HFMA’s Voices in Healthcare Finance

The IPPS FY 27 proposed rule, and how the industry can better care for women

Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:51:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Kathy Stull discuss the latest in healthcare finance news, and Erika Grotto talks with Monica Christmas, MD, about how the healthcare industry can better care for women in perimenopause.

A key antitrust case against providers, plus the marriage of patient experience and AI

Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:30:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news. Erika Grotto talks with Jonathan Wiik of FinThrive about how a great patient experience and AI can go together.

Also in this episode, a fond farewell to Shawn as he departs the podcast and HFMA.

Landmark price transparency legislation in the works

Tue, 24 Mar 2026 15:43:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss notable regulatory and legislative developments in price transparency including April 1 enforcement of new requirements.

The future of accountable care

Mon, 09 Mar 2026 18:18:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Katie Gilfillan discuss a new accountable care organization model on deck for 2027.

Consequences of new MA and ACA Marketplace regulations

Mon, 23 Feb 2026 17:08:00 -0000

Nick and Shawn discuss regulatory changes coming from CMS for the 2027 regulatory season.

Diving into the FY26 appropriations bill and CMS's new ACCESS Model

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:57:00 -0000

Katie Gilfillan discusses a noteworthy new payment model from CMS, and Nick and Shawn review of key healthcare aspects of the FY26 budget bill.

How a looming federal mandate will affect hospitals

Mon, 26 Jan 2026 16:15:00 -0000

Nick and Shawn discuss appropriations efforts and how various provisions will affect hospitals, specifically in outpatient department claims.

Dissecting early-year developments regarding the ACA, 340B and price transparency

Mon, 12 Jan 2026 06:00:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack kick off the year by discussing the expired subsidies for ACA coverage as well as developments in the 340B drug program and price transparency.

Jan. 7: Hospital finances at heart of Texas v. Epic

Wed, 07 Jan 2026 19:51:00 -0000

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format.

A list of alleged financial harms against hospitals are at the heart of Texas' anticompetitive lawsuit again EHR vendor Epic. Learn why its details are required reading.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: 40%. That’s how much higher the year-to-date bad debt and charity care per day are for hospitals compared to their year-to-date amount in 2022.

One More Thing: HHS is appealing the recent pause from a federal judge of the 340B rebate model.

Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Dec. 29, 2025: Looking ahead to 2026

Mon, 29 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss what's coming in healthcare in 2026 with Katie Gilfillan from HFMA's policy team.

Dec. 15, 2025: Breaking down key 2026 regulations for hospitals and physicians

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0000

HFMA policy director Katie Gilfillan joins Nick Hut and Shawn Stack as they discuss the Medicare physician fee schedule for 2026. Also in this episode, Nick and Shawn analyze the hospital OPPS Medicare payment update for 2026.

Dec. 10: Charity screening; 340B lawsuit

Wed, 10 Dec 2025 17:46:00 -0000

HFMA's FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format.

As states are increasingly requiring pre-screening patients for charity care, a recent industry outreach effort gauged hospital interest and approaches.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: 500,000. That’s how many people quit their jobs in healthcare or social assistance in August—the latest month with a breakdown on that from the Labor Department.

One More Thing: A new lawsuit seeks to stop the Jan. 1 launch of the 340B rebate model. Hospitals filed a lawsuit against the federal government Dec. 1, seeking to halt implementation of the planned 340B rebate model before it begins.

Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠⁠

Nov. 26: OPPS; Hospital efficiency

Wed, 03 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0000

HFMA’s FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format.

Former hospital executives detail an approach that helped their organization improve quality while obtaining average commercial rates of 150% of Medicare.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: $10 billion. The amount Medicare was expected to spend this year for provision of skin substitutes — one of the treatments on which a new prior authorization model will focus.

One More Thing: Details of the recently issued hospital outpatient payment rule from Medicare, which carries significant financial ramifications.

Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more ⁠⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠⁠

Introducing HiFi Health News: How to save on prescription drugs

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 06:00:00 -0000

This week, we're sharing an episode of our patient-facing program, HiFi Health News. In this episode, host Erika Grotto talks with Ruchi Talwar, MD from Vanderbilt University Medical Center about how to save money on prescription drugs.

For all of our content, subscribe to the HiFi Health News podcast on your favorite app, or see all our videos on YouTube.

Fast Finance: Direct contracting push

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 18:54:00 -0000

Employers have a new data source that combines price, quality and safety data and was expected to fuel a renewed push on direct contracting.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: 30%. Fewer than 30% of health systems earned significant ROI from most of their virtual care offerings, according to a recent survey of executives by Sage Growth Partners.

One More Thing: Healthcare CFOs describe in an HFMA survey how they expect AI to change executive leadership at their organizations.

Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more ⁠⁠⁠here.⁠⁠

Nov. 17, 2025: The shutdown is over, plus Aetna's update to a controversial payment policy

Mon, 17 Nov 2025 20:39:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack sum up the latest in healthcare finance news.

Healthcare Technology, Episode 3: Opportunities in patient monitoring and telemetry

Wed, 05 Nov 2025 06:00:00 -0000

In the final episode of our technology series sponsored by Philips, Erika speaks with Stacy Kelleher from Philips about data opportunities in patient monitoring and how telemetry can be used more effectively.

Nov. 3, 2025: The shutdown continues, plus the latest on 340B

Mon, 03 Nov 2025 16:33:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.

Healthcare Technology, Episode 2: Helping patients harness their own data

Wed, 29 Oct 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Patients have access to more data than ever, but there can be confusion when they try to interpret it. In this week's episode, we speak with Tim Church, MD from Wondr Health and Jonathan Henderson from Encore Rehabilitation.

Healthcare Technology, Episode 1: Solving the right problem at the right time

Wed, 22 Oct 2025 11:18:00 -0000

In the first episode of this special series sponsored by Philips, HFMA Senior Editor Erika Grotto talks with Taylor Seale of Epic and Jeff Gautney from Rush University System for Health about planning and prioritizing technology projects.

Oct. 20: Where things stand with the government shutdown and Affordable Care Act subsidies

Tue, 21 Oct 2025 18:29:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.

Oct. 6, 2025: The healthcare impacts of a federal government shutdown

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 16:08:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.

The latest on budget talks, rural healthcare funding and a controversial payment policy

Mon, 22 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.

Fast Finance: MA impact on hospital margins

Wed, 17 Sep 2025 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA’s FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. MedPAC found increasing local Medicare Advantage enrollment had little effect on hospitals' margins. But some have questioned those findings.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: As many as one million patients fall in hospitals each year, which brings large costs.

One More Thing: Learn why and how commercial payers are increasingly targeting hospital costs.

Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more ⁠here.⁠

FY '26 budget proposals, Medicare cuts and more

Mon, 08 Sep 2025 15:23:00 -0000

HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.

FastFinance: Medicare enrollees' drug costs spike

Wed, 03 Sep 2025 19:08:00 -0000

HFMA’s FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news, delivered in an easily digestible format. Medicare enrollees' out-of-pocket drug costs have jumped this year, according to recent research. Learn what effects researchers expect.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: 95% of business leaders expect no measurable business return from their AI pilot programs.

One More Thing: Learn which hospitals are most vulnerable to proposed cuts in Medicare bad debt payments.

Not a FastFinance subscriber? Learn more here.

Rethinking rev cycle, plus the 2026 Medicare proposed rule on physician fee schedule

Mon, 25 Aug 2025 15:56:00 -0000

Mayank Pant from IKS Health talks about why healthcare organizations haven't been able to overcome longstanding challenges, and Nick Hut talks with HFMA Policy Director Katie Gilfillan about the 2026 Medicare Proposed Rule on physician fee schedule.

FastFinance: The Podcast

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 20:33:00 -0000

HFMA's popular FastFinance newsletter is now a podcast. Host Rich Daly discusses the most current and relevant healthcare news in a quick, digestible format. In this episode:

Hospitals’ financial performance continues to improve this year, but expense trends are worrying, according to an industry tracker. Learnwhat spending is driving expenses.

Also, this week’s Weird Number: One million people have recently lost their primary care physician in one state.

One More Thing to know is that hospitals and health systems are expected to markedly improve their finances ahead of 2027 federal Medicaid cuts.

Price transparency in the OPPS proposed rule, plus the IPPS final rule

Mon, 11 Aug 2025 17:47:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss OPPS and IPPS, and Aaron Shimoff from Athena Health discusses how to stay on course in an ever-changing healthcare landscape.

Why this year's Medicare proposed rule for OPPS could have a big impact

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 19:33:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack talk about the 2026 Medicare proposed rule for the Outpatient Prospective Payment System and why it could have a more significant impact on hospitals than rules from previous years. Also in this episode, Aneal Gadgil from Abridge discusses clinical documentation and coding.

Trump's big bill's beauty is in the eye of the beholder

Mon, 14 Jul 2025 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut talks with policy directors Shawn Stack and Andrew Donahue about the hospital impact of the Big Beautiful Bill. Garett Jackson from Intuitive Health talks about a hybrid emergency department/urgent care model to cut down on ED overuse.

HHS restructuring and the federal budget

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 16:06:00 -0000

HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack talk about the latest from Washington.

Vendor and staffing management, plus the latest in budget reconciliation

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 19:30:00 -0000

Danelle Newman from OSS Health discusses how to strike a balance in vendor and staffing management. Also in this episode, HFMA Senior Editor Rich Daly talks with HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack about the House-passed reconciliation package.

What DOGE's actions mean for U.S. healthcare

Mon, 05 May 2025 14:58:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Rich Daly talks about his hfm cover story about DOGE and the healthcare industry. HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack talk about the 340B drug pricing program.

The IPPS proposed rule, and tackling charge capture issues

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 19:44:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the proposed rule for the Inpatient Prospective Payment System. Later, Taylor Searfoss, a vice president at Ni2, an Infinx company, discusses challenges in charge capture.

How DOGE will change HHS

Mon, 07 Apr 2025 15:11:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss cuts to the Dept. of Health and Human Services and what they could mean for patients and providers.

Dr. Oz and CMS, plus HFMA's new Fast Finance newsletter

Mon, 24 Mar 2025 19:48:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the confirmation hearing of Mehmet Oz for CMS administrator. Also, Brad Dennison and Rich Daly from HFMA's editorial team talk about the new Fast Finance newsletter.

To receive the newsletter, email bdennison@hfma.org.

The art of digital delegation

Mon, 10 Mar 2025 05:00:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss price transparency regulations, and Erika Grotto talks with Stuart Newsome from Infinx about AI in revenue cycle.

Change Healthcare, one year later

Mon, 24 Feb 2025 17:19:08 -0000

A year after the cyberattack that frustrated patients and providers--and earned hackers a $22 million payout--Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss what's changed in the industry and what's likely to come next.

As RFK Jr. prepares to take on HHS, where is he likely to have the greatest impact?

