Tag: patient access

Key takeaways: Artificial intelligence (AI) is changing how healthcare organizations operate, but while most providers believe in its potential, adoption is uneven. As payers use AI to control costs, providers must apply the same technology to address rising claim denials and data quality challenges. Experian Health’s AI Advantage™ and Patient Access Curator™ help providers prevent denials, improve efficiency and strengthen financial performance. AI is transforming every part of healthcare. In the doctor’s office, it supports faster diagnoses and treatment decisions. At the front desk, it helps verify coverage and schedule appointments. And in healthcare claims management, AI’s ability to interpret vast amounts of data is changing how claims are reviewed, processed and paid. But transformation is not without challenges. As providers adopt AI and machine learning (ML) to improve care and operations, payers are using the same technology to control costs and make faster coverage decisions. According to the American Medical Association, 61% of physicians believe AI is increasing prior authorization denials. Strategic use of AI is the only way to keep pace and remain competitive. This article outlines what providers need to know about using AI in healthcare, including how Experian Health’s AI Advantage and Patient Access Curator use AI to prevent denials, improve efficiency and strengthen financial performance. Understanding AI technology and machine learning in healthcare AI refers to technology that performs tasks that require human-like reasoning, such as recognizing patterns, interpreting data and solving problems. It learns from experience, spots trends a human eye might miss and generates recommendations based on what users want to achieve. Machine learning is a subset of AI that improves performance over time, helping healthcare organizations turn their own complex information into practical insights. Because these models are trained on each organization’s unique data, they can adapt to local patterns and workflow differences, making their predictions far more accurate. Clinical and operational applications AI and ML are now used in many areas of clinical care, such as: Improving diagnosis by analyzing medical images with greater accuracy. Accelerating drug discovery by tracking side effects and treatment outcomes. Improving surgical safety and precision through robotics. Supporting patients in managing their own health through wearables and remote monitoring. On the operational side, AI helps staff work smarter and faster. Patient access teams use AI to verify insurance, forecast demand and manage scheduling, while revenue cycle leaders use it to reduce manual work and improve claim accuracy. Experian Health’s State of Claims 2025 report found that 69% of organizations using AI solutions have seen fewer denials or higher resubmission success rates, reflecting measurable gains in both efficiency and financial performance. Read the Q&A: How AI innovation is transforming healthcare revenue cycle management Experian Health executive David Figueredo gives a closer look at how we’re helping healthcare organizations use AI to tackle claim denials head-on. How AI technology in healthcare can prevent and reduce claim denials and boost financial performance Despite these gains, denials are still rising, revealing persistent problems with data quality. More than half of providers (54%) in the State of Claims report say claim errors are increasing, and 68% find it harder to submit clean claims than they did a year ago. On top of this, keeping up with payers’ use of AI is challenging. American Medical Association President Bruce A. Scott notes, “emerging evidence shows that insurers use automated decision-making systems to create systematic batch denials with little or no human review.” In contrast, on the provider side, around 90% of denials require manual rework, contributing to a widening technology gap that slows reimbursement and puts pressure on already stretched teams. Experian Health’s AI-based solutions can help close this gap. Capture accurate data from the start with Patient Access Curator. Patient Access Curator uses AI and machine learning to automate front-end eligibility and authorization workflows. It verifies eligibility, insurance coverage and reduces the data errors that often lead to downstream denials. Improving data quality before a claim is created helps organizations submit cleaner claims, reduce delays and deliver a better patient experience. Case study: Experian Health and Ohio Health See how Ohio Health cut denials by 42% with Patient Access Curator and solved claim errors at the source. Predict and prevent denials with AI Advantage In a recent webinar, Eric Eckhart of Community Regional Medical (Fresno) and Skylar Earley of Schneck Medical Center discuss how AI Advantage helped them take control of their denials management strategy and maximize reimbursement. “What really sold [AI Advantage] for me was that it’s looking at my data. It’s not looking at Skylar’s data in the Midwest. It’s looking at my data in central California. We have lots of little payers that do their own thing, and it’s learning from my information, my actual denials that are happening. If the payer shifts, the model’s going to follow that and let me know about it.”