Assessment 4 Instructions: Operating Budget Proposal
In 4-5 pages, describe the environmental forces that affect healthcare organization budgets. Propose a budget that includes organizational improvements. Explain how the budget aligns with the target profit margin and how financial performance will be measured.
introduction introduction
Note: The assessments in this course build upon each other, so you are strongly encouraged to complete them in sequence.
Healthcare organizations must meet basic clinical and financial targets to remain viable. The Affordable Care Act and the advent of accountable care organizations require increased attention to and skills for meeting internal organizational targets. Reimbursement from government payers is increasingly linked to effectively meeting expected performance measures. To do this, you must understand the concepts of internal and external benchmarks, the necessity for performance measurement, and how to determine appropriate targets relative to the type and size of the organization. It is helpful to ensure that the external benchmark is comparable when comparing organizational outcomes data.
Effective management of health care requires competence in health care finance. Successful healthcare executives understand operating, capital, and revenue budgets, why each is important to an organization, and which groups of stakeholders need to remain apprised of the status.
To deepen your understanding, you are encouraged to consider the questions below and discuss them with a fellow learner, a work associate, an interested friend, or a member of your professional community.
How can internal benchmarks help identify best practices within an organization? How might an organization use external benchmarks to measure and monitor performance? What is a scorecard, and how is it used to track financial performance?
PreparationPreparation
The following resource is required to complete the assessment.
Sample Operating Budget [XLSX].
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Tom Clobes FACULTY 2 NEW
Kacie Goblirsch COACH
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Sample Operating Budget [XLSX].
Use the Sample Operating Budget to help you complete this assessment. The information represents the clinic’s operating budget for 2015 and 2016.
You have been asked to prepare a budget proposal for 2017 for the physicians who own the clinic. Because you know the clinic needs new billing software and there is a request for a new MRI machine, you will need to factor these expenses into your proposal. You must also explain environmental forces that may affect the budget and how your proposal addresses those forces.
There is no specific format you must follow for this assessment. This is a budget proposal and should be organized clearly and logically. Support your work with references to at least two professional resources, and follow the APA guidelines for in-text citations and references.
RequirementsRequirements
Complete the sample operating budget by filling in the 2017 column. Include this information as a table inserted into your budget proposal, or attach it separately in the assessment submission area.
In your proposal, be sure you do the following:
Describe the environmental forces that will affect or are likely to affect the budget for the next year. (Consider things such as compliance changes, changes in how insurance claims are processed, changes in laws and regulations, etc.) Complete a 2017 operating budget, including purchasing new billing software and a new MRI machine. (This is where you use the sample operating budget.) Keep in mind that there will be costs beyond the purchase price, such as training for staff, the addition of more staff, and maintenance. You may refer to Assessment 3 and the cost-benefit analysis you completed. Explain how this proposed budget aligns with the target profit margin. Explain the measures you will implement to track financial performance over the next year. How will you evaluate financial performance?
Additional RequirementsAdditional Requirements
Include a title page and reference page. Several pages: 4–5 pages, not including the title or reference pages. At least two current scholarly or professional resources. APA format for in-text citations and references. Times New Roman font, 12 points. Double-spaced.
Competencies MeasuredCompetencies Measured
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By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and assessment criteria:
Competency 1: Develop financial strategies to address dynamic environmental forces. (L24.2, L24.5, L17.2)
Describe the environmental forces that affect healthcare operating budgets. Explain how financial performance will be measured.
Competency 3: Develop a budget integrating organizational improvements with sound financial analysis. (L8.4, L3.3)
Explain how an operating budget aligns with an organizational target profit margin. Propose an operating budget that includes organizational improvements.
Competency 4: Communicate in a manner that is scholarly, professional, and consistent with expectations for professionals in health care administration. (L6.1, L6.2, L6.3, L6.4)
Write content clearly and logically with the correct use of grammar, punctuation, and mechanics. Format citations and references using the APA style.
SCORING GUIDE
Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.
VIEW SCORING GUIDE
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