April 2021

Cover Story
Healthcare M&A: Are you prepared for the pitfalls?
Leaders of hospitals and health systems whose organizations are embarking on a merger or acquisition should be prepared to avoid the many potential pitfalls associated with such an strategic venture.
Features
Rising risk due to COVID-19 requires a nimble response from health systems
The factors that define risk in healthcare have markedly changed with the pandemic, creating a need for healthcare executives to evaluate and update existing strategies and operations to address emerging areas of risk that previously had not commanded their attention.
Hospitals enjoy greater flexibility in compensating physicians for value-based care
New regulations effective Jan. 19, 2021, afford hospitals, providers of certain ancillary services and accountable care organizations they own significantly greater flexibility to compensate physicians for collaboration on value-based care initiatives.
40% of hospitals reconsidering traditional budgeting amid pandemic: HFMA poll
A n October 2020 HFMA survey, by Strata Decision Technology, found that the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many U.S. hospitals to consider moving from a traditional budgeting process to rolling forecasting, with one in five already having made the move.
Risk contracting: Outlook and success factors for hospitals and health systems
An December 2020 HFMA survey, sponsored by GHX, found high levels of optimism, overall regarding the future of value-based payment.
Implications of the HFMA-GHX study of risk-based contracting
In this article discussing implications of the findings of a December 2020 HFMA study, sponsored by GHX, healthcare leaders share their perspectives on key factors contributing to their organizations' success under value-based contracts.
Columns
'Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans?'
HFMA Chair Mike Allen says if we take anything away from how the COVID-19 pandemic has kept us from seeing people and doing things we enjoy, it’s to truly appreciate and savor these precious moments in our lives.
U.S. faces a challenging road to recovery after COVID-19
President Biden faces an enormous challenge in achieving his promise of distributing the COVID-19 vaccine nationwide and bringing the nation back to economic prosperity. Time will tell if the President can delive on that promise.
How organizations can take a comprehensive approach to DEI initiatives
To achieve substantive change, leaders must ensure diversity, equity and inclusion are pillars of organizational cultures.
Liquidity levels in a COVID world: Why healthcare finance leaders should be paying attention
Amid the COVID-19 crisis, many hospitals and health systems are finding they have excess liquidity levels on hand. As a result, they face a question of whether, and how, the should unwind their excess liquidity positions in favor of a more streamlined cash management process.
Addressing racial disparities in healthcare: It's time now
HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer urges healthcare leaders to recognize and address the connections between healthcare finance and racial disparities.
Departments
3 questions with Katie Gilfillan: Why it's time for the healthcare industry to address cost effectiveness of health
HFMA’s director of professional practice and clinical relationships discusses the importance of the Association’s Cost Effectiveness of Health event.
Metropolitan New York Chapter holds free educational event around personal branding
A plan foiled by COVID-19 became an educational opportunity for the Metropolitan New York Chapter in late 2020.
News briefs: The new COVID-19 relief legislation could result in a big Medicare payment cut
The $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan, which was signed into law March 11, could lead to a significant reduction in Medicare revenues if Congress does not act.
Ronald Kintz retires, takes role teaching at University of Miami
HFMA member Ronald J. Kintz retires and now teaches part-time at the University of Miami; we remember two members who died in 2020. Other members take on new jobs.
HFMA’s formative years: An evolution in chapters
HFMA remembers two of its founding fathers, and the beginning of it's Chapters.
Supplements
Unleashing the power of healthcare workforce data
Find out how one company helps healthcare organizations improve their workforce using a comprehensive assessment program to leverage real-time data and sophisticated analytics for insights on human capital and challenges.
Hospitals can recover all eligible Medicare bad debts by automating the Medicare bad debt review process
One company addresses the challenges of complex rules regulating Medicare bad debt processes and reporting, which makes payment recovery for hospitals difficult.
Healthcare financial teams need accounting software that delivers clear, measurable results to navigate today’s challenges
One company uses its cloud-native financial accounting system to provide acute, ambulatory and post-acute organizations with data to solve their most complex challenges, focus on strategic initiatives, increase efficiency and drive growth.
Financial Analytics Leadership Council members share 5 challenges, responses to pandemic’s financial long haul
Financial leaders discuss how the pandemic has impacted revenue, volume and expenses, which has thus created a need for data and analytics.