— Eric Eckhart, Director of Patient Financial Services at Community Medical Centers AI Advantage takes a two-pronged approach to reduce the risk of denials and expedite rework: AI Advantage – Predictive Denials examines claims before submission and calculates the probability of denial based on historical payment data and undocumented payer behavior in real-time. High-risk claims can be edited before submission to reduce the risk of denial. AI Advantage – Denial Triage evaluates and segments denials based on the likelihood of reimbursement and prioritizes the work queue accordingly. It learns from past decisions to formulate recommendations with increasing accuracy, so staff can focus on denials that will be most likely to yield results. Eric Eckhart of Community Regional Medical (Fresno) and Skylar Earley of Schneck Medical Center discuss how AI tools have helped them reduce denials. Watch now > Key challenges of implementing AI technology in healthcare Interestingly, the State of Claims survey suggests confidence in AI outweighs adoption. While 67% of providers believe AI can improve the claims process, only 14% use it to reduce denials. This suggests some caution around the practicalities of AI implementation. For smooth implementation of AI technology, providers should consider three essentials: Data quality: AI tools are only as good as the data they analyze. Partnering with a reliable third-party vendor can help providers ensure that data is error-free and usable. Integration: New tools must fit easily with existing workflows and systems. A single-vendor solution can mitigate interoperability issues. For example, AI Advantage fits seamlessly with ClaimSource®, reducing disruption. Compliance and security: Solutions must comply with data privacy and security regulations, like HIPAA, to avoid financial and reputational risk and maintain patient trust. FAQs What is AI technology in healthcare? AI in healthcare uses algorithms and machine learning to analyze data, support clinical decisions and automate administrative tasks. How does AI technology improve the healthcare revenue cycle? AI technology automates claim reviews, predicts denials and prioritizes claims to maximize reimbursement efficiency. How can healthcare providers start using AI for claim denial management? Tools like Experian Health’s AI Advantage and Patient Access Curator integrate with existing claims management workflows to predict and prevent denials, automate reviews and improve front-end accuracy for faster reimbursement. What’s next for AI technology in healthcare? As predictive analytics, natural language processing and automation advance, providers that use AI strategically will see greater efficiency and faster reimbursements. With payers and competitors accelerating their AI adoption, understanding where and how to apply these tools will be essential to staying adaptable and financially resilient. What’s next for AI technology in healthcare? As predictive analytics, natural language processing and automation advance, providers that use AI strategically will see greater efficiency and faster reimbursements. With payers and competitors accelerating their AI adoption, understanding where and how to apply these tools will be essential to staying adaptable and financially resilient. See how AI Advantage and Patient Access Curator are helping Experian Health’s clients transform healthcare operations. Learn more Contact us

Healthcare claims denials are on the rise, despite more than a decade of industry-wide technological advances aimed at improving claims management processes. However, in recent years, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into the healthcare ecosystem has begun transforming how healthcare organizations manage patient access — and the entire revenue cycle. The State of Claims: 2025 Download the full report to uncover actionable strategies and see if AI is what can break the denial cycle for your organization. This article summarizes a recent webinar with Experian Health’s Vice President of Innovation, David ‘Fig’ Figueredo, and Kate Ankumah, Product Manager for Patient Access Curator™, as they break down how healthcare organizations can use AI to build scalable, data-driven revenue cycle solutions and deliver measurable value across the patient access ecosystem. Explore how Experian Health is reshaping the way health systems manage Coordination of Benefits. Learn how automation and AI are eliminating manual errors, reducing denials and unlocking millions in recoverable revenue. Watch now > Evolution of AI in healthcare For more than a decade, a progression of technology – mostly rooted in automation – has attempted to solve the issue of rising denials. Today, with the help of AI solutions, the process is shifting away from transactional activities to a more intelligence-driven approach. AI tools can be implemented at every stage of the revenue cycle to solve persistent challenges – like benefit coordination, eligibility verification, and claims management. And while most providers have the capability to add AI solutions, claims denials continue to climb. “With all of the investment by organizations like Experian Health and HIS system vendors, there still is a high prevalence of an issue with coordination of benefits and eligibility denials.”David Figueredo, Experian Health’s VP of Innovation Figueredo further points out that while revenue cycle leaders are aware of AI and its potential, they often remain skeptical of the technology or are unsure how to best leverage AI tools for denial prevention. Overcoming perceptions about AI Healthcare leaders sometimes struggle with negative perceptions around adopting AI solutions. Figueredo notes this is common, and wants organizations to know that with AI, “There’s a lot of power, hope and expectation around the use of applied technologies and automation in the revenue cycle process.” Concerns about implementing AI for revenue cycle management vary widely. However, according to the results of an Experian Health data study presented during the webinar, "accuracy and reliability” are often a top worry among healthcare organizations considering adopting AI technology. Other common concerns about leveraging AI solutions include data privacy and security, cost of implementation, staff resistance and labor risk, and lack of transparency. Healthcare organizations also want to base the decision to utilize AI on measurable results. Where in the revenue cycle has AI been implemented? How did it improve denial rates? Finding a path forward with AI AI offers healthcare organizations the potential to increase operational efficiencies, reduce administrative burdens, and reduce costs. While many revenue cycle leaders are most willing to place bets on using AI for patient eligibility verification and claims management, barriers to adopting AI still exist. Figueredo notes: “We’re seeing a lot of organizations that are interested [in AI], but also guarded about its use. Healthcare leaders typically have a specific goal in mind for using AI and want to see real-world results.” He reminds healthcare leaders that with AI, we “can do things we couldn’t do