Healthcare Financial Management articles from January 2003

Healthcare Financial Management archives from January 2003

CMS clamps down on outlier payments. (Updata).(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to prevent excessive Medicare payments)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... On December 3, CMS announced new steps to protect Medicare from excessive outlier payments. The measures are intended to close a loophole in the Medicare payment formula that has allowed some hospitals to collect disproportionately large shares...

SEC proposes tightening public disclosure guidelines. (Updata).(Securities and Exchange Commission promotes new rules for company financial disclosures)
January 1, 2003... The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has proposed two rules for implementing parts of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 aimed at improving company financial disclosures. Section 401 of the act directs "that each annual and quarterly...

Senate clears way for new Department of Homeland Security. (Updata).(Homeland Security Act of 2002 establishes new government department)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... On November 25, President Bush signed the Homeland Security Act, which establishes the Department of Homeland Security. The act is considered the most extensive reorganization of the federal government since the 1940s. The president noted the...

Regulatory relief effort picks up speed. (Updata).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... On November 21, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson's Advisory Committee on Regulatory Reform ended an intense 11-month effort to produce workable recommendations for HHS regulatory reforms. The committee gave the secretary 253 recommendations for...

IRS issues 2003 federal withholding amounts and inflation-adjusted tax items. (Updata).(Internal Revenue Service)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The IRS has released the nearly three dozen tax items that are subject to changes for calendar year 2003 based on inflation. These items range from tax rate tables, standard deductions, and personal exemption amounts to the passenger air...

Bankruptcy of national century casts wide net. (Industry Scan: In the News).(National Century Financial Enterprises Inc.'s bankruptcy filing affects healthcare companies)
January 1, 2003... The November 18 Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing by National Century Financial Enterprises (NCFE) may have far-reaching effects on the for-profit healthcare industry. The November 26, 2002, Wall Street Journal estimates that critical cash flow of...

CIGNA healthcare agrees to settle class-action lawsuit. (Industry Scan: In the News).
January 1, 2003... On November 26, CIGNA HealthCare announced it has agreed to pay physicians and other healthcare providers to resolve a national class-action lawsuit alleging the insurance giant underpaid them by the way it processed claims. The Kaiser v. CIGNA...

HCA awarded $8.8 million in insurance payment case. (Industry Scan: In the News).(in an arbitration decision against Humana Medical Plan Inc.)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... HCA has won an $8.8-million arbitration decision against Humana Medical Plan Inc. of Florida for late payment or nonpayment on 3,300 patient accounts at 16 hospitals in Florida, according to Ed Pozzuoli, a lawyer representing the Nashville,...

SSM health care gets first Baldrige winner. (Industry Scan: In the News).(SSM Health Care System receives Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... SSM Health Care, St. Louis, Mo., recently became the first healthcare provider to win the nation's highest honor for quality achievement, the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award. This award, administered by the U.S. Commerce Department,...

Qualis to study emergency department patient safety. (Industry Scan: In the News).(Qualis Health receives research contract from Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Qualis Health of Seattle, a not-for-profit healthcare quality improvement organization, has been awarded a contract with CMS to conduct a one-year patient safety study focused on emergency department care provided to Medicare beneficiaries. ...

Physicians less likely to provide charity care. (Industry Scan: In the News).(data for charity care, treatment of Medicaid patients, uninsured patients)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The number of physicians providing charity care and treating Medicaid patients declined between 1997 and 2001, according to a new national tracking study recently released by the Center for Studying Health System Change (HSC). The proportion of...

HFMA announces 2003-04 board nominees. (HFMA News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... HFMA has announced the nominees for the 2003-04 National Board of Directors. The nominee for Chairman-Elect for 2003-04 is Joyce A. Zimowski, FHFMA, CPA, vice president, performance improvement, Unity Health System, Rochester, N.Y. Richard...

National Alliance announces board. (HFMA News).(National Alliance for Health Information Technology)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The National Alliance for Health Information Technology (NAHIT) recently appointed its inaugural board of directors. The alliance, of which HFMA is a founding member, works to develop voluntary standards for health information technology to...

HFMA releases labor analysis paper. (HFMA News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Systemic workforce shortages combined with increased demand for healthcare services are creating significant capacity limitations for many providers. To help providers better manage these issues and improve labor management, HFMA has released...