Mon, 10 Feb 2025 06:00:00 -0000

The Senate will vote this week on whether Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. will be confirmed as secretary of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services. Nick Hut discusses what he plans to do in the role and where he's likely to have the greatest influence on the industry.

Healthcare developments in a second Trump term

Mon, 27 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0000

HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss early developments in healthcare policy now that Donald Trump has taken office for a second time.

Real-world solutions in primary care

Mon, 13 Jan 2025 06:00:00 -0000

Zeev Neuwirth, MD discusses the challenges in primary care and potential strategies to address them.

Healthcare industry predictions for 2025, with Nick Hut and Rich Daly

Mon, 16 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0000

HFMA senior editors Nick Hut and Rich Daly discuss what's likely to come in 2025 with regard to healthcare policy.

How gun violence affects the mental, behavioral and physical health of communities

Mon, 02 Dec 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Dr. Daniel Semenza of the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center discusses the ripple effects of gun violence. HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack talk about the appointments of Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. and Mehmet Oz.

Why better mental health access won't end gun violence

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Dr. Daniel Semenza, director of interpersonal violence research at the New Jersey Gun Violence Research Center at Rutgers University, discusses the intersection of public health and gun violence and reveals what society gets wrong in its discussion of the subject.

Election preview, a new Medicare appeals process and the two-midnight rule

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 06:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news including pre-election thoughts, a new Medicare appeals process and application of the two-midnight rule.

The invisible costs of cancer treatment

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 19:49:00 -0000

Dr. Kamal Golla is back on the podcast this week discussing the financial considerations for patients and their care team after a cancer diagnosis.

Lessons from tribal health

Mon, 07 Oct 2024 15:33:00 -0000

Laura Osborne and John Reeves discuss the unique challenges of tribal health and what other healthcare organizations can learn from their experiences.

In the Beyond the News segment, Nick Hut and Shawn Stack provide an update on price transparency regulations.

Scrutiny in the Steward Health Care scandal

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the continuing bankruptcy proceedings of Steward Health Care and refusal of system CEO Ralph de la Torre to testify before the Senate.

Improving diversity in clinical drug trials

Mon, 09 Sep 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Erika is joined by Quintin Maidment, a vice president at CTRx Pathways, to discuss why diversity is critical in clinical drug trials and what barriers stand in the way. In the Beyond the News segment, Nick and Shawn discuss the controversy around efforts by Johnson & Johnson to create a rebate program around 340B drug pricing.

The power of "yes and": Using improv to advance your career

Mon, 26 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Paul Barr talks with health system CEO Alan Kaplan about how an improv class helped him advance his career.

Healthcare Blame Game: The crumbling wall between journalism and advocacy

Wed, 21 Aug 2024 14:33:39 -0000

In the most recent episode of HFMA's Healthcare Blame Game podcast, editor, professor, author, columnist and commentator Otis Sanford talks with Brad about decades of change in the journalism industry, and how reporter biases and opinions are seeping into healthcare news writing.

Also in this episode, people who celebrate meeting their deductible, and a special musical treat.

Mentioned in this episode:

Society of Professional Journalists Code of Ethics

Revenue cycle analytics and how providers can help create best practices for the industry

Mon, 12 Aug 2024 05:00:00 -0000

In the final series of interviews from HFMA's Annual Conference, Erin Weber of CAQH discusses how providers can participate in the work of setting best practice guidelines, and Lori Zindl of OS Inc. and Rachel Dallman of Phelps Memorial Health Center talk about opportunities to learn from analytics.

Bonus! Healthcare Blame Game, Live from Las Vegas

Wed, 31 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Deepak Manmohan Goyal, MD, MBBS, MBA, joins Brad and Erika at HFMA Annual on June 27, 2024, to discuss his work as executive director for revenue cycle and supply chain at Monument Health in Rapid City, S.D. and the financial assistance program that has increased the system’s charity care by $7.8 million in its first year. Also in this episode, the best tactic for recovering from a routine screening, according to Erika's eight-year-old daughter.

Patient payment and provider collaboration

Mon, 29 Jul 2024 13:15:00 -0000

Chad Bloomberg of U.S. Bank Healthcare Payment Solutions shares insights on how payment preferences differ depending on demographics, and Oracle's Julie Jensen talks about collaboration as the key to cybersecurity in interviews recorded at HFMA's Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

Mentioned in this episode:

U.S. Bank Healthcare Payments Insights Report

The surest bets from HFMA's Annual Conference in Las Vegas

Mon, 15 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Laxmi Patel from Savista discusses the potential for AI, and Kevin Hidenfelter from Millenia shares insights about generational payment preferences in interviews conducted live at HFMA's Annual Conference in Las Vegas.

HFMA's Nick Hut and Shawn Stack discuss the Supreme Court ruling overturning the Chevron doctrine and the implications for healthcare.

Answering the Change Healthcare wakeup call

Mon, 01 Jul 2024 05:00:00 -0000

The February cyberattack on Change Healthcare has healthcare organizations looking not only at their own cybersecurity practices of but those of their business partners. On today's episode, Greg Surla and Jeff Becker from FinThrive discuss how healthcare organizations can prepare for the inevitable next attack and how to ensure business continuity in the aftermath.

Saying goodbye to the BMI

Mon, 17 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0000

The Body Mass Index (BMI) is a long-standing measure used in healthcare. But this height/weight ratio was originally meant for statistical use only and has no proven standing as a measure of health. Yet a patient's BMI is used to make critical decisions about their care. In this episode, Dr. Holly Ann Russell, an associate professor of family medicine at the University of Rochester Medical Center and medical director for the Center of Community Health and Prevention, discusses what measures providers should be focusing on instead and why weighing patients at every visit is unnecessary.

Healthcare Blame Game: What media and lawmakers don't understand about healthcare finance

Mon, 03 Jun 2024 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Policy Director Andrew Donahue’s column, “An open letter to Congress on nonprofit hospital finances,” has struck a chord with members. In this episode, he discusses margins, investments and M&A and what measure tells the real story of hospital finance. Also in this episode, Brad talks about the recent HFMA report Curing Payment Confusion.

Also mentioned in this episode:

Healthcare 2030: Restoring Trust in Healthcare

Assessing Reality in Healthcare Financial Information | HFMA

Gaining the confidence and skill to improve your public speaking

Mon, 20 May 2024 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA's Annual Conference is mere weeks away. If you're sweating your presentation, today's episode is for you. Rhonda Khan of Simply Speech Solutions gives her thoughts on how to hook your audience and get your message across. Also in this episode, Nick Hut and Shawn Stack share the latest on the Change Healthcare cyberattack and look at what's happening in Washington.

What's more uncomfortable than menopause? A workplace discussion about it.

Mon, 06 May 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Dr. Bruce Dorr of Biote discusses the challenges facing perimenopausal women in the workplace and what leaders should be doing to support them.

It's time to revisit your charity care policy

Mon, 22 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0000

The cover story in the May issue of hfm focuses on a South Dakota health system that developed a new process to identify charity care patients. In this episode, HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discusses why good financial assistance policies and process are essential to patient care.

The "dystopian" state of primary care

Mon, 08 Apr 2024 05:00:00 -0000

Dr. Vishnukamal Golla discusses the challenges facing primary care physicians and their patients. News team Nick Hut and Shawn Stack provide an update on the Change Healthcare cyberattack and other current events.

Mentioned in this episode:

Multiple GA hospitals accused of not complying with Price Transparency Rule

What the Change Healthcare cyberattack means for the future of the industry

Mon, 25 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0000

The February cyberattack on Change Healthcare, a unit of UnitedHealth Group, continues to cause concern and frustration for providers. In this episode, HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest developments, and Joshua Corman, founder of cybersecurity organization I Am the Cavalry, shares insights on what should come next in healthcare.

The hidden risks of weight loss drugs

Mon, 11 Mar 2024 05:00:00 -0000

GLP-1 agonists, medications originally formulated to treat diabetes, have gained traction as prescription drugs for weight loss. On this episode, medical researcher and patient advocate Ragen Chastain discusses what healthcare providers should be sharing with their patients about the risks and efficacy of Wegovy and Zepbound.

Healthcare Blame Game: Bloomberg Philanthropies puts $250 million into educating new healthcare workers while Patient Rights Advocate spends on spreading misinformation

Mon, 26 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Chad Mulvany, vice president of federal policy for the California Hospital Association and former HFMA policy director, discusses Bloomberg Philanthropies $250 million investment in the future healthcare workforce, as well as what will actually move the needle on price transparency.

Discussed in this episode:

‘Healthcare High’ coming to Woodside

Northwell, NYC Public Schools announce Northwell School of Health Sciences

The fight for transparency health care prices in America

Bonus! Healthcare Blame Game: Patient Rights Advocate’s distortion of price transparency regulations and data, and the ad campaign that’s catching attention

Mon, 19 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

This week, we're sharing an episode of our other podcast, Healthcare Blame Game. Patient Rights Advocate (PRA) has engaged hip hop artists like Fat Joe, Busta Rhymes and Method Man in its “Power to the Patients” campaign, claiming that regulations around price transparency are not being enforced, allowing hospitals to hide their prices and “charge whatever they want.” On this episode, HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack and Ruth Lande, vice president of hospital relations at RIP Medical Debt, discuss PRA’s misinterpretation of price transparency regulations and hospital pricing.

Mentioned in this episode:

Power to the Patients: Fat Joe Public Service Announcement

PatientRightsAdvocate.org misinterprets CMS rules in low estimate of hospital price transparency compliance

Patient Rights Advocate continues to misinterpret price transparency data with latest report

Healthcare Blame Game: Why CFOs should build media relationships

Do you have feedback on an episode or an idea for the Blame Game team? Email us here.

We all have trauma. Here's how to take it to work in a healthy way.

Mon, 12 Feb 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Dr. Sadie Elisseou, a practicing VA physician and instructor at Harvard Medical School and Boston University School of Medicine, talks about trauma-informed healthcare in and out of the exam room.

Mentioned in this episode:

Medicare Program: Appeal Rights for Certain Changes in Patient Status

Asking the right questions to help patients age in place

Mon, 29 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Dan Weinrieb of Jukebox Health discusses why providers should be paying attention to fall risk in patients' homes.

The big picture for healthcare in 2024

Mon, 15 Jan 2024 17:06:00 -0000

HFMA Policy Director Andrew Donahue discusses what trends and policy decisions will affect the industry in an election year.

Alleviating stress on patients, families and clinical staff through a palliative care doula volunteer program

Mon, 01 Jan 2024 06:00:00 -0000

Amy Levine discusses how a volunteer doula program can alleviate pressure on clinical staff and build a hospital's reputation as a caring place.

An extended year-end policy update with Nick Hut and Shawn Stack

Mon, 18 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the most pressing end-of-year issues for 2023.

