Healthcare Financial Management articles from January 2009

Healthcare Financial Management archives from January 2009

Advocates of healthcare reform to occupy key administration positions.(Healthcare Reform)
January 1, 2009... As the incoming administration of President-elect Barack Obama takes shape, advocates of healthcare reform are slated to occupy key positions. Nominated to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is...

Cutting back.(NEWS WATCH)(small business owners to cut down on employee health insurance costs)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... CUTTING BACK: 36% of small business owners say that rising costs are likely to cause them to cut some portion of health insurance benefits for their employees, according to a survey by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

Insurers pay for surgical procedures abroad.(Medical Tourism)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... It seems as if a trip abroad these days is as likely to include joint replacement surgery as shopping for souvenirs. Your insurance company may now be willing to help foot the bill. Although much medical tourism thus far has been at the...

On Dec. 2, 2008, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed three National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) to establish uniform policies that would prevent Medicare from paying for three preventable errors that have been defined as "never events" by the National Quality Forum (NQF).(CMS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... On Dec. 2, 2008, the Centers for Medicare &, Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed three National Coverage Determinations (NCDs) to establish uniform policies that would prevent Medicare from paying for three preventable errors that have been...

On Nov. 17, 2008, CMS proposed revisions in its policy on bariatric (weight loss) surgery as a treatment for beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes.(CMS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... On Nov. 17, 2008, CMS proposed revisions in its policy on bariatric (weight loss) surgery as a treatment for beneficiaries with type 2 diabetes. The proposed decision notes that type 2 diabetes is one of the comorbidities CMS would consider in...

Money well spent.(NEWS WATCH)
January 1, 2009... MONEY WELL SPENT: Employers save approximately $3 for every $1 spent on wellness programs, according to research from Thomson Reuters.

Recent CMS transmittals of note for healthcare finance professionals include Transmittal 1639.(CMS)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Recent CMS transmittals of note for healthcare finance professionals include Transmittal 1639: Health Professional Shortage Area Bonus Payment Policy Changes (Dec. 1, 2008); Transmittal 56: Update to Medicare Deductible, Coinsurance and Premium...

CMS has published two final rules--one on Nov. 25, 2008, and the second on Dec. 3, 2008--implementing provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006.(Federal Register)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... CMS has published two final rules--one on Nov. 25, 2008, and the second on Dec. 3, 2008--implementing provisions of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005 and the Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006. The final rules provide state Medicaid...

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services published a final rule on Nov. 21, 2008, implementing certain aspects of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005.(Federal Register)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services published a final rule on Nov. 21, 2008, implementing certain aspects of the Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act of 2005. The final rule establishes a framework by which hospitals, doctors,...

Stop the presses!(NEWS WATCH)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... STOP THE PRESSES! Health is the eighth most prominent topic in national news coverage, according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Pew Research Center.

States face Medicaid squeeze, seek federal help.(State Watch)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Declining economic conditions have put many states in a fiscal bind, with more residents seeking Medicaid assistance and fewer tax dollars available to fund the states' share of Medicaid payments. According to information from the Kaiser...

Pennsylvania report documents rapid rise of ambulatory surgery centers.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The number of ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in Pennsylvania continues to grow, and they are claiming most of the growth in outpatient diagnostic and surgical (D&S) procedures performed in the state, according to a new report by the...

CMS published a final rule on Nov. 18, 2008, revising the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system to implement applicable statutory requirements and changes arising from CMS's continuing experience with this system, and to implement a number of changes made by the Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008.(Federal Register)(Medicare Improvement for Patients and Providers Act of 2008)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... CMS published a final rule on Nov. 18, 2008, revising the Medicare hospital outpatient prospective payment system to implement applicable statutory requirements and changes arising from CMS's continuing experience with this system, and to...

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to provide its views on projected trends in healthcare costs and their impact on the long-term outlook on state and local governments in the context of the current economic environment.(GAO)(Report)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The Government Accountability Office (GAO) was asked to provide its views on projected trends in healthcare costs and their impact on the long-term outlook on state and local governments in the context of the current economic environment. In a...

Signs of improvement.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... SIGNS OF IMPROVEMENT: The incidence and death rates for all types of cancer combined are decreasing for both men and women, according to the National Cancer Institute.

Percentage change in medicare physician payment conversion factor: comparison of initial proposed change and final change from 2005 TO 2009.(NEWS WATCH)(Statistical table)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN MEDICARE PHYSICIAN PAYMENT CONVERSION FACTOR: COMPARISON OF INITIAL PROPOSED CHANGE AND FINAL CHANGE FROM 2005 TO 2009 Initial proposed change Final change in in payment conversion payment...

