Tag: collections

A positive patient experience can quickly sour when difficult financial conversations enter the picture. High out-of-pocket costs and confusing medical bills make payments a sensitive issue for many patients. For providers, the challenge is clear: how to improve patient collections while delivering compassionate care. This article considers proven strategies and best practices to simplify patient collections, maximize revenue, and keep the focus on patient-centered care. The importance of optimizing patient collections for healthcare providers For many patients, an unforeseen medical emergency can quickly become a financial one. According to a 2024 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, medical debt rose from an average of $2,000 per person to over $3,100 in a year, while 15 million Americans carry medical collections on their credit reports. Such financial strain erodes the patient experience, with one in five patients experiencing distress over healthcare costs they can't afford. Experian Health's State of Patient Access 2024 survey found that both patients and providers agree that understanding coverage helps patients manage their healthcare costs. Still, unpaid bills and aging accounts are a persistent concern for providers. Hospitals' operating margins may have rebounded, but remain extremely tight. Remaining alert to risks and opportunities in patient collections is essential for long-term financial health. As patients shoulder a greater share of their medical costs—and those costs continue to rise—efficient collections are critical for patient trust and financial resilience. Breaking down the patient collections process The patient collections process involves determining how much of the cost of care falls to the patient, and then billing and collecting the correct amounts. During registration, providers verify insurance coverage and eligibility to estimate what the insurer will cover. Accurate cost estimates can then be provided to patients upfront, giving them the option to make payments before or at the time of service. The bulk of billing and collections activities take place post-visit, sometimes involving third-party agencies. However, collections can be thwarted by several challenges. Staff must keep up with frequent changes in insurance policies to prevent errors in billing or cost calculations. Patients may worry about affordability, leading to late payments. Billing teams often lack information about patients' financial circumstances, making it hard to predict how likely they are to pay. On top of this, many patients expect more convenient payment options, such as online or mobile payment methods, and will express frustration if the process feels inconvenient. Proven strategies to collect more revenue, sooner Three ways to create a patient-friendly billing experience and ensure prompt payment include the following: 1. Reduce stress with clear pricing and flexible payment plans Patients want collections processes to be clearer and more transparent. The State of Patient Access survey found that more than four in ten patients say they would be more likely to cancel or postpone care without an accurate estimate. Six in ten say they'd be more confident in their ability to pay for care if they were offered a payment plan that took account of their financial situation. Automated patient estimates arm patients with accurate information about the expected cost of care in advance. They have more time to make their financial arrangements and are less likely to be surprised by a surprise bill. Providers can offer additional clarity and flexibility through tailored payment plans. Experian Health's Patient Financial Clearance software uses advanced analytics and data to analyze individual patient accounts and determine their ability to pay. This allows front desk personnel to quickly choose the most appropriate financial pathway for each patient. It also supports more compassionate financial conversations, as staff can adjust their approach to suit each patient's financial situation. 2. Help patients find and understand coverage Relying on manual processes can slow down registration and miss potential payment sources. Since 2000, unidentified coverage opportunities have landed hospitals with more than $745 billion in uncompensated care. Given that patients are asking for help understanding coverage, it makes sense to build coverage discovery into the collections process. Experian Health's Coverage Discovery® automatically scans patient accounts throughout their care journey to uncover alternative payment methods and reduce financial strain. This has helped healthcare organizations like Luminis Health identify over $240k in active coverage per month, greatly reducing the financial risk for patients and providers. 3. Make payments easier to prevent delays Improving patient collections processes will be fruitless if patients can't easily make payments. Digital and mobile payment options are non-negotiable for today's digital-first consumers. Accepting payments at multiple collection points, including mobile devices, kiosks and patient portals, gives patients the convenience and choice they need to pay promptly. Best practices for patient collections management Aside from automation and digital tools, the strongest strategies for improving patient collections rest on one key ingredient: robust data. Collections software is only as good as the data behind it. With a tool like Collections Optimization Manager, providers can deploy advanced analytics to segment patient accounts so they can be handled appropriately. Using credit, behavior and demographic data, it applies a proprietary propensity-to-pay score to each account, so staff know which accounts to prioritize, write off or refer out. This approach has helped organizations like Novant Health and Cone Health bring in millions of dollars with personalized, patient-centric collections. On-demand webinar: Hear how Novant Health and Cone Health achieved 7:1 ROI and $14 million in patient collections with Collections Optimization Manager. Tracking patient collections success By monitoring key performance indicators like collection rates, accounts receivable days and patient feedback, providers can continue to fine-tune their processes. Collections Optimization Manager captures this data in user-friendly dashboards and reports, so staff can assess their performance against their own history and industry trends. Users also benefit from expert support from Experian Health consultants, who help teams evaluate reports and recommend the right collections strategies every step of the way. How to build a patient collection strategy that gets results For millions of Americans, medical debt isn't just a financial burden: it's a barrier to care. To overcome this challenge, providers need proactive collections strategies that prioritize patient well-being and financial stability. By incorporating automation, analytics, and digital tools, healthcare organizations can create patient collections processes that are clear, compassionate and effective, delivering better outcomes for both patients and providers. Find out more about how Experian Health's suite of healthcare collections products helps providers boost collections, cash flow and patient satisfaction. Learn more Contact us

“Our call strategies did not yield the desired outcomes, and we recognized the need for additional data to better support our goal. We were also mindful of the potential risk of staff burnout and the impact it could have on overall performance.” —Carey Lawrence, Revenue Cycle Administrator Customer Service and Self-Pay Collections, Weill Cornell Medicine Challenge Weill Cornell Medicine is a leading medical school and research institution with $1.3 billion in annual patient revenue. Facing $42 million in annual bad debt and rising call center demands, Weill Cornell needed to upgrade their collections strategy. Staff lacked real-time insights into patients' propensity to pay and often resorted to calling most patients — a frustrating and inefficient process. They needed a better way to verify insurance coverage, understand patient payment history and determine eligibility for Medicaid eligibility, charity care or other financial assistance. The company had three specific objectives: Increase net revenue by improving self-pay collections through better segmentation and prioritization. Optimize call center operations through automation and better communication with patients. Select the right partner with expertise to provide technical solutions, consultative guidance and process improvements. Solution Weill Cornell turned to Experian Health's Collections Optimization Manager to increase cash collections