Healthcare Blame Game: Bigger may prove to be better in healthcare, despite critics' take

Mon, 11 Dec 2023 06:00:00 -0000

In an episode of HFMA's "Healthcare Blame Game" podcast, Brad Dennison talks with Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of America’s Physician Groups, about why healthcare consolidation is more nuanced than critics understand.

Mentioned in this episode:

PRESS RELEASE: Lown Institute awarded $1.5M to study U.S. hospital tax exemptions, financial practices

Susan Dentzer: Is consolidation in healthcare the work of modern-day robber barons — or the result of overdue reengineering?

The best of 2023 from HFMA's editorial team

Mon, 04 Dec 2023 16:48:00 -0000

The HFMA editors share their favorite content from this year and provide a glimpse of what's to come in 2024.

Mentioned in this episode:

Healthcare Blame Game

How avoiding an awkward waiting room conversation can contribute to better health for transgender people

It starts with mental health: How caring for transgender youth makes for healthier adults

Healthcare 2030

HFM

Improving health outcomes while combating homelessness

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 06:00:00 -0000

Beth Sandor of Community Solutions discusses a pilot program in which health systems partnered with organizations in their communities fighting homelessness.

November policy roundup with Nick Hut and Shawn Stack

Sat, 04 Nov 2023 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the latest in healthcare finance news.

Humans: Essential to your AI strategy

Mon, 23 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Arun Shastri of ZS discusses uses for AI in healthcare as well as the limitations of technology when a human isn't involved.

The best care starts with the patient

Mon, 09 Oct 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Rami Karjian and Pippa Shulman from Medically Home discuss why higher payment and lower length of stay isn't always the best benchmark.

Mentioned in this episode:

HFMA Comments on Request for Information Regarding Medical Payment Products

It starts with mental health: How caring for transgender youth makes for healthier adults

Mon, 25 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director for the National Center for Transgender Equality, returns to the podcast to discuss the misconceptions around transition-related care for young people.

Additional reading:

Ensuring Comprehensive Care and Support for Transgender and Gender-Diverse Children and Adolescents

Access to gender-affirming hormones during adolescence and mental health outcomes among transgender adults

Psychosocial Functioning in Transgender Youth after 2 Years of Hormones

Mental Health Outcomes in Transgender and Nonbinary Youths Receiving Gender-Affirming Care

AMA reinforces opposition to restrictions on transgender medical care

Better mental health found among transgender people who started hormones as teens

The intersection of quality and finance, with Rick Gundling and Stephanie Mercado

Mon, 11 Sep 2023 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA's Rick Gundling and Stephanie Mercado from the National Association for Healthcare Quality discuss how all entities within a healthcare organization can work for better quality.

The future of healthcare transparency, with Nick Hut and Andrew Donohue

Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Andrew Donohue discuss legislative action that could affect transparency efforts in healthcare.

Fighting for systemic change by putting the patient first

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Rami Karjian and Raphael Rakowski of Medically Home discuss emphasizing patients over all else in healthcare, and Julie Lambert and Lori Zindl from Inovalon talk about an RCM survey.

Dr. Ronald Hirsch of R1RCM discusses new Alzheimer's drug Leqembi with HFMA's Nick Hut

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Dr. Ronald Hirsch of R1RCM discusses considerations around a new Alzheimer's drug with Senior Editor Nick Hut.

Mentioned in this episode:

CY 2024 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) Policy Changes: Hospital Price Transparency Proposals (CMS-1786-P) | CMS

NCA - Beta Amyloid Positron Emission Tomography in Dementia and Neurodegenerative Disease (CAG-00431R) - Proposed Decision Memo (cms.gov)

Some of the best from HFMA’s Annual Conference in Nashville

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Revisiting your investment strategy with Lisa Schneider of Russell Investments and PayMedix CEO Tom Policelli discusses why payment is so confusing for patients.

Discussed in this episode:

Medicare Program; Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System: Remedy for the 340B-Acquired Drug Payment Policy for Calendar Years 2018-2022

Healthcare Blame Game: Reporter’s are knee-deep in press releases. Most lack context.

Mon, 03 Jul 2023 14:00:00 -0000

This week, we're sharing an episode of our brand new podcast, Healthcare Blame Game. In this episode, media veteran Jean Hodges joins HFMA director of content Brad Dennison to discuss a Washington Post error and the inner workings of the modern newsroom.

Mentioned in this episode:

Americans are knee-deep in medical debt. Most owe hospitals.

Healthcare Blame Game: How news outlets mishandled a medical debt study

Most adults with post-due medical debt owe money to hospitals

HFMA Annual Conference preview: How Vanderbilt University Medical Center built a successful bundled payment program

Mon, 19 Jun 2023 13:00:00 -0000

Dr. Brittany Cunningham from Vanderbilt University Medical Center discusses her upcoming presentation at HFMA's Annual Conference in Nashville. Also in this episode, strategies for cash flow discrepancies with sponsor organization Inovalon.

Mentioned in this episode:

CMS: Making Care Primary (MCP) Model

Interoperability rule enforcement is coming. Are you ready?

Mon, 05 Jun 2023 13:00:00 -0000

Rita Bowen of MRO discusses why some organizations are choosing not to ready themselves for interoperability until enforcement begins and how reproductive care can throw a wrench into the process.

Crawfish, helping hands, and ”Hard Truths” about healthcare: Joe Fifer looks back on 40 years with HFMA

Mon, 22 May 2023 10:00:00 -0000

June will mark the retirement of HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer. In this episode, he looks back on his decades as an HFMA member, officer and executive.

Turning it up in Music City: Get ready for HFMA’s Annual Conference in Nashville

Mon, 08 May 2023 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA's Katie Gilfillan discusses plans for HFMA's Annual Conference in Nashville. Learn more and register here.

Also in this episode, Karie Ryan and Amy Pyke of Philips tackle some of healthcare's greatest challenges with the strategic use of technology.

Sleepless in the C-suite: Workforce, Part 3

Mon, 24 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0000

Stu Schaff of Intentionate Healthcare Advisors talks about job expectations of and for physicians, and Vicki Abelson of The Defined Leader and HFMA's Todd Nelson discuss what leaders can do to improve communication.

Also in this episode, Michael Bumann of Red Dot talks about how working with his company can improve a healthcare organization's bottom line.

Sleepless in the C-suite: Workforce, Part 2

Mon, 17 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0000

In the second episode of HFMA's special series on the healthcare workforce, we focus on ways clinical workers need support from their leaders. HFMA's Todd Nelson, Janae Sharp of the Sharp Index, and FinThrive's Jonathan Wiik talk about shortages of clinical workers and offering help to those who remain.

Also in this episode, Michael Bumann of Red Dot discusses how hospitals who partner with his organization see an increase in patient satisfaction.

Sleepless in the C-suite: Workforce, Part 1

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 10:05:00 -0000

In this first episode of a three-part series on the healthcare workforce, Jonathan Wiik of FinThrive and Todd Nelson of HFMA discusses burnout among non-clinical workers and how remote work is changing hiring.

Also in this episode, Michael Bumann, CEO of Red Dot, discusses how outsourcing motor vehicle accident claims can alleviate stress for revenue cycle staff.

Discussed in this episode:

Revenue cycle staff shortages push leaders to act quickly

Beyond the News: The end of the public health emergency

Mon, 03 Apr 2023 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the end of the public health emergency and what it means for Medicaid as well as a recent blog post from Stack on price transparency.

Discussed in this episode:

Unwinding the Medicaid Continuous Enrollment Provision: Projected Enrollment Effects and Policy Approaches

PatientRightsAdvocate.org misinterprets CMS rules in low estimate of hospital price transparency complianc e

Hospital price transparency update: Regulatory enforcement soon could become stricter, CMS leaders say

Healthcare 2030: Leveraging good leadership to work toward financial sustainability

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Paul Barr discusses Volume 2 of the Healthcare 2030 series. Katie Sklarsky from Chartis talks about financial sustainability, and Danielle Solomon from FORVIS talks about the importance of good leadership in times of change.

The blame game in the media regarding patient financial conversations

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 11:00:00 -0000

HFMA Chief Content Executive Brad Dennison discusses the March hfm cover story about patient-friendly payment and what some media organizations get wrong.

Mentioned in this episode:

Collecting with compassion: Patient financial care grows in importance

The real dangers of an obesity diagnosis, and why it’s sometimes best to just use the F word

Mon, 27 Feb 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Medical researcher and patient advocate Ragen Chastain discusses why the body mass index is misleading and how it can lead to discrimination in healthcare.

Sources and additional reading:

Is BMI a scam?

Top 10 reasons why the BMI is bogus

Maintenance Phase: The Body Mass Index

Maintenance Phase: The Obesity Epidemic

Did the American Medical Association make the correct decision classifying obesity as a disease?

Fearing the Black Body

Belly of the Beast

What We Don't Talk About When We Talk About Fat and "You Just Need to Lose Weight" and 19 Other Myths About Fat People

Listening to this podcast is good for the community, the industry and your bottom line

Mon, 13 Feb 2023 11:00:00 -0000

Jacob Braude, a principal at ZS, returns to the podcast to discuss his firm's latest research on vaccine hesitancy.

Mentioned in this episode:

The real reason people don't get vaccinated for COVID-19? They don't feel like it.

A cognitive research playbook for encouraging hesitant customers to get COVID-19 boosters

How Braven Health is looking to improve the lives of New Jersey patients through value-based care

Mon, 30 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Patrick Young, president of population health for Hackensack Meridian Health and Jeff Smith, chief commercial officer at value-based managed services operator Lumeris, share the success story of payer-provider partnership Braven Health.

Mentioned in this episode:

Fact sheet on the prior authorization and interoperability proposed rule

Key points in the 2024 Medicare Advantage proposed rule

Beyond automation: Fulfilling your New Year’s resolution for a more efficient revenue cycle

Mon, 16 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Jonathan Wiik of FinThrive discusses revenue cycle improvement.

Mentioned in this episode:

CMS status report on the IDR process

Tips for parties initiating an IDR dispute

How ”Dr. Mom” became the family CMO and why taking care of women is more important than ever

Mon, 02 Jan 2023 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Margaret Larkins-Pettigrew of Allegheny Health Network and Highmark Health discusses how better care of women leads to a healthier society.

Beyond the News: Nick and Shawn discuss No Surprises, disruptors and everything else that made healthcare industry headlines in 2022

Mon, 26 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Last week's episode was so full that there wasn't time for Nick Hut and Shawn Stack's entire segment on healthcare headlines. This week, we're sharing the entire thing in a special year-end bonus episode.

HFMA staff discuss the biggest healthcare stories of the year

Mon, 19 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Nick Hut, Shawn Stack, Brad Dennison, Paul Barr, Eric Reese, Crystal Milazzo, Deb Filipek and Melanie Binder join the podcast to talk about the hottest topics of 2022.

