Cover Feature
The Strategic Importance of Data
As data become a strategic asset for healthcare organizations, healthcare finance executives will need to become significant contributors to their organizations’ EHR initiatives and data management strategies.
John Glaser, Peter Markell, John Stone
Features
Beyond Meaningful Use: Getting Meaningful Value from IT
Meeting meaningful use criteria is only the first step in achieving the IT support needed for success under payment reform
Jason Fortin, Walt Zywiak
Carrots and Sticks for EHR Implementation
Providers have several questions to consider when determining whether to meet standards for meaningful use of EHR technology in time to receive incentive funds and avoid monetary sanctions.
Margaret Amatayakul
Turning Hospital Data into Dollars
Healthcare financial executives can use predictive analytics to enhance their ability to capture charges and identify underpayments.
Paul Bradley, Jeff Kaplan
Improving Clinical Documentation in an EMR World
One health system used a three-step process to integrate a clinical documentation improvement program with its new electronic medical record system, with significant results.
Thomas Payne
Tapping into the Value of Health Data Through Secondary Use
EHRs give hospitals the opportunity to make secondary use of their data for purposes such as improving health outcomes, predicting health trends, and assessing the value of drugs and treatment.
Daniel Garrett
The Case to Replace: Developing a Sound Capital Equipment Strategy
Capital equipment strategic planning is a data-driven approach hospitals can use to set priorities for replacement of high-cost capital equipment.
John Evanoo, Debbie Cameron
Focus Areas
BUSINESS TRENDS
Episode-Based Payment: Bundling for Better Results
Many advocates believe that a single-bundled payment system, sometimes called episode-based payment, would provide incentives for hospitals and physicians to better coordinate care—from preadmission through postdischarge activity—which, in turn, would result in higher-quality outcomes, improved efficiency, and reduced costs.
John T. Bigalke
MEDICARE/MEDICAID
How Effective Is Your Organization's Financial Assistance Eligibilty Program?
There are six steps hospitals should take in determining whether their organizations' financial assistance eligibility programs should be restructured.
Don Woodward
Columns
From the Chair
Why We Can't Afford Not to Invest in IT
Achieving meaningful use is significant, but it’s only the first step toward maximizing meaningful value from IT. Investments in IT are important for reasons that go far beyond the HITECH Act.
Catherine Jacobson, FHFMA, CPA
From the President
Financial Reporting and Costing in a New World
To adapt to a future that requires meaningful use of EHRs and greater accountability for safety, quality, and cost, financce leaders must rethink how their organizations perform reporting and costing.
Richard L. Clarke, DHA, FHFMA
Eye on Washington
Tax Exempt Status: Additional Scrutiny on the Horizon?
Not-for-profit hospitals should examine their community benefit programs and change them, as necessary, in preparation for increased regulatory scrutiny of provider tax exemption.
Chad Mulvany
Leadership
Managing the Transition
The pursuit of comprehensive healthcare reforms—significant changes in how hospitals and health systems do business—will challenge healthcare finance officers and other leaders for some time to come.
Edward J. Giniat
Capital Finance
Navigating the Interest Rate Landscape Without a Compass
Purchasing an interest-rate cap could help organizations mitigate their risk with future financings.
Mark Audigier
Data Trends
Hospitals Continue Financial Recovery
Hospital financial data through the second quarter of 2009 indicate that hospitals are beginning a financial recovery through improved margins.
Etcetera
Member Spotlight: From the Top of Crystal Mountain
Book Shelf: A Failure of Capitalism
From the Headlines: Poll: Most Retirees Believe Healthcare Reform Will Affect Them Financially