Healthcare Financial Management articles from October 2008

Healthcare Financial Management archives from October 2008

Health centers: serving the neediest with cost-effective care.(Healthcare Access)
October 1, 2008... For more than 40 years, health centers have been providing care to the nation's neediest patients. A critical component of every state's Medicaid program, they serve populations with limited access to health care: low income populations, the...

Play--or pay up.(NEWS WATCH)(health aspects of executives)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... PLAY--OR PAY UP: When asked whether employees exhibiting unhealthy behaviors should pay a larger share of their health costs, 48% of company executives at least somewhat agreed, according to the PricewaterhouseCoopers report Take Care of...

Employers concerned about healthcare reform proposals of both presidential candidates: survey.(NEWS WATCH)
October 1, 2008... Regardless of their personal political affiliation, corporate benefit professionals expressed concerns with both presidential candidates' healthcare proposals, according to a survey conducted in July and August by Miller & Chevalier Chartered...

... On July 15, 2008, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 was enacted.(CMS)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... ... On July 15, 2008, the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 was enacted. As a result of this legislation, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is prohibited from imposing federal upper limits (FULs)...

... Medicare issued a national coverage determination (NCD) on May 1, 2008, that establishes limited coverage for artificial hearts under coverage with evidence development (CED).(CMS)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... ... Medicare issued a national coverage determination (NCD) on May 1, 2008, that establishes limited coverage for artificial hearts under coverage with evidence development (CED). Prior to May 1, 2008, the use of artificial hearts was not...

Pharmacists on the ball.(NEWS WATCH)(85% of pharmacies ready to receive electronic prescriptions)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... PHARMACISTS ON THE BALL: As much as 85% of pharmacies are ready to receive electronic prescriptions-yet only about 15% of providers regularly e-prescribe, says the State Alliance for e-Health statement on electronic prescribing.

Massachusetts' proposed rule could lead to federal lawsuit, partners healthcare warns.(State Watch)(health insurance of workers)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Massachusetts' largest private employer, Partner's HealthCare, has warned that the state could face a federal lawsuit if it implements a proposed rule to increase some companies" contributions to their workers' health coverage. Partners, a...

... The Medicare manual has been updated to include specific instructions regarding discarded self-administered erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) for Method I home dialysis patients.(CMS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... ... The Medicare manual has been updated to include specific instructions regarding discarded self-administered erythropoietin stimulating agents (ESAs) for Method I home dialysis patients. Multiuse vials are generally not subject to payment...

Nothin' but 'net.(NEWS WATCH)(38 % of Americans 62 and older use internet to get health-related information)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... NOTHIN' BUT 'NET: Almost 38 % of Americans 62 and older are using the Internet; of those 38% are using it to get health-related information, according to AARP The Magazine

California legislature approves FY09 state budget, restores some health cuts.(NEWS WATCH)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Finally ending California's 75-day budget impasse--the longest in state history--the California legislature on Sept. 16 approved a FY09 state budget plan that restores some previously proposed cuts to health care and other programs. Beyond...

... By means of a proposed rule (Federal Register, Aug. 22, 2008), CMS would modify two of the medical data code set standards adopted in the "transactions and code sets" final rule published in the Federal Register.(FEDERAL REGISTER)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... ... By means of a proposed rule (Federal Register, Aug. 22, 2008), CMS would modify two of the medical data code set standards adopted in the "transactions and code sets" final rule published in the Federal Register. It would also implement...

... A new proposed rule (Federal Register, Aug. 22, 2008) would adopt updated versions of the standards for electronic transactions originally adopted in the regulations entitled "Health Insurance Reform: Standards for Electronic Transactions," published in the Federal Register on Aug. 17, 2000, which implemented some of the requirements of the Administrative Simplification subtitle of HIPAA.(FEDERAL REGISTER)(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... ... A new proposed rule (Federal Register, Aug. 22, 2008) would adopt updated versions of the standards for electronic transactions originally adopted in the regulations entitled "Health Insurance Reform: Standards for Electronic Transactions,"...

