Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethical Standards in Health Care Finance

In:

Submitted By ashmarie0512
Words 953
Pages 4
Reporting Practices and Ethical Standards in Health Care Finance
Ashley Riggs
HCS 405
February 6, 2012
Jay Christensen

Reporting Practices and Ethical Standards in Health Care Finance
Healthcare managers engage in many important roles to create and sustain successful organizations. Managers must understand the crucial elements of financial management and the generally accepted accounting principles. They must also understand, adhere to, and enforce the general financial ethical standards.
Four Elements of Financial Management
Planning
The first step in financial management is planning. It is the responsibility of the financial manager to first identify the goals of the company. Then it is the financial manager’s responsibility to decide on the appropriate steps that must be taken to accomplish the goals of the company.
Controlling
The second step in financial management is controlling. During this phase of financial management, it is the responsibility of the financial manager to ensure that each division of the organization is following the plans was decided. Managers should study current reports and compare them with earlier reports. This will help to decide what division of the organization needs the most attention.
Organizing and directing
The third step in financial management is organizing and directing. During organization, it is the responsibility of the financial manager to decide how to use the resources of the organization most effectively. The resources, such as funds or assets, help the manager to ensure the goals of the company are accomplished. Directing is a day-to-day job providing supervision and assistance. It is the responsibility of the financial manager to ensure the goals of the company are running efficiently by supervising employees and assisting those who need it.
Decision making
The final step in financial management is

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethical Standards in Health Care Finances

...Reporting Practices and ethical Standards in Health Care Finances University of Phoenix HCS 405 Health Care Financial Accounting July 11, 2012 Reporting Practices and Ethics The financial management of health care organizations have the obligation to integrate financial reporting practices with ethical standards that directly reflects and affects health care patients, providers, policymakers, and the society. This paper will review articles that reflect ethical standard practices related to health care financial management and will cover the four financial management elements crucial to the health care organization. These four elements of financial management are the generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), which are the planning, controlling, organizing and directing, and the decision-making (Baker & Baker, 2011). Planning The financial manager determines the short term and long-term objectives of the organization to create plans to meet organization’s objectives. When planning, the goal of the financial manager is to develop and outline strategies, to seek the input of everyone involved in the process and to ensure everyone supports, and understands their role in the execution the plan. Controlling The purposes the financial officers of controlling are to implement the plans, and are executed by organizational standards to avoid overspending the organization’s budget. Additionally, the financial manager oversee that...

Words: 703 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Reporting Pratices

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper University of Phoenix HCS/405 Sandra DiPietro Reporting Practices and Ethics Introduction Addressing financial reporting practices and ethical standards in health care finance can be done in various different ways. Either way this component of health care is addressed, it is important for a health care finance element, within an organization, to ensure that this is addressed correctly. A good way to explain and address the ethical standards in health care finance is by explaining the four elements of finance. These four elements include Planning, Controlling, Organizing, and Decision Making. With these four elements, addressing financial reporting practices and ethical standards in health care organizations, can be addressed, and will reflect how organizations accomplish this. Accounting Principles In health care organizations, financial reporting involves financial statements. There are four main financial statements. They are: (1) balance sheets; (2) income statements; (3) cash flow statements; and (4) statements of shareholders’ equity (U.S. Exchange Commission, 2011). The third part of a cash flow statement shows the cash flow from all financing activities. It is very important for an organization to report their finances, since financial reporting will provide investors with information about the organization’s management. Financial reporting also provides information for...

Words: 868 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper HCS/405 November 30, 2014 Financial management in health care today like any other business should be conducted ethically, professional and accurately. The four elements of financial management need to be used and put into place to help ensure the financial stability and success of the organizations will be accomplished year after year. Generally, the same accounting principles and general financial ethical standards are practiced in every health care organization and these principles need to be implemented correctly if the organization wishes to be successful. Organizations need to keep up a certain level of transparency and this can only be accomplished by accurately reporting their financial statements. Several articles are going to be discussed reflecting the reporting practices and ethical standards in health care after a brief summary of the general accounting principles, ethical standards of finance and the four elements of financial management are given. Summary: Four elements of financial management The four elements of financial management are planning, controlling, organizing and directing and decision making. (Baker & Baker, 2011, p. 5) Each element is a task that is performed by the finance manager and they go in the order mentioned above. Like in any other aspect of business, planning has to be done to help identify the objectives that need to be accomplished and establish the steps necessary to ensure that each...