Quality counts.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... QUALITY COUNTS: Cardiac bypass patients treated at hospitals designated for quality Had 26% lower readmission rates and 5% lower total costs, according to a study by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Fitch revises not-for-profit hospital outlook to negative from stable.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Fitch Ratings has revised its outlook on the U.S. not-for-profit hospital sector to negative from stable. The outlook revision reflects Fitch's observation and expectation of material weakening in several areas affecting hospital...

Price and quality information has little effect on healthcare provider choice.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Despite numerous initiatives to encourage people to use healthcare price and quality information, most Americans still rely on word-of-mouth and physician recommendations to choose health providers, according to a national study by the Center...

More than half of U.S. chronically ill adults skip needed care due to costs.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Compared with patients in seven other countries, chronically ill adults in the United States are far more likely to forgo care because of costs; they also experience the highest rates of medical errors, coordination problems, and high...

Enrollment growth in U.S. nursing colleges hits an 8-year low.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... The American Association of Colleges of Nursing has released preliminary survey data showing that enrollment in entry-level baccalaureate nursing programs increased by only a percent from 2007 to 2008. Though this marks the eighth consecutive...

Numbers up in consumer-directed plans, especially for healthy, high-income individuals.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Enrollment in consumer-directed or high-deductible health plans eligible for a tax-preferred savings account increased to 9.8 million adults in 2008, with participants more likely to have higher incomes and be in better health than those with...

Medicaid payment delays deter physician participation.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Although low fees discourage physicians from treating Medicaid patients, payment delays also play an important role in physician decisions to avoid Medicaid patients, according to a study by the Center for Studying Health System Change. The...

The piano man.(Member Spotlight)(Occupation overview)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mick Staebell performs at piano bars, wedding receptions, and other events across the state of Iowa, and has recorded two CDs of his work. Mick Staebell was 7 years old when he discovered he had an unusual...

Survey says: nursing profession gets the most respect.(ETCETERA)(Survey)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Eighty-four percent of Americans ranked nursing as the most well respected profession in an annual Honesty & Ethics of Professions poll conducted by USA Today/Gallup. The survey asked respondents to rate the honesty and ethics of 21 different...

Craving cake? Your genes may be to blame.(Strange, but True)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... If cravings for fatty foods typically outweigh your desire for fruits and veggies, there's a chance your genes may have something to do with your appetite. Researchers in Scotland found that a variation of the gene FTO, linked to obesity,...

Author outlines two-fisted approach to hospitals' financial success.(20 Years Ago Today in hfm)(Cover story)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The cover story of the January 1989 issue of hfm was "Integration of Strategic, Financial Planning Vital to Success," by James C. Folger, then president of Northwest Healthcare Consulting, a Eugene, Ore., firm, and...

Overheard.(ETCETERA)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... "Providing quality, affordable health care for all Americans is one of my top priorities for this country because our long-term fiscal prospects will have a hard time improving as long as sky-rocketing healthcare costs are holding us all down....

Physician-owned specialty hospitals: friend, foe--or (system) failure?(VIEWS)
January 1, 2009... With the predominantly Democratic-controlled Congress and the change in presidential leadership, Congress is expected to consider new limits on physician ownership of specialty hospitals in early 2009. At ANI 2008, the issue was debated between...

Engaged leadership: what is clinical engagement?(making connections)(Conference news)
January 1, 2009... That's the first question I asked when I learned that I had been requested to speak on the topic of "Clinical Engagement: An International Perspective" at HFMA UK's annual conference in London last month. As it turns out, I had a lot to say on...

Lessons from a crying baby: it seemed the crying would never end.(FROM THE EDITOR)(Editorial)
January 1, 2009... Before our oldest was born, my wife and I went through intense and helpful child-birth classes. Unfortunately, they stopped at how to swaddle the infant, leaving my wife and me to find other sources of information about little things like, oh,...

HFMA announces nominees for board leadership.(HFMA NEWS)(Peter DeAngelis, Jr., Debora Kuchka-Craig and Gregory M. Adams appointed as board of directors)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HFMA is pleased to announce that the Association's Board of Directors has selected the following members to stand for nomination to the Board. Chairman-Elect for 2009-10: Debora Kuchka-Craig, FHFMA, vice...

Clarke honored by HFMA-U.K.(HFMA NEWS)(Richard Clarke chief executive officer awarded)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] HFMA President and CEO Richard Clarke, DHA, FHFMA, recently was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by HFMA-U.K. in recognition of his outstanding contributions to HFMA-U.K. and to the healthcare finance community as a...

U.S. health care and the first four months of Obama: now that the new occupant of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue has been decided, it's a good time to take stock of what the new administration will mean to the healthcare industry, and particularly providers.(EYE ON WASHINGTON)
January 1, 2009... Let's take a look at the prospects, for the short term--say, within the first four months after the Obama team is in place--drawing from the president-elect's campaign platform (www.barack obama.com/pdf/issues/HealthCareFullPlan.pdf). If...

