Student Perspective

Building an Exchange Strategy Part II – Understanding Your Political Climate

Posted By  Errol Pierre

By 2014 there will potentially be a health benefit exchange in every state across the country. Like snowflakes no exchange will be alike and politics will play a pivotal role in the differences found between them. While the healthcare reform bill signed into law requires the establishment of exchanges, the details of operation have yet to be determined. In fact, in March 2012, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) provided 600 pages of additional guidance to the states. The guidance given was more of a framework while much of…Continue reading

Faculty Perspective

On Ineffective Governance

Posted by Tony Kovner

I recently finished teaching my seven-week MPA course in non-profit governance and came up with three recommendations as to “the main thing” in improving health care organization governance:

- Get the board to admit “we have a governance problem.”

- Appoint a team to investigate this leadership challenge and make recommendations for improving the governance process.

- Get a commitment in advance from the full board to implement the team’s recommendations

Also, the board chair and the CEO should agree that one of the areas the CEO should be accountable for is “empowering the board.”

Suggested…Continue reading

Alumni in the Field

How Much are Three Letters Worth?

Posted by Debbie Koh

Pursuing a graduate degree is a huge undertaking. At Wagner, getting a Masters of Public Administration typically means an investment of two years’ time (nights studying at Bobst Library you’ll never get back), tuition (roughly $40,000 per year), and any lost wages if you’re not working (opportunity cost).

It’s reasonable to question whether such a significant investment is worth it, especially when considering a public service career. So what convinced me that getting those three letters behind my name was worth the time and resources? I’d say the following areas: networking,…Continue reading

Faculty in the Field

The Role of Mergers and Aquisitions in the Not-For-Profit Healthcare Sector: Part I

Posted by Joel Wittman

Part I – What to consider when evaluating the sale of a not-for-profit organization

Nonprofit health care organizations are faced with a conundrum.  Is entering the world of mergers and acquisitions (M&A) on either, or both, the sell and/or buy sides, a strategy to be undertaken by nonprofit healthcare organizations in response to the changing healthcare landscape?

In March of this year, Moody’s Investor Service predicted increased M&A activity in the nonprofit healthcare arena.  They cited as reasons for this increase decreased Medicare reimbursements, changes to state funding schemes for Medicaid, and a…Continue reading

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