Marie Defreitas

Raleigh

Senior Finance Editor at HealthLeaders

Associate Content Specialist, Multimedia Designer at HealthLeaders

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Articles

How UW Health Balances Short-Term Labor Costs with Long-Term Workforce Sustainability

2 days ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

See how UW Health is cutting contract labor costs with some key strategies. When workforce expenses dominate operating costs, reducing overreliance on contract labor is one of the most urgent financial to-dos for health systems. In this episode of HL Shorts UW Health’s VP of Finance Jodilynn Vitello explains how her health system balances short-term labor cost containment with long-term workforce sustainability.
4 Tips for Payer Collaboration from HFMA

3 days ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

Here’s how CFOs can keep pace with, or even get ahead of, payers. Payers, unsurprisingly, were at the center of much of the talk at HFMA this year. Several sessions focused on the best strategies to keep pace with, or get ahead of, payers, including using technology, leveraging transparency data, and reevaluating coding practices to combat denials. Check out this breakdown of four tips from executives and speakers at HFMA on how to get a handle on payer strategies.
Live From HFMA: 3 Takeaways for CFOs (So Far)

4 days ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

At HFMA, themes of payer collaboration, operational leadership, and smarter investments are dominating the conversation. Finance leaders are pushing for more streamlined, tech-enabled payer-provider partnerships that prioritize patient-centric outcomes. Today’s CFOs are being called to go beyond budgets, taking the lead on system-wide performance improvement and fostering financially aligned, cross-functional teams.
Liquidity, Labor, and Long-Term Growth: Inside Day One of HFMA 2025

5 days ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

At HFMA 2025, finance executives are confronting a turbulent investment landscape, and exploring new strategies to optimize portfolios and manage risk. Market volatility is a challenge, but finance leaders like Adventist Health’s Brandon Seibold caution against overreacting. With rising labor costs and high Medicaid patient volumes, health systems are reevaluating portfolios for liquidity and efficiency.
What’s Cooking at HFMA This Year

1 week ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

As the HFMA annual conference kicks off in Denver, CFOs are preparing to tackle urgent financial, regulatory, and ethical challenges. Sessions will showcase how hospitals are using AI to streamline Medicaid enrollment and manage revenue cycles in low-income areas. With looming Medicaid cuts and shifting legislation around medical debt and payment practices, CFOs must rethink their compliance and contract strategies.
What’s Cooking at HFMA This Year

1 week ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

As the HFMA annual conference kicks off in Denver, CFOs are preparing to tackle urgent financial, regulatory, and ethical challenges. Sessions will showcase how hospitals are using AI to streamline Medicaid enrollment and manage revenue cycles in low-income areas. With looming Medicaid cuts and shifting legislation around medical debt and payment practices, CFOs must rethink their compliance and contract strategies.
Senate’s Progress On ’Big Beautiful Bill‘ Spurs Ugly Debate Across Healthcare

1 week ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

As Senate Republicans push forward with the 'Big Beautiful Bill' CFOs across the country are sounding alarms about the potential effects. The Senate bill proposes steeper Medicaid cuts than the House version, including reduced provider tax rates and hospital payments. CFOs warn the cuts could force service line reductions, crowd ERs, and severely threaten financial stability. Health systems are lobbying hard and tightening operations to prepare for potential financial fallout.
Senate’s Progress On ’Big Beautiful Bill‘ Spurs Ugly Debate Across Healthcare

1 week ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

As Senate Republicans push forward with the “Big Beautiful Bill” CFOs across the country are sounding alarms about the potential effects. The Senate bill proposes steeper Medicaid cuts than the House version, including reduced provider tax rates and hospital payments. CFOs warn the cuts could force service line reductions, crowd ERs, and severely threaten financial stability. Health systems are lobbying hard and tightening operations to prepare for potential financial fallout.
Infographic: 3 Smart Strategies for CFOs to Reduce Contract Labor

1 week ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

See the strategies UW Health is using to reduce contract labor. As workforce costs continue to pressure health system margins, healthcare CFOs are urgently rethinking how to reduce dependence on contract labor. At UW Health, a multi-pronged approach led by Vice President of Finance Jodilynn Vitello offers valuable lessons in balancing financial stewardship with workforce sustainability. Here are three strategies CFOs can take away.
UW Health’s Formula for Sustainable Staffing

1 week ago | healthleadersmedia.com | Marie Defreitas

UW Health is cutting contract labor costs by investing in internal pipelines, predictive tools, and cross-functional workforce planning. Contract labor still strains margins for many health systems, but strategic forecasting can help reduce long-term reliance. UW Health is taking a mutli-faceted approach to decreasing its reliance on contracted labor. Apprenticeships and retention bonuses are helping finance leaders build a more stable, in-house workforce.