Mentioned in this episode:

Healthcare 2030

‘A just cause’: HFMA's CEoH initiative addresses the factors that impede quality of health and raise healthcare costs

Revenue cycle staff shortages push leaders to adapt quickly

How to future-proof your travel nurse and clinician staffing

Telehealth is primed for growth despite post-lockdown fade

Healthcare’s cybersecurity stakes reach alarming levels

Hospitals work to make the supply chain green

Jill Geisler: Are you creating quiet quitters or preventing them?

Jill Geisler on crisis management: Lead like Zelenskyy

Healthcare News of Note: Oracle-Cerner deal has the potential to transform healthcare

Healthcare News of Note: Oracle’s $28.3 billion Cerner deal faces anti-competition scrutiny, and a pension fund sues Cerner for access to files related to the possible merger

Healthcare News of Note: Oracle’s $28.3B acquisition of Cerner is now final

Healthcare News of Note: Only 66 hospitals earn top marks for social responsibility

Healthcare News of Note: Staffing shortages in hospitals and healthcare settings are ‘actively jeopardizing’ patient safety, says ECRI

A ”spicy” lame duck session for the 117th Congress and other things to expect after midterm elections

Mon, 05 Dec 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Friend of the podcast Chad Mulvany of the California Hospital Association joins HFMA Policy Director Andrew Donohue and Senior Editor Nick Hut in a discussion about what midterm elections could mean for healthcare.

A quick holiday week news update with Nick and Shawn

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut and HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack dive into the latest healthcare finance headlines in this shortened episode for Thanksgiving Week.

Jonathan Fanning on creativity and the questions we should all be asking to innovate in the workplace

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Jonathan Fanning, an author, entrepreneur and frequent speaker at HFMA Chapter and Region events, discusses how to overcome the barriers to creativity and innovation in healthcare.

Mentioned in this episode:

Inflation is squeezing hospital margins--what's next?

If you want the solution to staffing challenges in healthcare, try asking your staff.

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Workers' expectations have changed. Leadership in healthcare needs to change too. Julie Hamilton of Core Rising discusses how industry leaders can keep up with the times.

Mentioned in this episode:

Policy Approaches to Reduce What Commercial Insurers Pay for Hospitals’ and Physicians’ Services

The Great Renegotiation is making hiring harder. Are you searching the right talent pools?

How a new structure in the C-suite can drive innovation

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 10:00:00 -0000

As the role of the CFO evolves, the interactions between C-suite leaders have likewise changed. Peyman Zand, a vice-president at CereCore, discusses how alignment in the C-suite is helping drive innovation.

Healthcare disruptors like Amazon get good patient reviews, but questions about quality abound.

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 11:00:00 -0000

The podcast news team tackles the topic of quality when disruptors enter the healthcare space. Join Senior Editor Nick Hut and Policy Director Shawn Stack for a hard look at issues of safety and best practices when customer convenience reigns supreme.

Mentioned in this episode:

Amazon’s health ambitions sometimes clashed with medical best practices, nurses say

What identification of victims of TWA Flight 800 taught the healthcare industry about medical records

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Beth Friedman, a senior partner at FINN Partners, shares the story of her experience helping identify the 230 victims of the TWA Flight 800 crash in 1996 via medical and dental records.

Also in this episode, Channing Monti and Janice Kocheran from sponsor Fiserv discuss the challenges of automated reconciliation.

The cost effectiveness of palliative care in a fee-for-service or value setting

Mon, 05 Sep 2022 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Brynn Bowman, CEO of the Center to Advance Palliative Care.

Ensuring your patients and staff are prepared for the next disaster

Mon, 29 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Ali Hochreiter and Lauren Knieser from Audacious Inquiry, a PointClickCare company, discuss disaster preparedness for patients outside hospital walls.

Mentioned in this episode:

Final rule appears to give a boost to providers in No Surprises Act arbitration cases

CMS tip sheet

Ready.gov

HHS technical resources

The five essential people on every patient’s cancer care team (and why a financial advocate should be one of them)

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Jada Desmarais of Baker Newman Noyes discusses the importance of a cohesive care team for patients with cancer.

Cost effectiveness of health and the urgent case for value: More insights from HFMA’s 2022 Annual Conference

Mon, 01 Aug 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Kal Wahab, a director at Nordic Global and a speaker at HFMA's Annual Conference pre-conference, discusses the cost effectiveness of health and why healthcare organizations should assess their readiness for value.

Also in this episode, Michael Spencer of sponsor Conifer Health Solutions talks about digital patient engagement.

Above and beyond in the Mile High City: Insights about the future of healthcare from HFMA’s 2022 Annual Conference

Fri, 15 Jul 2022 19:19:59 -0000

In this special early-release episode, Brad Dennison, HFMA's director of content strategy, interviews Jim Jacobson and John Becker of Vizient; Chad Mulvany, vice president of federal policy at the California Hospital Association discusses surprise billing; and Jason Nardella of Trilliant Health speaks about pandemic deferred care.

Wes Wheeler of UPS Healthcare talks about the future of cold chain supply chain

Mon, 04 Jul 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Wes Wheeler, president of UPS Healthcare, discusses the importance of a worldwide effort to manufacture, transport and store pharmaceuticals at ultra-cold temperatures.

Also in this episode, a special Beyond the News segment recorded on site at HFMA's Annual Conference in Denver, with a special guest!

Using the systems thinking approach to tackle the complex issues of health equity and DEI

Mon, 20 Jun 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Denese Neu discusses how the systems thinking approach can help healthcare organizations organize their health equity and DEI strategies.

Women in the healthcare workplace: Hopeful signs and challenges ahead

Mon, 06 Jun 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Gretchen Berlin, a senior partner in the healthcare practice at McKinsey & Company, discusses the firm's 2021 Women in the Workplace report and related research in the healthcare field.

Mentioned in this episode:

Some Medicare Advantage Organization Denials of Prior Authorization Requests Raise Concerns About Beneficiary Access to Medically Necessary Care

Rep. Suzan DelBene discusses the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act

Covid-19 and burnout are straining the mental health of employed parents

Women in healthcare and life sciences: The ongoing stress of COVID-19.

Outgoing HFMA National Chair Tammie Jackson reflects on a year of striving for ”Bolder, Brighter, Better”

Mon, 23 May 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Tammie Jackson, HFMA's 2021-2022 National Chair, discusses how delaying her tenure due to the pandemic changed the message she wanted to share, how that message was received, and her final thoughts as she winds down her term.

Mentioned in this episode:

Addressing today's healthcare challenges requires the right data

Reframe work challenges as opportunities

Dr. Rumay Alexander, a nursing educator at UNC-Chapel Hill and leader of diversity initiatives, discusses why ”checking the box” on diversity is not enough.

CMS Principal Deputy Administrator Jonathan Blum discusses price transparency, surprise billing and the future of value-based payment

Mon, 16 May 2022 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Jonathan Blum, principal deputy administrator and COO at CMS. In this interview, Blum discusses how CMS plans to phase out the public health emergency, how price transparency and surprise billing legislation are being received by provider organizations, and the effect the pandemic will have on CMS's value-based care strategy.

Come for the free haircut, stay for the behavioral health education: How the latest healthcare disruptors are meeting patients where they are

Mon, 09 May 2022 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA Policy Director Shawn Stack and HFMA Senior Editor Nick Hut follow up their March webinar on healthcare disruption with an episode-length Beyond the News segment about the latest innovative ventures.

BONUS EPISODE: The Body of Evidence

Mon, 02 May 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Voices in Healthcare Finance presents The Body of Evidence, a podcast from Dr. Christopher Labos and Jonathan Jarry.

In this episode, hosts Jarry and Labos speak with Dr. Barbara Hofer and Dr. Gale Sinatra, the authors of the book Science Denial: Why It Happens and What to Do About It.

Anthony Comfort of VisiQuate discusses opportunities for technology in healthcare, both in the clinical space and in revenue cycle

Mon, 25 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The pandemic pushed healthcare organizations to consider how they were using their technology and where the greatest opportunities lie. This week, Anthony Comfort of VisiQuate discusses some of those opportunities as well as barriers to success. Also in this episode, Brad Brotherton of BKD discusses how his firm stands out and how its merger with DHG will strengthen its services.

The negative effect of fat bias on health outcomes

Mon, 11 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Cardiologist and epidemiologist Dr. Christopher Labos discusses weight bias in healthcare, including what health indicators to focus on instead of weight and how to help patients who are at risk improve their health outcomes without explicit or implicit fat shaming.

Mentioned in this episode:

What to know about obesity discrimination in healthcare

Addressing weight bias in medicine

Can you be obese but still be healthy?

The Body of Evidence: Asthma/Screen Time/Exercise Motivation

Maintenance Phase podcast

How avoiding an awkward waiting room conversation can contribute to better health among transgender people

Why people and process are the keys to revenue cycle innovation

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Michael Duke, an author and partner within the commercial healthcare segment at Guidehouse, discusses how people and process should take precedence over technology in revenue cycle. He also talks about how sponsor organization Red Dot can assist teams that are struggling with motor vehicle accident accounts.

Mentioned in this episode:

The McPherson Principle: An Innovative Approach to Hitting the Bullseye of Revenue Cycle Performance

Your patients’ missed screening means advanced cancer: Here’s how to get patients back and how to treat them in the comfort of their own homes

Mon, 28 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Andrew Hertler, chief medical officer at New Century Health, discusses what healthcare organizations can do to catch up on patients' missed cancer screenings. He also shares new developments in oncology that could see patients receiving treatment at home or doing virtual follow-up care.

Also in this episode, HFMA's Katie Gilfillan talks about the upcoming Annual Conference in Denver.

Mentioned in this episode:

Telehealth opportunities in oncology, and Stever Robbins shares the secret to tackling email overload

Hospital-at-home promises to reshape care delivery in the United States

Have hospital-at-home programs finally come of age?

Practices grapple with an aging oncology workforce

The real reason people don’t get vaccinated for COVID-19? They don’t feel like it.

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Jacob Braude, a principal at ZS, discusses research his company conducted about how the unconscious parts of the brain affect decisions around vaccination.

Also in this episode, CEO Michael Bumann from sponsor Red Dot discusses his ideal client, the hospital CFO who sees value in working with an entrepreneurial company that can help improve collections on motor vehicle accident accounts with no risk.

Mentioned in this episode:

How behavioral science can solve healthcare hurdles as large as vaccine hesitancy

Got a COVID booster? You probably won't need another for a long time.

CDC COVID data tracker

To patients, the financial experience isn’t separate from the clinical one. Here’s how to leave them with a good lasting impression.

Mon, 07 Mar 2022 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Jason Wolf, president and CEO of The Beryl Institute and a speaker at HFMA's upcoming Revenue Cycle Conference, about the importance of remembering the "human experience" in all aspects of healthcare.

Mentioned in this episode:

The role of revenue cycle in elevating the human experience in healthcare

Design thinking: A human-centric approach to problem solving in healthcare

Mon, 28 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Jess Roberts from the University of Minnesota discusses how the iterative process of design thinking can help healthcare organizations solve problems.

