Here are 15 articles published by Becker's Hospital Review in December that offer insight on hospital bankruptcies, revenue cycle management challenges, CMS' mandatory cardiac bundle and more.
1. 3 factors that could influence hospital bankruptcies in 2017
The number of hospital bankruptcy filings may increase in 2017, as providers struggle with a challenging reimbursement landscape, higher supplies costs and the uncertainty surrounding the ACA.
2. How CHS, Tenet, UHS, LifePoint and HCA fared financially in 2016
Five major for-profit hospital operators produced mixed financial results through the first three quarters of 2016.
3. Moody's maintains stable outlook on nonprofit hospital sector
Moody's Investors Service maintained its stable outlook on the nonprofit healthcare and hospital sector. The outlook reflects Moody's expectation that cash flow growth in this sector over the next year will be modest compared to the previous two years.
4. 11 hospitals with strong finances
A roundup of 11 hospitals and health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions according to recent reports from Moody's Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings.
5. How to navigate growing RCM challenges in healthcare
Hospitals and health systems across the country are faced with many revenue cycle management challenges, some of which are caused by the industry transitioning to value-based payment models and the increasing popularity of high deductible health plans.
6. 10 hospital bankruptcies in 2016
From increased competition to reimbursement landscape challenges, many factors led hospitals and health systems to file for bankruptcy in 2016.
7. Fitch issues stable outlook for US healthcare
Fitch Ratings' outlook on the healthcare sector is stable, as the sector faces a low risk of deteriorating fundamentals but high levels of event risk due to regulatory and political uncertainty.
8. CMS finalizes cardiac bundle, expands CJR: 10 things to know
CMS released a rule that finalizes a mandatory bundled payment program for heart attacks and bypass surgeries and expands the existing Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model.
9. A state-by-state breakdown of 80 rural hospital closures
Of the 25 states that have seen at least one rural hospital close since 2010, those with the most closures are located in the South, according to research from the North Carolina Rural Health Research Program.
10. RAC improper payment recoveries plunge 91%
The Recovery Audit Contractor program, which has a mission to correct improper Medicare payments by identifying and collecting over- and underpayments, saw a substantial slump in recoveries in fiscal year 2015, according to a CMS report.
11. Hospitals struggle with collection rates amid increase in patient out-of-pocket costs, data show
Due to the rising popularity of high deductible health plans, patients are taking on more financial responsibility for their care. Healthcare providers are struggling with collection rates as they try to adapt to increasing patient financial responsibility, according to Crowe Horwath's hospital benchmarking data.
12. Nearly half of cancer patients report higher out-of-pocket costs than expected
Many cancer patients have higher out-of-pocket costs than expected, and most don't discuss healthcare costs with their provider prior to treatment, according to a study from the Cancer Support Community.
13. 5 children's hospitals with strong finances
A roundup of five children's hospitals with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions according to recent reports from Moody's Investors Service.
14. 3 healthcare M&A predictions for 2017
There has been an increase in hospital consolidation in recent years, and that trend is expected to continue into 2017.
15. ACA repeal would trigger $166B loss for hospitals by 2026 — 3 things to know from AHA, FAH
Hospitals would take a $165.8 billion loss on net income if the ACA were repealed without replacement, according to a report commissioned by the Federation of American Hospitals and the American Hospital Association.
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