Health Care Financial Ratio Analysis, Capital Management, and Banking Relationships The primary objective of accounting is to provide information useful for decision-making (McNair, Olds & Milam, 2013). Financial stability, financial health, and financial performance were, is and will always be a primary focus in healthcare for years to come. In fact, understanding financial performance in any business requires some global or summary measure of economic success (Cleverley, Song and Cleverley, 2010). Therefore, a financially “healthy” organization is one that is producing an operating margin sufficient to finance the current and future capital for its business (Harrison & Montalvo, 2002). Although operating margin is critically important, a healthcare organization should not rely solely on this measure. Therefore, according to Cleverley et al. (2010), a financially successful organization is capable of generating the resources needed to meet its mission. However, in planning for financial stability and health, health care administrators and financial managers need to strategically plan how to address the needs of their organization. The level of resources required by a healthcare organization depends primarily on the range and quantity of health services envisioned in the mission statement (Cleverley et al., 2010). Therefore, financially successful organizations must be capable of generating the amount of funds needed for debt and/or equity to finance the required level of
Each aspect plays a role, as financial management as a whole impacts the health care organization in a significant way. An example (that ties to evidence) of a primary component is the model analysis of the insurance system that affects the health budgeting spending on a statewide level. Further elaborating, the insurance system affects the input and output of the external categorization of the practical approach for a health care organization to utilize their primary care towards patients. Thus, as a result the aspects shift according to model process. Additionally, one’s perspective plays an important role in influencing decision-making in regards to financial management for healthcare. This is because the individual plays a primary role in the performance and internal indicators of the direction of the organizational mission; thus their output affects the organization’s advancement.
(MCOs) operating. The hospital group is the state’s largest not-for-profit organization and boasts an impressive performance plan, serving the healthcare needs of approximately 8 million citizens in Virginia. Moreover, Chesapeake Health Plans was the first organization to successfully attempt to request and obtain the highest level of accreditation from the National Committee of Quality Assurance (NCQA). Furthermore, Chesapeake health plans are structured to provide medical plans that cover services under the HMO’s, PPO’s, POS, and Medicare HMO’s. Chesapeake health plans attributes a considerable portion of their net service revenue generated to their effective HMO health plans, which realized a 46% of total revenue, while their Medicare HMO produced an impressive 39% of total revenue. Furthermore, their Preferred Provider Plan (PPO) generated 10%, and the Point of Service Plan (POS) saw a 5% figure. This case study financial analysis will effectively assess Chesapeake Health Plans: HMO financial performance, focusing on a competitive analysis, a cash flow analysis, clear profitability ratios, liquidity ratios, debt management ratios, asset management ratios, operating indicator analysis, a comprehensive financial assessment of Chesapeake’s financial state, as well as effective fiscal recommendations for their organization.
The HCS 405 week 1 financial terms worksheet throws light on some of the most basic concepts of the healthcare business. Understanding health care financial terms is a prerequisite for both academic and professional success. The health care business helps the nation by providing the building blocks that the citizens need to live a successful and healthy life. The worksheet is intended to ensure that the students understand some of the basic terms used in the business world of the health care industry. The purpose of HCS 405 individual and team assignments is to make the students aware about the numerous strategies employed in the financial and other departments of a
While the United States has some of the best doctors and healthcare facilities in the world we fail at being efficient and effective. Currently there are too many unplanned readmissions, medication errors and hospital acquired infections. The United States health system does not effectively provide preventive medicine for individuals with chronic diseases, and this portion of health care consumers account for the majority of health care costs (Kocher et al., 2010).
Managers who are managing health care organizations must be attentive to the accounting practices and must obey and practice the financial management procedures to be able to solve any issues if any should arise. With the continuation of the high costs of health care managers as well as consumers must know how to budget carefully. According to All Business. (2010), the cost of providing health care services, patients way of payment for these services and the environment in which those patients reside and receive those services are important elements that affect the care this is or may not be
The major difference between healthcare finance terminology and business finance terminology is that these terms focus on factors unique to the health services industry. For example, the provision of health services is dominated by not-for-profit or¬ganizations (such as ours), which are inherently different from investor-owned businesses. Also, the majority of payments made to health¬care providers for services are not made by patients—the consumers of the services—but rather by some third-party payer (e.g., a commercial insurance company or a government program). Even the purchase of health insurance is dominated by employers rather than by the individuals who receive the services. These terms emphasize ways in which the unique features of the health services industry affect financial decisions. The healthcare industry is a service industry. It is not in the business of manufacturing, say, widgets. Instead its essential business is the delivery of healthcare services. It may have inventories of medical supplies and drugs, but those inventories are necessary to service delivery, not to manufacturing functions. Because the business of healthcare is a service, this overview of key healthcare terminology will focus on the practice of financial management in the services industry.
