Today's Top 20 Health Finance Stories
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Viewpoint: Big data, analytics can help physicians cut claim denials
Physician practices seeking to improve efficiency and accuracy of billing and collections by reducing claim denials should focus on using big data and predictive analytics, according to Karun Philip, PhD, president and co-founder of healthcare technology company Tranquilmoney. - 7/16/18 -
Sustainability: How hospitals contribute to the long-term health and success of communities
Sustainability has gained attention in hospitals as changing market dynamics drive hospitals and health systems toward long-term financial strategies. - 7/16/18 -
US healthcare prices reflect huge administrative costs: 6 statistics
The complexity and high costs of treating U.S. patients is well known, but administrative costs also play a large role in healthcare financing. While these costs may be less obvious than patient care-related expenses, they are high, reports The New York Times. - 7/16/18 -
Wisconsin hospital identifies caller ID billing scam
Individuals reported receiving calls from someone claiming to be an official from Eau Claire, Wis.-based HSHS Sacred Heart Hospital requesting payment for a service their relative needed, according to The Dunn County News. - 7/16/18 -
Shares of CHS hit new low
Shares of Franklin, Tenn.-based Community Health Systems closed July 13 at $2.86, their lowest closing price ever and down 2 percent from the day prior. - 7/16/18 -
For-profit hospital stock report: Week of July 9-13
Three of the five major for-profit hospital operators saw their stock prices rise last week. - 7/16/18 -
CMS proposes to cut Medicaid payments for some third parties
CMS issued a proposed rule July 10 to eliminate regulatory text from 2014 that allows states to reassign Medicaid payments to third parties on behalf of an individual provider, according to the proposed rule. - 7/13/18 -
Hospitals to get 1.8% payment increase on end-stage renal disease treatment
Hospital-based end-stage renal disease facilities are slated to get a 1.8 percent payment hike in 2019, according to a proposed rule CMS issued July 11. - 7/13/18 -
Some 340B hospitals pocket savings meant for low-income patients, says GAO report
Sixteen out of 28 hospitals the Government Accountability Office recently surveyed were not providing patients discounts at pharmacies as intended under the 340B Drug Discount Program, according to USA Today. - 7/13/18 -
Suspension of risk-adjustment payments won't affect ACA health insurers' ratings, Fitch says
Earlier this month, the Trump administration suspended risk-adjustment payments to ACA insurers that help subsidize the cost of these insurers accepting high-cost patients by transferring money from insurers with fewer high-cost members. - 7/13/18 -
9 hospital closures in 2018 so far
From reimbursement landscape challenges to dwindling patient volumes, many factors lead hospitals to close. - 7/13/18 -
14 recent hospital, health system outlook and credit rating actions
The following hospital and health system credit rating and outlook changes and affirmations occurred in the last week, beginning with the most recent. - 7/13/18 -
California behavioral health system to close, lacks funds to pay employees
Amid worsening financial troubles and an ongoing federal investigation, San Clemente, Calif.-based addiction treatment provider Sovereign Health will close its doors and is unable to pay employees, according to a memo sent to staff obtained by The Orange County Register. - 7/13/18 -
4 recent RCM service expansions
Here are four revenue cycle management service expansions involving healthcare vendors and providers implemented or announced in July: - 7/13/18 -
West Virginia hospital taps Meperia to improve supply chain, RCM
Charleston (W.Va.) Area Medical Center Health System, a 956-bed, regional referral center, picked Meperia's strategic sourcing solution to deploy across its hospitals. - 7/13/18 -
CareCloud rolls out Spanish version of patient experience management software
CareCloud, a provider of revenue cycle management, practice management, EHR and patient experience management solutions, has introduced the Spanish version of its patient experience management platform, Breeze. - 7/13/18 -
S&P upgrades Saratoga Hospital to 'A'
S&P Global Ratings upgraded Saratoga Springs, N.Y.-based Saratoga Hospital's long-term and underlying rating to "A" from "A-." - 7/13/18 -
Fitch affirms 'BBB-' on Wright Memorial Hospital
Fitch Ratings affirmed its "BBB-" rating on Trenton, Mo.-based Wright Memorial Hospital's series 2009 revenue bonds, affecting $26 million of debt. - 7/13/18 -
Moody's affirms 'A2' rating on Southwest General Health Center
Moody's Investors Service affirmed its "A2" rating on Middleburg Heights, Ohio-based Southwest General Health Center, affecting about $153 million of debt. - 7/13/18 -
CMS releases proposed physician payment rule for 2019: 6 things to know
CMS issued its annual update to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule July 12, which includes a proposal to pay physicians for their time when they check in with Medicare beneficiaries via telephone or other telecommunications devices to decide if an office visit or other service is needed. - 7/13/18