Strategic Planning
If global spending becomes the norm in Medicaid, health systems, medical practices, home health and community organizations will face an even greater impetus to collaborate. In the Empire State, some are already starting the journey.
Almost a third of all hospitalizations now treat diabetic patients, and cost more than average. Diabetic admissions may be a problem that regulators, ACOs and providers need to solve for the long-term.
According to a study published this week in Health Affairs, the Great Recession did not have a permanent negative financial impact on vulnerable hospitals, such as safety net facilities, or those considered financially weak prior to the recession. However, this doesn't mean these same hospitals will fare so well in coming years.
Powerful social forces will drive the healthcare industry to innovate, overcoming institutional and political inertia, says healthcare consultant and futurist Ian Morrison. But things may not get 'serious' until 2018.
As the federal government continues to cut reimbursements and private insurers follow suit, many CFOs are having a hard time justifying buying new property to expand services, however, in some cases, it shouldn’t be ruled out.
Although accountable care organizations are still in nascent stages in many areas of the country, a few large provider groups are ahead of the curve, getting into the nuts and bolts of how these alliances should exist, operate and perform, and what they're finding is that there may not be one "right" way to do it.
The latest data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis estimate that spending for healthcare services jumped by about $50 billion in the first quarter of 2014 compared to fourth quarter of 2013. But don't listen to those who say we are on track for a 10 percent rise in health spending over the full year.
Seeking to bring in new skills and perspectives to help improve the experience for customers, several large insurers have recently hired executives from outside the industry.
As patient outcomes become increasingly linked to reimbursement, hospital quality and finance teams must coordinate better than ever before. Deborah Larkin-Carney, vice president of quality at Barnabas Health, shares how quality and finance connect at her health system.
Increased admissions drove revenue gains for Tenet Healthcare Corporation and Community Health Systems in the first quarter of 2014 compared to 2013. Both for-profit hospital firms appear confident midway through Q2.