Cost of Care

Healthcare pricing update: 2 experts call for greater regulation

Recent price increases have been slower in healthcare than in the economy at large, but two healthcare economists say the long-term price trends should be addressed through regulation.

Nick Hut March 12, 2022

Latest hospital financial and jobs data reflect an environment that remains challenging

January financial data for hospitals show the continuing toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, while February labor numbers suggest an operational recovery that could further increase expenses.

Nick Hut March 9, 2022

Healthcare News of Note: Americans living in rural areas face an increased risk of death, in part due to issues with healthcare access, says a new infographic

Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Issues with healthcare access contribute to an increased risk of death for rural residents, many workers struggle to pay for healthcare deductibles, and hospital and physician office markups on certain drugs escalate consumer costs.

Deborah Filipek March 4, 2022

CMS’s overhaul of the Direct Contracting program draws praise from supporters of value-based payment

Value-based payment advocates see reason for optimism in CMS’s recent decision on the future of its Direct Contracting model.

Nick Hut March 4, 2022

News Briefs: Report finds unwillingness to get the COVID-19 vaccine drove healthcare job cuts in January

A roundup of top news for healthcare finance professionals.

Nick Hut March 1, 2022

For some 340B hospitals, the COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unanticipated and unwelcome loss of eligibility

Bringing longer stays and higher rates of deferred care, the COVID-19 pandemic is adversely affecting 340B eligibility for some hospitals.

Nick Hut February 21, 2022

Medicare’s much-hyped Direct Contracting model faces an uncertain future

Medicare’s Direct Contracting model, touted as representing the evolution of alternative payment models, could be shelved less than a year after getting started.

Nick Hut February 16, 2022

Newly released financial data show pandemic-related challenges intensifying for hospitals

Issues with expenses and unstable volumes hindered hospital finances and operations as 2021 drew to a close.

Nick Hut February 4, 2022

Latest healthcare spending data paint a complicated picture of industry challenges and opportunities

Healthcare spending patterns during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic reflect an industry trying to get its bearings amid a public health emergency and daunting long-term trends.

Nick Hut January 31, 2022

A checklist for successful hospital cost reporting in the time of COVID-19

COVID-19 will have long-term impacts on the operations of hospitals, and on their costs in particular., making it imperative that hospitals be mindful of how those impacts extend to their cost report data.

K. Michael Nichols, FHFMA, CPA January 31, 2022
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