Words: 1150 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Reporting Pactices and Ethics Paper

...Financial management is very essential for health care organization’s to succeed and accomplish goals. As a financial management has a major aspect on how it incorporates the ethical standards and proper reporting practices. To report practices and ethical standards in health care finance assist financial managers in conducting. They conduct effect analysis of the organization’s revenues, expenses, assets, and much more. In the next few paragraphs in the paper will be discussed is the four elements of financial management, the accepted accounting principles, and a few general financial, ethical standards will conduct. Plus, there would be examples of conduct and financial reporting practices in the health care organizations from other articles that will be discussed. The four elements of financial management are planning, controlling, organizing and directing, and decision making. The first element, planning is to set up the health care organization goals and objectives. Then to see what steps have to take and which steps would be more effective to achieve the goal. The second element is controlling; as a financial management will need to consist of verifying whether the department is following the plans, instructions issued, and the principles established. The third element is organizing and directing; which this can be a process that follows planning and controlling element in the health care organizations. While organizing established how resources can be effective...

Words: 1062 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethics

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Starla Edwards Health Care Financial Accounting/HCS 405 October 17, 2011 Marjorie Romano Reporting Practices and Ethics Financial practices and ethics can play an important part of any organization including the health care environment. In order for the health care organization to be successful one must adopt an efficient financial practice and possess ethical standards. The management of finances for a health care organization may be a challenge for managers. This is why the health care manager will follow four basic elements for financial management. The basic elements include planning, controlling, organizing and directing, and decision making (Baker & Baker, 2011). Health care organizations have accounting principles generally acceptable and will comply with the financial practice and the practice of ethics to avoid fraud or abuse of the reporting practices. Elements of Financial Management Financial management has four basic elements, which assist the manager in making effective decisions for the health care organization. The first element of financial management is planning. The financial manager needs to identify the steps that he or she needs to take to accomplish the goals of the organization. However, first the manager must determine what the goal is for the organization and at that time determine what steps to follow to achieve the goal. The next element is controlling; a plan is in place that each area of the organization...

Words: 858 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices

...Reporting and Ethical Practices HCS 405 June 24, 2014 Reporting and Ethical Practices Financial and accounting professionals must follow the ethical standards that regulate the type of business they conduct, who they conduct business with, and how they use their skills to conduct their business. These ethical standards are defined by professional finance organizations and the Financial Accounting Standards Board. This article will discuss reporting and ethical practices for any financial and accounting organization. It will include a summary of generally acceptable accounting principles and general financial ethical standards, as well as, summarize the four elements of financial management. This article will conclude by discussing researched articles on financial reporting practices, ethical standards, and financial management within the health care organization. Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and Financial Ethical Standards According to "Business News Daily" (2014), “Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) is a combination of guidelines, comprehensive rules, and generally accepted standard practices utilized throughout the accounting industry to prepare and standardize financial statements, such as balance sheets, income statements, and cash flow statements” (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP): Standards & Rules for Accountants). In 1999, the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) designated the...

Words: 984 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper Angela Blanks HCS/405 February 12, 2014 Mary Scalf Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper Revenue is important to keep track of to pay expenses and invest back into the business to maintain state of the art technology. Reporting revenue correctly and honestly is management and owners responsibility. Abuse of the system and fraud committed by dishonest practices the government has set up standards of reporting income and expenses. The function of the generally accepted accounting principle is that all companies report revenue using the same methods. Using the four elements of financial management, planning, controlling, organizing, and decision making, businesses can be successful. Using ethical standards of honesty, an organization can expect to remain in business. Generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) is the standard that determines how accountants conduct reports (Kennan, 2014). The function of the GAAP is to ensure that companies have the same methods of reporting financial information. The GAAP applies to all financial statements issued to the public for investors to understand how the company is reporting income and expenses (Kennan, 2014). The financial accounting standard boards (FASB) created the GAAP that define the ethical standard practices of companies (Reeves, 2014). Maintaining high ethical standards accountants must maintain confidentiality when reporting financial reports. Accountants must enter accurate...