Also in this episode, Michael Bumann of sponsor Red Dot discusses how his clients have taken the millions of dollars they've gained through using Red Dot's motor vehicle accident account platform to accomplish organizational goals.

Mentioned in this episode:

A design thinking framework for healthcare management and innovation

How fried chicken is doing social good in Ohio, and what that could mean for the healthcare industry

Mon, 21 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Joe DeLoss, a social entrepreneur and the owner of fast casual restaurant Hot Chicken Takeover, about how the healthcare industry can create social good from the inside out.

DeLoss will deliver a keynote at HFMA's Revenue Cycle Conference in New Orleans in March.

The Valentine’s Day episode: Karin Hurt and David Dye discuss the whys and why nots of workplace romances

Mon, 14 Feb 2022 10:00:00 -0000

Karin Hurt and David Dye of Let's Grow Leaders discuss how to navigate workplace romances, whether you're a member of a couple or the manager of team members who start dating.

Also in this episode, sponsor Red Dot's CEO Michael Bumann discusses how a partnership with his company can help break down silos and add to trust among leaders, staff and patients.

Patients have access to more information than ever. How should we be talking to them about it?

Mon, 31 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The Information Blocking Final Rule from the 21st Century Cures Act and federal transparency initiatives like the No Surprises Act have given patients more access to information than they’ve ever had before. On this episode, Terry Hush, CEO of Roji Health Intelligence, discussed how that access should change the conversations providers are having with their patients.

This episode is sponsored by Red Dot.

How avoiding an awkward waiting room conversation can contribute to better health among transgender people

Mon, 17 Jan 2022 10:00:00 -0000

The cover story in the Winter 2020 issue of hfm magazine focused on the issue of deferred care during the pandemic. But deferring or avoiding healthcare is not a purely pandemic problem. Transgender patients are just one group that routinely avoids going to the doctor because they fear discrimination by the healthcare system. On this episode, Rodrigo Heng-Lehtinen, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, discusses how healthcare organizations can help transgender patients overcome barriers to care.

Also in this episode, Senior Editor Nick Hut and Policy Director Shawn Stack discuss the Supreme Court order around vaccine mandates, and Policy Director Todd Nelson shares information about HFMA's MAP Awards.

This episode is sponsored by Red Dot.

Mentioned in this episode:

The COVID-19 vaccine mandate for healthcare workers can take effect nationwide, Supreme Court says

Healthcare organizations prepare for sicker patients in 2021 due to deferred care

U.S. Transgender Survey

Hit your performance targets with HFMA's MAP

Healthcare 2030: The Chartis Group and Bank of America discuss embracing disruptors and rethinking care delivery

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 11:00:00 -0000

Melissa McCain, director and leader of the consumer access digital transformation practice of The Chartis Group, and Charles Alston, market executive leader of Bank of America’s healthcare team in the southeastern U.S., discuss HFMA’s Healthcare 2030 series and share insights about what hospitals and health systems should be considering as they plan for the next decade.

What would you do if your best employee quit tomorrow? Anton Gunn shares the secrets to effective succession planning.

Mon, 03 Jan 2022 17:26:44 -0000

Leadership consultant Anton Gunn discusses why succession planning is important not only for C-suite executives but everyone in an organization. He also shares insights about how to train and develop up-and-coming leaders either to take over or to leave the organization for a better opportunity.

This episode is sponsored by Red Dot. On today's episode, CEO Michael Bumann discusses what a partnership with Red Dot can do for a hospital's revenue.

The HFMA editorial team discusses the biggest healthcare stories of the year and looks ahead to 2022

Mon, 20 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0000

HFMA's award-winning editorial team looks back on key stories from 2021 in the news, hfm magazine, HFMA's Community, the podcast and more.

Mentioned in this episode:

HFMA News

HFMA Community

The economics of a telehealth visit: A time-based study at Penn Medicine

The great resignation: Reality or myth?

“You are never off the record on social media.” hfm Leadership columnist Jill Geisler discusses the do’s and don’ts.

Policy analyst and hfm columnist Paul Keckley discusses the cost effectiveness of health

Election Special: As the votes are tallied, we look at what the possible outcomes mean for healthcare

Healthcare 2030

Policy analyst and hfm columnist Paul Keckley discusses the cost effectiveness of health

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 11:00:00 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Paul Keckley, managing editor of The Keckley Report and author of an upcoming column in hfm magazine about the economy and healthcare spending, public health and the pandemic, and the cost effectiveness of health.

Mentioned in this episode:
The Future of Strategic Investment

Adopting the first responder mindset in leadership

Mon, 06 Dec 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Michael Bumann is the founder and CEO of Red Dot, a company that specializes in resolving motor vehicle accident accounts for healthcare organizations, and his history as a firefighter and EMT informs every aspect of his business. In today's episode, Bumann discusses what lessons leaders can take from first responders to take action in times of great challenge.

Mentioned in this episode:

Surprise Billing Part I Summary

Surprise Billing Part II Summary

An epidemiologist discusses how we failed the public when it comes to public health

Mon, 29 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Brian Castrucci, an epidemiologist and CEO of the de Beaumont Foundation, talks with HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer about policies to improve public health, cost effectiveness of health, the future of COVID-19 and the healthcare industry's role in it all.

Rep. Suzan DelBene discusses the Improving Seniors‘ Timely Access to Care Act

Mon, 22 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

HFMA senior editor Nick Hut is joined by Rep. Suzan DelBene to talk about the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act as well as following up on the Value in Health Care Act.

Mentioned in this episode:

CY 2022 OPPS/ASC Final Rule Summary

H.R.3173 - Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2021

H.R.7791 - Value in Health Care Act of 2020

The pandemic cast a new light on mental health, and telemedicine provided a new avenue to access. How is the industry likely to view mental health and behavioral health in the future?

Mon, 08 Nov 2021 10:00:00 -0000

Dr. Ranga Krishnan of Rush University System for Health discusses the future of mental health payment and practice. He addresses how provider organizations can address workforce shortages by becoming partners in training and by changing the way they provide care to patients. He also talks about improving mental and behavioral healthcare in a value-based payment environment.

Mentioned in this episode:
Taking care of your mental health when you hit the pandemic wall

The future of the clinical workforce: Joyce Fitzpatrick, Case Western Reserve University, and Robyn Begley, CEO of the AONL and chief nursing officer of the AHA, discuss challenges in nursing

Student Enrollment Surged in U.S. Schools of Nursing in 2020 Despite Challenges Presented by the Pandemic

All the things they don‘t teach you in med school (and why they should)

Mon, 25 Oct 2021 11:30:00 -0000

Dr. Glenn Hardesty of Texas Health Resources and Stu Schaff of Intentionate Healthcare Advisors discuss how administrative burden deteriorates physician job satisfaction and well being, and how leaders can help.

Mentioned in this episode:

7 steps for supporting organizational well-being and mitigating clinician burnout

Why benchmarks should not be the sole guide for setting physician compensation

HFMA’s new Premium Facilitated Learning courses combine self-directed study with facilitator feedback and time for peer problem solving

HFMA‘s Healthcare 2030 series: What will the next decade mean for healthcare organizations and the patients they serve?

Mon, 18 Oct 2021 11:30:00 -0000

HFMA's Brad Dennison and Paul Barr discuss Healthcare 2030, a four-part series exploring the challenges and opportunities for CFOs and other healthcare leaders created by the evolving industry, looking ahead to 2030.

Danielle Solomon, national healthcare industry partner at BKD, and Mike Morris, president and CEO of XTend Healthcare, talk about the research that went into the series and their take on the findings.

Read the series here.

The CEO of one of the smallest hospitals in the country discusses the opportunities in rural hospitals

Mon, 11 Oct 2021 11:30:00 -0000

Steven Kelley, president and CEO of Ellenville Regional Hospital, a 25-bed critical access hospital in the Catskill region of New York, discusses how his organization drastically reduced ED times and improved outcomes for patients suffering from complications of COVID-19.

This episode is sponsored by USA Senior Care Network. USA Senior Care Network brings together Medicare Supplement Insurance carriers and quality healthcare facilities in a nationwide network for Medicare Supplement policyholders. Although these policyholders have the ability to choose any hospital they want, they know that by choosing the in-network facility, it helps to manage costs and to keep premiums affordable for the future. Through this innovative network, USA Senior Care Network’s insurance clients are able to channel their Medigap policyholders to participating hospitals in markets all across the country. Thousands of credentialed hospitals and other medical facilities have contracted with USA Senior Care Network to gain patient volume and revenue on inpatient and outpatient procedures and services.

Opportunities in the face of crisis: HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Sergio Melgar, CFO at UMass Memorial Health

Mon, 04 Oct 2021 11:30:00 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Sergio Melgar, CFO at UMass Memorial Health, about his history with health systems in peril and what he thinks could come out of pandemic-era changes.

Mentioned in this episode:

HFMA's Healthcare 2030 series

The future of the clinical workforce: Joyce Fitzpatrick, Case Western Reserve University, and Robyn Begley, CEO of the AONL and chief nursing officer of the AHA, discuss challenges in nursing

Mon, 27 Sep 2021 11:30:00 -0000

Joyce Fitzpatrick, a nurse and director of the Marian K. Shaughnessy Nurse Leadership Academy at the Frances Payne Bolton School of Nursing at Case Western Reserve University and Robyn Begley, CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and the chief nursing officer for the American Hospital Association, discuss the challenges facing the nursing profession. They talk about shortages of new nurses and educators to prepare them, early retirement of Baby Boomers due to the pandemic and the effect burnout is having on the industry as a whole.

Mentioned in this episode:

Student Enrollment Surged in U.S. Schools of Nursing in 2020 Despite Challenges Presented by the Pandemic

Dr. Rumay Alexander, a nursing educator at UNC-Chapel Hill and leader of diversity initiatives, discusses why ”checking the box” on diversity is not enough.

Mon, 13 Sep 2021 11:00:00 -0000

Racial disparities in the healthcare industry have long been an issue, with serious effects on outcomes. In this episode, Dr. Rumay Alexander discusses how the industry can begin to rebuild trust and shares some practical advice about how to build a program around diversity, equity and inclusion.

Stories mentioned in this episode:

HFMA's Healthcare News of Note: Black patients experience higher rates of adverse patient events relative to white patients, study says

New poll shows Black Americans put far less trust in doctors and hospitals than white people

CDC: Working together to reduce black maternal mortality

Howard University announces center to research health disparities

“Access improves outcomes.” The benefits of telehealth for chronic conditions.

Wed, 05 May 2021 12:00:00 -0000

Arnold Saperstein from Cecelia Health and Susan Beane from HealthFirst discuss the opportunities of telehealth for patients with chronic conditions.

How has your view changed with it comes to telemedicine?

