David Johnson: Cracks in the foundation, Part 2: Overcoming healthcare’s artificial economics
In normal markets, demand for services at given prices drives supply. Healthcare reverses the equation so demand for services is driven by the supply of healthcare facilities and practitioners, says hfm columnist David Johnson. In this second column in his series examining structural defects of the U.S. healthcare system, Johnson challenges these “artificial economics” and describes how cutting-edge health systems will apply new, more customer-focused economics to become the future market leaders.
Shawn Stack: No Surprises Act is important move toward meaningful consumer transparency
The No Surprises Act, which became effective on Jan. 1 of 2022, will clearly benefit patients, .ut its larger impact is yet to be seen as the industry awaits the release of provisions targeting health plans and payers.
Healthcare News of Note: Many health system boards find they are poorly equipped to institute DEI changes, says survey
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Health system boards are willing to change but slow at implementing DEI measures, international nurses are filling the workforce gap, and youth mental health has suffered during the pandemic.
Medicaid expansion doesn’t appear to bolster finances or operations at critical access hospitals, study finds
Changes in operating margin, staffing ratios and quality metrics didn’t hinge on whether a critical access hospital was in a state that had expanded Medicaid.
Gail Wilensky: Physician payment and SDoH challenges loom large on nation’s path to value
Two primary obstacles stand in the way of the nation's ability to achieve cost-effective health and healthcare delivery: the slow transition to value-based payment by physicians and the need to address social determinants of health.
An epidemiologist discusses how we failed the public when it comes to public health
Dr. Brian Castrucci, an epidemiologist and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, talks with HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer about policies to improve public health, cost effectiveness of health, the future of COVID-19 and the healthcare industry's role in it all.
Rep. Suzan DelBene discusses the Improving Seniors‘ Timely Access to Care Act
HFMA senior editor Nick Hut is joined by Rep. Suzan DelBene to talk about the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act as well as following up on the Value in Health Care Act.
Healthcare provisions in massive legislation could improve care access but also reduce federal funding for some hospitals
In pending legislation, reductions to disproportionate share hospital payments would be used to subsidize commercial insurance for low-income residents of states that haven’t expanded Medicaid.
Healthcare News of Note: 53% of U.S. adults say they prefer in-person healthcare to telehealth visits moving forward, survey says
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: A majority of people prefer in-person healthcare to telehealth visits, patients have trouble grasping information during doctor visits, and Walmart taps an Ochsner exec to lead its healthcare expansion.
Healthcare News of Note: Patients in the U.S. shouldered more than $21B in cancer care costs in 2019
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: U.S. patient cancer care costs totaled $21.09 billion in 2019, healthcare safety scores fell amid the pandemic, and states are leveraging MCO contracts to improve community SDOH.