3 Ways to Use Hospital Price Transparency Data for Competitive Advantage

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by John Harris, Director
and Clare O'Mara, Senior Associate

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Shifting a $1 trillion dollar industry from confidential contracts to publicly published pricing is a massive transformation. In the middle of recovering from the COVID-19 crisis, hospitals are responding to this transformation. Background: The hospital price transparency rules require consumer-friendly tools to help individuals shop for hospital services based on price. They also require hospitals […]

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The Surgery Shift from Inpatient – Assessing the Financial Impact

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by Mark J. Dubow, Director
and Meredith Inniger, Manager

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Surgery has long been a key driver of hospital profitability. Effectively handling the new Medicare outpatient surgery rule[1] and subsequent care shift to outpatient settings is critical to long term financial success. This rule includes several important policy changes, most notably the elimination of the Inpatient Only List on a phased schedule through CY2024 when […]

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Choosing the Optimal Strategic Relationships

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by Mark Dubow, Director
and John Harris, Director

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Your organization’s near-term success is dependent on emerging from COVID in full sprint to address critical strategic initiatives and new opportunities. Strategic relationships can provide access to capabilities, expertise and speed to market that are superior to a “build” or “buy” approach. While traditional relationships (other hospitals/systems, health plans, etc.) offer a degree of support, […]

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Taking Virtual Meetings to the Next Level: 7 Tips for Facilitation

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by John Harris Director
and Meredith Inniger, Manager

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Are you deciding whether to hold a virtual retreat/meeting or to postpone until it can be in person? Virtual retreats can be very effective, preparing your organization for quicker action when the pandemic clears. Remote meetings will continue well into 2021, and maybe beyond as work models and meeting expectations shift. How can you effectively […]

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3 Questions Every System Should Answer Following the Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective and ASC Payment System Final Rule

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by Lynda Mischel, Principal
and Meredith Inniger, Manager

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One of the most impactful final rules released by CMS in recent months is the CY 2021 Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgical Center Payment System Final Rule (CMS-1736-FC). This rule includes several important policy changes, most notably the elimination of the Inpatient Only List on a phased schedule through CY2024 (when […]

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Designing the Right Healthcare Service Line Governance Structure: 4 Key Considerations

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by Lynda Mischel, Principal


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Prior to the coronavirus pandemic, healthcare CEOs ranked financial challenges (e.g., reducing the operating costs for staff and supplies, declining reimbursement) and increasing competition from other providers, among the top issues facing hospitals. But with coronavirus expenses straining hospital budgets, in 2020, a new element, service line optimization has become critical to hospitals’ ability to […]

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COVID-19: Scaling Ambulatory Services to Maximize Volumes While Controlling Costs

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by Lynda Mischel, Principal
and Meredith Inniger, Manager

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The pandemic has placed significant constraints on capacity, making volume growth, or simply maintaining normally budgeted volume levels, a formidable challenge. Organizations must implement novel clinical and administrative workflows that allow for the most efficient use of provider and patient time, ensure patient and staff safety, and drive bottom line performance. Many have opened services […]

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Creating a Business Plan to Define the Value of Virtual Care

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by Lynda Mischel, Principal
and Caroline Polales, Senior Associate

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The pandemic provided an initial introduction to virtual care for many, and most patients and providers have responded positively, embracing its convenience. Health systems, hospitals, and other providers now need to take the time to develop a business plan that identifies opportunities to optimize virtual care platforms, drive revenue and adapt practices to effectively meet […]

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Address “Sacred Cows” to Get Past COVID-19 Shock

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by Mark J. Dubow, Director
and John Harris, Director

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Every organization has sacred cows. The financial challenge from COVID-19 calls for large scale improvements. This has emboldened our clients to address sacred cows, making tough changes that were unthinkable a few months ago.  The time to act is now! Sacred cows to consider include: Underperforming Assets: Every organization has some assets that perform significantly […]

Posted in Strategy & Planning