Financial Improvement Collaborative

Thursday October 2, 2014

FLEX FY 14-15

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

What is FLEX?The Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility (Flex) Program

provides funding to States for the designation of critical access hospitals (CAHs) in rural communities. The core areas of the Programs include support for Quality Improvement, Operational and Financial Improvement and Health System Development and Community Engagement.  The Flex Program is based on states working with their rural communities and providers to develop networks...to improve the financial position of rural hospitals, and foster the integration of services to improve continuity...  

Includes all 13 Florida Critical Access HospitalsFinancial Improvement Collaborative now entering 3rd Year

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Review FLEX FY 12-13 Year 1:

iVantage data / Hospital Strength Index The Collaborative addressed financial data initiatives to educate Hospital administration on their positions and what data is measured to gauge that strength.   SWOT analyses Through supporting the completion of in the collaborative CAH,s the significance of the provided data was reinforced and this tool was employed to educate Senior Hospital leaders as to the importance of fully utilizing system capabilities to track and monitor this data internally, as well. These evaluations revealed needs and performance was tracked through the measurement of financial indicators.   Webinars and live education events Created educational opportunities on related topics to address these target areas.  Value Based Purchasing, Data mining and Financial Indicator monitoring were among the subjects that were addressed.  

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

ReviewFLEX 13-14 – Year 2:

Revenue Cycle Education and Analysis addressing the full range of Revenue Cycle Team processes and performance.  Further identification of issues and subsequently matched best practice solutions engaged hospitals and provided support in improving processes and outcomes HomeTown Health University School of Revenue Cycle Management to foster and help sustain progress in the Revenue Cycle Processes each hospital was granted seats providing unlimited access to online Courses and Certifications to educate front-line staff and fortify this department by better preparing staff and increasing staff retention.   Cost Report Analysis and  Education and a Cost Report Estimate Tool provided along with instruction/guidance supplementing this calculator.

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Process Improvement Education & Training

Workshops & Webinars Monthly Collaborative Call Develop Shared Financial Knowledge Base

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Proposed Monthly Collaborative Call Schedule:

The third Thursday of each month at 11:00 am EST / EDT and 10:00 am CST / CDT •

October 16, 2014• November 20, 2014• December 18, 2014• January 15, 2015• February 19, 2015• March 19, 2015• April 16, 2015• May 21, 2015• June 18, 2015• July 16, 2015• August 20, 2015

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Revenue Cycle Analysis, Education & Improvement plan continuation

Conduct Financial Analysis, Guide Data Interpretation,  Provide Education & Create Improvement Continuation Plan Project Management Software Facilitate use of HomeTown Health University School of Revenue Cycle Management Courses and Certifications

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Revenue Cycle Education www.hthu.net promo code: FLEX• Visit www.hthu.net.• For new users, click on the blue REGISTER FOR FREE button on top right corner. Create a

Username/Passoword and complete the HTHU orientation course. Click on Course Catalog Tab.• If you already have an HTHU account, click the blue LOGIN button. Click on Course Catalog

Tab.• Click on the School of Revenue Cycle Management.• Click on the course/certification title of choice. Click "Enroll.“

PATIENT ACCESS BILLING CROSS TRAINING

• For Financial Counselors: Financial Counselor Certification and 2014 Recertification• For All Staff: Certified Healthcare Hospitality Certification & 2014 Recertification • …As well as over 90 courses in the School of Revenue Cycle Management!

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Network Development Education

Peer to peer learning through both live and online education Shared Services process education and coordination Facilitate discussion  and analysis of common financial issues shared by CAHs Develop a shared  financial knowledge base among the CAHs Educate participants regarding the necessary infrastructure  for a multi-

hospital collaborative           Highlight previously identified best practices developed through the

collaborative  

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Collborative - Preliminary Survey Rankings:1. Revenue Cycle Management 202 2. Denials Management and Appeals 154 3. Managed Care consulting services 132 4. Health Information System Services 131 5. Salary Surveys by Discipline / Benchmarks 130 6. 'Early Out' Collections 118 7. Physician Recruitment 116 8. Insurance 106 9. Education & Training 102 10. Health Information Exchange Services 98 11. Data and Analysis / Interpretation and Reporting 95 12. Healthcare Provider Credentialing 93 13. CIO / IT Support Services 93 14. Community Health Needs Assessment 87 15. External Peer Review Network / Medical Staff Performance & Quality Improvement 81 16. Marketing 80 17. HR Support Services 79 18. IT services 74

Monthly Call Topic Requests:1. Denials Management and Appeals2. ICD 10 3. HMOs Contact negotiations and management 4. Revenue cycle Management / How to shorten5. Collections6. Insurance Contracting7. IT and/or Meaningful USE8. Regulatory updates, new requirements from the State of FL9. Recruiting care providers and what works. 10. Marketing strategies on a tight budget. 11. What revenue generating services are working for other facilities. 12. Grant opportunities. 13. Collaborative of Rural Critical Access Hospitals in Florida to lobby Tallahassee

on critical issues / Ways that HTH can assist Florida CAHs with legislative policy issues.

FLEX FY 14-15 Financial Improvement Collaborative

Industry Update

Kathy Whitmire, Managing Director

HomeTown Health, LLC

706-491-3493

kfw@windstream.net