Here are the 10 most-read finance stories Becker's Hospital Review published in the past year. Cutting costs, coping with Medicare reimbursement changes and dealing with the fallout of political conflict concerning the federal budget were all big issues for hospitals and health systems in 2013.
1. Top 20 Most Expensive Inpatient Conditions
The total cost of hospital stays in 2011 totaled about $387 billion, but which inpatient conditions were most expensive?
2. 9 Ingenious Ways to Cut Costs at Your Hospital
When it comes to the cost side of a hospital's financial equation, there are two rudimentary routes executives can explore.
3. 10 Things to Know About the Two-Midnight Rule
In the 2014 Medicare inpatient prospective payment system final rule, CMS included a new regulation for hospitals and health systems: the two-midnight rule.
4. The Two-Midnight Rule: What Hospitals and Health Systems Need to Know About Compliance
During a Dec. 3 webinar, industry experts discussed what hospitals and health systems need to know about the Medicare two-midnight rule.
5. What Does the Government Shutdown Mean for Hospital Finances?
The dance between House Republicans and the Senate to complete a budget came to an unfruitful end in October, resulting in the first shutdown of the federal government in the past 17 years.
6. Beat Buyer's Remorse: 18 Wasteful Hospital Purchases to Avoid
In some cases, the answer to keeping costs low may have less to do with better budgeting and more to do with bypassing or greatly lessening certain purchases.
7. 10 Overlooked Opportunities for Hospital Cost Savings
Reducing expenses continues to be a top priority for hospitals and health systems, and there are several untapped performance areas where hospitals can find millions in cost savings.
8. For-Profit Hospital Breakdown: What to Know About the 10 Largest Companies
During the past year, some of the biggest healthcare news headlines have come from the nation's for-profit hospital companies.
9. 50 Statistics on the Costliest Patients and U.S. Health Expenses
It's known that patients with the most expensive chronic conditions consume the largest amount of healthcare in the United States, but just how much do these "super utilizers" consume?
10. Study: Single-Payer Health System Feasible, Could Save $1.8 Trillion in 10 Years
A study shows that expanding Medicare to every American citizen would not only achieve universal coverage and trillions in savings, but it's also feasible to implement based on legislation that has already been proposed.
More Articles on Hospital Finance:
President Obama Signs 2014 Budget Bill: What It Means for Hospitals
How to Reduce Costs and Improve Quality: 4 Tips From St. Vincent's Medical Center CFO John Gleckler
3 Revenue Cycle Improvement Lessons From Methodist Health System