This is in a country with 47 million uninsured?(NEWS WATCH)(Report)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... THIS IS IN A COUNTRY WITH 47 MILLION UNINSURED?: Though high-risk insurance pools have existed for more than 30 years, they cover only 207,000 people, according to the National Association of State Comprehensive Health Insurance Plans.

... The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule (Federal Register, Sept. 15, 2008) providing that employees and former employees of HHS may not testify as part of their official duties in litigation where the United States or a federal agency is not a party, without the approval of the head of the agency.(FEDERAL REGISTER)(Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... ... The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has issued a final rule (Federal Register, Sept. 15, 2008) providing that employees and former employees of HHS may not testify as part of their official duties in litigation where the...

Where have all the (primary care) doctors gone?(NEWS WATCH)(Survey)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... WHERE HAVE ALL THE (PRIMARY CARE) DOCTORS GONE? About 3% of Medicare beneficiaries--more than 1 million people--have difficulty finding a new primary care physician, according to the September 2008 AARP Bulletin.

Number of uninsured down, says new census bureau report.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Report)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The number of people in the United States without health insurance coverage declined from 47 million (15.8 percent) in 2006 to 45.7 million (15.3 percent) in 2007. according to a report released Aug. 26 by the U.S. Census Bureau. As Karen...

IRS issues new Form 990 instructions, streamlines application process.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Internal Revenue Service)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The IRS on Aug. 19 released the long-awaited revised instructions that tax-exempt organizations will need to fill out the redesigned Form 990. which must be filed starting with tax year 2008 (filed in 2009). The revised instructions feature...

Extra payments to MA plans may total $8.5 billion in 2008.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Medicare Advantage )(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Extra payments to private Medicare Advantage (MA) plans have been estimated to amount to $986 over fee-for service costs for each of about 8.7 million Medicare beneficiaries enrolled in MA plans, for a total of more than $8.5 billion in 2008,...

59 percent of companies to increase workers' deductibles: survey.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Survey)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... More than half (59 percent) of U.S. businesses in 2009 intend to increase employees' deductibles, copayments, or out of pocket spending limits, according to preliminary data of a national survey released Sept. 4 by Mercer.

Not-for-profit healthcare outlook stable, but pressures are up: Moody's.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)
October 1, 2008... Most rated not for-profit hospitals and health systems continue to show resiliency in financial performance, with rating downgrades to upgrades nearly equal through the first six months of 2008, according to the most recent industry outlook...

HHS proposes adoption of ICD-10 code sets.(Quick Hits: Top News Stories of the Month)(Department of Health and Human Services)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... The Department of Health and Human Services on Aug. 15 announced a long-awaited proposed regulation that would replace the ICD-9-CM code sets now used to report healthcare diagnoses and procedures with greatly expanded ICD-10 code sets,...

Learning to fly: Bryan Webster earned his certification as a commercial pilot and now flies to visit some of his clients.(Member Spotlight)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)
October 1, 2008... For as long as Bryan Webster can remember, he's wanted to pilot a plane. He joined the Navy as a young man and hoped to become a pilot, but his eyesight--less than 20/20--kept him from flying planes for the Navy. Years later, he talked with his...

Overheard.(ETCETERA)(conference of health care industry)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... "We have the greatest healthcare system in the world, with the finest doctors and cutting-edge technology. Yet, some people are falling through the cracks.... With the right leadership, we can meet this challenge and have universal access to...

Survey highlighted the role of patient accounts managers.(20 Years Ago in hfm)
October 1, 2008... In the October 1988 issue of hfm, HFMA and the American Guild of Patient Account Management released the results of a survey that profiled patient accounts managers, a position that was becoming increasingly important for hospitals. In the...

Vein treatment keeps pigs from pigging out.(ETCETERA)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... A treatment for varicose veins suppresses the appetite of pigs--and for humans, it could serve as an alternative to weight loss surgery, a new study reports. Researchers at Johns Hopkins University injected a chemical used to treat...