Wed, 21 Apr 2021 19:56:40 -0000

Khalid Al-Maskari of Health Information Management Systems discusses the future of telehealth

How providers should prepare for No Surprises deadlines

Wed, 07 Apr 2021 12:00:00 -0000

Nick Hut talks with John Friedel from Abeo about the No Surprises Act and what providers should be doing now to prepare.

Vaccine, vaccine, vaccine, vaccine: How Sanford Health System is communicating with patients about getting their shots

Wed, 24 Mar 2021 12:00:00 -0000

Matt Hocks from Sanford Health System describes his organization’s strategy for communicating with patients about the vaccination plan. Dolly Parton clip comes from her Instagram: @DollyParton.

"Every one of us can make a change." Dr. Zeev Neuwirth discusses how every stakeholder can improve the industry.

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 23:24:03 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Dr. Zeev Neuwirth about the dangers of fee-for-service and how every stakeholder has a responsibility to move the industry forward.

"You are never off the record on social media." hfm Leadership columnist Jill Geisler discusses the do's and don'ts.

Wed, 24 Feb 2021 22:35:21 -0000

Social media can be tricky to navigate. Today, we're talking with Jill Geisler about how to use your social channels for good, and what to consider before you post.

Read Jill's latest Leadership column in hfm magazine for more of her thoughts about working smarter.

"I'm not strong enough. That's why I'm feeling this way." Taking care of your mental health when you hit the pandemic wall.

Wed, 10 Feb 2021 20:40:36 -0000

Mental health is a tough issue during the best of times, but the additional stress and trauma of living through a pandemic can present new issues and exacerbate existing ones. This week, Ranga Krishnan, professor of psychiatry and the CEO of Rush University System for Health, discusses why attention to mental health is crucial now, and always.

If you are having suicidal thoughts, resources are available. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is toll free and available 24/7. That number is (800) 275-8255. If you’re in a domestic abuse situation, you can receive confidential support from the National Domestic Violence Hotline, also toll free and available 24/7. Their number is (800) 799-SAFE (7233).

"Data represents people." Why remote workers need to be more vigilant than ever about protecting personal information.

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 20:35:19 -0000

Kevin Coppins, president at CEO of Spirion, discusses how to keep data safe when working remotely. Also, five keys to look for when selecting an A/P finance solution for supplier payments from sponsor GHX ePay.

"I'm just glad I brushed my hair today." The challenges, and some strategies, for working moms during a global pandemic.

Wed, 13 Jan 2021 21:25:30 -0000

A year ago, things were looking good for working women. At the end of 2019, the number of women in the workplace surpassed the number of men for the first time in a decade. But the pandemic has driven so many women out of the workforce to undo that progress, according to a recent report from McKinsey & Company.

In this episode, Annie Kurdziel and Elizabeth Newman from McKinsey & Company, join us to discuss the challenges they face as working moms as well as some strategies for individuals, managers and leadership as the United States approaches the one-year mark on widespread remote work and school.

Also in this episode, Laurie Heavey from sponsor ClearBalance talks about new research on patient-friendly payment.

Going beyond price transparency compliance, patient payment in a time of COVID, and medical device security

Thu, 17 Dec 2020 00:39:48 -0000

Ogi Kwon of R1RCM discusses going beyond CMS price transparency compliance and toward a better patient experience. Chris Dunkerly and Doug Folsom from our sponsor TRIMEDX talk about about medical device cybersecurity. Five ways to strengthen patient relationships with sponsor CareCredit.

Perspectives on leadership, culture and team-building during a pandemic

Wed, 02 Dec 2020 22:00:08 -0000

HFMA President and CEO interviews Lee Rivas of CloudMed about his leadership journey and how he's built his team during the pandemic. Rich Daly interviews Nicole Farrow and Andrew Johnson from Change Healthcare about trends and solutions in prior authorization.

How the pandemic paved the way for fraud, waste and abuse in telehealth

Wed, 18 Nov 2020 22:27:00 -0000

Emad Rizk of Cotiviti discusses the fraud, waste and abuse risks of telehealth, and Sondra Cari from sponsor Huron talks about the opportunities of revenue cycle learning.

Election Special: As the votes are tallied, we look at what the possible outcomes mean for healthcare

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 22:23:55 -0000

As the world waits for the results of the presidential election and other key races, Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany discuss what could happen in the coming months. Also in this episode, Joe Fifer interviews 4sight Health CEO Dave Johnson about what's next for hospitals after COVID-19. Two articles he's authored on the topic are linked below. This episode is sponsored by TRIMEDX.

The Future of Hospitals in Post-COVID America: The Market Response

The Future of Hospitals in Post-COVID America: The Policy Response

The payer episode: CMS interoperability rules and provider strategies for better conversations

Thu, 22 Oct 2020 00:19:58 -0000

Chris Hobson, from Orion Health discusses CMS’s upcoming deadline for interoperability requirements for payers and Geneva Schlabach from Vispa and Mike Duke from Baker Tilly talk about denials management.

Telehealth opportunities in oncology, and Stever Robbins shares the secret to tackling email overload

Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Dr. Andrew Hertler of New Century Health discusses how telehealth can help keep patients on track with cancer screenings and treatment. Also in this episode, productivity expert Stever Robbins tells us once and for all how to handle email (Hint: It's not folders.)

Self-pay A/R best practices, Stark Law with Rep. Roger Marshall and CMS's price transparency rule

Wed, 23 Sep 2020 20:52:21 -0000

Chad Mulvany talks with members of the task force that developed recommendations around self-pay accounts receivable best practices, Rich Daly interviews Rep. Roger Marshall about his efforts to get CMS to speed up their overhaul of Stark and Antitrust laws. Gregory Adams from sponsor organization Panacea discusses some aspects of CMS's price transparency rule that hospitals might be missing.

Remote revenue cycle challenges, job hunting tips and how to share your good news with HFMA

Wed, 09 Sep 2020 14:54:24 -0000

Kim Scaccia from Wisconsin-based Mercyhealth discusses how her organization cracked the code on a remote work force. Quintin Smith from Baker Tilly talks about staying positive after a layoff. And HFMA's Jennifer Novoseletsky tells us how members can share their good news with each other.

Jen's contact info:

Email: jnovoseletsky@hfma.org

Twitter handle: @JenNovo_HFMA

The "next normal" and how to get there

Wed, 26 Aug 2020 18:32:16 -0000

Beth Kaplan of Deloitte & Touche discusses how a consistent process of assessment and adjustment can help healthcare organizations get through each phase of the pandemic and beyond. Also, HFMA Community Manager Melanie Binder announces a new Community Callout.

CMS Administrator Seema Verma Receives HFMA's Board of Directors Award, Talks with CEO Joe Fifer

Wed, 19 Aug 2020 19:04:25 -0000

At HFMA's Digital Annual Conference, President and CEO Joe Fifer presented CMS Administrator Seema Verma with the Association's highest honor: the Richard L. Clarke Board of Directors Award in recognition of her outstanding contributions to healthcare in a role that involves oversight of a $1 trillion budget, representing 26% of the total federal budget, and administration of health coverage programs for more than 130 million Americans. Following the presentation, Fifer and Verma had a Q&A session in which she addressed price transparency, the pandemic, and the future of value-based care.

Rep. Suzan Delbene's value-based payment legislation and Humana's population health milestone in Medicare Advantage markets

Thu, 13 Aug 2020 01:11:05 -0000

Rich Daly interviews Rep. Suzan Delbene about the Value in Health Care Act, proposed legislation that would make a series of hospital-supported changes to value-based programs operated by Medicare. Andrew Renda of Humana talks about how the company improved Healthy Days in Medicare Advantage markets. In a sponsored segment, MedAssist Senior Vice President Nate Allen and Carilion Clinic's Vice President of Revenue Cycle Brett Tracy discuss Medicaid expansion in Virginia.

Telehealth: How the COVID-19 pandemic can ultimately lead to better health in rural communities

Wed, 29 Jul 2020 17:02:55 -0000

Doug Morse, CEO of Iowa's Hansen Family Hospital, and Rebecca Marsh, a senior vice president at nThrive, discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has forced many healthcare organizations to ramp up their telehealth strategies quickly and how that increase in telehealth has introduced opportunities for telehealth in rural communities.

A surprising analysis around hospital reimbursement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus: What is Joe Biden's healthcare plan?

Wed, 15 Jul 2020 16:24:25 -0000

Iodine Software's Troy Wasilefsky discusses a recent analysis his company performed around hospital reimbursement. Some of the results may surprise you. Also in this episode, Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany discuss Joe Biden's healthcare plan.

The coronavirus pandemic: A time when cash becomes priceless

Wed, 01 Jul 2020 12:15:00 -0000

Venson Wallin and Richard Walker of BDO Consulting discuss cash: how to get it, how to keep it, and how to use it wisely.

Dr. Tim Hendrix of Florida's AdventHealth Centra Care: How to safely welcome anxious patients back into your hospital or physician practice.

Thu, 18 Jun 2020 00:11:52 -0000

Hospitals and physician's offices have opened back up for non-emergent care. Dr. Tim Hendrix of Florida's AdventHealth Centra Care discusses how his organization is making patients feel safe and welcome. Also in this episode, HFMA's Community Melanie Binder talks about how attendees of the upcoming Digital Annual Conference can make the most of their conference experience by using HFMA's Community.

Hospitals Are Open for Business. What New Habits Are We Keeping?

Wed, 03 Jun 2020 21:36:44 -0000

Healthcare organizations have changed a lot about the way they do business during the COVID-19 pandemic, and some changes seem to be sticking. Chris Ingersoll of R1RCM talks about the business practices that might stay part of the routine.

Why Sharing Infection Rates and Other Information With Healthcare Organizations is Crucial in Preparing for the Future of COVID-19

Wed, 20 May 2020 16:26:30 -0000

Terry Hush of Roji Health Intelligence discusses what healthcare organizations should do to prepare for future waves of the coronavirus.

How to Perform Elective Surgery From Six Feet Away

Thu, 14 May 2020 00:00:19 -0000

HFMA Policy Director Chad Mulvany and TransUnion Principal Jonathan Wiik offer perspectives on healthcare organizations reopening for elective procedures. Also, HFMA Director of Chapter Relations Tracy Packingham talks about the Association's virtual events.

Telehealth Q&A with Lumina Health's Lucy Zielinski and Dan Marino

Wed, 06 May 2020 16:10:07 -0000

Lucy Zielinski and Dan Marino follow up on Zielinski's successful Virtual Conference presentation by tackling some of the most challenging aspects of telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic. Also in this episode, Christopher Dunkerley of sponsor TRIMEDX discusses his vision for better clinical asset management.

Advisory Board's Christopher Kerns: "There is nothing resembling normal."

Thu, 30 Apr 2020 00:14:51 -0000

Christopher Kerns of Advisory Board discusses what the first phase of coronavirus recovery will look like for healthcare organizations, what hospitals can do to manage clinician burnout and what the upcoming presidential election will mean for government sponsored healthcare. Also in this episode: HFMA Editor Nick Hut talks about how hospitals can preserve cash during the pandemic.

