Hospitals need federal support to handle the ongoing staffing and financial crunch, industry leaders say
The hospital industry issued its latest plea for additional federal help to mitigate the financial and operational strain of COVID-19, including surging staffing costs.
Cost Effectiveness of Health Report, December 2021
The December HFMA’s Cost Effectiveness of Health Report, sponsored by Kaufman Hall, leads off with the fourth and final report for 2021 in HFMA’s Healthcare 2030 series, focused on the long-term direction of strategic investment for hospitals and health systems. Also included are an article describing a new “employer-friendly” model of center of excellence and a commentary on how the FDA’s accelerated approval process may unintentionally be increasing the nation’s drug expense.
Healthcare M&A update: A quiet 2021 could give way to strategic shifts in 2022
The year 2021 was one of the least busy on record for healthcare mergers and acquisitions, but volume should pick up in 2022.
Healthcare providers face a growing risk of violating debt covenants
COVID-19 has increased the financial strain on healthcare providers that puts them at risk of being noncompliant with lending covenants. They should be taking proactive steps now to avoid or mitigate the potentially severe adverse financial consequence of such an occurrence.
The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers can take effect nationwide, Supreme Court says
The court lifted injunctions that had halted implementation of the COVID-19 vaccine mandate in half the country, leaving hospitals and other affected providers with likely only a few weeks to begin complying.
How avoiding an awkward waiting room conversation can contribute to better health for transgender people
Listen to the podcast. Societal biases in healthcare not only hurt a provider’s reputation but also the bottom line. When patients don’t feel welcome, they won’t come back until they are sicker and more expensive to care for. On this episode of the Voices in Healthcare Finance podcast, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National…
Coverage denials based on medical necessity are far more likely to arise from Medicare FFS rules than from MA plan policies
Coverage rules stemming from Medicare national and local determinations were the most likely cause of claim denials in one Medicare Advantage plan.
HFMA’s new Premium Facilitated Learning courses combine self-directed study with facilitator feedback and time for peer problem solving
Learn more about HFMA’s Premium Facilitated Learning — a new line of courses — that combine self-directed study with expert facilitation in this Q&A with HFMA’s Sue Spear, director of Digital Learning and Todd Nelson, director of Partner Relationships.
Healthcare labor update: Employment data and research findings underscore ongoing challenges
As highlighted in new employment data and new studies, the healthcare labor market continues to constrain hospitals.
Accelerated drug approvals present a mounting challenge to oncologists and raises concerns about cost effectiveness for health system finance leaders
In the past year, Americans have witnessed two extremes of the FDA’s accelerated approval process, exposing both profound strengths and worrisome weaknesses. Finance leaders should keep informed about new drug treatment options, their associated costs and efficacy and whether lower-cost alternatives that have the same efficacy are available so they can engage in meaningful conversations with clinicians about which options truly promote cost effectiveness of health.