Larry McClain

Professionals entrusted with claim denial management are like good ER doctors: they know that time is of the essence.

Under the new rules established in the Affordable Care Act, hospitals and healthcare facilities now have much greater financial exposure to provider licensing violations.

In a panel discussion at the Nashville Health Care Council, one veteran Washington journalist -- along with think-tank analysts and an insurance executive -- predicted that the Supreme Court is likely to uphold all provisions of the Affordable Care Act this spring.

Some healthcare stocks will get hammered in 2012, while others will do quite well, according to industry analysts who spoke to an audience of 600 at the Nashville Health Care Council. But their overall forecast was for modest growth, mirroring the economy as a whole.

Supply chain executives at the recent Premier Breakthroughs conference in Nashville agreed that physicians are getting more involved and enthusiastic about supply chain decisions.

Supply chain executives at the Premier Breakthroughs conference in Nashville agreed that physicians are getting more involved and enthusiastic about supply chain decisions.

In a speech to the Nashville Health Care Council, Marilyn Tavenner, principal deputy administrator and COO of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, highlighted programs that provide a "bridge" to full implementation of healthcare reform in 2014.

Analysts speaking at the Nashville Health Care Council this week said the nation should expect to see more hospital consolidation and more patients in the healthcare system in the future.

Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, feels that as healthcare reform moves forward, improvements in access may come at the expense of cost containment and quality.

Karen Ignagni, president and CEO of America's Health Insurance Plans, says improvements in healthcare access may come at the expense of cost containment and quality as reform moves forward.