Revenue Cycle Strategies and Data Analytics

Wed, 22 Apr 2020 22:32:31 -0000

Nick Davis of the SSI Group discusses how building a culture of good patient financial communication can lead to better revenue cycle performance. HFMA Director Todd Nelson interviews Ryan Self from sponsor EPSi about how healthcare organizations can incorporate data analytics into their operations.

The CARES Act, Care Teams and FEMA

Sat, 18 Apr 2020 13:49:02 -0000

HFMA's Chad Mulvany talks about how stimulus funds could mean bad press for hospitals. Rick Kes and Matt Wolf from RSM discuss FEMA and the CARES Act. Aaron Bujnowski from the Chartis Group shares insights about how supporting care teams can fit into the financial strategic plan. Also in this episode: A special announcement from HFMA's Joe Fifer, Mary Mirabelli and Bill Casey and a call for questions for a special upcoming episode.

Bon Secours Mercy Health's Billie Jean Mounts Talks About Coronavirus Response

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 21:59:39 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer talks with Billie Jean Mounts from Bon Secours Mercy Health about how her organization has responded to the financial challenges presented by the coronavirus pandemic.

Consumerism in a Time of Coronavirus

Wed, 08 Apr 2020 23:59:33 -0000

Keith Gruebele of BHG Patient Lending discusses the importance of gentle but productive patient financial conversations in a time when the clinical and financial stakes are higher than ever. Also in this episode, two leaders from Luminis Health in Maryland share their story of consolidating their revenue cycle practices.

KPMG Provides Guidance on Financial Reporting During the Coronavirus Crisis

Wed, 01 Apr 2020 14:40:09 -0000

Ed Giniat, a partner at KPMG, discusses the challenges of financial reporting during the coronavirus crisis and the guidance his organization has issued on the topic.

The Latest on COVID-19, How Hospitals Can Bolster Their Communities, and Revenue Cycle Technology Opportunities

Wed, 25 Mar 2020 22:21:42 -0000

HFMA's Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany talk about the latest from Washington on the coronavirus. Scott Rowe of Conifer Health Solutions discusses revenue cycle technology, and Marla Weston, former CEO of the American Nurses Association, talks about everyday business practices that hospitals can use to bolster their communities. This episode is sponsored by GHX.

Visit our website for all the latest on the coronavirus.

Special Episode: Coronavirus Exclusive with CFO Tim Maurice of University of California at Davis Health System

Fri, 20 Mar 2020 01:39:17 -0000

UC Davis Medical Center made headlines recently when providers there treated the first case of community spread coronavirus in the United States. In this episode, CFO Tim Maurice speaks with Joe Fifer about the health system's experience in this unprecedented health crisis. Also in this episode, Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany discuss the latest coronavirus news from Washington, and HFMA's Todd Nelson shares five tips for employees who are working remotely for the first time.

Why Health Systems Should Be Watching Amazon and Walmart

Wed, 18 Mar 2020 11:00:00 -0000

Ceci Connolly of the Alliance of Community Health Plans talks with HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer about the slow move to value and why health systems should be watching outside disruptors. Also, HFMA Chair Mike Allen interviews Optum360's Todd Gustin.

Coronavirus, Walmart, and the Risks and Benefits of M&A

Wed, 11 Mar 2020 19:31:31 -0000

Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany cover the latest from Washington on the coronavirus, Joe Polaris of R1 RCM discusses how to reap the promised benefits of M&A and Rich Daly talks about his interview with Lisa Woods of Walmart.

Janie Wade on Consumerism, Value and Female Leadership

Wed, 04 Mar 2020 21:12:50 -0000

Joe Fifer interviews Janie Wade, CFO at SCL Health in Colorado. They discuss the future of value-based care, the importance of good consumerism strategies and how the industry is changing for women.

Joe Fifer on Consumerism: If Not Us, Who?

Wed, 26 Feb 2020 21:02:51 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer discusses the call to action he issued to members in the February issue of hfm magazine and HFMA's commitment to leading the consumerism charge. Aneesh Krishna of McKinsey & Company talks about how Medicaid expansion will affect provider organizations during the next recessional. Also: Denials by the numbers.

"Disrupt Yourself"

Wed, 19 Feb 2020 12:00:00 -0000

Matt Cox, CFO at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, Michigan, talks with HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer about pushing the envelope on consumerism and fostering relationships with businesses in the community.

How to Thrive During the Next Recession

Wed, 12 Feb 2020 21:40:58 -0000

Aneesh Krishna of McKinsey & Company discusses how successful healthcare organizations behave before, during and after an economic downturn. Also, Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany talk about surprise bills, and we list five things healthcare finance leaders should know about AI.

Ben Carter, COO of Trinity Health

Wed, 05 Feb 2020 23:36:44 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Ben Carter, COO of Michigan-based Trinity Health.

Answering the Consumer Call for Convenience

Wed, 29 Jan 2020 17:28:06 -0000

Emmet Conlon of TD Bank discusses strategies for providing convenient care. Also, Jason Williams of sponsor Change Healthcare talks about the challenges of AI in the revenue cycle, Rich and Chad discuss the coronavirus threat, and we provide five fast facts about ICD-11.

Judy Faulkner and Epic's Opposition to HHS's Interoperability Rule

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 14:23:20 -0000

Epic Founder and CEO Judy Faulkner made headlines last week with an email urging clients to join Epic in opposing a proposed rule from the Dept. of Health and Human Services (HHS) around information sharing. Citing privacy concerns on behalf of patients, Faulkner said she hopes to collaborate with HHS but also said Epic may sue if the final rule does not adequately address the company's concerns.

This special episode of Voices in Healthcare Finance includes HFMA's Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany discussing Faulkner's recent comments as well as HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer's interview with Faulkner, originally released in 2019. In that interview, Faulkner talked about her leadership philosophy and what it takes to launch an enterprise like Epic from the ground up.

Voices Presents: Mayo Clinic CFO Dennis Dahlen Talks with Joe Fifer

Wed, 22 Jan 2020 20:19:03 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer interviews Dennis Dahlen, CFO at Mayo Clinic, about heading up finance at one of the top healthcare institutions in the country. Dahlen discusses the importance of physician leaders, Mayo's commitment to a patient-centric environment and his role as a finance leader.

Joe Fifer on the State of Healthcare

Wed, 15 Jan 2020 21:00:47 -0000

Rich Daly interviews HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer about where he sees the industry going in 2020 and beyond. Also, Change Healthcare's Jason Williams discusses the opportunities of artificial intelligence technology, and Brad Dennison, HFMA's director of content strategy, talks about the redesign of hfm magazine. Get more of Joe's interview in the January issue of hfm.

Voices Presents: A Conversation with Mike Allen, HFMA's Chair and CFO at OSF HealthCare

Wed, 08 Jan 2020 19:58:44 -0000

In this episode, HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer debuts a series of conversations with health system CFOs. His inaugural interview is with Mike Allen, HFMA's 2019-2020 Chair and the CFO at OSF HealthCare in Peoria, Illinois.

The Future is Now: Change, AI and the Social Determinants of Health

Wed, 01 Jan 2020 12:00:00 -0000

In this special New Year's Day episode, we're thinking about HFMA's upcoming Annual Conference in San Antonio and looking back at HFMA's 2019 Annual Conference with four never-before-heard interviews. Kyle Hicok of Revint Solutions talks about change management; Michael Mercurio of the Partners Professional billing office discusses the opportunities and challenges of AI in the revenue cycle; and Trenor Williams of Socially Determined shares insights about the social determinants of health.

Learn more about the 2020 Annual Conference at annual.hfma.org.

Back to the Future of Revenue Cycle Parts I and II

Wed, 18 Dec 2019 20:55:53 -0000

In this special episode, we revisit two of our most popular episodes, in which Nicholas Mendyka of the University of Virginia Health System Medical Center talks about his vision for the revenue cycle of the future. Also, Mary Mirabelli, HFMA's vice president of content strategy and delivery, comes into the studio to talk about HFMA's Financial Sustainability Summit, happening April 16 and 17 in Denver.

Addressing the Social Determinants of Health

Wed, 04 Dec 2019 22:04:43 -0000

Nancy Johnson, CEO of El Rio Community Health Center in Tucson, talks about her organization’s processes for addressing the social determinants of health among its patient population. The interview is a follow-up to a panel discussion at HFMA's 2019 Thought Leadership Retreat (for much more on how healthcare stakeholders can address SDOH, see the report on this year’s retreat).

Also in this episode: insights on effective leadership of teams and pricing strategy objectives.

Price Transparency: What to Know About the CMS Final Rule

Wed, 20 Nov 2019 22:18:16 -0000

The podcast team breaks down the recently issued CMS final rule around price transparency. Also, a rural health system in South Dakota discusses how it transformed its revenue cycle by focusing on self-pay patients.

How to Kill Surprise Bills

Thu, 07 Nov 2019 01:23:28 -0000

David Shelton of PatientMatters talks about how the industry can eliminate surprise bills for good. Rich Daly interviews Paul Anderson from Strata Decision Technology about total cost of care. Also, five ways to engage millennial patients.

Check out this HFMA resource tracking trends and insights on understanding and utilizing total cost of care data:

www.hfma.org/tcoc

A Legislator, a Supply Chain Manager and a Productivity Expert Walk Into a Podcast

Wed, 23 Oct 2019 19:40:20 -0000

Keynote speaker and comedienne Jan McInnis shares tips for using humor in the workplace. Marty Lucenti of sponsor organization Vizient, and Stacy Brethauer of the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center talk about creating a clinically-integrated supply chain. HFMA's LMS Channel Manager Maegan Bishop provides five tips for being more productive.

Optimizing the Patient Experience in an Era of Consumerism

Wed, 09 Oct 2019 20:13:19 -0000

Nick Hut interviews Michelle Stansbury of Houston Methodist about her organization's work toward a better patient experience. Also: Katie Gilfillan, HFMA's director, healthcare finance policy, physician and clinical practice, joins Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany to talk about the major themes discussed at the Association's recent Thought Leadership Retreat in Washington, D.C. This episode is sponsored by Vizient, Inc.

Special Episode: CMS Transparency Effort Misses the Mark

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 20:11:34 -0000

On the day that public comments were due to CMS on its proposed rule that would require the controversial public release of rates hospitals negotiated with health plans, Joe Fifer, president and CEO of HFMA, and Chad Mulvany, director of health finance policy and analysis for HFMA, preview their comments to CMS. Learn about the promise and peril of the approach CMS is taking to this key transparency issue.

Marcus Whitney on the First Steps Toward Innovation

Wed, 25 Sep 2019 20:38:18 -0000

Health:Further's Marcus Whitney talks about the importance of narrative in innovation and why leaders to managers to staff should have a place at the table. HFMA's Chair, Mike Allen, whose theme is "Dare You to Move," interviews G Shah of sponsor organization Change Healthcare about how his company is daring to move the industry forward. Finally, sponsor CareCredit shares five ways to measure the patient financial experience.