Words: 907 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Health Care Case Study: Financial Statements Hcs/405

...Financial Reporting and Ethical Standards Debra Castagnetta HCS/405 November 7, 2011 Todd Brown Financial Reporting Practices and Ethical Standard In health care finance keeping financial documents have become more detailed and the need for accuracy has increased and many guidelines have been established to ensure there are competencies, and ethical standards are upheld in financial management in health care organizations (Paul, 2008). The Four Elements of Financial Management Health care organizations and other organizations require an array of management actions to operate effectively (Baker & Baker, 2010). To accomplish these actions the four elements of financial management must take place. The financial manager must identifies the objectives and steps through planning, the financial manager must ensure that the organization follow the plan by using the controlling element, the financial manager must organize and direct by deciding how to use the resources of the organization, and provide daily supervision (Baker & Baker, 2010). In addition, the financial manager must make informed choice through the element of decision- making (Baker & Baker, 2010). The General Accepted Accounting Practices In order to have guidelines in the principles of accounting, it is a mandatory requirement that health care organizations and other organizations use the General Accepted Accounting Principles, also known as the GAAP (Paul, 2008). The General Accepted...

Words: 986 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethics

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Monika Kaloyanova HCS/405 August 31st 2015 Professor Joe Gazdik Introduction There are a lot of important parts in health care organizations but what sticks out the most is financial management. Financial management needs to be taken seriously and everything has to be done accurately because there are consequences if errors occur and the organization cannot function properly. It also helps to see the profit and loss that the organization is having and to see what changes need to be done to fix anything. Four elements in financial management In financial management, there are four elements that are vital to any company and those are planning, organizing and directing, leading, and decision making “…by regularly following the four-step control process, managers can make their department more effective and productive”. Lombardi, D. J., Schermerhorn, J.R., & Kramer, B. (2007.) Planning is important because the manager identifies the steps so that the organizations plans/objectives can be accomplished. Controlling is an important element as well because it makes sure that the plans are followed. The financial manager makes sure that the units/areas of the organization are following the plans that were built. There is a way you can do that and that is to compare reports from earlier times. Organizing and directing helps in financial management because the manager uses the organization to make sure that the plans have been established. The...

Words: 859 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices

...Reporting Practices & Ethics Paper Schniqua Bennett HCS 405 October 22, 2012 Sandra Di Pietro Reporting Practices & Ethics Paper In the health care environment financial practices and ethical care finance is very important to produce successfully organizations. In the health care industry and in any business, ethical and financial practices are adopted to increase the organization value and consumer confident as well as protected the services or products provide by the organization and maintain the organizations brand name. With the cost of providing health care services, patient’s way of payment for these services and the environment in which those patients reside and receive those services are important elements that affects care. This is why financial management and financial reporting is also essential factors for any organization. Most organizations have mission statements, values and visions created to uphold the utmost integrity, honesty and respect for not only the community it serves but also the employees. Financial management can create a positive atmosphere of teamwork or a negative one of turmoil and failure. That is why it is very important for health care organizations to abide by the four elements of financial management. Four Elements of Financial Management The four elements of financial management are planning, controlling, organizing and directing, and decision making. Planning...

Words: 907 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Health Care Spending

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper By Pamela Lockett September 8, 2014 Joe Gazdik, Instructor Ethical standards are important with any organization but more so when it deals with financial reporting. In health care today organizations must use ethical and financial practices that are superb to guarantee a successful organization. In today’s health care, finance is very important allowing for a successful organization. In the health care industry like any other business those in the health care industry must adopt a standard for ethical and financial practices to help increase the value of the organization. Having high financial standards and ethical values this helps to improve the consumer confidence of all that utilize the services of that particular organization. When individuals are looking for health care they will not utilize an organization that is known for having a high death rate, but rather one where the death rate is low. The health care industry is one of the toughest industries within the United States. Those who work in the health care industry are responsible for the decisions that pertain to a person’s life and how the money within the organization will be spent. They are also responsible for the cost of medical services utilized within the community. A declining economy has helped to make the health care environment at times difficult and challenging for patients, physicians, policymakers, and society. It is important that health care organizations have...

