Author Preparation Guide
This page outlines how to prepare your manuscript for submission to the Journal of Healthcare Finance (JHF). Please read in conjunction with our Article Types & Submission Guidelines page.
Pre-Submission Checklist
Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure the following items are complete:
- Title page includes author names, affiliations, contact details, and disclosures.
- Abstract meets the appropriate structure and word limit for your article type.
- Manuscript text follows a logical structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, Conclusions), as appropriate.
- Tables and figures are numbered, titled, and referenced in the text.
- References are complete and consistent (any standard format accepted at submission).
- Funding sources, conflicts of interest, and ethics statements are included.
- Data availability or transparency statement is provided.
- Supplementary materials are labeled and referenced appropriately.
On This Page
- General Principles
- Title Page
- Abstract
- Main Text
- Tables and Figures
- References
- Acknowledgments
- Data Availability and Transparency
- Ethics and Disclosure
- Supplementary Material
- Final Formatting
- Questions
General Principles
JHF welcomes a range of manuscript types. For definitions and word limits, see our Article Types page.
At initial submission, we do not require strict formatting. However, authors should aim for clarity, transparency, and adherence to professional standards of scholarship and ethics.
If your article is invited for peer review or revision, the editorial office will provide detailed instructions for final formatting.
Title Page
Your title page should include:
- Manuscript title
- Author names and affiliations
- Corresponding author contact information
- At least 3 keywords
- Word count
- Funding and disclosure information
Abstract
Abstract requirements vary by article type:
- Structured abstracts (Objective, Methods, Results, Conclusions) for Original Research and Methodological papers (≤250 words)
- Unstructured abstracts for Policy Analysis, Reviews, Case Studies (≤200 words)
- No abstract required for Commentaries & Perspectives
For full definitions, see the Article Types page.
Main Text
The main text typically uses the following structure:
- Introduction
- Methods
- Results
- Discussion
- Conclusions
Some article types (e.g., Policy Analyses, Industry Insights) may use alternate but logical structures. Guiding descriptions are available on the Article Types page.
Tables and Figures
- Submit tables/figures as separate files
- Label and number in order of appearance
- Include clear titles and legends
- Use standard file types (Word, Excel, PNG, TIFF)
- Limit: six total (unless discussed with editors)
References
Any consistent reference style is acceptable at submission. Accepted papers will use AMA style.
- Include DOIs/URLs when available
- Number references sequentially (if using numbered style)
- Ensure all references cited appear in the list
Acknowledgments
Acknowledge individuals or institutions contributing to the work who do not meet authorship criteria, and any financial or institutional support.
Data Availability and Transparency
Include a data access statement. Example:
Data were obtained from the CMS Hospital Cost Report database (2020–2022), publicly available at CMS Data Portal. Analytic code is available upon request.
Ethics and Disclosure
All manuscripts must include IRB approval/exemption (where applicable), conflicts of interest, and funding disclosures.
Funding: Supported by a grant from the American Hospital Association.
Conflicts: Dr. Smith reports consulting fees from MedTech Analytics; Dr. Jones reports no conflicts.
Supplementary Material
Include appendices or technical material as supplementary files. Reference them clearly in the main text.
Final Formatting for Accepted Manuscripts
Accepted authors will receive:
- A JHF Word template
- Reference formatting guidance (AMA)
- Figure resolution/licensing instructions
Questions
Contact the editorial office at [email protected].