Medicare reimbursement, Walgreens' $1.1 billion forecasting error and the question of whether hospitals should provide charity care to those who decline insurance coverage captured the attention of Becker's Hospital Review finance readers this week. The following five stories were among the most-viewed on BeckersHospitalReview.com:
1. 100 things to know about Medicare reimbursement
This list sheds some light on the many facets of and issues surrounding Medicare reimbursement in the form of 100 things to know, covering everything from the latest update to the Inpatient Prospective Payment System to the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement Initiative.
2. Walgreen execs step down following billion-dollar Medicare business projection mistake
Two Walgreen Co. executives stepped down in the wake of an abrupt $1.1 billion cut in the company's pharmacy-unit earnings forecast for fiscal year 2016.
3. Should hospitals provide charity care to those who decline health coverage?
Some hospitals across the country are scaling back their charity care programs to help encourage those who qualify to sign up for coverage under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
4. 5 hospitals receive downgrades in past month
Five hospitals and health systems received a credit downgrade during the past month, according to a report from HFA Partners.
5. Cleveland Clinic Q2 operating margin declines to 4.8%
The Cleveland Clinic Health System's operating margin dipped from 5.5 percent during the second quarter of 2013 to 4.8 percent in the second quarter of this year, as inpatient admissions declined by 4.7 percent and operating expenses rose by 1.3 percent.
More articles on hospital finance:
How electronic transactions could save healthcare $8B: 6 areas of opportunity
Rush University Medical Center operating margin holds steady in FY 2014
Fitch upgrades Stanly Health Services' bond rating to "A"