HFMA annual conference looks to the future

For 80 years, the Healthcare Financial Management Association has worked to empower and enlighten the financial leaders of hospitals, health systems and health plans.

The association is celebrating its 80th anniversary and looking to the future at the HFMA’s annual conference. The conference kicks off Sunday and runs through Wednesday in National Harbor, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C.

Stephanie Denvir, HFMA’s chief member value officer, tells Chief Healthcare Executive® that the conference will honor the group’s legacy. But she says the event is also aimed at helping healthcare leaders navigate a future with sweeping changes and mounting pressures.

“When we look at the conference this year, our theme is ‘Dare to Solve,’ and that's really so relevant with everything that all of our members, our attendees are facing,” Denvir says. “It's really unprecedented times.”

The HFMA is expecting nearly 3,500 people to attend the annual conference, and over 250 exhibitors are scheduled to be at the event.

Most of those attending are chief financial officers, along with vice presidents of finance and leaders of revenue cycle management, along with other senior-level healthcare leaders and managers.

Some of the key topics at this year’s event are covering financial sustainability, reimbursement pressures, and evolving care models.

“There's a little bit of everything, and something for everyone, focused on healthcare finance,” Denvir says.

Some discussions will highlight changes in federal healthcare policy as well. With the conference’s proximity to the nation’s capital, some federal officials are slated to attend. Casey B. Mulligan, chief economist and chief regulatory officer of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, is appearing at the event.

AI conversations

The HFMA conference is also going to spotlight the growing adoption of AI in the healthcare industry.

“We have a track dedicated to AI and innovation,” Denvir says.

But even beyond sessions and panels devoted to AI, other discussions are certainly including AI as part of the conversation.

“Everyone's looking at AI and the efficiencies, the promises of AI to reduce administrative burden, so it's certainly taking center stage across the whole conference,” Denvir says.

Affordability

Americans are struggling with the high cost of healthcare, and affordability is going to be a major theme of this year’s HFMA conference.

Ann Jordan, the HFMA’s president and CEO, has been outspoken that the healthcare industry is reaching a critical tipping point. She’ll be talking about affordability during her keynote address Monday morning, and she’ll be sitting down with a panel of healthcare leaders on affordability.

The HFMA has also launched an initiative, Vitalic Health, focusing on affordability.

“HFMA really sits at the center of healthcare,” Denvir says.

“We're taking hopefully proactive steps to try to bring the whole industry together for positive change around affordability and financial sustainability,” she says.

This year’s conference also includes a diverse mix of speakers, and the association has sought to attract a variety of different voices.

“HFMA has really been focused on the message of ‘You belong here,’ and that means everybody belongs, and making space for everyone to share their voice,” Denvir says. “We've been intentional about making sure everybody has a seat at the table, but I also think the industry is changing, right, we're seeing more women leaders and more diversity amongst the workforce.”

Denvir says the event, while honoring HFMA’s eight decades of history, also is designed to look ahead.

“I feel HFMA is sitting really at an exciting opportunity right now with where we're going in the future, and that this conference will kick off our year and what's to come,” Denvir says.

Chief Healthcare Executive will be covering the Healthcare Financial Management Association conference in National Harbor, Maryland. Look for our coverage.