Why a new EHR is often not a financial solution for independent hospitals
In healthcare technology discussions, the electronic health record (EHR) is often positioned as the centerpiece of organizational transformation. For independent and rural hospitals, the reality tends to be far more complicated than for typical implementation conversations focusing predominantly on concerns about clinical integration, interoperability, provider workflow optimization and patient safety.a Impacts of ineffective EHR implementations…
ONC issues proposed technical standards to improve health information sharing
Proposed regulations bring healthcare providers and patients a step closer to gaining access to key health information stored in payer databases. Provisions in a proposed rule published Aug. 5 by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) support a CMS final rule released in 2020 and another issued early this year,…
Hospitals will get only a small bump in Medicare inpatient payments for FY25
Hospital representatives were less than excited about the rate update in Medicare’s FY25 final rule for inpatient care and long-term care hospitals. Published Aug. 1, the rule includes a 2.9% rate increase for acute care hospitals in the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. The increase is derived from a 3.4% hike in the market…
Healthcare organizations increasingly rely on third-party solutions for RCM tasks
While healthcare organizations rely on native EHR functionality for certain revenue cycle management (RCM) tasks, they increasingly look to third-party solutions for others. But what questions should they be asking? Check out key takeaways in this research report.
Healthcare providers face Medicare payment-rate penalties for information blocking under new rule
Healthcare providers will receive a lower Medicare payment update if they are deemed to have engaged in information blocking, according to a final rule from HHS and CMS. For hospitals, a violation will leave the organization noncompliant with the Promoting Interoperability Program, meaning it would lose out on three-quarters of the annual market-basket update for…
How digital patient engagement solutions can help healthcare organizations improve their existing revenue cycle
This roundtable features various healthcare professionals who breakdown what digital patient engagement solutions are being implemented and how this not only empowers patients, but also helps organizations looking to improve their existing revenue cycle.
Improving financial performance using clinical supply chain technology
In this HFMA Executive Roundtable, six healthcare financial executives reflect on the biggest clinical supply chain challenges their organization faces and discuss what metrics are most critical to evaluating success and a return on investment (ROI) with clinical supply chain technologies.
New regulations are projected to bring providers a measure of relief from prior authorization headaches
Hospitals and other healthcare providers hailed a newly published final rule designed to improve prior authorization and the electronic exchange of health information. The Interoperability and Prior Authorization rule sets requirements for Medicare Advantage (MA) health plans, state Medicaid and CHIP programs, and Medicaid managed care organizations, all of which starting in 2026 must send…
The state of U.S. primary care: How new ways of thinking can spur meaningful improvement
As healthcare stakeholders consider ways to fortify the nation’s primary care system, industry leaders recommend emphasizing several strategies and components — and not waiting to act. “We’re close to midnight in many respects in thinking about how to urgently preserve and expand primary care in America,” Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of America’s Physician Groups…
Proposed rule sets Medicare penalties for providers that commit information-blocking infractions
Hospitals and other healthcare providers would face penalties for knowingly engaging in information blocking, with the sanctions affecting their Medicare reimbursement, according to a proposed rule from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and CMS. Published at the beginning of November, the rule implements some terms of the 21st Century Cures Act,…