Healthcare Management Advisor
Showing 33–48 of 132 results
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How prospective patients shop for hospitals
Summer 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 401
Abstract: With patients’ shares of their medical costs climbing steadily upward, it’s no surprise they’re becoming more discriminating shoppers. Several free online resources let consumers compare prices for common health care tests and procedures. This brief article describes several such resources that hospitals should keep an eye on.
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ICD-10: Offshore coding to the rescue?
Summer 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 507
Abstract: In the wake of ICD-10 implementation last fall, some hospitals are running into a shortage of coders. For organizations still trying to recover from the financial drain of preparing for the implementation, lower-cost options available overseas are becoming more attractive than they’ve been in the past. This article discusses the increasing prevalence and potential advantages of offshore coders.
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Running on empty – Private equity can help fuel community hospital growth
Summer 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 667
Abstract: Caught between rising costs and the need for investment capital on the one hand, and declining reimbursements on the other, many community hospitals struggle to meet their financial goals. Private equity is one option for procuring a needed infusion of cash to help fuel ongoing operations. This article explains how private equity arrangements typically work and answers some common questions about the concept.
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CMS relaxes 60-day overpayment rule
Summer 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 904
Abstract: The so-called “60-day rule” requires hospitals to report and return overpayments. The CMS recently released the much-anticipated final rule on overpayment reporting and return. This article provides background on the final rule, describes some of the changes and emphasizes the importance of compliance programs. A sidebar looks at allowable reporting processes.
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Study links costly care with fewer malpractice claims
Spring 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 407
Abstract: Many physicians report practicing “defensive medicine” — care provided solely to reduce the threat of malpractice liability — in the United States. Until recently, though, no studies have evaluated whether greater resource use by physicians — whether defensively motivated or not — is actually associated with reduced risk of malpractice claims. This article offers findings from researchers that linked data on nearly 19 million hospital admissions in Florida from 2000 to 2009 to the malpractice history of more than 24,000 physicians in seven specialties.
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The new normal: Patient responsibility and the revenue cycle
Spring 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 609
Abstract: High deductible health plans — also known as HDHPs — are becoming increasingly common these days as patients shoulder more of the financial burden for their health care. That means that hospitals need to collect a greater percentage of their revenues directly from patients. Unfortunately, that change can have negative effects on the revenue cycle. This article discusses some of the specific challenges.
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Strategies for improving quality – Why physicians should be involved in the effort
Spring 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 525
Abstract: It’s critical that hospitals participate in quality improvement and reporting programs. For example, the Joint Commission requires that hospitals comply with the National Patient Safety Goals. But, more important, it’s necessary that physicians be part of these programs as well. Quality improvement (QI) in hospitals naturally starts with the hospital’s physicians. This article delves into physicians’ work priorities, explains the value of QI projects, and more.
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CMS issues revised “two-midnight rule”
Spring 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 844
Abstract: The CMS has finalized some major changes in regard to Medicare reimbursement for abbreviated inpatient stays. According to the CMS, not all care that’s provided in a hospital is appropriate for Part A payment as inpatient. This article looks at how the changes, first proposed in the summer of 2015, affect the current rule. A sidebar on the final 2016 OPPS rule summarizes the CMS’s recent changes to its approach for medical reviews for patient status determinations.
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Understanding the new NOTICE Act – What it means for community hospitals
Winter 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 459
Abstract: President Obama signed into law legislation that’s intended to provide patients with critical information about observation care and its financial implications. The Notice Observation Treatment and Implication for Care Eligibility (NOTICE) Act addresses how time spent in observation status can affect patients’ eligibility for Medicare coverage. This article looks at the financial implications of observation care and the legal requirements that hospitals and critical access facilities must meet.
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How to help employers build their wellness programs
Winter 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 634
Abstract: Many businesses establish wellness programs to encourage a healthier, more productive workforce and save on benefits costs. By assisting local employers in the endeavor, a hospital can both promote a healthier community and market its own excellence as a health care provider. This article discusses how to work with employers in setting up a wellness program.
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Final IRS rules crack down on aggressive billing and collection practices
Winter 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 617
Abstract: The IRS has released its final consumer-protection rules for charitable hospitals. In doing so, it’s cracking down on aggressive debt collection practices by, for example, placing a limitation on charges and mandating financial assistance plans. According to the IRS, tax-exempt hospitals should be held to a higher standard — which is why the Affordable Care Act (ACA) included additional billing and collection requirements for such institutions. This article discusses these finalized requirements, changes from proposed rules, and potential consequences of noncompliance.
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5 revenue-generating avenues for hospitals
Winter 2016
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 796
Abstract: The financial landscape for community hospitals has shifted in recent years — often with a negative effect on the facility’s profits. For example, reductions in reimbursement, cuts to Medicaid programs and increased cost sharing for patients have cut into hospital profit margins, leading many to look for dollars in other ways. This article offers five ways the facility can survive, including joining referral networks and bringing in new service lines. A sidebar offers tips on how to cut labor and supply costs.
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Study sheds light on “consumerism” and hospital revenues
Fall 2015
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 441
Abstract: Hospitals have seen many changes take a toll on their revenues in recent years. One change that significantly affects the bottom line is the rise of “consumerism” in health care as patients become more involved with, and assume more responsibility for, purchasing decisions. This article looks at a study that covers the importance of upfront fee collection and provides fee collection solutions.
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Acquiring a physician practice? Make sure you perform adequate due diligence
Fall 2015
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 552
Abstract: Across the nation, community hospitals are scoping out acquisitions of physician practices. Their goal is to boost the bottom line, cut unnecessary costs and improve patient care. If a hospital is interested in acquiring these practices, it’s critical to bring in qualified consultants to ensure that everything is on the “up and up” before any contract is signed. This article offers tips on how to review a hospital’s revenues and expenses and watch out for past commitments.
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The future of hospital credit ratings
Fall 2015
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 523
Abstract: A hospital’s credit rating plays a critical role in ensuring its long-term sustainability. A poor credit rating, after all, makes it difficult — and more costly — to obtain financing. This article explains that, to keep on top of their ratings, hospitals need to stay abreast of the factors that ratings agencies consider when assigning those ratings. As with so many other aspects of the industry, those factors are being affected by evolving reimbursement models that emphasize quality of care and outcomes over quantity of services.
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Get ready: OCR audits are coming
Fall 2015
Newsletter: Healthcare Management Advisor
Price: $225.00, Subscriber Price: $157.50
Word count: 870
Abstract: In 2011, the DHS’s Office of Civil Rights (OCR) established a pilot audit program to assess the compliance of covered entities, including hospitals, with HIPAA. Hospitals should take steps now to help ensure they pass muster if selected for an audit — and to reduce their risks of a PHI breach even if not selected. This article covers Phase 1 findings and Phase 2 expectations. A sidebar notes that the potential consequences of failing to comply with HIPAA rules go far beyond those associated with failing an OCR audit.