HFMA kicks off 2016 ANI in Las Vegas Sunday, consumerism, revenue cycle in focus

Registration began Sunday at the 2016 HFMA Annual National Institute. (Photo: Henry Powderly)

LAS VEGAS -- The Healthcare Financial Management Association opened its 2016 Annual National Institute in Las Vegas on Sunday, a four-day event that will focus on topics ranging from revenue cycle, consumerism and the financial impact of new regulations such as MACRA.

This year, the organization chose "Out-of-the-Box" as the event's theme, a slogan meant to invoke the spirit of innovation that is helping the healthcare industry manage some of the biggest changes to its business model.

"The world has changed in the past few years," said HFMA spokeswoman Karen Thomas. "People spent a few years wringing their hands, but now we are starting to see a turnaround. What we are trying to do is throw down the gauntlet. We designed the program to get people to think outside of the box and be creative."

Healthcare Finance will be covering the 2016 HFMA ANI through the week. For our complete coverage, click here. Follow the event's hashtag at #HFMA2016ANI.

One of the major themes this year will be collaboration, especially between healthcare providers, insurers and physicians, said Director of Education Sue Spear. "Physicians and practice managers are taking every opportunity to work collaboratively to solve industry problems, she said.

That dynamic is also playing out in the ANI attendance, which Thomas said is seeing higher numbers of payers and practice managers coming to the show.

HFMA, which started in 1946, has had to change its focus over the years as the financial issues evolve. Perhaps the most dramatic is the change towards value-based reimbursement, in which healthcare payments are directly tied to the quality and coordination of patient care.

[Also: Geisinger, St. Elizabeth Healthcare among winners of HFMA 2106 MAP awards for revenue cycle]

"It's really moved the organization in the direction of helping organizations chart a course to value, to find a more strategic to finance and consumer issues," said Spear.

As pay-for-quality makes the patient experience a key financial driver, rising premiums are also turning patients into consumers. It's a trend that providers need to focus on.

"The patient is also feeling the brunt of the changes, and as a result they're wanting things to be more transparent and wanting better ways to get the info they need to make decisions," said Spear. ANI will host a slate of education sessions forced on consumer strategies.

The exhibition floor will also offer attendees a chance to meet with vendors and explore the technologies and strategies being offered by hundreds of companies.

As in the last few years, the ANI event will wrap up with a series of Innovation Labs, which organizers said give attendees the chance to take a hands-on approach to exploring new ideas.

"After we've given attendees three days of information, the Innovation Labs help them to put that into practice," said Spear. "We're giving them that time to talk amongst themselves about the challenges and opportunities."

Twitter: @HenryPowderly
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