Healthcare Happenings

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on September 17, 2008 at 12:04pm

In my hunt for billing procedures, I stumbled across a really cool company. Hello Health allows patients to use email, instant message, text or video chat to address a quick question he or she might have. Think prescription refills for example.

In describing what Hello Health is, their web site writes:

"Our doctors love the Internet and use it just like you do. We believe it's a vital tool that we can use to talk with you, to explain complicated medical problems, and to keep you as healthy as possible between your in-person visit."

More to come on Hello Health soon.

Quick sidenote, you do have to be a member for service.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on September 17, 2008 at 12:06pm

Check this blog out too for more Health 2.0 news.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on September 23, 2008 at 9:46am

The IRS has incorporated HFMA's Statement 15 guidance for reporting bad debt. This guidance is attached to the updated version of Form 990. By 2009, the entire Schedule H must be completed.

Will this help bad debt reporting? I'd like to hear your thoughts.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on October 1, 2008 at 2:07pm

Fitch Ratings released a report that said for-profit hospitals’ collections are stable and/or improving for many providers. “The threat of economic weakness did not translate into increased bad debt expense for the hospital industry during the second quarter,” the report reports.

I spoke with Lauren Coste, Fitch Ratings healthcare analyst and report contributor, a few days back to discuss how providers are staying afloat. Coste relayed some of the reasons why, which include:

-Providers are strengthening their collections efforts.

-More providers are collecting upfront to ensure payments are made.

-Some providers are offering more charity care, which eliminates bad debt from happening in the first place.

Although for-profit hospitals seem to be weathering the economic storm, it doesn’t mean it will last. Coste says the second part of this year might not run as smoothly. If unemployment takes a hike, providers could feel the pinch.

Click here to see the full report.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on October 8, 2008 at 9:11am

See what the presidential candidates are saying about their healthcare policies. Click here.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on October 8, 2008 at 11:33am

A new web site is launching addressing business, financial, R&D and regulatory information on the med-tech industry. Check it out here.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on October 10, 2008 at 9:04am

Hospitals are seeing a rise in the uninsured and underinsured populations, reports TransUnion in its latest healthcare survey. This results in increased bad debt and a greater strain on charity programs.

"When ranking business issues in order of concern, treating and managing the uninsured and underinsured, collection processes at both the front- and back-end of the revenue cycle and dealing with higher co-pays and deductibles were the top three among hospitals surveyed, garnering 69 percent, 18 percent and 14 percent of responses, respectively."

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on October 21, 2008 at 10:09am

Check Jay Parkinson's blog out. He's the brains behind Hello Health. There is also a great profile on him in the latest issue of Good.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on October 30, 2008 at 9:25am

Here is an interesting article about health care providers concerns over incentive programs as it relates to the government Medicare audit program.

Comment by Mary Wisniewski on December 8, 2008 at 2:55pm

Click here for a video about Hello Health.

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