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HCAHPS isn’t a term that is new to the healthcare industry.  Hospitals have been collecting and reporting HCAHPS data for almost a decade now.  They have been able to analyze the data, implement quality improvement initiatives, and see the results with increased HCAHPS scores and Medicare reimbursements.  During that time the focus was on metrics that evaluated the adult patient experience.  A few years ago, the need was seen to establish a similar set of standardized metrics for pediatric patients.  The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) published the Child HCAHPS survey, an expanded version of HCAHPS that included topics that were relevant to pediatric care. 

RegTech is a buzz word that, over the last couple of years, has found its place as a mainstay in the financial services industry.  What exactly is RegTech, and how does is differ from FinTech?  The answer is simple.  RegTech is short for regulatory technology and is a subset of FinTech that has risen out of the global complexity of regulation and its impact on financial services.  RegTech firms are emerging in an effort to move the industry away from ‘big data’ towards ‘smart data’ by utilizing robotic process automation and machine learning, along with regulatory repositories.  These firms are tapping the data captured to meet regulatory requirements and using it in a way that is more meaningful to the banks, investment banks, and mortgage companies that are producing the data to regulate risk. 

Technology plays an integral part in the way healthcare organizations do business today. It allows hospitals to quickly address patient needs while adhering to value based service models.  There are many rounding products on the market that boast ease of use, scalability, and efficiency.  While all important, how does the product deliver on those promises?  Rounding software should not add work to already overworked staff.  Instead, it should work with you to lessen the administrative burdens and enable healthcare providers to focus on the patient.  Here are five ways rounding software should work with you to making rounding fun and successful. 

The outlook for the mortgage industry, including the future of loss mitigation, was the background for the Five Star’s recent Government Forum in Washington DC.  Keynote speakers and panelists enlightened attendees on what to expect from rising interest rates, declining housing inventory, the quest to attract millennials, all the while managing to a purchase-centric market.  Afternoon panel discussions focused on servicing specific scenarios to include what’s next for loss mitigation and the challenge of property preservation.

The Mortgage Bankers Association convened its 2017 National Technology in Mortgage Banking Conference & Expo in Chicago on March 26 – 29, 2017.  Participants discussed the evolving role of technology in the mortgage space. The timely conversation comes as the National Association of Realtors’ 2017 Home Buyer and Seller Generational Trends recently reported Millennials make up the largest share of homebuyers at 34%, with 92% of them turning to online resources to conduct their home searches.

As everyone attending the MBA National Mortgage Servicing Conference & Expo returns to their desks, we look at the continued uncertainty of the Residential Mortgage Backed Security market (RMBS). What looks like a comeback for 2017, based on rising interest rates, may be temporarily stalled as the Federal Open Market Committee decided to keep the Fed Funds rate at 0.75 percent at the January 31-February 1 FOMC meeting. Although not an unforeseen outcome, it causes the market to lose confidence in the Fed’s publicized goal to impose three quarter-point increases in 2017 if unemployment and inflation remain under control.

The end of 2016 heralded in extensive regulatory guidance on loan modification alternatives to the Home Affordable Mortgage Program (HAMP).   Established by the US Department of the Treasury (DOT) in 2009 in an effort to standardize mortgage modifications, HAMP was retired on December 31, 2016 after providing nearly $10.5 million in consumer relief necessitated in response to the financial crisis.  The sunset of this first and largest loan modification program is an important landmark for the mortgage industry, but will place additional stress on already scrutinized servicer and investor loss mitigation processes.

Late last year, at the Mortgage Bankers Association Annual Conference and Expo, attendees were asked, “What is most important in moving our industry forward?”.  There were 5 clear trending topics from the answers received, with each item having its unique impact on the industry and your organization.

The start of a new year symbolically represents a restart or clean slate to make this year the best year yet.  We make resolutions to set our path for success and to create accountability.  We join a gym to exercise more, buy fruits and vegetables to eat healthier, and create budgets to spend less.  We focus our efforts on creating a new you in the New Year.  Have you ever thought to create New Year’s resolutions for your organization?  Just as we set up ourselves for success in the New Year, we should do the same in business.  Here are a few resolutions to consider to help make this the best year yet for your organization.

The Healthcare industry has been advancing quickly into the digital age. Having a mobile strategy is just one part of it.  With the introduction of electronic medical record systems and the ongoing integration of technology into the continuum of care, there has been an explosion of software and hardware products and solutions.  Along with that, comes the dreaded task of selecting the “right” tool for the job.  The options that are available range from the simple to the complex, free to costly and innovative and modern  to established.  The task can quickly become overwhelming.