with smarter segmentation. The partnership provided access to dedicated support from an analytics consulting manager at Experian Health. Together, they used Collections Optimization Manager to create a more targeted collections strategy, and to automatically segment patient accounts based on propensity-to-pay scores. This allowed staff to focus on high-value accounts and stop wasting time on uncollectible accounts. They were able to use Collections Optimization to screen out accounts that weren't deemed collectible, such as accounts for deceased patients, those in bankruptcy, or those eligible for Medicaid or charity care. Access to better data also reduced manual workloads. Validating the database with their existing Epic data also helped catch and correct some missteps. “We were able to eliminate skip tracing, for example, because Experian's extensive data sources ensure our mailing addresses are up to date,” says Lawrence. To improve call center efficiency and deliver a more compassionate payment experience, Weill Cornell also implemented PatientDial, an automated dialer that uses the segmentation data from Collections Optimization Manager, to run targeted outbound patient call campaigns. The initial implementation of automated dialer campaigns increased net collections from 65% to 83%. Outcome Thanks to Collections Optimization Manager and PatientDial, Weill Cornell saw a 7:6:1 return on investment and achieved the following results: $15M collected in pending patient payments $7M reduction in annual bad debt placements 92% of recoveries trending at Champion Benchmarks Automating call campaigns also led to a noticeable improvement in staff morale. Lawrence observes that “staff are more satisfied with the new, automated processes because they can be more productive and don't have to guess at which accounts to call or when. Our operations are flowing more smoothly which decreases all our stress levels.” Lawrence also notes the power of good data: “The detailed, customized reports on our bad debt helped us identify issues early, allowing us to target collections more effectively. We reduced the number of accounts sent to agencies, ultimately saving time and money.” Looking ahead, Weill Cornell plans to explore new ways to use automation to improve management of Medicaid eligibility, presumptive charity and agency reconciliation. Discover how Collections Optimization Manager and PatientDial can streamline your collections process, enable higher collections rates and improve patient communications. Learn more Contact us

Revenue cycle management (RCM) challenges exist at every stage of the patient journey – from patient intake and registration to insurance eligibility, claims processing and collections. Creating administrative efficiencies, reducing claims denials, improving the patient experience and remaining compliant with payer requirements and industry regulations all play a role in successfully managing revenue cycles and avoiding uncompensated care. This article takes a closer look at some of the top challenges in revenue cycle management, their root causes and strategies that leaders can use to tackle RCM issues head-on. Common challenges in revenue cycle management Staying on top of current RCM challenges helps healthcare organizations keep revenue cycles on track. Some of the key roadblocks in revenue cycle management include: Complex billing processes Health payer requirements change often and vary widely among the hundreds of providers operating in the U.S. To avoid delays and lost revenue, claims must be coded and billed correctly – the first time. However, a streamlined approach for error-free insurance eligibility verification, prior authorization and claims processing isn't always simple for healthcare organizations to implement and maintain. This leads to mistakes, wasted staff time and revenue loss. Rising claim denials Claims denials are rising, leaving healthcare organizations to face potential hits to the bottom from delayed or unpaid claims. Denials often occur when claims with incorrect patient information and billing codes are submitted. However, outdated manual processes, overburdened administrative staff and rapidly changing payer requirements can make it tricky for providers to manage the claims process efficiently and error-free consistently. Collections delays Collecting payments continues to be a major bottleneck in the revenue cycle, wasting valuable staff time and hurting provider bottom lines. With rising healthcare costs, a growing number of patients are struggling to pay their medical bills—especially when they don't know the cost of care up front or are self-paying. Estimates created with inaccurate benefits information or missing coverage add to patient and provider frustration and collection delays. Check out this guide to choosing the right key performance indicators for your revenue cycle dashboard to ensure the effective implementation of RCM strategies. Why these obstacles persist: Root causes of RCM issues Current roadblocks in revenue cycle management often persist due to the following root causes: Strained resources: Labor shortages continue to plague the healthcare industry – leaving revenue cycle managers tasked with figuring out how to “do more with less.” With staffing shortages expected through 2030, according to American Hospital Association data, maximizing staff time and administrative efficiencies must remain a top priority for the revenue cycle Lack of patient access: Some patients think patient access has improved, but there's still a long way to go. Data from Experian Health's State of Patient Access survey shows that 51% of patients feel patient access has remained static, despite 28% reporting an improvement since the previous year. High healthcare costs: Many patients struggle to afford healthcare thanks to climbing out-of-pocket costs, higher premiums and more complicated medical issues. As the cost of care and health insurance continue to rise, patients may be more likely to delay or default on payments. Medical expenses aren't likely to go down, leaving providers to help patients understand their financial responsibility and provide a simple path to payment. Frequent regulation changes: Legislation, like the No Surprises Act, plus ever-changing payer requirements, are time-consuming for busy administrative teams to monitor. Outdated patient intake processes and verification systems further contribute to compliance issues and resulting claims delays and denials. How healthy is your revenue cycle? Our revenue cycle management checklist helps healthcare organizations catch inefficiencies and find opportunities to boost cash flow. How to overcome revenue cycle management challenges The following strategies can help busy RCM leaders take steps toward creating a successful revenue cycle. Boost patient access Healthy revenue cycles begin with efficient and streamlined patient access. According to Experian Health data, 60% of patients say they want more digital options to engage with their provider and are willing to switch providers to get more digital access. Patients want it to be simple to book an appointment and complete intake paperwork – on their own time. They want to see their provider quickly, understand the cost of care and have the option to pay bills online or set up a payment plan. Adopting patient engagement solutions that improve access helps healthcare organizations foster more positive experiences, deliver better outcomes, collect more accurate patient data and increase their bottom lines. Providers can put patients in the driver's seat with tools that streamline scheduling, registration, estimates and payments. Staff is freed up from repetitive administrative tasks, patient no-shows decline, claims denials are reduced and collections are expedited. Improve claims management processes Processing claims is a significant contributing factor toward “wasted” healthcare dollars. According to Experian Health survey data, 73% of respondents agreed that claim denials are increasing, compared to 42% in 2022. Bad data is to blame, with providers saying incorrect information and authorization are driving the uptick in denials. 