The major objectives of healthcare financial management include: generating income (which is the most important) because it is the financial status of the organization. It is important to ensure that revenues are exceeding expenses. After assets are invested in, they are meant to be used. They must respond to regulations and be accredited to qualify for loans, reimbursements, etc. Facilitate relationships with third-party payers because they are the ones helping with the bills. The health organizations must also influence method and amount of payment to avoid overpaying, when faced with capitated prices or prospective payments. Monitoring physicians is important because they are at the forefront of everything, so management must make sure that physicians’ orders are consistent with patient needs. Lastly, protecting tax status involves for-profit organizations trying to reduce tax liabilities, while not-for-profit organizations try to protect their tax-exempt
Understanding the financial analysis of healthcare organizations is strategic to the organization by understanding their stand on the amount of revenue they gain, healthcare assets, and their financial goals. This paper will provide a comparison on the performance of financial analysis of several California Healthcare Organizations such as; Scripps Health, Palomar Health, Sharp Healthcare, and Tri-City Healthcare. The four healthcare organizations will be illustrated with an overview about what the organizations have been doing financially , where they have been growing financially, and what have they accomplished over the past year from examining their financial statement. As the nation’s healthcare model continues to evolve,
Though they are not entirely comprehensive tools, a great deal can be learned about a hospital or other healthcare organization for-profit or not-for-profit from an examination of their annual financial documents (Finkler & Ward, 2006). The balance sheet and statement of revenue and expense can both yield valuable clues even in the absence of other evidence about changes that might be occurring in the organization, a definition of the type and degree of certain problems that it might be facing, and potential opportunities for improvement in performance that might exist (Finkler & Ward, 2006). Comparing two or more years' worth of financial information yields even more valuable insights, tracking movement in the hospital or other organization's ability to finance its activities and thus continue providing services at the same level, quantity, and scope as current operation.
There are many financial ratios used in evaluation of a healthcare organization’s performance but for purpose of this study, it will be limited to activity, leverage investment, liquidity and profitability.
Healthcare managers participate in various important roles that allow them to form and maintain flourishing organizations. Managers ought to be aware of the decisive elements of management and the generally accepted accounting principles. At the same time, they must realize, stick to, and put into effect the general financial ethical standards. Successful management of finances of healthcare is one of countless tests that mug the organization. Revenues and expenses of the organization are essential because they establish the external and internal finances of the company. The
Most entities and organization create budgets as a guide for controlling its spending, prediction of profit, and it expenditure as they progress toward a set goal. Budget involves pulling resources together to achieve a specific goal. According to Gapenski (2006), budgeting is an offshoot in a planning process. A basic managerial accounting tool use in holding planning and control functions together is referred to as set of budgets (p. 255). One major setback manager or budget developer encounter is trying to design a future, a process that cannot be created with the precision just right. This article highlights some financial management
The hospital industry consist of privately and publicly owned and operated hospitals and medical facilities. The financial backgrounds of these assorted categories of organizations are sizeable and contrasted. Therefore, industry ratios are to be considered and evaluated from a greater proportion in order to identify with the financial data involving the industry as a whole (Dunn & Becker, 2013). Based on analysis and evaluation of the financial ratios gained from Nasdaq and Google Finance, it is apparent that the hospital industry is gradually rising and supports increase in profitability. These ratios are divided into several categories: Growth rates, financial strength, valuation, profitability, efficiency, dividends, and management effectiveness.
The financial statement analysis of Doctors Hospital raises hopes and concerns regarding the financial performance and financial situation of the hospital. A rise in net assets and drop in liabilities will support the financial base of the hospital. Profits from short-term I nvestments should maintain this base, and improve the total assets. There is a concern in regards to cash flow and net income. There is a large reduction in cash flow of $2,222,000, which means there might be a shortage in cash flow to continue the project or purchase capital equipment. The organization should have to find solutions like to borrow from banks, spreading payments in future, etc. to manage the shortage of cash flow (Finkler et al., 2013). Another area
Financial statements have several key components and specific criteria into them to relay the detailed information for auditors and management. A deeper look into financial statements and the many concepts surrounding them are needed to explain in more detail. It’s also important to recognize the Auditor’s opinion letter, balance sheet, operating statement, statement of changes in net assets, and statement of cash flows and footnotes of their involvement in the process. Relevant accounting articles are a useful supplement to financial statements and how they enhance concepts in the financial statement. The meaningful uses of financial statements for health care organizations are the epitome of current and future success of financial health.