Carville and Matalin: healthcare reform is coming.(ETCETERA)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... If there's one thing political insiders James Carville and Mary Matalin--married for several years, yet polar opposites politically--can agree upon, it's this: Healthcare reform is coming--and the need for reform is so critical, it will be a...

What's new on our Web site.(ETCETERA)
October 1, 2008... The following documents are located in the Resource Library (www.hfma.org/library) unless otherwise noted. CY09 Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule Fact Sheet. The proposed rule estimates total Medicare spending under the 2009...

Going green in hospital finance.(VIEWS)
October 1, 2008... Much has been made of the green movement sweeping across the country. My eldest daughter, a college-bound freshman, has continually kept me abreast of the latest environmental initiatives to save our planet. Her efforts to teach the old man a...

Look at the overall value of food service.(VIEWS)(Viewpoint essay)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... I was pleased to see a brief article about food service in Etcetera in the August issue of hfm ("Savor the Flavor of These Award-Winning Hospital Meals"). The piece celebrated excellent service from hospitals, including those that went green in...

Connecting with quality: at this year's ANI, I told the story of an exchange I had with a seller on eBay.(making connections)(Viewpoint essay)
October 1, 2008... I had been dissatisfied with a transaction with this seller and used eBay's online rating system to say so. The seller contacted me immediately. He knew that his success on eBay depends on maintaining high customer satisfaction ratings--and he...

"You know more than you think you know": that famous sentence--the first in Benjamin Spock's The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care--is one of my favorites.(Editorial)
October 1, 2008... The sentence demonstrates respect. Readers know immediately that they are a source of knowledge, experience, and good intentions, not just a vessel into which information will be poured. And the sentence has optimism. It suggests that momentum...

Former HFMA leader Sister Mary Gerald Hartney remembered.(HFMA NEWS)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)(Obituary)
October 1, 2008... Sister Mary Gerald Hartney, CSC, FHFMA, a founding member of HFMA who served as the Association's elected president for two terms and was instrumental in developing the concept of cost accounting in health care, died Sept. lo, 2008. She was 98....

Clarke named to "100 most powerful" list for 7th time.(HFMA NEWS)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)(Richard L. Clarke)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... HFMA President and CEO Richard L. Clarke, DHA, FHFMA, was named to Modern Healthcare magazine's 100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare for the seventh consecutive time. Clarke is one of only 17 individuals who have been recognized in this...

Helping government find its rightful place in the reform movement: this month, Lefton examines three regulation-related strategies for reforming the U.S. healthcare system. See Lefton's June column for the complete list of 14 strategies he believes will bring about meaningful health reform.(HEALTHCARE REFORM)(Column)
October 1, 2008... In these last weeks before the Nov. 4 election, Senators McCain and Obama will undoubtedly be debating what needs to be done to fix the U.S. healthcare system. Despite what each candidate has to say, many citizens will interpret their remarks...

Innovations in healthcare finance lessons from the 401(k) model.(BUSINESS TRENDS)
October 1, 2008... The future of employer-based health insurance is uncertain, but the system that insures nearly 160 million Americans appears to have reached a tipping point because of unsustainable cost increases. Evidence is mounting that the employer-based...

Strengthening the revenue cycle: a 4-step method for optimizing payment.(REVENUE CYCLE)
October 1, 2008... Improving the revenue cycle can be a daunting task due to the scope and complexity of the interdepartmental process. Because optimizing payment is so critical to optimizing a health system's margins, the entire revenue cycle must function at...

Donald Berwick, MD: connecting finance and quality.(Q&A)(Interview)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Healthcare financial executives should be helping to build bridges between finance and quality. And nothing is preventing those bridges from being built, says Donald M. Berwick, MD, president and CEO of the Institute...

Communicating the cost of care.
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "Guess what. I just told the Omaha World Herald that in a year, we'll have the coolest web tool for price transparency." Scott Wooten, senior vice president, finance, and CFO for Alegent Health in Omaha, Neb.,...