Sign-up begins for HFMA newsletters. (HFMA News).(Managing the Margin and Executive Insights are being launched)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This January, HFMA is launching two monthly newsletters--Managing the Margin and Executive Insights. In addition to feature stories, each issue of the newsletters will include interviews with industry leaders and departments filled with quick...

HFMA provides HIPAA resources. (HFMA News).(Vendor's Role in HIPAA Implementation is a comprehensive document)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... HFMA's Resource Center recently released The Vendor's Role in HIPAA Implementation, a comprehensive document featuring highlights from HFMA seminars, audioteleconferences, e-learning sessions, and resource documents regarding HIPAA. Highlights...

Region 10 hosts spring conference. (HFMA News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The 2003 Spring Region X Conference will be held March 16-18, 2003, at the Monte Carlo Resort & Casino in Las Vegas. Region 10 consists of the following HFMA Chapters: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. ...

Discover what HFMA Wants You to Know! (HFMA News).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This biweekly newsletter provides practical, "use-it-now!" career and professional development insights. The newsletter's in-depth articles often feature substantive excerpts from HFMA's publications and educational programs. Each issue...

Health care: whose issue is it, anyway? (FYI).(Column)
January 1, 2003... "The secretary has a real opportunity here, one we haven't had in 10 years, to substantially improve the way we do things in this country. By providing building blocks for change, we can get some things accomplished that can serve as models for...

Labor shortages spark innovation: an interview with Gerald F. O'Neill. (Executive Insights).(Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center's senior vice president and CFO)(Interview)
January 1, 2003... Labor shortages in both clinical and nonclinical areas are plaguing hospitals and health systems around the country. In Methuen, Massachusetts, Holy Family Hospital and Medical Center is pioneering new ways to fill nursing and other staff...

Evaluating group purchasing organizations. (Focus Area: Business).(Illustration)(Industry Overview)
January 1, 2003... Group purchasing organizations "are at the nerve center of our healthcare system. Because they determine what products are in our hospitals, they directly affect patient health and safety. Because they control more than $34 billion in...

Exploring HIPAA revenue-cycle opportunities. (Focus Area: Patient Financial Services).(Illustration)
January 1, 2003... According to CMS, 550,000 healthcare providers filed for and were granted a one-year HIPAA hardship implementation extension. These extensions require that providers begin testing by April 16, 2003, and complete implementation by October 15,...

Assembling the HIPAA privacy puzzle: the final privacy rule has given providers needed flexibility but also additional obligations.
January 1, 2003... The many versions of the HIPAA privacy rule have been a puzzle for some providers. Now, with less than four months to come into compliance with the final amendments to the privacy rule, healthcare providers should immediately work to put the...

Do you know your business associates? As the April 14 privacy standards compliance deadline approaches, covered entities should make sure their business associate contracts reflect HIPAA's requirements.
January 1, 2003... A bank processes credit-card transactions for your hospital, giving the bank access to certain protected health information (PHI). A hospital hires a consulting firm to review its billing practices. A health plan provides a list of its members...

Case study: an internet answer; providing on-line access to patient billing information can substantially improve receivables performance.(Munson Healthcare's usage of technology)
January 1, 2003... In an age when people frequently use their computers to review bank statements and pay car insurance and utility bills, it may seem like it's only a matter of time before such technological capabilities are fully realized within health care....

Revenue-cycle redesign: honing the details; the healthcare revenue cycle is not about just billing and collections anymore; hospitals require new revenue-cycle processes that focus on the entire patient-flow process.
January 1, 2003... Revenue-cycle management is the hot topic for hospital managers today-the subject of countless seminars and articles, and the current watchword for consultants across the healthcare industry. Yet hospitals that have made the necessary...

Consultant relationships may pose liability risk. (Focus Area: Medicare/Medicaid).(tips to help healthcare providers avoid liability for false claims submitted by consultants)
January 1, 2003... "It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable." Moliere How well do you know your third-p arty consult ant? If you participate in Medicare, Medicaid, or other federal healthcare programs and...

Do your homework on 529 plans. (Personal Finance).(benefits of 529 college savings plans)
January 1, 2003... In 2002, many of us saw our investment returns drop and our taxes go up, with more of the same expected in 2003. The IRS does give a break to those who are saving for a child's college education through a tax-free savings vehicle known as the...

