Cost Effectiveness of Health Archives

Improved access and quality of care are keys to solving the nation’s mental illness crisis

If we are to meaningfully address our nation’s crisis in mental health, we need to start by treating mental illness the same way we treat physical ailments, says Thomas Young, MD, a Board-certified physician and long-time vocal advocate for improving mental health in the United States.

How healthcare organizations can take the lead in the nation’s quest to improve health equity

Improving health equity in the United States is a challenge that is beyond the ability of the healthcare to meet on its own. But many of the ways our healthcare system currently operates exacerbate health inequity — and that is a problem we can cure.

Leveraging APPs is key to improving a health system’s provider enterprise

Although physicians have historically constituted the vast majority of a health system’s providers, advanced practice providers (APPs) are growing in number and importance throughout healthcare, to the point that what traditionally has been referred to as a health system's physician enterprise is now more aptly called its provider enterprise.

Effective healthcare finance leaders understand more than just finance

Laurence Appel, CPA, FHFMA, and the CFO of University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System — and a 37-year member of HFMA — says it is important for finance leaders to be well-versed in the clinical aspects of the business and its responsibility to meet the community’s healthcare and social needs.

Information is key to improving health of Americans while reducing healthcare costs

U.S. hospitals, and the healthcare industry overall, must learn to apply data more proactively if we are to begin to make meaningfully progress toward addressing the financial and social challenges besetting our healthcare system, says Daniel Marino, managing partner of Lumina Health Partners.

Why treating chronic diseases may be costing us more than we think

Healthcare providers should revisit short-sighted care protocols for patients with nonconventional chronic conditions; as they stand, the protocols may save costs initially but ultimately lead to poorer outcomes and greater costs.

Covenant challenges signal need for healthcare providers to chart a path to sustainability

The possibility that an organization might breach debt covenants is a symptom of deeper problems that require an all-hands-on-deck approach within the organization to get back on a sustainable path.

Hospital success requires a CEoH focus says 27-year HFMA member

Erik Thorsen, CPA, MBA, a 27-year member of HFMA, says successful leadership in healthcare finance requires a focus on the CEoH “triple aim” of patient access, equity and social determinants of health.