Words: 875 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethical Standards

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper Financial reporting and the ethical standards that coincide are important aspects of any health care organization. Health care facilities must report financial statements accurately and fairly. Reported financial data has a huge impact on stakeholders such as investors, patients, vendors, and employees. Health care finance managers should be well versed in the four elements of financial management, generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), and ethical financial standards to ensure acceptable financial practices as well as the sustainability of the organization. Four Elements of Financial Management During the planning process, a financial manager uses the organization’s objectives to develop a systematic process by which the objectives will be met. In order for health care facilities to be successful, there is a large amount of planning involved. Of particular concern is healthcare reform. A health care facility has to plan for compliance issues that will directly affect their bottom line. This includes risk management, new information systems, or the purchase of new equipment. Controlling ensures each department within the health care facility is following prudent financial decisions that have already been set and planned. One example of controlling expenses is to approve or deny capital expenditures. Capital expenditures more often than not increase the organization’s assets. Capital expenditures are also usually included...

Words: 814 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Ethical Standards in Accounting

...Abstract Within the accounting profession there are many complex ethical issues that must be dealt with quite often. It is important that the people working within the industry provide high quality financial statements and always pay close attention to ethical concerns that may arise. Since ethics is such a major concern in the accounting industry, a rules based system is in place for enforcing ethical concerns. There are many regulating bodies that exist that enforce many highly detailed regulations that people within the industry must follow at all times. Throughout history there have been several major accounting scandals that have been followed by new regulation to ensure that these problems do not come up again. CLERP 9 and the Sarbanes-Oxley Act are just a couple of acts that have caused significant changes to the accounting world in recent times. This paper will look at some of the different issues that accountants face as well as some of the regulations that seek to end unethical behavior.   Ethical Standards in Accounting Introduction The accounting industry is an always changing and constantly growing industry. Accounting plays a vital role in society and business and up until recently accounting was considered to have some of the highest standards for ethical and moral conduct in business. In recent years there have been many high profile business failures caused by the unethical behavior or accountants and accounting firms. Since some major companies, like Enron...

Words: 419 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Reporting Practices and Ethics Paper Hcs 405 Week 2

...Reporting Practices and Ethics Kara Moore HCS/405 August 1, 2011 Barbara Archer Reporting Practices and Ethics Financial reporting practices and ethics have manifested an ocean of literature. This has mainly come from organization theorists that address accounting practices. These theorists and professionals have given fresh accountability measures. Their ideals give this industry the tools needed to survive, grow and prosper. The way an organization prepares and reports its financial information and handles its daily operations is in essence financial practices, and in the way it accomplishes this reveals their ethical standards to which they adhere to. This paper will discuss the financial practices, ethical standards, and financial management in health care. Financial management in simple terms is a management of finances for an organization. The goal of financial management is to achieve financial objectives, and can be broken down into four phases. The four elements of financial management are: planning, controlling, organizing and directing, and decision making (Baker & Baker, 2009). In the planning phase financials managers need to pinpoint the organizations objectives and the necessary steps to achieve those (Baker & Baker, 2009). In the controlling phase it is all about ensuring that each department is following the guidelines set forth in the planning stage. This can be accomplished by comparing quarterly reports to see if the departmental goals are...

Words: 1112 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Reporting Practice and Ethics Paper

...find information from articles that address financial reporting practices and ethical standards in health care finance. The paper will also address financial management of health care organizations in detail. In this paper there are several summaries that address the four elements of financial management as well as summaries that address acceptable accounting principles and general financial ethical standards. The paper also gives detailed examples from the articles that reflect ethical standards of conduct and financial reporting. Financial reporting practices In many cases management are not trained to detect fraud and will not feel the need to question further about the possibilities. They will sign off on the findings without real concerns. Some of the major findings are sometime found later on, and by that time the situation may be very serious. The hire-up may penalize management for not recognizing the problem earlier. For example from the article the managers pointed the finger on the auditors and did not take on any of the responsibility for the overlook. Baker  (2007), “When questioned about why it took so long for these problems to come to light, management's response was 'well the external auditors signed the accounts and internal auditing said everything was all right,'" Durant says   (para. 5). Ethical standards in health care finance Managers and staff member responsible for financial reporting are required to do their jobs and do it with the understanding...

Words: 827 - Pages: 4