HIPAA claims compliance options as easy as 1-2-3. (Digital Perspectives).(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)
January 1, 2003... Now that you've filed a HIPAA transaction standards compliance plan with HHS and are awaiting implementation of your HIPAA claims solution, you may be wondering what's next. Certainly every provider should have a conscious strategy for...

The #1 Guide to Performance Appraisals: Doing it Right! (Bookshelf).(Book Review)
January 1, 2003... By James E. Neal, Jr Neal Publications, Inc., Perrysburg, Ohio, 2001 154 pages; $9.95 Although The #1 Guide to Performance Appraisals: Doing it Right! is a small book, it contains a great deal of useful information. The first half...

Cutting Costs in the Physician Practice. (Bookshelf).(Book Review)
January 1, 2003... By Alan S. Whiteman, Jerry Hermanson, and Dennis Palkon American Medical Association Press, Chicago, Illinois, 2001 103 pages; $55 (paperback) Cutting Costs in the Physician Practice is a basic guide for physicians and practice...

Calendar.(spring seminars)(Calendar)
January 1, 2003... Calendar Spring 2003 Seminars Level Seminar 3/24-3/27 San Diego, CA Financial...

Decatur General Hospital. (People).(Prince William Hospital appoints Mary Jane Jobe)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Mary Jane Jobe (Virginia Chapter) has joined Prince William Hospital, Manassas, Virginia, as HIPAA compliance project manager. Formerly, she was director of corporate compliance, Decatur General Hospital, Decatur, Alabama.

Summa Health System. (People).(Richard J. Wisniewski appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Richard J. Wisniewski, CPA (Northeast Ohio Chapter), has been appointed senior vice president, finance, CFO, Centre Community Hospital, State College, Pennsylvania. Previously, he was administrative director of finance, Summa Health System,...

Saratoga Care, Inc. (People).(Michael J. Wallner appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Michael J. Wallner, MSHA (Northeastern New York Chapter), has been promoted from manager, budget and decision support to director of decision support and corporate compliance, Saratoga Care, Inc., Saratoga Springs, New York.

Baptist Health Centers, Inc. (People).(Randolph D. Sites appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Randolph D. Sites (Georgia Chapter) has been appointed director of patient financial services, Memorial Health Physician Services Division, Savannah, Georgia. Previously, he was senior director of patient financial services, Baptist Health...

Phoenix Baptist Hospital and Medical Center. (People).(Deborah Bonicelli appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Deborah Bonicelli, CPA (Arizona Chapter), has been appointed director of finance, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center/Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, Arizona. Formerly, she had been CFO, Phoenix Baptist Hospital and Medical Center,...

The McFaul & Lyons Group, LLC. (People).(James K. Edler appointment)
January 1, 2003... James K. Edler, CPA (Metropolitan Philadelphia Chapter), has been appointed CEO, The McFaul & Lyons Group, LLC, Horsham, Pennsylvania. He is a founder of NovaCare, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he formerly was director, regulatory...

Hospital Resource Management. (People).(Valerie A. Rinkle appointment)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Valerie A. Rinkle (Oregon Chapter) has been named revenue cycle director, Asante Health System, Medford, Oregon. Previously, she was executive director, Hospital Resource Management, L.C., Dallas, Texas.

Ernst & Young. (People).(the University of Miami names Dean Cocchi as hospital division director of finance)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Dean Cocchi (Florida Chapter) has been named hospital division director of finance, University of Miami, Miami, Florida. Formerly, he had been manager, health sciences advisory service practice, Ernst & Young, West Palm Beach, Florida.

Western Nephrology. (People).(Western Nephrology names Richard M. Spears as CEO)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Richard M. Spears (Colorado Chapter) has been appointed CEO, Western Nephrology, Wheat Ridge, Colorado. Previously, he was CEO, ProActa Health Partners, Longmont, Colorado.

BKD, LLP. (People).(hires Glenn Grigsby as senior consultant)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Glenn Grigsby (Kentucky Chapter) has joined BKD, LLP, Louisville, Kentucky, as senior consultant. Formerly, he was a staff consultant, Cap Gemini Ernst & Young, Louisville, Kentucky.

MultiCare Health System. (People).(hires Carolyn Walker as senior financial analyst)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Carolyn Walker (Washington/Alaska Chapter) has joined MultiCare Health System, Tacoma, Washington, as senior financial analyst. Previously, she was chargemaster coordinator, Group Health Cooperative, Seattle, Washington.

