HFMA strategy session highlights challenges and opportunities for healthcare finance leaders: payer relations, supply costs, AI and more
The legacy healthcare provider’s position in the industry could grow tenuous if leaders don’t respond boldly and strategically to ongoing trends, according to insights recently presented to HFMA leaders. “We’re at a crossroads right now,” Ashraf Shehata, principal and U.S. national sector leader for healthcare and life sciences with KPMG, said in November during a…
An extended year-end policy update with Nick Hut and Shawn Stack
HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the most pressing end-of-year issues for 2023.
New data on national healthcare spending highlights the constraints facing hospitals
Recently published 2022 data indicates relatively restrained national healthcare spending as the COVID-19 pandemic faded, especially in the hospital sector. The increase in spending on hospital services slowed from 4.5% in 2021 to 2.2% in 2022, CMS actuaries reported Dec. 13 in Health Affairs. The increase was significantly less than in 2020 (6.2%) and the…
Deploying EPM in the cloud: 6 steps that drive value
Cloud-based enterprise performance management (EPM) offers tremendous potential for health systems, but the ability to drive value depends on a thoughtful approach that puts as little pressure as possible on existing resources, both technological and human.
AI-powered coding automation: The state of the art and future direction
This roundtable discussion conducted at HFMA’s 2023 Annual Conference in Nashville, Tennessee sought to understand both the opportunities and challenges that AI-powered coding automation poses for healthcare organizations.
RemitConnect® helps healthcare organizations automate manual posting and reconciliation processes
This HFMA Peer Review Spotlight explores the benefits of CommerceHealthcare's RemitConnect solution in complementing a healthcare organization's existing patient accounting or practice management system.
Research Summary: 2024 Digital & IT Investment Trends
HFMA, with sponsorship from Guidehouse, surveyed 144 healthcare executives to understand their digital and IT investment priorities going into 2024. The survey found that 85% expected their organization’s digital and technology budget to increase in 2024. The top three priorities for investment included: cybersecurity infrastructure, EHR integration and modernization, and digital front door or virtual…
Healthcare News of Note: CDC says healthcare workers’ mental health depends on positive working conditions
Over the past few weeks, I have found these industry news stories that should be of interest to healthcare finance professionals. 1. Positive working conditions represent the No. 1 thing healthcare organizations can provide to boost employee mental health Providing “positive working conditions” is the main thing healthcare organizations can do to help lessen burnout…
Healthcare Blame Game: Bigger may prove to be better in healthcare, despite critics’ take
Brad talks with Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of America’s Physician Groups, about why healthcare consolidation is more nuanced than critics understand.
How healthcare organizations are tackling workforce issues in real time
Check out what a group of healthcare finance professionals said regarding workforce management issues including costs, candidate quality, contracting agencies and other issues that can impact a healthcare organization’s profitability in this roundtable discussion.