Oregon Releases First Report on State Healthcare Transformation Plan

The Oregon Health Authority has issued its first quarterly report that sets benchmarks for key health and financial metrics for the Oregon Health Plan. Data in the report will allow Oregon to examine progress toward reducing the trend of state Medicaid spending by 2 percent by the end of 2014. Read more here.

HFMA Analysis: If Oregon’s experiment using coordinated care organizations (CCOs) for the Medicaid population is shown to reduce cost while maintaining or improving quality, HFMA would expect that other states will emulate it to align incentives between payers and providers to reduce cost and improve quality outcomes. Under this model, in addition to deploying medical homes and other traditional interventions to manage high-risk populations, the CCOs will incorporate “nontraditional healthcare workers” (e.g., personal health navigators and community health workers) to address socioeconomic barriers to improved quality.

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2013-14 HFMA Chair's Theme

2013–14 HFMA CHAIR STEVEN P. ROSE, FHFMA, CPA

In health care today, we all need to do whatever it takes to provide high-quality care at a lower cost in an environment where delivering value is more important than ever. That means pitching in and working together to accomplish tasks or solve problems that are not typically within the finance domain. Such opportunities present themselves in a myriad of small ways every day.   More......

HFMA Membership Renewal

We value your commitment to HFMA. To continue your member benefits, please watch your e-mail and your mailbox for valuable information on renewal of your membership. You can also renew online or by calling (800) 252-4362, ext. 2.

Oklahoma Tornado Tests Area Hospitals

Oklahoma City-area hospitals were tested by the sudden and high volume of injuries, from bruises to broken bones to open wounds, resulting from the May 20 tornado that devastated the area, according to multiple reports. Read more here.

HFMA is encouraging that its members support disaster relief in the area bydonating to the American Red Cross.

HFMA Comments on Medicare Part B Inpatient Hospital Billing, RAC Program

HFMA strongly supports efforts by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to identify improper payments within CMS-administered programs, but believes the recovery audit contractor (RAC) program “is counterproductive to the principles of a reformed payment system,” according to a comment letter HFMA sent to CMS. Read more here.

CMS Opens Bundled Payment Model to More Hospitals

Additional hospitals can apply to participate in Model 1 of the Bundled Payments for Care Improvement initiative, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) announced recently. Read more here.