Shared sacrifices, shared responsibilities will be key.(HEALTHCARE REFORM)
January 1, 2009... With the election behind us, the Obama team is quickly assembling a team to implement his broad agenda of healthcare reform. Complicating the matter is the deepening economic crisis and burgeoning federal and state budgetary deficits. Most of...

Leonard L. Berry, PhD the Mayo culture of leadership.(Q&A)(Interview)
January 1, 2009... "Great leaders create the future of their organizations. That is a tall order for any company in the 21st century and quite challenging in health care." So say Leonard L. Berry, PhD, and Kent D. Seltman, PhD, in their book Management Lessons...

Recovering FICA tax paid on resident stipends time for a strategic review.(MEDICARE/MEDICAID)
January 1, 2009... In the late 1990s and early 2000s, most teaching hospitals in the United States filed claims with the IRS seeking refunds of Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax paid on medical residents' stipends. The basis for these claims relied...

Implementing electronic health records: 10 factors for success.(TECHNOLOGY)
January 1, 2009... Over the course of the past 20 years, I have been a member of a leadership team that has driven the adoption of electronic health records (EHR) at Partners HealthCare. Substantial progress has been made: * Ten of our 11 hospitals have...

Strategies for reducing bad debt.(HFMA EDUCATIONAL REPORT)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] If the state of affairs in health care is bleak now, then the future does not appear to be any brighter. In 2007, an estimated 25 million people between ages 19 and 64 lacked adequate insurance--a 60 percent increase...

The long view: how the financial downturn will change health care: the last three U.S. economic downturns were relatively kind to health care. This time, the situation looks radically different, but we also may have our best chance to realize fundamental improvements in the nation's healthcare system.
January 1, 2009... In the 25 years from 1980 to 2005, when the U.S. economy faced recessions, each time healthcare investment, spending, and employment growth helped lift the rest of the economy toward recovery. The current economic crisis, however, promises to...

Developing leadership talent in healthcare organizations: there are five key areas in which healthcare organizations can better foster the development of strong leaders among their employees.(FEATURE STORY)(Survey)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things. --Peter F. Drucker, known as the "father of modern management" Healthcare organizations in the 21st century face continuing challenges...

Beyond economics 101: insights into healthcare reform from the Congressional Budget Office: my children used to refer to CBO as the Congressional Boring Office. They have now taken to referring to it as the Congressional Bailout Office.(COMMENTARY)
January 1, 2009... We clearly are in for a period of potentially quite sustained and potentially quite significant economic difficulty that will manifest itself in a variety of ways, including in the budget deficit. In 2007, the budget deficit was $450 billion....

Maximizing nursing productivity: the benefits of improved collaboration between nursing and support services: building a stronger collaboration between nurses and support services personnel can have positive financial and quality implications for hospitals.(FEATURE STORY)
January 1, 2009... Patient care in today's hospital environment transcends the clinical aspects of treating patients to emphasize the total patient experience. This shift requires a new way of thinking not only about the capabilities of the care team, but also...

Target: zero hospital-acquired infections: hospital-acquired infections can attack an organization's bottom line. Here's how to combat the problem.(FEATURE STORY)
January 1, 2009... Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) take a significant toll on the quality of life for affected patients and their families. HAIs affect nearly 2 million patients each year and contribute to nearly l00,000 deaths. And until recently, HAIs...

Getting care levels right from beginning to end: at Presbyterian Hospital in Albuquerque, a new bed management strategy has reduced inappropriate one-day hospitalizations and increased revenue by more than $2 million per year.(CASE STUDY)
January 1, 2009... Every day, hospitals face the challenge of deciding who should be admitted, at what level, and for how long. Moving patients through the care continuum in a timely fashion, according to their clinical needs, has important implications from both...

Start small and build toward business intelligence.
January 1, 2009... Having a good theoretical understanding of business intelligence is all well and good, but what really matters is how you apply it. If you are posed with an important strategic decision, how would you start your response? a. I feel ...

The not-for-profit investment committee in tough times.(HFMA FORUMS TOOLBOX)
January 1, 2009... This checklist may help healthcare organizations assess their relationship with their investment committee in the new economic environment. [] Ensure Diligence of Committee Investment committees should be expected to be particularly...

How not to get fired.(LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... I "live" in the lovely city of Charlotte, N.C. That means I make occasional weekend visits to make sure my house is still standing and to collect the mail. Something I always look forward to receiving is Charlotte Magazine. It's a well...

