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Opening keynote: What to expect in 2011

As editor of Healthcare Finance News, Richard Pizzi knows what’s on the minds of his readers as they navigate the challenges and opportunities inherent in the healthcare industry’s biggest transformation to date.

In today's opening keynote, “Healthcare 2010 Revisited – and the Top Trends of 2011,” scheduled for 9 a.m. CDT, Pizzi will review the top healthcare finance stories of 2010 from his readers’ perspective and discuss 10 of the most important industry trends for 2011, based on reader feedback and conversations.

One trend that will pick up steam in 2011 is alignment of payment between hospitals and physician practices. The industry is already shifting from fee-for-service payments to bundled or global payments, medical homes and accountable care organizations, Pizzi said.

Hospitals and local physician practices are working together to get the most out of the new payment systems, he said.

“We’ll be looking at exemplars for how to do this right,” Pizzi said.

He identified the Geisinger Health System, Cleveland Clinic and Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin as healthcare systems and multi-specialty group practices that have achieved success in aligning provider payments.

The session will give the provider-based audience a chance to get to know what’s on the minds of their colleagues, Pizzi said, presenting vendors and payers with a window to the wants and needs of their customers and enrollees.

“I’m giving the 10,000-foot view of trends,” Pizzi said.

His keynote will set the stage for the rest of the education sessions, which will focus on specific topics and issues critical to executives and leaders of hospitals, healthcare systems and physician offices.