Valley Health System Recognized as Adopter of HFMA’s Patient Financial Communications Best Practices

RIDGEWOOD, NJ, August 29, 2023 – Valley Health System has achieved recognition as an Adopter of the Healthcare Financial Management Association’s Patient Financial Communications Best Practices?.  As a Best Practices Adopter, Valley demonstrated that it follows nearly 100 best practices covering all aspects of financial interactions that take place in a variety of care settings.

“In a time when patients are paying more out-of-pocket for their healthcare, the financial conversations we have with patients have never been more important,” said Bill Klutkowski, Senior Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Officer for Valley Health System. “At Valley, our team has taken the necessary steps to ensure that each patient is treated with compassion and respect in regard to all financial matters.”

“Talking about money and one’s health are two of the most uncomfortable conversations for most of us," said HFMA Senior Vice President Richard Gundling, FHFMA, CMA, in learning of the award. “Valley Health System has demonstrated its commitment to ensuring that patients have a good experience when it comes to the financial aspects of their care during particularly stressful periods in their lives.”

“This recognition is a testament to the compassion, advocacy, and education provided by Valley’s Patient Financial Services and Patient Access teams. We appreciate all that they do to care for our patients, each day,” said Josette Portalatin, Assistant Vice President of the Revenue Cycle and Financial Administration for Valley Health System.

Valley joins a select group of hospitals, health systems, and physician practices that have received this first-of-its-kind, national recognition. A blue-ribbon task force developed these best practices to help improve communication between healthcare providers and consumers about financial matters. The task force included representatives from major industry groups, including the American Hospital Association, America’s Health Insurance Plans, the American Academy of Family Physicians, and the National Patient Advocate Foundation, among others. The best practices are part of HFMA’s Healthcare Dollars & Sense? initiative. More information is available at HFMA.org/Dollars.

For more information about Valley’s Patient Financial Services, please visit ValleyHealth.com/Billing.

About HFMA 

The Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) equips its more than 100,000 members to navigate a complex healthcare landscape. Finance professionals in the full range of work settings, including hospitals, health systems, physician practices and health plans, trust HFMA to provide the guidance and tools to help them lead their organizations, and the industry, forward. HFMA is a not-for-profit, nonpartisan organization that advances healthcare by collaborating with other key stakeholders to address industry challenges and providing guidance, education, practical tools and solutions, and thought leadership. We lead the financial management of healthcare.