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Blog: Blog2

Shared Health Services Blog
Welcome to the Shared Health Services blog—a resource designed for hospitals and physician practices exploring outpatient wound care and hyperbaric medicine. We provide a proven framework, clinical expertise, and personalized support to help you launch and manage successful, branded programs that reflect your identity and meet your community’s needs.
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Bracing for Impact: Preparing Wound Care Programs for 2026
You've seen the headlines: 1% hospital margins, $911B in cuts, insurers exiting Medicare Advantage, millions losing Medicaid. For hospital wound care programs, 2026 isn't just another challenging year—it's when everything hits at once. But this convergence isn't a crisis. It's a turning point. The wound care centers that will thrive are building operational resilience right now, during fall 2025. Learn what preparation looks like and why timing matters for your program's succ
Oct 228 min read


AI in Wound Care & HBOT: Job Protections, Trust, and the Future of the Field
AI is moving fast from headlines to hospital hallways. For wound care and HBOT programs, the challenge isn’t whether AI will be used — it’s how. From documentation to reimbursement, technology can either equip clinicians or erode trust. This post explores the risks, the patient perspective, and how SHS helps hospitals adopt AI responsibly so programs stay sustainable, compliant, and patient-centered.
Aug 216 min read


The Quiet Crisis in Healthcare — And the Wound Care Partner Prepared for It
Hospitals are facing a quiet but accelerating crisis — from CMS terminations and reimbursement loss to service line closures, staffing shortages, and compliance breakdowns. This post unpacks the systemic risks hospitals face in 2025 — and how high-performing, audit-ready wound care programs can restore stability, revenue, and care continuity.
Aug 137 min read


When Care Isn’t the Problem: What Social Holds, Homelessness, and Policy Shifts Mean for Hospital Capacity
When patients have nowhere to go, hospitals are left holding the line — often at the expense of reimbursement, staffing, and patient care. This post unpacks the hidden costs of social holds, how they distort LOS metrics, and what it means for wound care teams managing complex patients in overcrowded systems. Learn how Shared Health Services equips partners to stay focused on healing while navigating today’s discharge challenges.
Jul 316 min read


CMS Proposes Major Reimbursement Shifts for Skin Substitutes and Outpatient Services in 2026
CMS’s proposed 2026 OPPS rule could significantly impact wound care reimbursement, including major shifts for skin substitutes and outpatient services. This post breaks down what’s changing, what’s uncertain, and how Shared Health Services equips hospital leaders to stay ahead. Get clear insights and strategic takeaways to help your team prepare now.
Jul 175 min read


Home-Acquired Pressure Injuries: Will They Become Serious Reportable Events?
A new proposal under review by the National Quality Forum could classify pressure injuries that develop at home as Serious Reportable Events (SREs). While not yet mandated, this shift may affect how wound centers document, report, and respond — especially under programs like MIPS. SHS breaks down what this could mean, how to prepare, and why your voice matters in the national comment period.
Jun 303 min read


Don’t Fax That Back: How to Spot Medicare Audit Phishing Scams
CMS has issued a fraud alert warning healthcare providers about scammers posing as auditors and sending fake fax requests for medical records. Wound care clinics are frequent targets due to high Medicare volume and audit activity. Learn how to spot a phishing attempt and what steps to take to protect your patients, your data, and your compliance standing.
Jun 272 min read


Rethinking Denials: Why Claims Transparency Benefits Us All
Wound care teams are seeing a troubling rise in claim denials — often without insight into the reasoning behind them. What if hospitals could preview claims using the same algorithms payers use to reject them? In this post, we explore how algorithm transparency could help reduce errors, improve reimbursement accuracy, and build stronger payer-provider relationships.
Jun 233 min read


Is There a Fox in the Hen House? Audit Risks in Wound Care Programs
Hospitals and physician practices face growing audit risks from CMS, RACs, and other third-party payors. From ADRs to TPE reviews, wound centers must be prepared. Learn how to protect your revenue, align your documentation, and avoid letting the fox into the hen house.
Jun 232 min read
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