Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/501108
Save the date! CEO Roundtable + CFO/CIO Roundtable — November 18-19, 2015 — Chicago. Please call 800-417-2035 to register. 13 coverage options and how to enroll. The program has seen its fair share of controversy, with some states passing laws to regulate navigators' work and some brokers and insurance agents viewing the navigator program as a business threat, according to a Health Affairs report. 23. Open payments By requiring physicians and teaching hospitals to report on payments from drug, medical device and biologics companies, the Open Payments program aims to create greater transparency around the financial relationships of these entities. Almost immediately after the Open Payments website launched in September 2014, physicians said the database included incorrect information that was giving the public the wrong impression. In January, CMS officials said there were going to be major changes made to the program, and the entirety of 2014's data is expected to be available by June 2015. 24. Patient experience Hospitals and systems are focused on distinguishing themselves by providing a great patient experience. The patient experience is made up of each and every interaction a patient has with a healthcare organization and how they perceive those interactions before, during and after they receive care. 25. Pay for performance The major transition occurring in the healthcare industry that involves com- pensating providers based on the quality of care they provide rather than quantity isn't anything new, but it continues to be the center of many conver- sations and debates in the industry. 26. Personal health information With hackers targeting healthcare organizations to gain access to patient in- formation and strict rules surrounding the protection of it, safeguarding pa- tient health information is a major focus of the healthcare industry this year. 27. Population health In its truest form, population health refers to the health of an entire popula- tion of a geographic location — not just the people inside a hospital or physi- cian's office. Whether focused on patients with a specific chronic condition or those assigned to a particular ACO, population health allows providers to target a defined group of patients and work to improve their health out- comes. Population health also relates to the social determinants of health, not just medical care. 28. Tourism Medical tourism is a growing phenomenon, attracting those seeking lower medical costs as well as people wanting to turn getting medical care into a vacation-like experience. It is estimated that more than 1 million Americans went abroad for care in 2014, according to a CNN report. Many medical tourism professionals have their eyes on Cuba this year, as it may become the next hot spot for Americans seeking healthcare abroad, according to The New York Times. 29. Transparency As consumers become more involved in their healthcare and take on more re- sponsibility for paying for it, there has been a major push for more transpar- ency in the industry. From making procedure prices available online to pub- lishing quality scores, the healthcare industry has responded to the pressure. 30. Value Value is defined as outcomes relative to costs, or health outcomes achieved per dollar spent. There has been a lot of chatter around this term in recent years. With the increasing popularity of value-based payment models, this term has become patient-centric and will continue to become even more pa- tient focused in coming years. n www.hfgusa.com YOU CHOOSE A SPECIALIST FOR YOUR HEALTH DO THE SAME FOR YOUR FINANCING The Premier Middle-Market Lender to the Healthcare Industry Healthcare Finance Group, LLC A FIFTHSTREET ® Portfolio Company