Trinity Health revenue increases, but operating margin shrinks

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/trinity-health-revenue-increases-but-operating-margin-shrinks.html

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Trinity Health saw revenue increase in fiscal year 2016, but higher expenses caused the Livonia, Mich.-based system’s operating margin to decline.

Trinity reported revenue of $16.3 billion in FY 2016, a 14 percent year-over-year increase from revenue of $14.3 billion in FY 2015, according to recently released audited financial documents.

Higher expenses offset the system’s revenue growth. Trinity reported operating expenses of $16.2 billion in FY 2016, up 16.7 percent from FY 2015. The system’s acquisitions of Syracuse, N.Y.-based based Saint Joseph’s Hospital Health Center and Hartford, Conn.-based Saint Francis Care accounted for $1.4 billion, or 10.3 percent, of the year-over-year growth in expenses. Trinity also reported higher costs related to salaries and wages, supplies and purchased services.

The system ended FY 2016 with operating income of $46.4 million, down from $457.7 million in the year prior. Excluding asset impairment charges and a premium revenue adjustment, Trinity recorded operating income of $151.3 million in FY 2016, down from operating income of $470 million in FY 2015. Trinity recorded an operating margin of .9 percent in the most recent fiscal year, compared to an operating margin of 3.3 percent in FY 2015.

The key factors affecting 2017 hospital budgets from 2 CFOs

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/the-key-factors-affecting-2017-hospital-budgets-from-2-cfos.html

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California hospital owner files for bankruptcy

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/california-hospital-owner-files-for-bankruptcy.html

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West Contra Costa Healthcare District, which owns shuttered Doctors Medical Center in San Pablo, Calif., filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection Oct. 20.

The healthcare district filed for bankruptcy after a hotel operator rescinded its offer to buy DMC’s campus, according to the East Bay Times.

DMC closed in April 2015 after years of financial struggles. The hospital primarily served low-income and uninsured populations in West Contra Costa County.

In January, the West Contra Costa Healthcare District board accepted Royal Guest Hotels’ offer to buy the majority of DMC’s campus. However, Eric Zell, hospital district board chairman, told the East Bay Times the hotel operator recently pulled its offer.

“With no chance to bring in revenue in the short term to cover existing district expenses, such as worker compensation claims and medical record storage, the district board voted unanimously to file for bankruptcy to allow for the orderly disposition of remaining financial obligations, including those owed to past district employees and vendors,” Mr. Zell said.

According to the bankruptcy petition, the healthcare district has at least $50 million in liabilities.

Royal Guest Hotels did not respond to the East Bay Times’ request for comment.

New era of healthcare fraud investigations puts spotlight on the C-suite

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/legal-regulatory-issues/new-era-of-healthcare-fraud-investigations-puts-spotlight-on-the-c-suite.html

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More and more, the government is holding individuals — not just the organizations they work for — responsible for fraud.

Traditionally, healthcare companies were only expected to provide information about the underlying factual situation in a fraud investigation. However, these investigations have become more complicated, as the Department of Justice has taken a strong stance on pursuing healthcare executives involved in fraud cases to hold them personally responsible.

Venson Wallin, managing director of BDO’s Healthcare Advisory practice, recently spoke withBecker’s Hospital Review about the shift in individual accountability standards and steps hospital and health system executives can take to protect themselves from liability.

CFO roundtable: 3 finance leaders on clinical staffing, retention issues

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/cfo-roundtable-3-finance-leaders-on-clinical-staffing-retention-issues.html

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The healthcare workforce represents one of hospitals’ biggest costs and affects every aspect of the organization, from the quality of patient care to the hospital’s bottom line. With such high stakes amid the transition to value-based care, leaders must ramp up recruiting and retention strategies while mitigating the effects of the nationwide staffing shortage.

At AMN Healthcare 2016 Workforce Summit in San Diego, Scott Becker, publisher of Becker’s Hospital Review, moderated a panel discussion with four health system finance executives on the top staffing challenges they are seeing in their organizations.

Panelists included Gary Raju, CFO of St. Louis-based Mercy Health System of Oklahoma; Chip Neuman, CFO of Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, Calif.; and Brian Scott, CFO, chief administrative officer and treasurer of AMN Healthcare.

Here are three of the most interesting takeaways from the panel.

5 hospitals with strong finances

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/5-hospitals-with-strong-finances-october20.html

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Here are five hospitals and health systems with strong operational metrics and solid financial positions based on recent reports from Moody’s Investors Service, Fitch Ratings and S&P Global Ratings.

Note: This is not an exhaustive list. Health system names were compiled from recent credit rating reports. Systems are listed in alphabetical order.

1. University of Chicago Medical Center has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The hospital’s cash flow is growing and its market share is increasing. Moody’s expects UCMC to continue to produce improved cash flow margins and maintain its solid liquidity position.

2. Carolinas HealthCare System has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The Charlotte, N.C.-based system has solid operating performance and cash flow diversity, according to Moody’s.

3. Parkview Health System has an “Aa3” rating and stable outlook with Moody’s. The Fort Wayne, Ind.-based system has solid financial performance and strong debt service coverage. Moody’s expects Parkview’s solid operating performance to continue.

4. Memorial Healthcare System has an “AA” rating and stable outlook with S&P. The Hollywood, Fla.-based system has strong cash flow, high unrestricted reserves and light pro forma debt. S&P expects MHS to maintain its solid enterprise profile and continue to generate strong earnings and cash flow.

5. Banner Health has an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with Fitch and an “AA-” rating and stable outlook with S&P. The Phoenix-based system has strong enterprise profile and good revenue diversity across its hospitals, according to S&P.

Healthcare Triage News: Health Care Reform, and the Issues We Face

Healthcare Triage News: Health Care Reform, and the Issues We Face

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As we approach the election this fall, it seems like the news media report on little else. Unfortunately, too little news coverage addresses health care reform. That’s wackadoo, because there is still so much to be done to improve the cost, quality, and access for patients within the US health care system.

So let’s talk about the major health policy issues we in the US face. This is Healthcare Triage News.

10 things to know about CMS’ new mandatory cardiac bundle

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/10-things-to-know-about-cms-new-mandatory-cardiac-bundle.html

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CMS proposed Monday a new mandatory bundled payment program for heart attacks and bypass surgeries that includes changes to the existing Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement Model as part of its larger goal to shift Medicare from quantity to quality incentives.

Here are 10 things to know about the proposed rule.

21 statistics on high-deductible health plans

http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/finance/21-statistics-on-high-deductible-health-plans.html

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Hospital and health system executives are well aware of the affects high-deductible health plans have had on hospital finances, from patient collections to bad debt. To help quantify the impact of increasing patient financial obligations on the business of healthcare, here are 21 statistics to know about high-deductible health plans.