How to manage the unmanageable: can't do anything about risks associated with your investment program? Not so. There is plenty that healthcare organizations could and should do. But it takes a firm commitment, the nurturing of a risk culture, and an open, collaborative environment.(CAPITAL FINANCE)
January 1, 2009... For the past 18 months, we have been living through an unprecedented period of intense strategic, market, credit, liquidity, and operational risk that has challenged all market participants. From the demise of Bear Stearns to the rescue of...

Calendar.(Calendar)
January 1, 2009... NATIONAL EVENTS June 14-17 In the current economic environment, healthcare HFMA's 2009 finance leaders need to make sound decisions. ANI: The Healthcare And with never-before-seen challenges, Finance Conference...

David R. Bodel.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bodel has been appointed vice president, strategic facilities planning, Carolinas Healthcare System, Charlotte, N.C. Formerly, he was principal, Bodel & Associates, Inc., Chicago.

Joseph Bufano.(PEOPLE)(appointed as vice president of sales at Capio Partners, LLC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bufano has been named vice president of sales, Capio Partners, LLC, Duluth, Ga. Formerly, he was director of marketing and acquisitions, Premium Asset Recovery Corporation, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Matthew Cox.(PEOPLE)(appointed as senior vice president at Vincent Health System)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Cox has been named senior vice president and CFO, St. Vincent Health System, Little Rock, Ark. Formerly, he was vice president and CFO, Holy Rosary Medical Center, Ontario, Ore.

Christopher Giuliano, FHFMA.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Giuliano has been named senior manager, Deloitte Touche, LLP, Jericho, N.Y. Formerly, he was director, PricewaterhouseCoopers, New York.

Brock C. Merrill.(PEOPLE)(Kootenai Medical Center )(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Merrill has been appointed director, business services, Kootenai Medical Center, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. He had been revenue cycle manager, St. John's Hospital, Springfield, III.

Elaine Breakfield, CPC, CPC-H.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Breakfield has been appointed senior reimbursement analyst, CaroMont Healthcare, Gaston Memorial Hospital, Gastonia, N.C. Formerly, she was regional manager, National Healthcare Review, Woodland Hills, Calif.

Kevin Fitch, CHFP, CPA.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Fitch has been appointed director of strategic financial analysis, Advocate Health Care, Oak Brook, Ill. He had been treasury manager, Elmhurst Memorial Healthcare, Elmhurst, Ill.

Heather Heimbeaugh.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Heimbeaugh has been promoted from staff accountant to financial analyst, Lake Regional Health System, Osage Beach, Mo.

Sherry A. Keck, CPAM.(PEOPLE)(Catawaba Valley Medical Center)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Keck has been appointed assistant vice president, PFS Regional Facilities, Carolinas HealthCare System, Charlotte, N.C. She had been director, business services, Catawaba Valley Medical Center, Hickory, N.C.

Scott Krah.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Krah has been named director of banking services, CareMedic Systems, Inc., Decatur, Ga. Previously, he was senior product manager, Fifth Third Bank, Cincinnati.

Gary Lampi, FHFMA.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Lampi has been appointed partner, Tatum, LLC, San Francisco. Previously, he was manager, HFS Consulting, Oakland, Calif.

Barbara Noon, RN.(PEOPLE)(Hritz Noon Associates, LLC)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Noon has joined Ethos Partners Healthcare Management Group, Consulting Division, Atlanta, as principal. She had been founding partner, Hritz Noon Associates, LLC, Healthcare Business Advisors, Atlanta.

John Orsini, CPA.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Orsini has been named corporate vice president of finance, Scripps Health, San Diego. Formerly, he was vice president, financial operations, Catholic Healthcare West, Phoenix.

Gail Scarboro-Hritz, AS, CHFP.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Scarboro-Hritz has joined Ethos Partners Healthcare Management Group, Consulting Division, Atlanta, as principal. Previously, she was managing partner, Hritz Noon Associates, LLC, Healthcare Business Advisors,...

Chad Preston.(PEOPLE)(National Patient Account Services)(Brief article)
January 1, 2009... Preston has joined HCA-National Patient Account Services, Louisville, Ky., as regional sales director. Previously, he was senior business development manager, Premium Asset Recovery Corporation, Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Mark F. Prunoske.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Prunoske has been promoted from director of finance to vice president, finance, Thompson Health, Canandaigua, N.Y.

Jennifer L. Ulrich.(PEOPLE)
January 1, 2009... Ulrich has joined OSF St. Francis Medical Center, Peoria, Ill., as senior financial analyst. Previously, she was senior associate, healthcare audit, KPMG, Peoria.

Happy new year? "I look forward and see no good news." I heard this quote recently from the CFO of a large, successful healthcare system.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)
January 1, 2009... Given the turmoil in the financial markets, a slumping economy, and growing federal and state budget deficits, this level of gloom is not surprising. In this issue of hfm, Keith Moore, Dean Coddington, and Deirdre Byrne predict that this...