Inside HFMA: HFMA’s small group Executive Councils meet to solve big problems
HFMA Executive Councils are communities of thought leaders who meet regularly to address challenges and network in job-specific groups. They seek HFMA’s support to delve into understanding the current state of the healthcare finance industry and their respective focus areas. and they look to HFMA to provide them with aggregate data that can help them evaluate trends.
Reviewing real-world issues
At a recent Government Reimbursement Executive Council meeting, council members examined an allied health-funding review compiled by HFMA. The findings revealed a trend toward disallowed payments from certain government sources, as well as increased program audits. Members agreed that outreach to congressional representatives and hospital associations is a productive next step to address this challenge.
At a recent Revenue Cycle Executive Council meeting, members participated in a roundtable on financial assistance policies. Discussion among in-person and virtual attendees revealed a variety of policies for charity-care eligibility, uninsured and underinsured discounts and prompt-pay discounts.
Participants also learned about benchmarks to use as they review their organizations’ policies. ultimately, the group decided that a follow-up survey by HFMA showing policy trends would help in financial assistance policy development.
Highlighting leadership capabilities
HFMA’s executive councils offer members a way to share their challenges and successes openly in a safe and private group dialogue. This format allows for many voices to contribute, leading to potential solutions, as well as highlighting the leadership capabilities of each member.
“[HFMA Executive Councils are] a great place to have open, honest dialogue about developing issues and common concerns and to exchange perspectives without fear of judgment,” said Lee Sonne, controller, CHRISTUS health, and a member of HFMA’s Large System Controller Council.
For more information
Email Marjorie Clare at [email protected] or visit HFMA’s Executive Councils membership page for more information.
The ins and outs of Executive Councils
HFMA’s Executive Councils operate seamlessly. Here is how it’s done. Meeting topics and format are planned with council member input and often feature free-form roundtable discussions, organizational overviews and regulatory updates. Each council’s steering committee meets regularly to develop meeting agendas.
Roles represented within the Executive Councils include controllers, CFOs and finance leaders, plus professionals in revenue integrity, government reimbursement and revenue cycle in hospitals, health systems and academic medical centers.
Most councils meet in person two times per year and hold online web discussions between live meetings. To facilitate ongoing discussion, each has a private group in the HFMA online Community where members can post questions, comments and resources throughout the year.