Genesis Health System. (People).(hires Randall Welch as divisional controller)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Randall Welch, FHFMA (McMahon-Illini Chapter), has been named divisional controller, Genesis Health System, Davenport, Iowa. Previously, he had been vice president and system controller, Memorial Health System, Springfield, Illinois.

University of Illinois. (People).(hires Russell Gardner as contract management system coordinator)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Russell Gardner (First Illinois Chapter) has joined the University of Illinois, Chicago, Illinois, as contract management system coordinator. Formerly, he was director, managed care/corporate compliance, Holland Community Hospital, Holland,...

Tarbell Realtors. (People).(hres Ray Daitch as an associate)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Ray Daitch (Southern California Chapter) has joined Tarbell Realtors, Tustin, California, as an associate. Formerly, he had been vice president, finance, Planned Parenthood, Orange, California.

Lafayette Barr & Associates, Inc. (People).
January 1, 2003... David Lamey (Arizona Chapter) has rejoined Lafayette Barr & Associates, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona, as broker/agent. Formerly, he had been vice president, sales and marketing, WebLien, Inc., Phoenix, Arizona.

Genesis Medical Center. (People).(hires Kay Marsyla)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Kay Marsyla (McMahon-Illini Chapter) has joined Genesis Medical Center, Davenport, Iowa, as manager, financial planning and reimbursement. Previously, she was senior auditor, United Government Services, LLC, Moline, Illinois.

Inova Health System. (People).(promotes Cheryl Somers to patients accounts senior manager)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Cheryl Somers (Virginia Chapter) has been promoted from patient accounts billing manager to patient accounts senior manager, Inova Health System, Falls Church, Virginia.

Maintenance labor rates up 48 percent. (Data Trends).
January 1, 2003... Analysis of the labor rates charged by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) shows that the average increase for combined modalities from 1999 to 2002 was 48 percent (see Exhibit 1). The two modalities showing the greatest increase over the...

CareTech Solutions, Inc. (HFM Product/Service Mart).
January 1, 2003... CareTech Solutions, Inc., the healthcare affiliate of Compuware Corporation, is the leader in healthcare information technology (IT) outsourcing. We are a full-service provider with best-in-class offerings in data, voice, applications and data...

The better way. (HFM Product/Service Mart).
January 1, 2003... We at Incipient understand your challenges. That's why we bring a strong team of highly skilled people to the relationship. Our management has walked in the shoes of the PFS professional. We have a long history of meeting--and exceeding--PFS...

Infinium for healthcare. (HFM Product/Service Mart).
January 1, 2003... The Infinium solution for healthcare includes Web-integrated Human Resources and Payroll, Financial and Materials Management, and Corporate Performance Management. Infinium's solutions are optimized for the IBM eServer iSeries, a proven...

Pioneer Credit Recovery, Inc.--Leader in the collection of accounts receivable. (HFM Product/Service Mart).
January 1, 2003... Located in the heart of Western NY, Pioneer Credit Recovery is a name synonymous with success. Nationally recognized, with over 22 years of experience, we utilize skilled personnel, high-end technology and proven collection programs to remain...

Before you Merge another Hospital. (HFM Book Mart).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Read "Mergers of Teaching Hospitals in Boston, New York, and Northern California," by John Kastor and learn what happened at six of the nation's most respected teaching hospitals-Massachusetts General, Brigham and Women's, New York,...

APC payment manual. (HFM Book Mart).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This manual compares the codes of the two official payment systems for outpatient services: APC's and ASC's. Reg. Price $249.95 HFMA members receive a 15% discount To order or to find out more about this book and other...

APC Pocket Guide 2002. (HFM Book Mart).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... In every facility across the country, Medicare's new outpatient prospective payment system is raising questions about the financial components of APCs. Answer these questions quickly with the APC Pocket Guide. Indexed by Physicians'...

Medicare billing compliance guide. (HFM Book Mart).(subscription service can help keep staff members up-to-date on Medicare hospital billing rules)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This subscription service will help to train and educate your staff on fraud, abuse, and compliance, also keeping them updated on Medicare hospital billing rules. To order or to find out more about this service and other publications, go...

