Accounting & Financial Management
Following an "industrial model of care," New York's Westmed Medical Group analyzes data from more than 2,200 processes and procedures to drive accountability and results. This has led to 15-fold growth and $285 million in annual revenue.
The Texas hospital that wrongfully discharged now deceased Ebola patient Thomas Eric Duncan is already experiencing financial repercussions from the clinical slip-ups associated with the deadly virus.
Like healthcare facilities across the country, Louisiana's hospitals must confront formidable financial challenges as care delivery models evolve and reimbursement mechanisms change.
The hospital merger wave may have slowed down a bit, but for health systems facing financial challenges and looking to evolve clinically, it's still an option for consideration.
Flexing its anti-kickback muscles, the federal government is clamping down hard on some profit-focused patient referral and healthcare joint venture practices.
Commercial insurers inaccurately process about 20 percent of claims filed by medical practices. It's an industry standard that has weathered the test of time -- though not in a good way.
Significant inpatient pricing variation between hospitals in the state of Washington is "putting some consumers at financial risk," according to a recent study by the Washington Health Alliance. But the state's hospitals are questioning the report's conclusions, claiming that price variation should not be surprising.
Variations on traditional group health insurance via insurer-administered self-funding remain the norm for many large employers. But some health systems are considering alternatives in the face of high costs, new regulations and demand for more choice.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recent 10-year projection of national health expenditures includes retail spending on prescription drugs, but a more complete picture of pharma spending would include the nonretail segment.
With an improving fiscal climate, some states are paying their Medicaid providers more. More states are increasing fees to specialists, nursing homes and managed care organizations, but 31 states were cutting or freezing Medicaid hospital rates, compared to 19 that were increasing them.