Cash flow. The office manager reconciled the medical practice's financial accounts and determined that last year, $$1,495,000$ of third$-$party payer and patient self$-$pay reimbursement were deposited. Expenditures for last year totaled $$1,095,000.$

a$.$ The cash flow was $\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_.$

b$.$ What is the significance of the calculated cash flow, which resulted in liquidity for the medical practice?