Supply chain issues, medication costs, and labor challenges sparked by the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the spiking hospital expenses. Hospital expenses have increased 23 percent since 2016, a spike researchers attributed to continuous COVID-19 challenges, according to a recent analysis. By analyzing American Hospital Association data, investigators noticed hospital expenses increased 47 percent in 2020when […]
Health systems that used automation for revenue cycle operations had an average cost-to-collect of 3.51 percent compared to 3.74 percent for those that did not use automation. Using automation for revenue cycle operations could lower hospital and health systems’ cost-to-collect by 0.25 percent, according to a survey from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). The […]
Low reimbursement rates, staffing shortages, low patient volumes, and regulatory barriers are some of the root causes of rural hospital closures, the American Hospital Association (AHA) explains in a new report. The report “Rural Hospital Closures Threaten Access: Solutions to Preserve Care in Local Communities” highlights the variety of causes behind rural hospital closures, which […]
Prior Authorization reform in Medicare Advantage would help relieve administrative burden for medical groups and reduce patient care delays, MGMA said. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) has urged CMS to implement policies that support prior authorization reform and value-based care contracts within the Medicare Advantage program. MGMA submitted comments to CMS Administrator in response […]
Healthcare costs continue to rise in this country. Healthcare spending totaled $3.8 trillion in 2019, $11,582 per person. In 2028, it projects that spending will rise to $6.2 trillion, or $18,000 per person. These increases are happening at the same time the COVID-19 pandemic revealed systemic inequities in health equity, and how difficult it is […]
The bill would allow Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices, particularly for the most expensive that have been on the market for years. In a 51-50 vote with Vice President Kamala Harris as the tie-breaker, the Senate on Saturday passed the Inflation Reduction Act that includes much of the sought-after Democratic priorities on drug negotiations […]
A major revision of the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) Evaluation and Management (E&M) Guidelines for Office and Outpatient Visits (O/O Visits), Split/Shared Visits, and Critical Care Time billing was implemented Jan. 1, 2021. You would think that all office-based providers would have been made aware of this and changed their documentation accordingly, but there is […]
More than 200,000 residents could be at risk of displacement if federal leaders establish minimum staffing requirements for nursing homes. Nursing homes would have to spend up to $10 billion per year and hire almost 188,000 nurses to comply with increased minimum staffing requirements, according to a report from the American Health Care Association (AHCA) […]
Health insurer reports second quarter numbers, boosted by performance of subsidiaries UnitedHealthcare and Optum Health. UnitedHealth Group reported a promising second quarter, achieving 13% revenue growth behind member expansion at UnitedHealthcare and value-based arrangements at Optum Health. The payer’s Q2 results were highlighted by revenue growing from $71.3 billion to $80.3 billion year-over-year, while earnings […]
Nearly half of CFOs and revenue cycle VPs in a recent survey said their organizations are behind their 2022 healthcare revenue goals. Most provider organizations are behind their 2022 healthcare revenue goals, according to a recent survey of health system and physician group finance leaders. Revenue cycle management technology vendor R1 RCM commission Census wide, […]










