News Briefs: Federal funding bill addresses hospitals’ 340B eligibility concerns, extends telehealth waivers
A monthly roundup of top news for healthcare finance professionals.
How U.S. healthcare can play a larger role on the world stage
Judy Kuriansky, PhD, a professor of psychology, NGO representative to United Nations and trustee of the United African Congress, shares her insights and experiences from working to improve healthcare equity and access among populations in the world who are “furthest behind,” which is a priority in the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Kuriansky describes recent international efforts aimed at promoting the United Nations 2030 Agenda, and she address ways U.S. health systems could play an important role in such efforts.
Provider Relief Fund update: Second reporting deadline looms as the fund nears depletion
Healthcare organizations that received Provider Relief Fund payments between July 1 and Dec. 31, 2020, have until Thursday, March 31 to report on their use of those funds.
Providers implement automation and explore staffing options to streamline revenue cycle
In this roundtable, finance leaders discuss tactics they’ve used to implement automated tools and extend their workforce to reduce waste in their revenue cycle processes, aiming to improve patient experience and control costs.
MedPAC says 2023 hospital payments shouldn’t increase in response to COVID-19
CMS shouldn’t increase Medicare payments to hospitals for the upcoming year beyond the annual update that is based on current law, according to the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission.
How LifePoint Health revamped its revenue cycle
Executives for the non-urban focused health system wanted to get all of its hospitals using a single revenue cycle management approach.
Federal funding bill addresses 340B eligibility concerns but not some other points of interest for hospitals
An FY22 appropriations bill allows hospitals to remain in the 340B Drug Pricing Program if their eligibility had been adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Revenue Cycle Insights: March 2022
Workforce shortages are affecting revenue cycle functions, and you can learn how executives from Spectrum Health and Stanford Health Care are limiting the damage in the lead story of March's Revenue Cycle Insights.
Understanding the Healthcare Revenue Cycle Process
Revenue cycle management is the process used by healthcare systems to track the revenue from patients, from their initial appointment or encounter with the healthcare system to their final payment of balance. The most effective revenue cycle teams focus on price transparency, supporting equitable access to care, financial conversations with patients, documentation of care received, claim processing, and medical account resolution.
Latest hospital financial and jobs data reflect an environment that remains challenging
January financial data for hospitals show the continuing toll of the COVID-19 pandemic, while February labor numbers suggest an operational recovery that could further increase expenses.