A farewell, with reflections on a 50-year career in healthcare finance
This month marks the 50th anniversary of my start in the healthcare industry. In August 1975, I began a job with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Greater New York (now known as Empire Healthcare Services) as a Medicare cost report auditor, a position that impacted the final Medicare reimbursements for every hospital across the…
People: HFMA members step into new CFO roles
Jessica Graham is serving as CFO of Banner – University Medical Center Tucson Banner – University Medical Center Tucson appointed Jessica Graham, MBA, as CFO in May. Graham’s previous appointments include more than six years with Houston-based Memorial Hermann Health System and a 10-month stint as interim vice president and chief business officer with University…
Jill Geisler: Success without hubris — Why the best leaders are confident, not arrogant
Picture this: You’re in a high-stakes situation with lots of tension. It could be in an emergency department, a board room or a boiler room. People must make quick, important decisions. Then one person walks in, and everyone’s anxiety seems to diminish. It’s the leader you respect. All eyes turn to that person, who calmly…
4 areas where a CFO-CIO partnership is a strategic imperative in healthcare
Hospitals and health systems face mounting challenges today in managing IT cost and strategy. While responsibility for guiding their organizations through these challenges invariably falls to the CIO, finance leaders also have a critical role to play in this effort as partners with IT leaders — and often from a position of providing oversight of…
Ahead of national launch, public comments invited for U.S. Healthcare Consumer Vitals Tracker
Our nation’s healthcare system is in serious condition and heading toward critical condition, according to the newly developed U.S. Healthcare Vitals Tracker. Designed to measure and monitor our healthcare system’s affordability and capacity to meet present and future service demands, the Vitals Tracker comprises 25 well-known and internationally accepted metrics under the twin umbrellas of national health…
Ahead of national launch, public comments invited for U.S. Healthcare Consumer Vitals Tracker
Our nation’s healthcare system is in serious condition and heading toward critical condition, according to the newly developed U.S. Healthcare Vitals Tracker. Designed to measure and monitor our healthcare system’s affordability and capacity to meet present and future service demands, the Vitals Tracker comprises 25 well-known and internationally accepted metrics under the twin umbrellas of national health…
Q1 Honor Roll: HFMA certifications were awarded to 3,329 members
HFMA offers 11 certifications for members to validate their expertise and demonstrate their commitment to the profession. The certifications are as follows: Certified Healthcare Financial Professional (CHFP), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR), Certified Revenue Cycle Representative (CRCR) – GCC, Certified Specialist Accounting and Finance (CSAF), Certified Specialist Business Intelligence (CSBI), Certified Specialist Physician Practice Management…
Jill Geisler: Why DOGE’s firing fiascos can create trickle-down distrust
We work hard to create atmospheres where people enjoy coming to work, get feedback that matters, deliver results — and trust their leaders. Trust matters. It’s tough to earn and easy to lose. All it takes is a few bad decisions. That’s why I’ve been appalled at the treatment of federal employees during the DOGE rampages.…
Kiran Batheja: Dynamic leaders never stop reaching higher
Leadership is not about waiting for the perfect opportunity to present itself. Leadership is about jumping in with purpose, stepping up with passion, maximizing the ability to gain knowledge and having the confidence and determination to make a difference. That’s one reason why I’ve chosen “Lead Now” as my theme as HFMA Chair. Now more…
Region 5 chapters surpass student scholarship goal
Four chapters in HFMA’s Region 5 — Florida, Georgia, Tennessee and Alabama — awarded a combined total of 100 scholarships as of early March, following the launch of HFMA’s nationwide student scholarship program in June 2024. Regional executives Bridget Cutchen, associate director, cash applications, with Emory Health in Atlanta, and Candi Powers, chief revenue officer…