67% of respondents also agreed that reimbursement times were longer, indicating a broad issue with payer policy changes and claims errors. Revenue cycle managers who want to prevent denials, rather than just manage them, can reduce denials with automated claims management solutions. Tools like Experian Health's award-winning ClaimSource® make the claims editing and submission process effective and efficient. Other solutions, such as Claims Scrubber, help providers submit complete and accurate claims, resulting in more timely reimbursement and a healthier bottom line. In the case of denials, AI AdvantageTM - Denial Triage, uses artificial intelligence (AI) to identify denials with the highest potential for reimbursement, so that teams can focus on remits that have the most impact. Learn how Indiana University Health processed $632 million in claims transmissions in one week after a halt to operations. Keep pace with changing payer policies and healthcare regulatory and compliance standards According to Experian Health survey data, more than 75% of providers agree that payer policy changes are increasing. Staying up to speed on the ever-evolving compliance landscape is critical for RCM leaders who want to reduce claim denials, payment delays, and administrative backlogs. Digital regulatory solutions, like Insurance Eligibility Verification, can help providers keep up with evolving payer policies. Experian Health's price transparency solutions, like Patient Estimates and Patient Financial Advisor, allow healthcare organizations to remain compliant with regulatory requirements. Price transparency solutions provide proactive pricing information and make it easier for patients to pay, all while improving patient satisfaction. Nicole Ready, Revenue Cycle Systems Manager, at South Shore Health and Michael DiCarlo, Sr. Advisor, Revenue Cycle Operations at Northwell Health, discuss how they deliver better patient experiences with Experian Health's Price Transparency solutions. Preparing for new and evolving RCM hurdles Technology will continue to play a defining role in the future of revenue cycle management, for patients, providers and payers. Healthcare organizations can stay competitive by embracing AI and automation-based RCM solutions. From claims processing, verifying COB, MBI, and demographics in one click, prior authorizations to data analytics, RCM leaders can rely on AI and automation tools to optimize every stage of the revenue management cycle. Turning RCM roadblocks into opportunities for growth Revenue cycle management challenges are among the greatest obstacles facing today's healthcare organizations. However, improvements in digital tools and analytics can help providers keep revenue flowing while maintaining compliance and the patient experience in focus. With the right technology partner, RCM leaders can turn obstacles into growth opportunities. Experian Health's Revenue Cycle Management solutions can help your organization optimize revenue cycle management from patient intake to reimbursement. Learn more about how Experian Health's revenue cycle management solutions help healthcare organizations generate more revenue and increase their bottom lines. Learn more Contact us

Improved automation and data-driven solutions are optimizing the patient collections process, even as providers face rising costs, shrinking reimbursements, looming changes to credit reporting, and an ongoing push toward greater efficiency. How do current solutions stack up against these challenges? Matt Hanas, Lead Product Manager at Experian Health, shares responses to some of the questions he's hearing from around the industry.  Q: Automation continues to be a buzzword in 2025, but what does it mean day-to-day for patient collections? What can automation do for healthcare providers and hospitals in 2025?  “Automation can mean many different things,” says Hanas. “It might mean saving on full-time employee hours or the number of clicks made by a user with an EHR like Epic. It could mean removing human intervention from a process, or trusting a vendor to deliver results without needing oversight.”  “When deployed correctly, automation will either reduce waste or increase profitability---or both,” he continues. “Imagine being able to export AR files out of an EHR on a daily basis. Those files trigger multiple processes that check for missed insurance coverage, bankruptcy filings, bad addresses and charity qualifications, to name a few possibilities. That information can be scored and segmented to drive hands-off dialer and text campaigns, with results delivered back to the EHR automatically and used to populate work lists and queues for staff to review—or, better yet, to create additional automation rules within the EHR to perform automated tasks like adjustments and write-offs.”  “Collections Optimization Manager has the proven ability to automate workflows. It's used at hospitals around the country to discover overlooked Medicaid coverage, apply charity write-offs, utilize interactive voice responses (IVR) to collect payments, send out text message payment reminders and more,” Hanas says. “These are all key drivers behind a profitable and efficient healthcare organization. Thousands of hours are being saved, while hospitals and providers achieve greater efficiency and profitability.”  Q: Can segmentation increase collections and boost patient satisfaction? How does the power of intuitive segmentation improve the patient collections process?  “For certain, failing to understand patients' individual needs is not a recipe for improving collections or increasing patient satisfaction,” says Hanas. Healthcare costs are rising, physician reimbursement is decreasing, and many consumers are feeling an economic squeeze. A 2024 survey by Commonwealth Fund found nearly half of respondents (48%) had skipped care, declined to fill a prescription, or decided against seeing a specialist because of cost. In this environment, segmentation can help providers develop a more responsive process, which may help to facilitate patient collections.  “When providers use detailed, comprehensive segmentation, they can implement specific contact strategies, payment plans or even automatic write-offs based on a patient's unique financial status,” says Hanas. “They can ensure that each patient has the right number of touches and can offer them a range of possible payment options.” For example, Patient Financial Clearance can connect eligible patients with financial assistance or charity.   “There are various data models used across the industry,” Hanas explains. “They group patients by credit data, payment history, demographics, geolocation, and a variety of other factors. What makes Experian Health segmentation so powerful is that it includes all of these factors. Having many types of data come together via algorithms and analytic models helps providers better understand their patients' financial factors, patient by patient. With properly deployed and utilized segmentation, collections can become a better-informed interaction between a patient and their provider that benefits both,” Hanas says.   Q: Outsourcing the patient collections process is standard practice, but do most providers really know how their agencies are performing? How can providers optimize these important relationships?  “Once providers have done the time-consuming research and picked an agency to partner with, their challenge is knowing whether those agencies are performing to standards,” Hanas says. “With thousands and thousands of accounts flying back and forth between the hospital and the agency (or agencies), monitoring performance manually would take an unimaginable amount of time.”  Experian Health has tools to automate the process. “Collections Optimization Manager has an offering built into it that monitors agency performance on multiple levels,” says Hanas. “It includes details [like] whether an agency's license has expired, or whether they've had a complaint or lawsuit filed against them. Because money collected is the true performance metric, it also compares account balances for each provider account against what the agency says they've collected. These results are then reported on dashboards, reports and scorecards, so providers get easily digestible information.”   Data also helps providers compare performance between agencies. “Clients are using performance metrics from Collections Optimization to line agencies up against each other and compare,” Hanas says. “This 'challenger' technique allows providers to see which agency is delivering superior performance,” and then these providers can ultimately make decisions on how to allocate business going forward.  Q: In addition to keeping up with operational challenges and technology, providers are navigating changes in the regulatory space. How are fast-evolving state regulations around financial assistance affecting collections strategies?  “More and more states are passing financial assistance-specific regulations,” says Hanas. “Illinois, Oregon, Minnesota, Maine, California, and North Carolina are just a few of the states that have enacted such laws, and each state has its own rules around how financial assistance should be approached. These regulations affect when action can be taken before sending statements to patients or sending accounts to collections."  “For example, in Maine, individuals who are eligible for charity care – defined as being at or below 150% of the federal poverty line (FPL) – may not have their bills sent to collections. For individuals over 150% FPL, nonprofit hospitals must wait at least 120 days after they send the first post-discharge bill before sending the bill to collections, by federal law,” Hanas explains.  “In New York, a bill can be sent to collections if the patient has been provided written notification of the financial assistance program within 30 days of the bill being referred to a collector,” Hanas says. “However, for a hospital to participate in New York's indigent care pool, a hospital cannot send a bill to collections if there is a pending financial assistance application.  “In New Jersey, an individual can only be sent to collections for amounts that are determined to be not eligible for charity care,” says Hanas. “A hospital must give applicants written notice informing them about charity care, Medicaid, or NJ FamilyCare, or refer them to a medical assistance program within three months of the date of service. If they don't, then the hospital cannot pursue collections.  “Because every state has different laws, it can be very cumbersome and time-consuming for providers to comply with these changes,” Hanas concludes. “Finding and implementing the tools needed to carry out these requirements can be a challenge.”  Q: How can the right tools help providers meet regulatory requirements without disrupting collections?   “One common theme among many of these regulations is for states to require providers to screen patients at the start of the patient care cycle to make sure they're offered the proper charity care and financial assistance options they may be eligible for,” says Hanas.   “Here's an example,” he continues. “On January 1, 2025, North Carolina enacted the Comprehensive Medical Debt Relief and Reform Incentive Program. The program focuses on two main aspects---providing medical debt relief for patients and helping them access financial assistance by focusing on their presumptive eligibility for charity care. To achieve this objective, hospitals will start to automatically qualify certain patients for charity care by looking at the patient’s FPL to make sure that discounts or full write-offs are applied to their medical services as appropriate.   “This is where a comprehensive end-to-end solution can be of great value,” Hanas notes. “It allows hospitals to obtain the data they need to proactively offer and provide charity care and financial assistance options based on each patient's FPL, which is derived from household income and household size.   “The Collections Optimization solution at Experian Health not only focuses on the collections part of the hospitals' workflows but the charity care part as well. Collections Optimization can return FPL scores for each patient so that these patients aren't being moved further down the patient care cycle and placed into the collections stream if they're eligible for financial assistance or charity care. As a result,” Hanas concludes, “patients are well-served by financial assistance programs, while providers are empowered to implement their programs effectively as they comply with changing state laws.”  Find out more about how Collections Optimization Manager helps providers adapt to constantly evolving challenges with the patient collections process.  Learn more Contact us

As margins tighten, traditional revenue cycle management strategies are on shaky ground. Many healthcare providers are turning to automation and AI to simplify payments, prevent revenue loss and protect profits. This article breaks down some of the most common revenue cycle management (RCM) challenges facing healthcare leaders and offers a practical checklist to optimize patient access, collections and claims management, while building a resilient and patient-centered revenue cycle. Common challenges in revenue cycle management Revenue cycle management is how healthcare organizations handle the financial side of patient care, from patient billing to claims management. Healthcare providers rely on RCM to ensure they are properly paid, so they can keep the lights on, pay their staff and deliver quality patient care. Are traditional RCM strategies still fit for purpose? Consider some of the current challenges: Patients are responsible for a larger share of costs due to high-deductible health plans. How can providers help them understand their financial obligations and make it easier to pay without hurting their experience? Minimizing claim denials is a daily focus, thanks to constantly changing policies and regulatory updates. How do revenue cycle teams keep up with payers? Staffing shortages remain on the agenda. How can providers ease pressure on staff to maintain productivity and morale? There's also the question of how to turn mountains of data into actionable insights. How do teams interpret it correctly to identify bottlenecks and opportunities for improvement? Automation and AI offer a way through. When implemented thoughtfully, these tools can speed up processes, reduce errors and clear operational roadblocks for a more resilient revenue cycle. The following revenue cycle management checklist includes some of the key questions to consider along the way. Checklist for improving revenue cycle management Automating patient access Can patients book appointments online? Does the online scheduler automate business rules to guide patients to the right provider? Are patient identities verified at registration and point of service? A healthy revenue cycle starts with efficient patient access. According to the State of Patient Access 2024, 60% of patients want more digital options for scheduling appointments, managing bills and communicating with providers. Providers who see improvements in patient access also credit automation, which speeds up intake and improves accuracy. A good first step is to replace paper-based processes with online self-scheduling and self-service registration. These tools make life easier for patients, boosting satisfaction, retention and engagement. Behind the scenes, Experian Health's new AI-powered tool, Patient Access Curator, helps providers get paid faster by verifying and updating patient information with a single click – accelerating registration and paving the way for faster reimbursement. Register now: Exact Sciences and Trinity Health will share how Patient Access Curator is redefining patient access in this upcoming webinar. Optimize patient collections with data and analytics Are patient estimates provided upfront? Are notice of care requirements being addressed? Are patients offered appropriate financial plans and easy ways to pay? With more financial responsibility resting on patients' shoulders, patient collections are under the spotlight. The State of Patient Access report shows that upfront estimates and clarity about coverage are top priorities for patients, because when they know what they owe, they're more likely to pay on time. Implementing tools to promote price transparency and easy payment methods should feature in any RCM checklist. With Coverage Discovery, healthcare organizations can run checks across the entire revenue cycle to find billable commercial and government coverage that may have been forgotten, to maximize the chance of reimbursement. Meanwhile, Patient Payment Estimates offers patients clear, accessible estimates of their financial responsibility before treatment, so that hose who need financial assistance can be directed automatically to payment plans and charity options. Case study: How UCHealth secured $62M+ in insurance payments with Coverage Discovery® Improve claims management to reduce denials Are high-impact accounts prioritized? Are remittances reconciled with payments received? Does claims management software generate real-time insights and reports? With 73% of healthcare leaders agreeing that denial increased in 2024, and 67% saying it takes longer to get reimbursed, claims management is a great use case for automation. ClaimSource®, ranked Best in KLAS in 2024 for claims management, automates the entire claims cycle in a single application. It integrates national and local payer edits with custom provider edits to verify that each claim is properly coded before submission. By focusing on high-priority accounts, providers can target resources in the most effective way to ensure a higher first-pass payment rate. A major advantage for ClaimSource users is access to AI Advantage™. This tool utilizes AI to “learn” from an organization's historical claims data and trends in payer behavior to predict the probability of denial. It also segments