Consumerism, Supply Chain Management, and Provider-Sponsored Health Plans

Wed, 11 Sep 2019 21:58:58 -0000

Jim Higgins of Solutionreach shares his thoughts about consumerism in healthcare, and Kenny Scher from Nexera discusses supply chain management. Also: five lessons on starting a provider-sponsored health plan.

The Hospital Impact of the 'Public Charge' Immigrant Rule

Wed, 28 Aug 2019 20:15:51 -0000

Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany discuss the impact the "public charge" rule will have on hospitals. Jim Zadoorian of ARXchange talks about a new approach to price transparency. Also, Strata Decision Technology provides five ways healthcare organizations can prepare for the future with strategic planning.

The Art and Science of EHR Upgrades

Wed, 14 Aug 2019 20:45:12 -0000

Jonce Smith of Stoltenberg Consulting discusses best practices to employ when conducting an electronic health record system upgrade. Also: five ways to address physician burnout.

EHRs, EDs, and the latest on OPPS

Wed, 31 Jul 2019 21:14:12 -0000

Stephen Morgan of Virginia's Carilion Clinic shares how his organization used analytics to optimize its EHR. Also: Chad Mulvany shares early takes on the latest from CMS on OPPS, and in a sponsored segment, Florian Otto of Cedar talks about what healthcare can learn from other industries about patient-friendly payment.

First, Last and Only: Seizing the Opportunity for Patient Financial Conversations

Wed, 17 Jul 2019 20:21:53 -0000

Eric Foust of IntegraConnect and Chris Watanabe, a former executive at the Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority, talk about the particular challenges of collecting patient information during an ambulance transport. Then, in a sponsored segment by CareCredit, senior vice president Tuck Ross will talk about the behavior and treatment of patients as consumers.

Episode links:

HFMA's Patient Financial Communications Best Practices

This week's sponsor: CareCredit

Master Disaster: Preparedness Tips from FEMA and HHS

Wed, 03 Jul 2019 19:55:53 -0000

Melissa Harvey of the National Healthcare Preparedness Program and Charles Reneau of the Center for Domestic Preparedness discuss how hospitals can better prepare for natural and man-made disasters. Plus a special appearance from amateur weatherman Frankie MacDonald.

Live from Orlando: HFMA's Annual Conference 2019

Wed, 26 Jun 2019 21:33:04 -0000

This episode, recorded June 23-26 at HFMA's Annual Conference in Orlando, features former HFMA president and CEO Dick Clarke and HFMA UK CEO Mark Knight as well as a sponsored interview with Accumen CEO Jeff Osborne. Also: HFMA's Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany consider Monday's executive order on price transparency.

Introducing the 'Cup of Joe' podcast

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 17:44:54 -0000

From the team that brings you Voices in Healthcare Finance comes Cup of Joe, a new podcast featuring conversations between HFMA's President and CEO, Joe Fifer, and key industry thought leaders.

In today’s preview episode, Joe talks with Gail Wilensky, PhD, an economist and senior fellow at Project HOPE who served as a senior adviser to President George H.W. Bush.

Watch the podcast feed at hfma.org to listen to the debut season this summer.

Lessons in Women's Leadership

Wed, 19 Jun 2019 20:55:22 -0000

Women from a panel discussion at HFMA's Annual Conference talk about their leadership experiences.

Driving Change with Analytics

Wed, 05 Jun 2019 20:35:01 -0000

Caroline Gay and Ray Ready from Florida's Lakeland Regional Health talk about common analytics traps. Also: The latest from Washington and five features of HFMA's all-new all-inclusive membership.

Reinventing Healthcare: The Future in a Technology-Driven System

Wed, 22 May 2019 17:14:37 -0000

HFMA President and CEO Joe Fifer discusses the Association's recently submitted letter in response to ONC's request for input on price transparency initiatives. Susan Dentzer, an author and keynote speaker at HFMA's upcoming Annual Conference, talks about the future of technology-enabled healthcare. Also, five key elements of an effective population health strategy.

Bundle Up: Developments in BPCI Advanced

Wed, 08 May 2019 20:51:57 -0000

Rich Daly interviews Michael Wolford, a senior manager at DHG Healthcare, about the early results of Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Advanced. Also, five reasons why health systems will need advanced cost accounting in a segment sponsored by Strata Decision Technology.

A Lannister Always Pays His Medical Debts (When Offered a Reasonable Payment Plan)

Wed, 24 Apr 2019 18:46:18 -0000

Pattie Kloehn of Healthwide Solutions and Bruce Haupt of ClearBalance describe trends in patient payment plans and detail how UConn Health achieved a 230% ROI on its own patient payment program. Also, five fast facts about revenue integrity.

HFMA's Patient Friendly Billing

A Proactive Approach to Revenue Cycle Management

How Providence St. Joseph Health Used Variation Analysis to Engage Physicians

Wed, 10 Apr 2019 19:59:03 -0000

Kevin Fleming and Caleb Stowell from Washington-based Providence St. Joseph Health talk about how their system addressed clinical variation. Also: Rich Daly and Chad Mulvany debut Beyond the News, a deep dive into a current hot topic in healthcare.

Achieving the Elusive ROI on an EHR

Wed, 27 Mar 2019 16:24:28 -0000

Navigant's David Burik discusses the challenges hospitals face with their electronic health records and how to maximize their systems to achieve an ROI. Also, five key elements to an effective analytics solution.

Episode links:

Death by a Thousand Clicks: Where Electronic Health Records Went Wrong

Return on Analytics: Addressing the Signals in the Noise

CVS, Virtual Platforms, and How Millennials are Disrupting the Industry

Wed, 13 Mar 2019 19:16:40 -0000

Chad Mulvany, HFMA's director of healthcare finance policy, perspectives and analysis, shares insights on technological developments that are disrupting the industry.

Episode links:

Healthcare Business News

HFMA Dollars & Sense

Hospitals Should Prepare for Industry Disruption by Empowered Consumers

Disruptive Partnerships and Innovation

Shall We Play a Game?

Wed, 27 Feb 2019 19:48:24 -0000

Computer hackers have been around almost as long as computers themselves, but the risks to healthcare organizations are growing. On today's episode, we explore cybersecurity in hospitals and health systems--what information hackers want, what to do after a breach occurs, and how to avoid one in the first place.

Links:

Safeguarding Electronic Protected Health Information: A Non-Technie Guide for Healthcare Leaders

Low-Cost Strategies to Strengthen Cybersecurity

CFOs Play a Key Role in Cybersecurity Planning

The Future of Revenue Cycle (Part 2)

Wed, 13 Feb 2019 18:13:00 -0000

Nicholas Mendyka of the University of Virginia Health System Medical Center discusses price transparency, and HFMA director Todd Nelson talks about the revenue cycle of tomorrow. Also: five things patients can do to avoid surprise bills (and why hospitals should tell them).

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Avoiding Surprises in Your Medical Bills

Imagine Tomorrow's Revenue Cycle at HFMA's Revenue Cycle Conference, March 20-22 in Austin, Texas

The Future of Revenue Cycle (Part 1)

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 17:07:00 -0000

Nicholas Mendyka of the University of Virginia Health System Medical Center talks about the necessary coordination between clinical and financial for future revenue cycle success. Also: five key considerations for organization integration.

Disruptive Partnerships and Innovation

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 19:04:52 -0000

HFMA director Chad Mulvany discusses innovative disruption in the industry. Also: a Connecticut health system discusses mandatory e-prescribing of controlled substances.

2019: The Year of the Healthcare Consumer

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 15:05:10 -0000

Rick Gundling, HFMA's vice president of healthcare financial practice, discusses top challenges and opportunities in 2019 for healthcare finance leaders.

Around the World in 40 Weeks: Maternity Care Outside the U.S.

Fri, 14 Dec 2018 21:18:00 -0000

Olakunle Olaniyan, MD, MBA, FHFMA, president of Case Management Covenants, discusses what the United States can learn from other countries when it comes to maternity care. Also: an interview with Matt Houston of GHX about adoption of automated payment processes and five fast facts about hospital mergers and acquisitions. Sponsored by GHX.

You Should Talk: Opportunities for Patient Financial Conversations

Mon, 03 Dec 2018 20:25:21 -0000

Kristen Mazurek of Geisinger Health talks about the challenge of conversations with inpatients for whom care is not routine. Also, the latest healthcare finance news and key performance indicators for value-based payment.

What Midterm Elections Mean for Health Care

Wed, 14 Nov 2018 21:26:28 -0000

Rich Daly interviews Rick Gundling, HFMA's senior vice president of healthcare financial practices, about the results of the midterm elections.

A Clean (Hospital) Bill of Health

Fri, 26 Oct 2018 18:38:32 -0000

Kristen Mazurek, manager of patient financial services at Geisinger Health, talks about the hospital revenue cycle. Also, the latest healthcare finance news.

Handling Patient Financial Conversations in High-Stress ED Scenarios

Fri, 12 Oct 2018 22:17:36 -0000

John DeZulovich, director of patient financial services, St. Clair Hospital, shares best practices for financial conversations in the emergency department. Plus, HFMA news and the "Fast Five" on avoiding emergency department denials.

An Inside View of Hospital Disaster Preparedness

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 14:07:11 -0000

In this full-length interview, a Houston-based hospital CEO shares memories of Hurricane Harvey and his organization’s strategies for successfully maintaining operations.

Be Prepared: Two Ways Healthcare Providers Plan for the Unexpected

Wed, 26 Sep 2018 14:08:31 -0000

Privia Health's senior vice president of revenue cycle management discusses physician practice strategies for effective patient financial conversations before service delivery, and in another type of "preparedness," a hospital CEO shares memories of Hurricane Harvey and the steps his facility took to maintain operations.

What to Expect When You Are Expecting

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 15:57:36 -0000

Welcome to Voices in Healthcare Finance. If you’ve listened to our podcast before, you’ll no doubt notice some differences in today’s episode. That’s because today, we’re debuting a brand new version of the podcast.

From now on, we’ll begin each episode with the latest healthcare business news, then deliver provider stories and practical advice for healthcare finance leaders like you. We’ll release new episodes every other Wednesday with occasional bonus episodes that go in depth about a particular topic.

On today’s episode, we begin a series that focuses on best practices in the revenue cycle. Then, we’ll discuss key opportunities to educate patients about their financial obligations.

Sneak Peek: The New HFMA Voices in Healthcare Finance Podcast

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 14:12:19 -0000

Voices in Healthcare Finance will debut a new format on September 5. In this sneak peek, Erika Grotto interviews Sandra Wolfskill, one of HFMA's directors of healthcare finance policy, for the first installment of a six-part series about patient communication and the revenue cycle. Sound editing by Julian Suga and Bryan Kuhn.