After each regular session of the Texas Legislature, hospitals and health care facilities collectively face an onslaught of new laws that require not only awareness, but also – in many cases – incorporation into the facility’s day-to-day operations. THA’s biennial New Health Care Laws guidebook helps member hospitals navigate the new legal landscape. The 2025 edition of this manual is…
Declining reimbursements, rising costs, and growing demands are forcing tough choices on services, staffing, and investments. This article highlights three areas where CFOs can take action to protect financial health and preserve access to care in their communities.
Open financial conversations can help reduce stress and boost productivity.
Community hospitals, especially those designated as Critical Access Hospitals (CAHs), are facing mounting pressures from multiple fronts. Workforce shortages, rising supply costs, aging infrastructure and changing reimbursement models all strain hospital operations. At the same time, the rapid growth of Medicare Advantage plans introduces new barriers to care and payment, adding to the financial uncertainty. Medicare Advantage plans are now…
Boardrooms Under Pressure Across Texas, hospital boards are being asked to do more with less — more oversight, more complexity, more accountability — often without the operational support to match. From Joint Commission requirements to CMS readiness, governance is no longer a background function. It’s a frontline responsibility. For many hospitals, that responsibility now spans multiple facilities and director roles.…
Texans know all too well that the weather can change drastically throughout any given day. However, during the summer months, that unpredictability can lead to heat-related casualties, flash flooding and even hurricanes with winds exceeding 100 mph. “In a state the size of Texas, it’s important to always be prepared for the unexpected, from heat waves to natural disasters. Texans…
In today’s fast-paced health care environment, every second counts—and efficiency matters at every touchpoint. That includes the medical refund experience, a frequently overlooked part of the patient’s journey. As hospitals and health care systems focus on streamlining their operations, the refund process can serve as an opportunity to modernize outdated and costly systems, saving time and money while boosting patient…
A pending U.S. Supreme Court decision could determine the fate of a key federal program that subsidizes broadband for rural hospitals and health care providers. If overturned, the ruling could widen the digital divide in underserved communities across the country.
Today, most health care processes, including EHRs and patient engagement platforms, are digital. These are positive changes, but they have created challenges. One of the biggest problems is the need for skilled people to manage and use the new technology. But attracting and keeping these workers is difficult.
Why Data is Important Data precision is one of the most important aspects of supply chain management. Accuracy from the onset is crucial to ensure the right product quantity is received at the right price. Clean data also helps hospitals carry an appropriate amount of inventory, monitor inventory expiration dates, and value inventory appropriately. Ultimately, the only way for hospitals…