denials so staff can prioritize those that are most likely to be reimbursed, reducing the time and cost of manual appeals and rework. Case study: After using AI Advantage for just six months, Schneck Medical Center reduced denials by an average of 4.6% each month, and cut rework time from 12 to 15 minutes per correction to under 5 minutes. Benefits of implementing a revenue cycle management checklist The key to choosing the right RCM tools and technologies is to build the strategy around what patients need most. A clear, transparent and compassionate billing experience is more manageable for patients and helps providers get paid faster. An RCM checklist helps teams stay focused on the tasks that matter. Providers can build on the suggestions above by choosing the key performance indicators (KPIs) that align with their specific goals. Metrics like financial performance, billing efficiency and collections rates can be combined to guide resource allocation, drive improvements and speed up reimbursement. With a well-designed checklist informed by clear KPIs, revenue cycle leaders can keep their teams on track and take their organizations from “surviving” to “thriving.” Learn more about how Experian Health's revenue cycle management tools can help healthcare providers meet current challenges, improve the patient experience and increase cash flow. Learn more Contact us

Collecting payments from patients has always been tough. Confusing bills, missed reminders and affordability concerns often lead to delays. Billing teams get bogged down in follow-up calls and paperwork, leaving little time for complex cases and a big question mark over whether they're using their time efficiently. As patients shoulder a greater share of their healthcare costs, there's increased pressure to make billing more accessible, transparent and manageable. Could automation be the answer? This article looks at how automation can simplify patient collections for everyone. With faster reminders, more accurate estimates, tailored payment plans and efficient collections management, providers can improve the patient experience and increase collections simultaneously. The importance of automation in patient collections One of the biggest frustrations for billing staff is seeing patients struggle to pay their bills. Medical costs can be daunting, and as patients are confronted with rising prices at the gas pumps and grocery stores, they may feel forced to delay healthcare payments or forego care altogether. Complicated bills with unclear charges and terminology only compound the problem: Experian Health's 2024 State of Patient Access (SOPA) survey found that 69% of providers see patients postpone services when they don't understand the financial impact. Many patients are able to pay their bills, but need clearer and more flexible payment options. In their attempts to support patients, billing teams spend a lot of time managing routine tasks like sending reminders, setting up payment plans and fielding questions about bills and unresolved insurance issues. What if these tasks could be handled automatically? There are opportunities to take advantage of automation, advanced data analytics and artificial intelligence in just about every corner of the collections process. Providers integrating automation in patient collections find it easier to help patients keep up with payments and maintain a steady cash flow — without draining staff resources. The benefits of automation for patient collections Here is a run-down of a few key automation benefits for patient collections: 1. Clearer billing, which boosts better cash flow In the SOPA survey, 88% of providers recognized that upfront price estimates contribute to collections success. Automation makes it easier to calculate accurate estimates based on the provider's current prices and the patient's specific insurance benefits. With user-friendly bills, patients can quickly grasp what they owe without needing to ask their provider for clarification. Automated systems can also issue friendly reminders to patients via text or email so they don't miss payment deadlines. Including quick payment links allows patients to click and pay in an instant. 2. Personalized payment options, which create a compassionate and convenient patient experience A survey by Experian Health and PYMNTs found that patients welcome tailored payment plans that allow them to pay their bills in stages. This is backed up by SOPA findings, which show that 40% of providers have seen reduced friction in patient intake thanks to payment plans. Automation can be used to calculate customized options that fit different budgets. Aligning payment plans to the patients' ability to pay improves the consumer experience and minimizes bad debt. Today's consumers want to choose how they pay for care, yet many providers lack the online and mobile-enabled payment options to support fast and convenient payments. With automation, healthcare organizations can enable multiple secure payment methods across their services and departments, giving patients more hassle-free ways to pay. 3. Increased efficiency, which reduces the admin burden for staff With automation handling routine billing tasks, staff can spend less time on paperwork and more time on patient care, leading to a more efficient and patient-focused service. Overall, automation creates a smoother billing experience. Patients appreciate clear information, convenient payment options, and timely reminders, which makes them more satisfied with their care. Key tools and technologies for automating patient collections When building a toolkit for automated patient collections, providers can choose from a growing range of technologies. For example: 1. Analytics-based collections optimization One way to simplify patient collections is to use data analytics to screen, segment and prioritize self-pay accounts so that each one can be handled in the most efficient way. Collections Optimization Manager screens patient accounts for bankruptcy, deceased status, Medicaid, and charity so staff can focus on higher-yield accounts. After screening, accounts are given a score based on the patient's propensity to pay and then routed to the most appropriate servicing channel. Users can access real-time dashboards and expert consultancy support to monitor and improve collections strategies. This improves the experience for patients, reduces repetitive manual work for staff, and maximizes collections while reducing the overall cost to collect. See it in action: How Wooster Community Hospital collected $3.8M in patient balances with Collections Optimization Manager 2. Financial aid automation Many patients with high out-of-pocket costs and co-pays are unaware that they might be eligible for financial assistance. By using Experian’s comprehensive data, Patient Financial Clearance automatically determines which patients may qualify for financial assistance and even auto-enrolls them in relevant programs. To make this process as easy as possible for patients, the tool prompts them to complete applications whenever it is convenient, either online or through their smartphones. This releases staff from time-consuming manual work and accelerates approvals and payments. In addition, the tool creates individualized payment plans that account for what the patient is likely to be able to afford, thus helping providers collect from patients who do not qualify for charity support, too. See it in action: How Eskenazi Health boosted Medicaid approvals by 111% with financial aid automation 3. Automated upfront, accurate estimates For patients with out-of-pocket bills, getting ahead of any surprise charges with accurate pre-service estimates is essential. Patient Estimates is a web-based pricing tool that pulls together every last detail about chargemaster pricing, payer contracts, insurance benefits and financial assistance policies to generate an accurate estimate for patients. It applies any prompt-pay discounts or payment plans so the patient knows what to expect. Helping patients understand and prepare for forthcoming bills smooths out the payment process and leads to more revenue being collected, sooner. 4. Digitally enabled payment technology The patient-friendly collections experience can be rounded out by offering a choice of digital-first payment methods. PaymentSafe® allows providers to securely accept patient payments at any time, expanding the number of collection points available to patients. The tool automatically integrates data from across the payments ecosystem to pre-populate fields in the patients' accounts, allowing them to pay multiple bills at once, and automatically settles and remits payments. Making it easy for patients to pay accelerates payments, including before and at the point of service. The future of patient collections through automation Bringing together automation and patient collections will continue to simplify and make these processes more patient-friendly. Automation and digital tools will enable more self-service options, making it easy for patients to manage bills, choose payment plans, and make payments at their convenience. Moving toward greater transparency and personalization will also give patients more control. Emerging technologies such as predictive analytics, machine learning and artificial intelligence will give providers greater insights into their patients' financial needs, so they can offer proactive and compassionate support to navigate the process. As these trends gather steam, patient collections will become faster, more adaptable and better aligned with the needs of today's healthcare consumers. Find out more about how simplifying patient collections with automation can improve patient experiences and increase collections. Learn more Contact us

