With a new rule, CMS looks to crack down on states’ Medicaid disenrollment processes
In its latest effort to stem the ongoing wave of Medicaid disenrollments, CMS issued regulations describing its authority to penalize states for disregarding federal guidelines pertaining to the end of continuous-enrollment requirements. Published Dec. 6 in an interim final rule with comment period, the regulations took effect immediately and were based on provisions passed by…
As anticipated, the start of the Medicaid unwinding process has taken a toll on coverage
Fears among healthcare policymakers that the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency would sow chaos in Medicaid have been realized, leading the Biden administration to intensify its mitigation efforts. The end of Medicaid continuous-enrollment provisions is affecting the program in many states. In 21 states that had begun the “unwinding” process since April 1,…
How Augusta University Medical Center Transformed Patient Access, Improved Patient Experience and Increased Cash Collections to $9M
Augusta University Medical Center (AUMC) was leaving millions on the table and writing off bad debt by not prioritizing pre-service and point-of-service payment discussions. Download the case study to learn how adopting technology to produce accurate cost estimates, and establishing new trainings, protocols and accountability measures around payment collections, helped AUMC transform patient access, enhance…
Report quantifies the financial impact of certain health plan business practices on providers
As hospitals seek to regain their financial footing coming out of the pandemic, they may find themselves stymied by commercial payer policies, according to a new report. “It’s true that commercial payers might generate more net revenue than public payers on a per-case basis,” Crowe states in a report it recently published. “But at what…
Healthcare Blame Game, the podcast: First episode is here!
The much-anticipated pilot episode of the “Healthcare Blame Game” podcast is now live and available to HFMA members. In this episode, HFMA Chief Content Executive Brad Dennison and Executive Producer Erika Grotto question the methodology and narrative of a recent Kaiser Health News investigation.
Here comes the Medicaid unwinding: The healthcare industry braces for coverage disruptions
A potentially tumultuous period for revenue cycle teams in particular and the U.S. healthcare system in general begins April 1, with the phasing out of a three-year run of Medicaid continuous enrollment. The so-called Medicaid “unwinding” originally was connected to end of the COVID-19 public health emergency (PHE), which is scheduled for May 11. But…
Monument Health revamps its revenue cycle leadership structure for the benefit of patients and the organization
Looking to break through the cultural silos that can hamper operations at hospitals and health systems, Monument Health has engineered a new brand of clinical-finance collaboration. Headquartered in Rapid City, South Dakota, the community-based health system established a dyad leadership structure in which a clinical leader has joint oversight of the revenue cycle. It’s a…
Professional Credit eases the collections process for both staff and healthcare consumers
Debt collections are often the last communication touch point a patient has, and health systems should ensure their business partner is representing the organization in the best possible manner. See how one company eases the collections process for staff and consumers.
Hospitals have options for effectively managing complicated reimbursements
How can health systems and patients both win when it comes to payment? Read this article to learn how hospitals can maximize collections and get paid for provided services on top of how patients can identify source of payment that is not out of pocket.
Healthcare News of Note: The Walmart Healthcare Research Institute could bring more diversity to medical research
Healthcare News of Note for healthcare finance professionals is a roundup of recent news articles: Walmart launches a new healthcare research institute, people with more chronic disease are more likely to suffer adverse financial outcomes, and one-third of Black Californians say they have experienced racism by a healthcare provider.