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As most everyone in the healthcare industry knows, mergers, acquisitions and partnerships have been increasing, but the reasons behind this and the forms these partnerships take, are changing.

With so many reimbursement considerations to think about with the transition to ICD-10, such as reduced cash flow and an increase in denials and audits, the best defense for healthcare systems is to know what to expect and begin preparing for the changes now.

In a competitive healthcare marketplace like Dallas-Ft. Worth, it's essential that a physician practice tightly manage its revenue cycle. Texas Health Physicians Group is doing that by tracking five key financial metrics.

So-called "pay for delay" deals between patent-holding pharmaceutical firms and would-be generics makers can now be challenged on antitrust grounds, although they are not necessarily anti-competitive, the U.S. Supreme Court has ruled.

The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) has found that hospitals with a large portion of low-income patients also have higher readmission rates, and, therefore, higher penalties under Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program.

Lisa Flavin, a consultant with executive search firm Witt/Kieffer talked to Healthcare Finance News about why hospitals and healthcare organizations should be using interim executives.

Between 2005 and 2011, chemotherapy procedures in hospital outpatient settings for Medicare patients increased by more than 150 percent finds an analysis commissioned by members of the oncology community.

MedPAC has found that hospitals with a large portion of low-income patients also have higher readmission rates, and, therefore, higher penalties under Medicare's hospital readmissions reduction program. That imbalance was one of the reasons that MedPAC, in its annual June report to Congress, has recommended that Medicare modify its readmissions reduction policy.

The Healthcare Financial Management Association released on Sunday, the opening day of its annual conference, a draft of new best practices for patient financial interactions.

For many small, community stand-alone health systems across the country, eventually merging with another larger healthcare organization remains a distinct possibility. Until that day arrives though -- if it does at all -- these organizations must continue to focus their efforts on meeting the quality care needs of the local community.