Financial/Revenue Cycle Management

Robert DeMichiei outlines the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s journey toward activity-based costing as a means for survival in new world of CMS bundles and capitation. 

Healthcare IT News took the pulse of its Best Hospital IT Departments 2016 winners and found that progress on these fronts is fluctuating – from ‘dabbling’ today to leading-edge work toward next-generation care delivery.

The provider tapped an EHR-based care management tool to cut readmissions by 30 percent, HIMSS said.

Even though insurers and employers have tried to nudge consumers toward using retail health clinics for minor incidents, new research found a very slight decrease in ED visits, but only among privately insured patients.  

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center CIO John Halamka advised providers to stay the course on MACRA, while iHealth partner Justin Barnes agreed that major changes are unlikely. But Robert Tennant of the MGMA cautioned that we won’t know until Trump takes over.

Survey responses range from massive disruption to more competitive markets. Hospital leaders are hoping that prices go down but alternative payment models MACRA, MIPS and the Medicare Shared Savings Program remain. 

Researchers said that testing for venous thromboembolisms can be both an unnecessary expense and in some cases harmful to patients. 

CEO Jay Deady says that the new money will go toward product development of its revenue cycle technologies.

The event will focus on how providers are using health IT to improve revenue cycle, control costs, improve workflow, boost collections and ultimately increase sustainability. 

What would happen if we repealed the Affordable Care Act? David Blumenthal, MD, president of the Commonwealth Fund, told attendees at Maine Health Management Coalition and Maine Medical Association Symposium on Oct. 27.