Surviving in the age of price transparency: a pricing model can be designed to not only create competitive advantage for a healthcare organization but also provide value to its patients.(FEATURE STORY)
October 1, 2008... "Patients want good outcomes, but they also want more... They want to be welcomed, respected, and given the information they need to make the best decisions for their health." --Cleveland Clinic 2006 Annual Report "Patients first" is...

Campaign 2008: healthcare reform revisited: as we enter the final phase of the election cycle, discussions of healthcare reform are again claiming a significant place in the campaigns of the two leading presidential candidates.(FEATURE STORY)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A year ago, it seemed health care would hold a central role in the political discussion. It had been reported as the No. 2 issue for Republicans, Democrats, and Independents alike. But then the economy began to...

Looking to improve financial results? Start by listening to patients: improving patient satisfaction can have a direct impact on your hospital's reputation--and financial results.(FEATURE STORY)(Survey)
October 1, 2008... The rising costs of providing health care and the changes in payment systems are having an obvious impact on hospitals' bottom line. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), for instance, no longer reimburses the additional costs...

10 myths of healthcare business valuation: common misconceptions about business valuations can sabotage hospital-physician deals.(FEATURE STORY)
October 1, 2008... People who negotiate business deals have something in common with high-performance athletes: Both are propelled by the desire to "Just do it!" Just as an athlete in the heat of competition and with the end in sight is undeterred by any...

What you need to know about pay for performance: pay for performance (P4P) is here to stay, so hospitals should be well prepared today, with medical staff involvement, to meet the full range of P4P reporting requirements.(FEATURE STORY)(Survey)
October 1, 2008... "In the next five to 10 years, pay-for-performance-based compensation could account for 20 percent to 30 percent of what the federal government pays providers" --Mark McClellan, former administrator, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid...

Using bundled prices and deep discounts to obtain managed care contracts seller beware! Thinking of deep discounting and using bundled prices? Knowing a few things about the potential pitfalls may help you stay out of financial trouble.(FEATURE STORY)(Statistical data)
October 1, 2008... In an effort to obtain managed care contracts for new patients, many hospitals with excess capacity have discounted their prices, sometimes by significant amounts. However, a hospital engaged in discounting could find itself in considerable...

The sea change of the see-through hospital--and how to stay afloat: transparency is forcing hospitals to take an honest look at what they are doing and how they are doing it.(COMMENTARY)
October 1, 2008... Goo-goos is the term we Chicagoans use for the good government types who strive earnestly for rational politics and policy. Coo-goos have spent decades trying to make quality of care information available to the public, and for decades,...

To change or not to change: concept versus reality: I've learned a lot in my consulting career over the past 10 years.(LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT)(Column)
October 1, 2008... I've learned that airline travel gets tougher every year, but that rental cars are better at getting me where I intend to go with the invention of GPS navigation systems. I've gotten better at constantly changing time zones, keeping up with...

Balancing risk and performance: by mandating common data standards and deploying common processes across the finance function, healthcare organizations can become more responsive to market changes--and better able to outperform their peers.(INSIDE IT)(Survey)
October 1, 2008... Healthcare organizations share a diversity of risk. Hospitals face strategic risks in their relationships with physicians. Supply chain risks can significantly affect cost per case. Staff and patient injuries can damage finances and reputation;...

What would you do? What type of expansion makes sense?(STRATEGY CHALLENGE)
October 1, 2008... The Problem Growth and development of a Midwestern metropolitan area has resulted in a pocket of opportunity for a significant healthcare presence in the expanding southern suburbs. Sisters Health Care System (SHCS) has historically...

Calendar.(Calendar)
October 1, 2008... NATIONAL EVENTS October 27-29 HFMA's 2008 Revenue Cycle Strategies Conference Las Vegas This year, HFMA's Revenue Cycle Strategies Conference is combining hands-on peer work groups with hot-topic breakout sessions and...

