Hospital financial performance strained by payer mix and rising costs
Hospital financial performance remained uneven in the second quarter as policy changes and broader economic pressures affected the not-for-profit (NFP) and for-profit segments. In the NFP sector, median health system operating margin ticked upward to 0.4% year-to-date (YTD) through May, according to monthly data from Strata Decision Technology. But the metric wasn’t quite as steady…
Accounting and Financial Reporting
2 new studies illustrate the burden of healthcare costs in the pandemic era
An annual report by CMS actuaries quantified the extent to which healthcare costs accelerated during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, while a separate survey looked at affordability.
Current financial reporting practices inhibit healthcare policymaking, researchers say
Creation of a national database with information from health systems’ audited financial statements would give policymakers a better sense of how to respond to financial trends, according to researchers.
PwC report anticipates a 6.5% increase in healthcare costs in 2022, roughly in line with recent years
As the healthcare industry emerges from the COVID-19 pandemic, annual costs are expected to increase by slightly more than they did in recent pre-pandemic years.
GAO report examines how pass-through status affects Medicare payments for drugs used in outpatient care
A Government Accountability Office report finds that Medicare pays more to cover drugs used in hospital outpatient settings when pass-through payment status is in effect.
Possible compromise in hospital price disclosure fight
While the Trump administration prevailed in the first round of the lawsuit challenging its price transparency policy, the American Hospital Association has indicated it will appeal the ruling.
U.S. District judge hears CMS price transparency lawsuit opening arguments
The May 7 hearing regarding CMS's controversial price transparency policy is likely the opening act in what may be a long series of appeals to the lawsuit filed against the Trump administration.
COVID-19 outbreak will negatively impact U.S. hospital finances
The coronavirus outbreak could have a negative impact on hospital finances even with anticipated regulatory and legislative support.
New report: Patients and insurance companies in the United States pay higher prices for almost everything healthcare-related
Healthcare providers are likely to experience increased scrutiny and pressure to lower healthcare costs in 2020. To help its members successfully navigate this new environment, HFMA is hosting its first Financial Sustainability Summit April 16-17 in Denver (hfma.org/events).