The growing shift from inpatient to outpatient care continues. The U.S. ambulatory services market was estimated at USD 289.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.38% from 2024 to 2030. A Deloitte study notes that the gap between inpatient and outpatient revenue has been closing for two decades. But what's driving this boom? Clinical advances, patient demand for lower-risk and lower-cost options and payer pressure all play a role. New technologies, like advances in orthopedics, allow more procedures to be performed at outpatient service centers instead of costly hospital settings. Free-standing ambulatory surgery sites are expected to see a 14% volume boost over the next decade as more service lines, like cardiovascular and neurosciences, begin to shift procedures from inpatient to outpatient facilities. The ongoing growth in outpatient services presents a unique opportunity for revenue cycle leaders to use technology to improve outpatient revenue—and the overall patient experience. Grow outpatient revenue with more digital care Patients want a better experience at every step of the patient journey. They want to see their doctor faster, manage appointments online and understand how much it costs—with as little red tape as possible. A lack of streamlined patient access and transparency often results in no-shows, a rise in claims denials, wasted staff time and patient complaints. However, by opening the digital front door, providers can give patients the self-service tools they crave, improve the care experience, keep outpatient schedules full and increase revenue. Additionally, providers can use technology like artificial intelligence (AI) to lower claim denial rates. Here are five strategies to increase outpatient revenue in 2025. 1. Make patient access simple Patients want to see their doctor faster. In Experian Health's latest State of Patient Access survey, eight in ten patients who reported being unhappy with their provider experience cited waiting for an appointment as a top complaint. When trying to schedule, patients are also frustrated by the friction that comes with complex processes, clunky technology systems and sparse provider communication. Outdated manual workflows, staffing shortages and lack of staff training often result in challenges for both patients and providers. Improved patient access is at the heart of patient-centered healthcare. Technology designed to put the patient in control, like online patient scheduling and digital patient intake tools, offer continuous patient engagement, optimized scheduling, and streamlined administrative processes. By leveraging modern patient access solutions, providers can improve patient experiences and alleviate the impact of staffing shortages. 2. Reduce appointment no-shows Missed appointments cause headaches for patients, providers, and revenue cycle managers. Online scheduling and mobile registration are also top of mind for patients. In Experian Health's State of Patient Access 2024 survey, 89% of patients said they wanted self-service scheduling and 85% reported a dislike for filling out repetitive intake paperwork. Online patient scheduling software puts patients in the driver's seat, providing convenient and secure 24/7 access to book, reschedule, and cancel appointments on their own time. Solutions like Patient Schedule sync seamlessly to an organization's scheduling rules, and patients receive automated appointment reminders by text or IVR. On average, providers that use Experian Health's scheduling solution experience an 89% show rate, a 50% reduction in scheduling time, and a 32% increase in patients per month. Patient intake tools like Registration Accelerator simplify mobile registration with a streamlined text-to-mobile experience. Once registration is complete, automated returns of forms, patient-check-ins and demographic information ease the burden on staff. 3. Help patients prepare for outpatient costs Patients need a clear breakdown of their financial responsibility before receiving care. Without it, they may be unable to prepare for care costs appropriately. While hospitals are now required to share detailed pricing for at least 300 common procedures, confusion around a patient's actual financial responsibility still persists. More than half of patients report turning to their provider for help understanding what insurance covers. Digital solutions that provide accurate, upfront estimates empower patients. More than eight in ten patients say pre-service estimates help them prepare for the cost of care. Patient Payment Estimates provide upfront, real-time estimates of what a patient will owe. Providers can offer convenient and secure payment links, and allow patients to pay their bills online or see customized payment plans. Outpatient providers can further maximize the chance of reimbursement by running health insurance coverage checks across the entire revenue cycle. This can help find billable coverage that may have been forgotten and give patients greater certainty about what they'll owe. 4. Automate healthcare collections Collections are often a major challenge in the outpatient revenue cycle. Outpatient procedures can be costly, even with insurance, leaving patients responsible for potentially large bills. Automating healthcare collections allows for faster, more efficient, and more compassionate collections. Tools like Collections Optimization Manager helped Novant Health achieve an overall recovery rate of 6.5% and increase revenue and cost savings to a rolling average return on investment of 8.5:1. With automated tools like Patient Financial Clearance, providers can assess patients' ability to pay and assign them to an appropriate financial pathway. This allows patients to quickly get the assistance they need while freeing up valuable staff time. 5. Streamline claims to increase outpatient revenue Denied claims continue to be problematic for providers. In Experian Health's State of Claims 2024 report, which surveyed 210 healthcare revenue cycle leaders, nearly three-quarters of providers feel claims denials are increasing, while 67% feel getting paid is taking longer. Claims management software can help end the cycle of denials. However, around half of providers still use a manual claims review process, and only 28% feel confident in their understanding of automation, machine learning and AI. Adopting automated and integrated healthcare claims management solutions can reduce errors, prevent undercharges, and ensure a higher first-pass payment rate. Tools like Experian Health's ClaimsSource® simplify the entire claims process, while Claim Scrubber helps providers submit more accurate claims. Digital solutions can also automate claim status monitoring and eliminate manual denial processes. Implementing AI tools to interpret past claims data and recommend next steps can improve outpatient claim denial statistics. Tools like AI AdvantageTM look at past payer behavior and historical claims data to predict and prevent denials. AI Advantage's two components, Predict Denials and Denial Triage, help providers respond to growing denial challenges by identifying claims with a high likelihood of denial before submission, and focus on remits that have the most impact. See how: Find out more about how Experian Health's revenue cycle management solutions can help healthcare organizations increase outpatient revenue, keep pace with growing patient volumes, improve patient satisfaction and boost their bottom lines. Learn more Contact us

