Kelsey Brimmer
As women's health issues have been in the spotlight in recent months and as the healthcare law hangs in the balance waiting for a ruling from the U.S. Supreme Court, the Obama administration is in high gear to promote the law's benefits.
Last week, a number of major national hospital organizations, such as the American Hospital Association (AHA), lent their support to the recently updated Statement of Principles and Guidelines on practices that hospitals should follow in regards to billing and collection, which incorporate patient-friendly billing practices.
In a collaborative effort between CEOs and senior executives from 11 leading hospitals and health systems across the country, a comprehensive checklist to promote high-value healthcare at reduced costs has recently been developed.
According to the American Hospital Association's first quarter RACTrac Survey released last month, hospitals continue to report an increase in Medicare recovery audit contractor (RAC) payment denials.
According to a study released Tuesday by the Health Industry Distributors Association (HIDA), hospitals see substantial cost savings and greater employee and time efficiencies by maximizing their spend through a distributor, particularly in the areas of product ordering and receiving.
A new HealthGrades report on patient safety and satisfaction rates in hospitals across the country finds that hospitals with the highest patient ratings for physician and nursing communications on average have had fewer problems with patient safety issues.
Healthcare providers who offer extended payment terms to help patients meet rapidly increasing financial liabilities are exposing their organizations to a series of complex consumer credit compliance obligations due to increased regulations by federal and state agencies.
The stakes are high for the upcoming ICD-10 conversion and the consequences for organizations that don't properly prepare may be severe.
Last week, two U.S. Congressmen from Texas -- Rep. Michael Burgess (R) and Gene Green (D) -- introduced American Hospital Association (AHA)-supported legislation aimed at making healthcare more affordable by promoting healthcare price transparency.
During testimony last week at the Oversight Subcommittee of the House Ways and Means Committee hearing, Irving, Texas-based VHA Inc., said that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Schedule H amendment, which regulates reporting for tax-exempt organizations, has overly burdensome requirements for non-profit hospitals.