Court of Appeals Win
In a significant legal victory, AU Medical Center—represented by Altum’s CEO and healthcare attorney Elizabeth Richards—prevailed in the Georgia Court of Appeals on April 30, 2025. The court upheld the hospital’s right to enforce a lien for treatment provided to a minor, even if the minor was not personally responsible for the medical bill. The decision reinforces hospitals’ ability to recover costs through properly filed liens, setting a critical precedent in Georgia healthcare law.
“Big Beautiful Bill”
Altum CEO Elizabeth Richards recently presented on the “Big Beautiful Bill” and its unprecedented impact on access, eligibility, and funding during a Region 9 HFMA webinar attended by a wide national audience of healthcare and revenue cycle professionals. Download Richard’s presentation here Because of the significance of the legislation and the broad interest it has […]
Deep Dive into the Supreme Court’s holding in Advocate Christ Medical vs. HHS
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of HHS in a closely watched case involving how hospitals calculate Medicare DSH adjustments. The decision upheld HHS’s narrow interpretation of when low-income patient days count toward funding, significantly impacting hospitals’ financial recovery for past claims.
The Cost of Reform: How SB68 Could Impact Hospital Reimbursement
Altum Healthcare Solutions is monitoring Georgia’s Senate Bill 68, a tort reform bill aimed at reducing malpractice premiums and expanding insurance options. While beneficial in some aspects, an amendment to the bill’s “collateral source” statute could significantly impact hospital reimbursement. The inclusion of “reasonable value” in medical damages assessment shifts the valuation process to patients, insurers, or juries—leaving hospitals without a say. This change could lead to lower settlement values, further straining hospitals financially.
Chevron Deference and Hospital Revenue Management Outline
The Supreme Court’s decision in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo overturns the Chevron doctrine, introducing uncertainty in hospital revenue management. With agencies no longer receiving automatic deference on ambiguous statutes, hospitals must anticipate increased litigation, compliance challenges, and regulatory shifts affecting billing, reimbursement, and financial operations. While the impact remains uncertain, healthcare providers may need to allocate more resources toward compliance and legal strategy to navigate these evolving changes.
Altum Healthcare Solutions Certified By the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council
Altum Healthcare Solutions achieves national certification as a Women’s Business Enterprise by the WBENC, validating their commitment to excellence and opening new opportunities for growth and innovation.
Change Healthcare Breach Shakes Hospital Revenue Cycles: CEO & Attorney Elizabeth Richards Calls for Cyber Contingency Plans
During the March 22, 2024, Episode of Deep Dive with Altum, CEO Elizabeth Richards engaged in a 30-minute discussion with attendees about the Change in Healthcare Breach and its ongoing repercussions on the Hospital Revenue Cycle. As you are likely aware, on February 21, 2024, Change Healthcare experienced the largest cyberattack in the history of […]
Surprise Billing Part 2 and Patient Estimates
On January 1, 2022, the second major section of the No Surprises Act is set to take effect. The comment period for the proposed regulations ended on December 6th and now we await any changes to those regulations before the go-live date. One of the many items covered in phase two, are the regulations around […]
What Providers Need to Know Now About ARPA COBRA Subsidies
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Included in the many pages of relief for individuals who have been adversely affected by COVID 19, is an expansion and assistance of COBRA benefits not seen since the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA). Under ARPA, an […]
