Cover Story

Understanding Your Capital Options

As hospitals and health systems plan capital spending that requires financing, they should carefully weigh all their options.

By Christopher Payne

Q & A

George C. Halvorson: The Future Is Connectivity

Letter from HFMA UK

Best Wishes from "Across the Pond"

Long-time HFMA President Dick Clarke fostered a strong relationship with HFMA in the UK.

By Mark Knight

Features

Risks and Rewards of Variable-Rate Debt   

Hospitals can lower debt-financing costs through appropriate use of variable-rate products. 

By Eric Jordahl

Web Extra: Learn more about an additional variable-rate option, the risks and benefits of direct bank placements versus public variable-rate demand bonds (VRDBs), and current issues with bank-supported VRDBs.

Multi-Track Financing

By adopting a diversified, flexible funding approach, healthcare borrowers can position themselves to respond rapidly to changes that precipitate a need to shift priorities among financing options. 

By Steven Kennedy Jr., John Randolph, Anthony Taddey

Strategies for Healthcare Facilities, Construction, and Real Estate Management

Adventist HealthCare saved more than $8 million through a comprehensive approach to facilities maintenance, construction, and real estate management.

By James Lee

Web Extra: Find out what's next for Adventist's facilities and real estate department initiative.

Developing Healthcare Facilities for a Changing Environment

Healthcare organizations that are going to refocus and redevelop facilities with the goal of improving quality and lowering costs should consider taking a business approach to facilities development. 

By Fred Campobasso, Joe Kucharz

Web Extra: Business Plans that Deliver Better Care at Lower Cost

Physician Relationships: Make Your First Impression Count

A strategy for physician recruitment is vital to a health system's success. 

By Jason Crepeau 

Web Extra: Learn the five essential relationships physician recruiters should maintain.

Engaging Staff with Team-Based Performance Sharing

A New Jersey hospital shows how engaging staff in performance improvement efforts can yield meaningful cost savings. 

By Robert Masternak

Focus Areas

Payment  

The Sustainable Growth Rate: The Elephant in the Room of Deficit Reduction

Ten years of congressional overrides to the SGR have contributed to higher Medicare spending on physician services and have left the federal government with a significant budget deficit exposure. 

By Ken Perez

Web Extra: Since the sustainable growth rate provision was implemented with Balanced Budget Act of 1997, Congress has made several unsuccessful attempts to reform it. 
 

Integration

Medical Foundations: One Model for Hospital-Physician Alignment

The medical foundation model offers hospitals and health systems a potentially valuable opportunity to better integrate and collaborate with physician groups to improve the quality, efficiency, and coordination of care. 

By Joan Feldman

Technology

Technology Safeguards Needed As Security Rule Audits Loom

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), through its Office of Civil Rights (OCR), will conduct up to 150 security rule audits under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) by the end of 2012. 

By Deborah Gersh, Laura Hoey, Timothy Microsomal, David Tolley

Columns

From the Chair

The Last Column

HFMA Chair Greg Adams sums up the can-do spirit he witnessed in his year as Chair. 

By Greg Adams, FHFMA

From the President

Thanks for the Memories

HFMA President Dick Clarke recalls growth of healthcare finance during his tenure. 

By Richard L. Clarke, DHA, FHFMA

From the Editor

Lesson from a Leader

Outgoing HFMA President Dick Clarke's accomplishments were based on respect. 

By Robert Fromberg, Editor-in-Chief

Eye on Washington

What Happens Now with the Affordable Care Act?

After three days of riveting hearings at the Supreme Court concerning the Affordable Care Act, we are left waiting to see what, if any, portions of the act will be struck down by the Court.  

By Gail Wilensky

Healthcare Value   

No Satisfaction?

A focus on patient satisfaction can seem discordant within a healthcare system that is also being asked to improve the value of care. 

James Landman

Strategy Challenge

What Should Our New System's Strategic Priorities Be Post-Merger?

Leaders at two small health systems that plan to merge consider what their strategic priorities should be to ensure the new organization's success.

By Alan Zuckerman

Inside IT

Continued Investment in Healthcare  IT Critical

As Congress struggles to reduce U.S. national debt levels approaching crisis proportions, it should not lose sight of the long-term implications of budget cuts-particularly regarding healthcare IT. 

By Keith Figlioi, Bill Spooner

Capital Finance

Governance: Still at the Top of the Investment Agenda

Boards and investment committees are making investment decisions in an ever more complex environment. But are they devoting the resources needed to perform effectively? 

By William Jarvis

5 Ways To...

5 Ways to Better Understand Costing for Physician Practices

Costing for physician practices presents unique challenges for hospital finance professionals.

By David Clingo, Cesar Fernandez-Mansilla

Data Trends

ROI from Facility Investment: Quality and Patient Satisfaction

Etcetera

Member Spotlight: Hospital Rising from the Rubble

Executive Interview

James M. Connelley: Each Challenge Is an Opportunity

Publication Date: Tuesday, May 01, 2012