Self-pay collections are challenging for healthcare organizations of all shapes and sizes, but particularly for mid-size providers. Caught in an awkward middle ground, these organizations are often too large to operate with the agility and personal touch of small clinics, but too small to leverage the economies of scale available to large health systems. Revenue cycle managers must find the balance between operational efficiency, patient-centered services and financial constraints. With limited staff and resources, many mid-size hospitals feel like they're fighting an uphill battle to maintain cash flow and patient satisfaction as they contend with increasingly complex billing and insurance protocols. Implementing self-pay collections strategies tailored to mid-sized healthcare organizations can boost efficiency, reduce bad debt and create smoother patient billing processes. This article looks at practical strategies to help bring more dollars in the door without compromising the patient experience. Importance of effective self-pay collections in the mid-sized market Like other markets, mid-size providers are squeezed by self-pay collections on two fronts – the hospital's financial health and patient satisfaction. Finding the right collections strategy is vital to protect this “double bottom line.” Financially, failure to collect on bills seriously hurts cash flow. Unlike larger hospitals that might have more resources or smaller practices with fewer expenses, mid-size facilities often operate on tighter margins. Inefficient collections processes lead providers to risk revenue loss, which leads to cuts in services, staff and the ability to invest in new tech. At the same time, the way hospitals handle billing and collections plays a major role in how patients feel about their overall healthcare experience. Confusing bills or aggressive collections tactics can damage trust. An effective self-pay collections strategy that makes payments easy, straightforward and flexible contributes to a positive patient experience and will pay dividends in the long run. How to improve self-pay patient collections for mid-size hospitals and facilities Here is a breakdown of some key approaches and tools that can be adapted to suit the specific needs of mid-size providers and make billing and collections more efficient, patient-friendly and cost-effective: 1. Automate as much as possible One of the fastest ways to make better use of resources is with automation. Why have staff spend hours sending out bills and payment reminders by hand when this can be done automatically? Automated collections tools can also send email and text reminders to patients, set up auto-pay options, and guide patients to appropriate payment plans. Automatic alerts for overdue accounts can be used to help staff focus their limited time on high-value activities. This saves time, reduces errors and creates seamless patient experiences. Read more: Maximize patient collections with automated technology 2. Segment and conquer collections Every patient's financial situation is different, so why handle their accounts in the same way? Segmentation divides patients into groups based on their payment behaviors, financial situations and balance size so that providers can tailor their approach. Collections Optimization Manager screens and segments self-pay accounts to scrub accounts that need special handling (like bankruptcy, deceased status, Medicaid and charity) and focus on patients most likely to pay. Accounts are given a segment code based on the patient's propensity to pay, which then informs how the account is managed. For example, those who typically pay on time can get a simple text reminder, while those with larger balances or financial difficulties may need a more flexible payment plan. This solution can also be used with Patient Financial Clearance to create individualized payment plans for patients who may not qualify for charity care. A targeted approach to self-pay billing strategies for mid-sized healthcare facilities increases the chances of successful payments. 3. Implement interactive voice response (IVR) IVR systems allow patients to get important payment information through an automated phone system, without needing to talk to someone. Patients can receive automated voice messages or call in and follow prompts to pay their bills over the phone. Not only does this give patients far more flexibility to pay when convenient for them, but it also reduces the workload on staff, who don't have to handle so many incoming calls. Experian Health's cloud-based dialing platform, PatientDial, helps patients clear their bills quickly and conveniently, with minimal input from staff. In a single year, this tool helped clients collect over $50 million in self-pay collections and save 900,000 labor hours that would have been spent dialing manually. 4. Work with a dedicated collections consultant Bringing in a collections expert gives patient finance teams targeted support to improve collections rates while maintaining a positive patient experience. Clients who use Collections Optimization Manager get dedicated support from experienced revenue cycle consultants who can recommend the most appropriate collections strategies, evaluate opportunities to improve performance, and oversee scenarios to test and adopt new approaches. Some providers may find it more efficient to manage collections in-house, while others benefit from outsourcing to a specialist third party. Experian Health offers collections solutions to both, enabling mid-sized providers to choose the best fit. Collections Optimization consultants provide personalized attention and customized workflows tailored to the organization's needs, whether they're using Epic, Oracle, Meditech or other electronic health record platforms. Integrating patient-friendly billing practices Whatever the strategy, maintaining a positive patient-provider relationship through patient-friendly billing is essential. For example: Simplifying billing statements and using clear language reduces confusion and helps patients understand what they owe Running coverage discovery checks and offering upfront patient payment estimates gives patients greater clarity about their financial obligations Setting up automated reminders nudges patients to pay on time Highlighting available payment plans gives patients manageable options to reduce the risk of unpaid balances. Experian Health's data insights allow providers to better understand patients and develop strategies for proactive outreach before debts become unmanageable. Collection Optimization Manager's segmentation model draws together credit, behavior and demographic data, incorporating socio-economic modeling and income estimations to build a complete picture of each patient. Unlike traditional segmentation models that rely solely on payment history, the CO model includes estimated household size, income and federal poverty line analytics to generate a meaningful score without needing additional data. Automated communications such as PatientText and PatientDial make the billing and payment process less intrusive. Combining convenience and personalization builds trust and improves collections while supporting a more compassionate patient experience. Enhancing revenue for mid-sized medical groups with improved self-pay collections Going back to that “double bottom line,” Judy Wirtz, Senior Analytics Consultant at Experian Health, explains how Experian's collections toolkit helps mid-sized organizations boost financial performance while maintaining a positive patient experience: “Boosting self-pay collections for mid-size healthcare organizations doesn't have to be daunting,” she says. “Our goal is to simplify collections while keeping the patient experience front and center. We use industry-leading data, smart segmentation and dedicated support to help organizations customize their strategies based on their unique patient mix and resources. Other tools fill in different pieces of the collections puzzle, but Collections Optimization Manager is the only one to give providers the full picture. Our clients have seen an impressive 9:1 return on investment, so we're confident this approach makes a real difference.” Wirtz suggests that those who'd like to learn more about Collections Optimization Manager should watch Experian Health's recent webinar with Wooster Community Hospital. The hospital used CO to collect $3.8 million in patient balances. Find out more about how Collections Optimization Manager boosts self-pay collections for mid-size healthcare organizations. Learn more Contact us