Hospital chargemaster guide 2002. (HFM Book Mart).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This unique and comprehensive resource provides step-by-step guidance for updating and maintaining an accurate hospital charge-master from a coding, billing and reimbursement perspective. Reg. Price $199.95 To order or to find out more...

The value of healthcare IT. (Special Advertising Section).(determining the value of potential investments in healthcare information technology)
January 1, 2003... IT ROI. Some snicker at the juxtaposition of these acronyms, believing their coexistence to be the ultimate in contradiction. Others set their jaw and bear down for a long, tough, but necessary justification process. Nationwide, financial...

CMS proposes amendments to hospice care regulations. (Updata).(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... CMS has proposed revisions to the regulations that govern Medicare's hospice care coverage and payment. The rule also incorporates certain established Medicare hospice policies, currently available only in policy memorandums, that clarify the...

CMS delays physician referral rule compensation requirements. (Updata).(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... CMS has extended to July 7, 2003, the due date for providers to comply with the compensation relationship requirements of the physician referral rule. On January 4, 2001, CMS published in the Federal Register the final rule implementing Stark...

Rate increase proposed for photocopying medical records. (Updata).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The rate for photocopying medical records requested by quality improvement organizations (QIOs) would increase to 1 2 cents per page under a CMS proposed rule published in the November 22 Federal Register. The rate would be a 5-cent...

DOD publishes FY03 updates to TRICARE DRGs. (Updata).(Department of Defense has published updates to the TRICARE DRG-based payment system for fiscal year 2003)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... The Department of Defense (DOD) recently published updates to the TRICARE DRG-based payment system for FY03. The notice includes changes to the DRG classifications and provides the Internet address where the updated rates and weights can be...

PPO demonstration start-up almost on track. (Updata).(Medicare's preferred provider organization (PPO) demonstration project will start on 1/1/03)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... With the exception of six plans, Medicare's preferred provider organization (PPO) demonstration project will start on January 1, 2003, CMS staff announced at the November 13 Health Plan Open Door Forum. The other plans are expected to start...

Nursing home quality initiative goes national. (Updata).(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... On November 12, HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson undertook an initiative to collect and disseminate information about nursing home quality to all states. The national Nursing Home Quality Initiative offers consumers comparative data about the level...

CMS issues billing instructions on noncovered miles for ambulance services. (Updata).(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... CMS published billing instructions to fiscal intermediaries for ambulance services when noncovered miles are traveled during an ambulance trip. Effective April 1, 2003, ambulance providers should stop reporting $1.00 in FL 48 ("Noncovered...

CMS recently informed HFMA that the Medicare psychiatric inpatient prospective payment system. (In Brief).(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services tells the Healthcare Financial Management Association that proposed rule could be published in the Federal Register in April or May 2003)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... CMS recently informed HFMA that the Medicare psychiatric inpatient prospective payment system (PPS) proposed rule is working its way through the rule-clearance process and could be published in the Federal Register in April or May 2003. The...

Growing future leaders of healthcare finance. (Vantage Point).
January 1, 2003... I don't know about you, but I find that I am so involved with the current issues of healthcare financial management that I seldom take time to think seriously about its future. When I do, however, contemplate the future of healthcare financial...

Revenue cycle examined. (Viewpoint).(Healthcare Financial Management Association's Patient Financial Services Task Force examination of issues surrounding the patient financial services profession discussed)
January 1, 2003... In November 2002, the HFMA Board received and approved the report of the Patient Financial Services Task Force. The task force, which was created by 2001-02 National HFMA Chairman Ron Long, FHFMA, examined issues surrounding the patient...

www.iom.edu. (Web Sights).(provides access to information from the Institute of Medicine)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This site provides access to information from the Institute of Medicine, including its reports on patient safety.

www.higpa.org. (Web Sights).(Health Industry Group Purchasing Association web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... This Health Industry Group Purchasing Association web site offers information of interest to healthcare purchasing groups and provider alliances, including a Code of Conduct Principles.

www.ahrq.gov. (Web Sights).(Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality Web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Visitors to this Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality site will be able to access national statistics and trends and selected state statistics about hospital stays.

www.naph.org. (Web Sights).(National Association of Public Hospitals and Health System Web site)(Brief Article)
January 1, 2003... Visitors to the National Association of Public Hospitals and Health System site can access information on current provider payment legislation.