Healthcare News of Note: Is a public health crisis looming for the generation born during the pandemic?
Infants born during the pandemic, regardless of maternal SARS-CoV-2 status, scored significantly lower on the gross motor, fine motor and personal-social subdomains of the Ages & Stages Questionnaire, 3rd Edition when compared with a cohort born pre-pandemic at one hospital. Opioids were prescribed at discharge during fewer emergency department (ED) visits in 2019-20, compared with…
OIG describes how hospitals can use NPs to treat patients without violating the Anti-Kickback Statute
An advisory opinion from the HHS Office of Inspector General (OIG) appears to give hospitals leeway to expand their use of nurse practitioners in specific situations without violating the Anti-Kickback Statute. OIG issued the opinion in December in response to an inquiry from an unnamed acute care hospital. The hospital was seeking clarification on whether…
How healthcare providers can break down barriers to effective data governance
Promoting improved data governance in the hospital and health system sector has become a just cause of sorts for Randy Albert, who serves as vice president of finance – operations and analytics at Maine-based Northern Light Health and is a member of HFMA’s Northern New England Chapter. “This is a topic that I’m incredibly passionate…
Susan Dentzer: How to design a national strategy to end the healthcare workforce crisis
Signs that the United States is in the midst of a healthcare workforce crisis are everywhere: More than 7,000 nurses returned to work in January at two major New York hospitals, having won commitments for higher staffing levels in settling a three-day strike. Physician groups, including many from America’s Physician Groups, report steep hurdles and…
Healthcare News of Note: Nurses, doctors and pharmacists rank highest in Gallup’s latest ethics poll
Although nurses, medical doctors and pharmacists recently garnered the highest ethics rankings among 18 professions in a consumer poll, each group’s ratings have fallen over the past two years. There are now at least 15 private-equity-backed management companies that own orthopedic practices across the country. A substantial reduction in the odds of 30-day use of…
International member spotlight: Syed Mairajuddin Shah leveraged healthcare finance skills to enhance his operational leadership
Syed Mairajuddin Shah, MBBS, MCPS, MBA, CHFP, recently spoke with Betty Hintch, HFMA project manager and international enewsletter editor, about his work in healthcare quality and how he is using his recently attained HFMA certifications to further his goals. Shah is chief operating officer for the four secondary hospitals at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi,…
2023 Change and Strategy Research Report
HFMA, with sponsorship from Guidehouse, surveyed 182 health system CFOs, CEOs, and other executives to understand how staffing and patient volumes are expected to change in 2023, and how various market factors may be influencing strategy and goals.
Healthcare News of Note: How to prevent pediatric mental health revisits
A new study provides a better understanding of the trends and factors associated with an increase in pediatric mental health ED revisits. Black and brown skin tones are underrepresented in medical training and textbooks, which can lead to missed diagnoses and inequities in care. Dermatologists are doing what they can to address the issue. A…
Labor costs and other concerns dampen the outlook for not-for-profit hospitals this year
Insights from a leading credit-rating agency illustrate the scope of the financial challenges facing not-for-profit hospitals in 2023.
Healthcare News of Note: What healthcare sector innovations are consumers most excited about?
Some 48% of healthcare consumers surveyed said improved insight into how much care would cost was the No. 1 item they were excited about when it came to innovation in healthcare. Employers can expect an increase of more than 20,000% in adolescent mental health telehealth costs, according to a study showing telehealth appointments cost an…