Denver Health's New CFO & the Playbook to Tackle Uncompensated Care

Uncompensated care has been a mounting challenge for the health system.

Denver Health has appointed April Audain as its new chief financial officer. Audain brings over two decades of experience in healthcare finance, having previously held senior positions at prominent health systems across the country, including Parkland Health, where she worked for twelve years including her time as vice president of finance. "Parkland with my training ground," she told HealthLeaders.

Her extensive background in financial management and strategic planning positions her well to navigate the complexities of healthcare financing, especially in the wake of growing uncompensated care costs.

Uncompensated Care

Uncompensated care has become a pressing concern for healthcare providers nationwide, but particularly for Denver Health, Colorado's largest safety net hospital. Denver Health prides itself on treating everyone, but since the pandemic, uncompensated care has risen dramatically.

"The largest conversation that we've had is related to uncompensated care and the trajectory that we've seen at Denver Health since 2020," Audain said. "We went from about $60 million in 2020, to projecting $155 million for 2025."

Although Audain just started her new role, she recognizes the importance of addressing this challenge head-on.

"We're digging into what we can do to help us mitigate some of the increasing costs that we've seen since COVID," she said.

Audain knows going from a health system like Parkland Health in Texas, to Denver Health has it's similarities: "When you go from one safety net to another, there are a lot of things that parallel each other, and so it really did help me to hit the ground running literally here at Denver Health," she said.

The Importance of Teamwork

A new health system will still present its own unique set of challenges for a CFO. For instance, Colorado is a Medicaid expansion state, unlike Texas. But Audain is rising to the challenge and knows the importance of having a good team on her side.

"Not only do I have to make sure that I have a strong team, I have to make sure we have strong partnerships across the organization," she said. "And if you don't have a good solid relationship there, it's not gonna go anywhere."

Luckily for Audain, she automatically had one familiar face at her new organization; Denver Heath's COO Kris Gaw previously worked with Audain at Parkland Health.

"It's really nice to have that existing relationship because we know exactly how each other works. And so that's been a great thing to have such a strong partner from the very day that I walked through the door," she said.

In a healthcare landscape increasingly defined by financial pressures and shifting regulations, Audain's appointment as CFO signals a proactive step toward ensuring Denver Health not only survives but thrives in the years to come. Her strategic focus will be crucial in addressing the challenges posed by uncompensated care and reinforcing the organization's commitment to serving its community.