ViewPoints Blog

The challenges and uncertainty surrounding rural healthcare are well-documented. And having participated at various events this year – from the Rural Health Policy Institute to the NRHA and NOSORH annual conferences and many regional events – I am excited to see that there’s a real sense of collaboration and commitment to solving these complex issues.

Healthcare leaders have long been living in conflicting worlds governed by contrary incentives. What is operationally good for physicians may not be in the best interest of hospital staff or patients. What is best for a patient may not be supported by family or even allowed by state and federal laws. And what is good for the overall health of an organization may not be in its long-term best financial interest.

Market data is vital for making strategic growth decisions, preserving net revenue and securing better outcomes in payor negotiations.But for hospital executives, getting their hands on this data is easier said than done.

Your Voice, Louder. The NRHA's slogan rang loud and true last week at the 2014 CAH Conference in Kansas City. Given the mounting challenges in the rural health community, it was no surprise that the regulatory and industry updates delivered Maggie Elehwany, NRHA, and Priya Bathija, AHA, were the focal point for an anxious crowd.

In September, The Economist gathered an engaging and diverse array of leaders from provider, payor, consumer, academic, policy, and technology to explore the global state of flux in healthcare and their optimism for the future shined.

As the country's healthcare systems experience further declines in reimbursement and looming downgrades, the spotlight is increasingly turning to the financial losses coming from employed physicians.

Hospital pricing is back in the news. If you live in California, a new study has found that a simple blood test can run you anywhere from $10 to $10,000. Headlines like this are popping up in news feeds with regular frequency, and pretty soon consumer awareness will transform into action.

Do you know how much a gallon of milk costs? Sure, it's posted right under the product in any grocery store. Does the price change if you go to Kroger, Costco, or Wal-Mart? What if the price listed in the store wasn't actually the price you paid at checkout? And what if Wal-Mart wasn't allowed to know the price at Kroger? What if the price you paid wasn't listed anywhere and depended on some other factors like how many gallons you bought, what else was in your cart, how old you were, the day of the week you bought it, or how much milk your parents bought growing up?