Kellie Bolin, CPA.(PEOPLE)(Lone Star Circle of Care)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Bolin has been appointed COO/CFO, Lone Star Circle of Care, Georgetown, Texas. She had been CFO, St. David's Round Rock Medical Center, Round Rock, Texas.

Matthew Groenig.(PEOPLE)(St. Joseph Hospital Medical Group)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Groenig has been promoted from director, St. Joseph Hospital Medical Group, St. Joseph Hospital, Bellingham, Wash., to COO, PeaceHealth Medical Group, St. Joseph Hospital.

David C. Salsberry.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Salsberry has been named senior vice president, finance, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston. Formerly, he was vice president of finance and CFO, West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, W. Va.

Damone Sorensen, FHFMA, CPA.(PEOPLE)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sorensen has been appointed CFO, Wilson Medical Center, Wilson, N.C. Previously, he was CFO, Alpena Regional Medical Center, Alpena, Mich.

Wade Sturgeon.(PEOPLE)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sturgeon has been appointed CFO, Carson Valley Medical Center, Gardnerville, Nev. He had been CFO, Klickitat Valley Health, Goldendale, Wash.

David Cartier.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Cartier has been named vice president, development, St. John's Health Network, St. Paul, Minn. Formerly, he was director of business development, Outreach Services Companies, Minneapolis and Seattle.

Margaret Garen.(PEOPLE)(Allegiance Healthcare Corp.)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Garen has joined Allegiance Health, Jackson, Mich., as executive director of revenue cycle. Previously, she was manager, Health Science Advisory Services, Regulatory Group, Ernst & Young, Grand Rapids, Mich.

Mark Jones.(PEOPLE)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Jones has been appointed senior project manager, Beth Israel Medical Center, Milton and Carroll Petrie Division, New York. Previously, he was decision support coordinator, Mercy Health Partners, Scranton, Pa.

Grace Martin.(PEOPLE)
October 1, 2008... Martin has joined West Asset Management, Louisville, Ky., as sales director. She had been regional sales director, National Patient Account Services, Louisville.

Martin Skrzynski, FHFMA.(PEOPLE)(Emergency Medical Service)(Brief article)
October 1, 2008... Skrzynski has been appointed vice president, administration, Community Emergency Medical Service, Southfield, Mich. He had been corporate director, management support and contracts, Botsford Hospital, Farmington Hills, Mich.

Assessing the financial impact of MS-DRGs.(DATA TRENDS)(Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services)(Statistical data)
October 1, 2008... Last year, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) made one of the most sweeping changes to its acute hospital inpatient reimbursement system since the introduction of diagnosis-related groups (DRGs). With the adoption of Medicare...

Dear Mr. President: an open letter to the next president of the United States.(FROM THE PRESIDENT)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)(Viewpoint essay)
October 1, 2008... Congratulations on your election to the highest office in the land. We are counting on you to do your best to help solve the many vexing problems facing our society. And although there are many problems, the most important are issues related to...

Hospital strategies for addressing out-of-pocket expense.(hfma roundtable)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)
October 1, 2008... Emerging coverage models and enhanced information sources are giving individuals greater financial control over their health care while providing them with the opportunity to make more informed choices. All too often for hospitals, however,...

Building a business case for revenue cycle IT.(hfma roundtable)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)(Industry overview)
October 1, 2008... Many hospital financial executives are exploring investments in new revenue cycle technology to cope with such challenges as increasing complexity of payer requirements, desire to improve patient satisfaction, and management of denials and...

Hospital strategies for communicating pricing and quality.(HFMA EDUCATIONAL REPORT)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)(Report)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Each week, the managed care staff at St. Cloud Hospital in Minnesota fields calls from patients who want to know what it will cost them to visit the hospital. Some may be expecting a baby, while others are planning...

Making a difference in health care.(ANNUAL REPORT)(Healthcare Financial Management Association)(Report)
October 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DEAR VALUED COLLEAGUES: HFMA members pride themselves in making a difference--for their organizations, communities, and profession, and for the nation's healthcare system as a whole. In Fiscal Year 2008,...