Healthcare Finance and Business Strategy

Nov. 6—Hospital mergers and acquisitions (M&A) continued to set an aggressive pace in the third quarter of 2018, according to several tracking firms. However, the rate of deals was not this year’s fastest.

Kent Ritter describes how technology can help provide a better patient experience.

Nov. 5—Medicare pay cuts included in a new payment rule will affect the federal discount drug program and off-campus provider-based departments (PBDs).

Physicians need structured opportunities to offer feedback to organizational leaders. One Missouri hospital has created several forums that give physician leaders regular access to the president and CEO to promote greater collaboration and transparency.

Although many healthcare finance leaders may feel that strategic planning is second nature to them, they can benefit from routinely revisiting the process to learn from the experiences of others and to ensure that are taking all the steps that are necessary for success.

Although access to technology provides a strong draw in merger and acquisition activity, concerns remain regarding culture fit and high valuation multiples. As always, let the buyer beware.

By reallocating investment dollars from real estate to facility development and upgrades, health providers can build value while also reducing financial and administrative burdens.

Alan Nalle describes how to maximize a patient’s lifetime value through a better payment experience.

Consumers have come to expect price transparency in health care, which has greatly increased the strategic and operational importance of providers’ charge master descriptions and other pricing frameworks.

Factors that are driving the increasing use of digital technology in health care include consumer expectations for cost transparency and a new outcomes-based payment and delivery models.