Healthcare Associations

This page includes news coverage of primary healthcare business and policy setting associations. Find news specific to each organization by following these links: American Hospital Association (AHA), American Medical Association (AMA), College of American Pathologists (CAP), Healthcare Information Management Systems Society (HIMSS), College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA), and the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA). Find focused news coverage for Cardiology societies or Radiology associations.

‘Concerning’ data connect industry payments to cardiologists with medical device use
U.S. physicians often receive payments from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. New research in JAMA found a connection between receiving such payments and using specific devices—should the industry be concerned?
AMGA condemns FTC ban on noncompetes in healthcare
The healthcare employers’ trade group said a nationwide ban on noncompete contracts will stifle investment in new technologies.
Critics call out ‘woefully inadequate’ CMS proposal for inpatient Medicare payments
CMS has issued its proposed rule for the 2025 Medicare hospital inpatient prospective payment system, suggesting a payment increase of 2.6%. According to the American Hospital Association, this update would not be enough at a time when hospitals are already struggling to stay open.
Falls, infections much more likely among Medicare patients treated at private equity-owned hospitals
Private equity is becoming more and more influential in many healthcare specialties, including cardiology. This has prompted increased speculation about the impact such investments may have on patient outcomes.
AMA takes physicians’ collective temperature on current, planned use of AI
For AI to achieve sweeping adoption across U.S. medicine, physicians will need to be assured they won’t be held liable should clinical algorithms make mistakes.

HFMA 2017: Provider-payor collaboration limited by phone calls, administrative waste

Providers and payors want to work together on transitioning to value-based care. What gets in the way is poor communication and time wasted on redundant administrative tasks, according to a Availity survey released at the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) conference in Orlando.

June 23, 2017

HFMA 2017: Patientco’s Alan Nalle on how predictive modeling can improve patient billing

Predictive modeling has been shown to help providers assess patient risk for a variety of conditions—which is how the vast majority of hospitals and health systems have been utilizing it.

June 23, 2017

HFMA 2017: Bryan Health’s Carol Friesen takes over as HFMA chair

The annual Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) conference includes the induction of the organization’s new board chair, its chief elected officer. For 2017-18, the position belongs to Carol Friesen, MPH, vice president of health system services at Bryan Health in Lincoln, Nebraska.

June 23, 2017

Mark Spinner, President and CEO of AccessOne

HFMA 2017: Q&A with AccessOne CEO Mark Spinner on RCM, patient satisfaction

Patients are increasingly basing decisions about their care on concerns about high deductibles and rising out of pocket costs. This in turn affects how satisfied they are with their care, which means revenue cycle management (RCM) shouldn’t ignore a patient’s difficulties in paying their bills.

June 22, 2017

The push toward utilizing IoT

The “internet of things” (IoT) is the bright future of connected technology, yet remains underutilized by healthcare organizations. In a preview presentation by Paul Perry, director of Warren Averett security services, IoT is highlighted for is benefits with connected health.

June 22, 2017

HFMA 2017 preview: What the ‘internet of things’ can do for healthcare finance

The “internet of things,” or IoT, is in its infancy everywhere in healthcare, according to Warren Averett security services director Paul Perry. For those on the finance side of hospitals and health systems, he says this connected technology offers great opportunity to those who realize its potential.

June 21, 2017

HealthFirst Financial Again Earns Prestigious HFMA Peer-Review Designation for Its Affordable Patient Financing Programs

HealthFirst Financial, a national leader in patient financing, has earned for the second time the prestigious Peer Review by HFMA designation, keeping the company on the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s Short List of “high value, high quality healthcare business solutions.”

June 20, 2017

HFMA 2017: How Yale New Haven Health found ‘improved quality means improved margin’

The shift from volume to value isn’t an easy transition for healthcare, but data can make all the difference, especially for a large system which often takes in complex patients from other facilities, which was the case for Yale New Haven Health System.

June 19, 2017

Around the web

Cardiovascular Business

‘Concerning’ data connect industry payments to cardiologists with medical device use

U.S. physicians often receive payments from medical device manufacturers and pharmaceutical companies. New research in JAMA found a connection between receiving such payments and using specific devices—should the industry be concerned?

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiology groups share key update: ABMS seeking feedback on proposed Board of Cardiovascular Medicine

Five of the largest U.S. medical societies focused on cardiovascular health are one step closer to seeing their paradigm-shifting proposal become a reality.

Cardiovascular Business

Cardiologists, thoracic surgeons applaud FTC’s ban of most noncompete clauses

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions and Society of Thoracic Surgeons have both shared statements in support of the ban, which is already being challenged in court. The American Hospital Association, meanwhile, opposes the policy shift, saying it “errs by seeking to create a one-size-fits-all rule”