released by the Health Care Research Collaborative points out the need for studies to determine the impact of green cleaning programs on health outcomes in patients and staff, and for additional studies to determine the impact of green cleaners on environmental cleanliness and hospital-acquired infection transmission. The report, "Green Cleaning in Healthcare: Current Practices and Questions for Future Research," noted that studies need to address a number of topics to to help health care facilities choose an effective green cleaning program.

Should you change your Medicare health plan?

November 2, 2011 |

Medicare beneficiaries can make changes to their prescription and health plans once a year. These changes could result in savings on medical costs, or increased access to new benefits such as wellness visits and preventive care services.

Trust for America's Health releases healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy

November 1, 2011 |

Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released a new report, Healthier Americans for a Healthier Economy, featuring six case studies focused on the relationship between health and economic development. The report examines how health affects the ability of states, cities and towns to attract and retain employers, and how workplace and community wellness programs help improve productivity and reduce health spending.

47 providers with Rhode Island’s Coastal Medical receive Medicare incentives for meaningful use

October 25, 2011 |

eClinicalWorks®, a market leader in ambulatory clinical systems, today announced that 47 providers from Rhode Island’s Coastal Medical have successfully attested for meaningful use and each have received an $18,000 check from the Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), the maximum amount allowed for 2011. These incentives were established by the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act (ARRA) to reward medical providers who successfully demonstrate meaningful use of an electronic health records (EHR) system in ways that improve the quality, safety and effectiveness of patient-centered care.

Savvy Medicare consumers can save hundreds during Medicare open enrollment

October 12, 2011 |

This Saturday marks the beginning of Medicare's Annual Open Enrollment Period, which runs through December 7. During this time, people with Medicare can select or change their Medicare Part D prescription drug plan for 2012, along with a host of other options.

UPMC Health Plan introduces HealthyU

October 12, 2011 |

Healthcare Finance News Staff

UPMC Health Plan makes group health insurance more cost-effective with HealthyU. HealthyU is a new plan that rewards members who exhibit healthy behaviors and become more involved in their health care decisions. HealthyU also gives companies the flexibility necessary to choose a plan that meets both their needs and those of their employees.

HealthAmerica and Preferred Primary Care Physicians launch pilot program

October 7, 2011 |

HealthAmerica and Preferred Primary Care Physicians (Preferred) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, have launched a new pilot program with the goal of providing more coordinated and patient-centered primary care and improved communications among patients, their physicians and their care team.

Third annual “Take Your Medicines America” campaign launches to fight $290B healthcare problem

October 4, 2011 |

Pharmacists Planning Services, Inc. (PPSI) to launch 3rd Annual “Take Your Medicines America” campaign from October 10-16, 2011. This nationally recognized campaign is designed to help combat one of the greatest issues facing the American health care system today – medication nonadherence, which accounts for almost 10 percent of the national health care budget.

New innovation winners honored by Secretary Sebelius

September 26, 2011 |

HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius today announced six winners for Round 3 of the HHSinnovates program, and said the program is part of an HHS-wide initiative “to build a constant thrust of innovation into the everyday operations of our health and human services agencies.”

Quality Health Foundation awards $392,438 to 12 local organizations to improve healthcare

September 26, 2011 |

Quality Health Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $392,438 to 12 organizations in Maryland and the District of Columbia to support local healthcare-related quality improvement efforts.

HealthWell Foundation® launches Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) fund

September 22, 2011 |