Today's patients are used to the seamless and transparent payment processes in retail services. It's no surprise that they expect the same convenience with paying for healthcare. According to Experian Health's State of Patient Access 2024 report, 96% emphasized that it is crucial they receive an accurate estimate of treatment costs before service. In fact, 43% said they would opt out of receiving care if this information were unavailable. Patients also expect more payment options, including online and mobile payments, as confirmed by 72% of respondents. However, the reality is far from ideal for most patients. From unexpected medical bills to convoluted payment processes, the patient payment journey is anything but straightforward, and hospitals feel the consequences the most in their bottom lines. Unclear and confusing payment processes can lead to healthcare collection issues, impacting hospital financial stability. Discover how Experian Health's Collections Optimization Manager solution makes patient billing and healthcare collections more transparent, responsive and streamlined. Why Collections Optimization matters for mid-size healthcare providers Collections optimization involves leveraging technology to simplify and accelerate the process of collecting payments from patients. These solutions screen, segment and monitor accounts for efficient payment collections. Healthcare collections for mid-size providers is essential as they need a consistent cash inflow to stay afloat. With healthcare costs rising, affordability is a growing concern for patients and providers. About half of US adults find it challenging to cover their healthcare costs; one in four report needing help paying for healthcare within the last year, as per a KFF survey. In addition, according to Experian Health's State of Claims 2024 survey, 77% of providers are moderate to extremely worried about patient payments. By improving collections optimization, mid-size providers can assess patients' financial responsibility and capability as early as during patient registration. This allows them to prioritize high-value accounts and write off or refer other cases to collection agencies. Experian Health vs. Competitors: The key differentiators in healthcare collections for the mid-sized market Experian Health's Collections Optimization Manager solution outperforms the competition, by ensuring healthcare organizations receive personalized, automated and thorough support to manage healthcare collections. Automation: reducing costs and improving efficiency When it comes to healthcare collections for mid-size providers, many still rely on manual processes that exhaust limited staff resources and delay payment collections. Collections Optimization Manager provides end-to-end automation capabilities that streamline the entire healthcare collections process from patient registration to final payment. It automates critical components of healthcare collections, including payment capability screening, segmentation and payment monitoring, based on each organization's challenges and revenue cycle process. This automated collection approach conserves hospital resources and ensures payments move faster into their pockets. For instance, Wooster Community Hospital (WCH)  observed patient payments increase by $3.8 million a year after adopting Experian Health's Collections Optimization Manager, alongside PatientDial and PatientText. In a recent webinar, Kristen Shoup, Revenue Cycle Director at Wooster Community Hospital, and Judy Wirtz, Senior Analytics Consultant at Experian Health, discuss, “By automating Wooster's collection calls, we've been able to maximize in-house collections and boost their recovery rates.” Segmentation: optimizing receivables with data-driven insights Ensuring that care delivered is met with prompt payments is a top priority for healthcare organizations. With its advanced capabilities, Collections Optimization Manager provides a solution. One standout feature is its segmentation tool, which utilizes data-driven insights, including credit, behavior and demographic data, to categorize accounts based on their financial capabilities and situation. This approach helps organizations determine which patients most need payment arrangements and have self-sufficient accounts. Healthcare organizations can then optimize self-pay collections by prioritizing and targeting accounts with high propensity-to-pay scores. Segmentation also empowers healthcare organizations to make appropriate decisions on patient accounts with a low propensity to pay. This approach is one of the ways Wooster made the most of Collections Optimization Manager. “We have used the data with the propensity-to-pay scoring to help develop presumptive charity program within our organization and write those accounts off that have a low propensity-to-pay score,” Shoup elaborates. Dedicated collections consulting: personalized support for success Experian Health's Collections Optimization Manager comes with the extra support of dedicated revenue cycle consultants and data analysts, who can provide personalized guidance and customized workflows. These consultants work closely with hospital revenue cycle teams to offer customized strategy support, industry know-how and best practices to improve collection efforts. Wirtz explains Experian Health's partnership with Wooster's team: “We (the team and consultants) meet every other week and talk about performance, any new initiatives and any pain points that Wooster might have.” IVR and texting solutions: enhancing patient communication Another competitive advantage of utilizing Collections Optimization Manager for healthcare collections is enhanced patient communications, through PatientDial and PatientText. These products offer dialing and text messaging patient outreach services to improve collections, payments and patient engagement. With PatientDial and PatientText, providers can utilize an interactive voice response (IVR) that processes automated payments made over the phone and redirects calls to the appropriate agents, depending on the nature of the inquiry. What's more, teams are already seeing success with this integrated approach. Wirtz explains, “Since adopting PatientText, Wooster has seen a significant improvement in the patient collection complaints and has made the payment process much more convenient and less disrupted for their patients. [Experian Health] made things easier for the Wooster team by adding IVR, which reduces the need for agent interaction. So now patients can handle payments and manage their accounts on their own over the phone.” Cost savings: maximizing ROI for mid-sized providers The most evident competitive advantage of adopting Collections Optimization Manager is maximized return on investment (ROI) for mid-sized providers.  Revenue cycle teams can tailor their approach to each patient segment by segmenting accounts based on their likelihood to pay. This allows them to develop efficient strategies for healthcare collections and collect a higher percentage of outstanding payments more efficiently, with minimal delays and effort. The results for mid-sized providers: Clients have achieved an ROI of 9:1. How Experian Health's healthcare collections solutions drive results for mid-size providers The stakes are high when it comes to medical collections for mid-size providers: every passing minute of inaction means money slipping through the fingers of hospitals. Collections Optimization Manager is an industry-leading data-driven solution that enables revenue cycle management staff to accurately determine patient financial situation and responsibility from account creation and collect self-pay receivables through the most appropriate and effective measures. The benefits are indisputable: Sanford Health, the nation's largest non-profit, rural healthcare system, saw the most benefits with the segmentation feature. The healthcare system wanted a patient-focused, hybrid solution and found Experian Health's Collection Optimization Manager to be the perfect fit. Since the organization first implemented Collections Optimization Manager in October 2014, it has gained a total in-house patient collection lift of $40+ million, with an average monthly increase of $2.3 million. Why Experian Health is the best choice for mid-sized healthcare providers In an era of increasing healthcare consumerism, rising operational costs and high-deductible plans, hospitals looking to maintain steady cash inflow must rethink their payment collection approach. This need is especially pronounced for hospitals relying on manual processes, a reality for many mid-sized healthcare providers. Collections Optimization Manager delivers optimal automation and efficiency in how hospitals and health systems approach patient financials and collect payments. It is also well-suited for both in-house and agency collections teams. Contact us today to learn more about how Experian Health can help improve healthcare collections for mid-size providers and improve bottom lines with our Collections Suite of solutions. Learn more Contact us