Oct. 6, 2025: The healthcare impacts of a federal government shutdown
HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.
Uncertainties around payment rules cloud Medicare’s future
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), passed by Congress and signed into law by President Donald Trump on July 4, 2025, clearly will have profound effects on the nation’s healthcare system. But how much the legislation will affect Medicare remains to be seen. Its proponents can legitimately assert that, consistent with the President’s stated…
Susan Dentzer: Why more prior authorization in traditional Medicare is a no-brainer
The word accountable in accountable care organization (ACO) means being vigilant in monitoring healthcare’s costs and quality. And lately, many ACOs participating in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) have been vigilant in spades. First, some ACOs tipped CMS off about a $2 billion urinary catheter fraud when that spending hit their bottom lines in…
FY ’26 budget proposals, Medicare cuts and more
HFMA’s Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.
Rethinking rev cycle, plus the 2026 Medicare proposed rule on physician fee schedule
Mayank Pant from IKS Health talks about why healthcare organizations haven’t been able to overcome longstanding challenges, and Nick Hut talks with HFMA Policy Director Katie Gilfillan about the 2026 Medicare Proposed Rule on physician fee schedule.
Why this year’s OPPS rule could have a big impact
Nick Hut and Shawn Stack talk about the 2026 Medicare proposed rule for the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and why it could have a more significant impact on hospitals than rules from previous years. Also in this episode, Aneal Gadgil from Abridge discusses clinical documentation and coding.
James Mathews: Why the future of U.S. healthcare depends on Medicare and CMS
As the Medicare program approaches beneficiary age, it is worth taking stock of current and near-term events in Washington that will have potentially profound implications for the program’s future. In particular, it is important to acknowledge CMS’s pivotal role as the agent of the positive changes in ensuring Medicare’s continual service to the elderly and…
Dr. Oz and CMS, plus HFMA’s new Fast Finance newsletter
Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the confirmation hearing of Mehmet Oz as CMS administrator. Also in this episode, HFMA’s Brad Dennison and Rich Daly talk about the new Fast Finance newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter, email Brad Dennison at bdennison@hfma.org.
As RFK Jr. prepares to take on HHS, where is he likely to have the greatest impact?
The Senate will vote this week on whether Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Nick Hut discusses what he plans to do in the role and where he’s likely to have the greatest influence on the industry.
Election preview, a new Medicare appeals process and the two-midnight rule
Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news including pre-election thoughts, a new Medicare appeals process and application of the two-midnight rule.