before – but it’s how it’s applied in solving things in the [revenue cycle] process” that really matters. For many healthcare providers, the question becomes: Does adding AI solutions to the revenue cycle provide acceleration? Improve patient access? Reduce the number of manual touches? Can AI do more of the work consistently so staff labor can be reapplied to other focus areas? Does AI help mitigate ongoing staff shortages? Will it cut costs for healthcare organizations already operating on thin margins? Adopting AI: RCM best practices When modernizing the revenue cycle, Figueredo reminds healthcare providers to have a clear set of guidelines and recommends ensuring AI solutions are designed to meet specific revenue cycle goals. Top priorities for healthcare organizations often include: Reducing manual interactions: While there are still some situations that require human intelligence to make decisions, countless simple tasks can be automated to minimize manual workload. Fixing issues on the front end: Early interventions to proactively correct potential issues with claims before they become a bigger problem, like incorrect patient demographics or eligibility information, can be critical to preventing denials. Supporting real-time integration: To avoid relying on batch auditing or poorly informed automated decision-making in the revenue cycle, HIS systems and patient access platforms, like scheduling and billing, must be designed to handle real-time corrections. Adopting AI for COB with Experian Health’s Patient Access Curator Turnkey AI tools, like Experian’s Health’s Patient Access Curator (PAC), allow healthcare organizations to implement a comprehensive patient access COB solution that touches every step of the revenue cycle process – starting with patient registration. PAC consolidates important functions like eligibility checks, MBI, demographics and discovery into one seamless solution to maximize clean claims and minimize denials, appeals and resubmissions. Kate Ankumah, Product Manager for Experian Health’s Patient Access Curator, explains: “We know that bad data is like a virus. If it starts bad, it ends up on the claim – even if you try to solve it mid-stream, it’s already saved somewhere. At the point of scheduling, at the point of registration, [with the Patient Access Curator], we’re giving you the most accurate data so that it can live and get accurate to the claim." Case study: Experian Health and OhioHealth See how OhioHealth cut denials by 42% with Patient Access Curator and solved claim errors at the source. Benefits of leveraging AI for COB and claims management Adopting COB solutions powered by AI and machine-learning, like Experian Health’s Patient Access Curator, healthcare providers can improve overall accuracy during claims processing on the front end – and at every step of the revenue cycle. And when errors are reduced from the start, healthcare organizations typically benefit from less wasted staff time, decreased denial volumes, accelerated denial management, and fewer contingency vendor fees – plus a better patient experience overall. Patient Access Curator is available now – learn how your healthcare organization can get started and prevent claim denials in seconds. Learn more Contact us

"We knew we needed to transform our authorization workflow processes. We were experiencing a high rate of denials due to a lack of authorizations."- Amy Grissett, Senior Director of Ambulatory Revenue Cycle at USA Health Challenge: Manual processes that couldn't keep up Serving more than 250,000 patients each year across hospitals, specialty centers and outpatient clinics means USA Health processes hundreds of thousands of authorizations. Speed is critical. Unfortunately, small inefficiencies were taking a major toll. Frustrating manual authorization processes resulted in work queue errors, forcing staff to print schedules multiple times a day to keep track of changes. Inevitably, cases were missed, resulting in claim denials and delays. It was hard to see where to make improvements without a reliable way to monitor staff performance. As new service lines were added and authorization requests grew, USA Health needed to find a more efficient way of handling authorizations, or overworked teams would be under even more pressure. Amy Grissett, Senior Director of Ambulatory Revenue Cycle at USA Health, says, "We knew we needed to transform our authorization workflow processes. We were experiencing a high rate of denials due to a lack of authorizations." Since hiring extra staff had been ruled out, automated prior authorizations were the obvious solution. Solution: Automating authorizations for faster, more efficient workflows Having already worked with Experian Health for eligibility, USA Health decided to implement Authorizations to optimize their workflows and automation. Alicia Pickett, Senior Product Manager at Experian Health, explains how this partnership worked: "First, the team needed to determine if authorization was necessary. If so, they would complete the authorization on the payer's website. Experian Health's Authorizations would then track the status of the authorization, saving time on phone calls and web portals for pending cases. Once the authorization was obtained, our product would automatically post the status update into the EHR." Automating status inquiries this way meant staff no longer needed to chase information through phone calls and payer portals. Dynamic work queues and alerts would guide them to priority tasks, allowing them to work more efficiently and accurately. Most importantly, authorized services could be cleared without delay. The tool also compares authorized procedures to those actually performed and flags any variance, so staff can amend claims submissions and prevent denials. "The implementation process took approximately 6-8 months, and we did it in phases," Grissett explains. "We started with one service line. As the team became more comfortable, we added additional service lines. Overall, the implementation met our expectations. And the solution has greatly improved our authorizations process and workflows." Outcome: Authorizations up, denials down Since implementing Authorizations, USA Health has seen measurable improvements, including: Increased daily authorizations by 100% Cut manual work by 50% and reduced errors and denials Expanded to six service lines without increasing staff Provided accurate tracking of staff productivity Instead of relying on slow, manual processes, staff now have thirty dynamic work queues at their fingertips, helping them process 130,000 authorization requests each year. Thirty dynamic work queues organize tasks by date and service line in real time. With automated payer website checks now delivering instant updates for more than half of all accounts, they can focus on the smaller number of complex cases that need hands-on management. The impact on productivity is clear. With the new workflow in place, the average number of accounts completed per employee each day has more than doubled, from around 20 accounts to between 40 and 50. In addition to monitoring accuracy and denial rates, Authorizations' monthly scorecards make it easier to measure staff performance. Grissett says, "We were trying to do more with less. We also wanted to be able to monitor what our employees were doing and ensure they were accountable. The tools that Experian provides allow us to capture that data." All of this benefits patients, too: With automated prior authorizations, fewer appointments are canceled or rescheduled because of authorization delays, so patients don't have to wait for care. "The Experian team was instrumental in helping us pivot and develop specific workflows tailored to our needs. Together, we addressed missing payer connections and created knowledge-based rule sets to drive efficiencies. As we add new facilities or services, the process is fairly seamless. We already have the intel on the number of staff required to manage a specific number of accounts, the productivity measures needed and how to streamline processes. This allows us to replicate workflow processes and optimize operations effectively. In fact, we've added six more departments with our staff of 28." - Amy Grissett, Senior Director of Ambulatory Revenue Cycle at USA Health Looking ahead, the team plans to introduce more service lines and facilities while continuing to refine workflows and streamline processes. Find out more about how Experian Health's automated prior authorizations can help your healthcare organization boost productivity, reduce errors and prevent costly denials. Learn more Contact us

Key takeaways: Experian Health’s State of Claims 2025 report is out now, detailing providers’ views on claims management and how these have changed since the survey began in 2022. Claim denials are still on the rise, causing providers to find faster and more efficient ways to submit clean claims the first time. When it comes to solutions, optimism about artificial intelligence (AI) is high, but uptake remains surprisingly low. AI-powered tools like Patient Access Curator™ and AI Advantage™ can help healthcare providers reduce claim denials while optimizing the claims management process. According to Experian Health’s State of Claims 2025 report, claim denials continue to negatively impact America’s healthcare providers. This quantitative survey of 250 healthcare professionals, carried out in June and July 2025, reveals providers’ concerns about rising denial rates, staffing shortages and uncertainty over whether payers or patients will ultimately pay. The findings show that providers are open to new claims processing and denial reduction solutions. However, while providers are enthusiastic about artificial intelligence's ability to ease the squeeze, only a small fraction are actually using it. This article highlights a few key takeaways from healthcare providers' statements about the current challenges in claims management and the factors that contribute to their responses. NEW: State of Claims 2025 Report Download the State of Claims 2025 report to see the full findings. Takeaway 1: Claim denials are on the rise again This year’s survey confirms what providers have been seeing for several years: claim denials are not letting up. In 2022, 30% reported that at least 10% of their claims were denied. By 2024, the figure had grown to 38%. Now, in 2025, 41% of providers say their claims are denied over 10% of the time. If this trend continues, how much further could denial rates climb? Claim denials are becoming a growing part of everyday operations, demanding more time, staff and resources. Margins that are already under pressure are strained further by missed reimbursements. And when insurers don’t pay, more of the bill falls to patients, many of whom are already struggling to manage medical costs. Half of respondents said they are “very or extremely concerned” about patients’ ability to pay, up six percentage points from last year. For many organizations, the question is not whether denials will continue, but how best to prevent them before the financial burden worsens. Blog: Denial prevention - Why manage denials when you can prevent them? Read more about how our claims management solutions help providers build effective denial prevention strategies and reduce lost revenue. Takeaway 2: How bad data leads to more healthcare claim denials The report lists several of the top triggers for denials, but inaccurate and incomplete data continue to stand out. More than half of providers (54%) say claim errors are increasing, and nearly seven in ten (68%) report that submitting clean claims is more challenging than it was a year ago. Many of these errors originate at registration. Incomplete or inaccurate information collected during check-in is now the third most common cause of denials, with 26% of respondents saying that at least one in ten denials at their organization can be traced back to intake errors. Every mistake sends ripples downstream, leading to costly rework, avoidable payment delays and unnecessary patient stress. Tightening up patient access processes and accurate data collection is one of the best things providers can do to curb denials. With that in mind, Experian Health’s Patient Access Curator is designed to help providers capture accurate data the first time. Using AI and machine learning, it consolidates eligibility checks, coordination of benefits, Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI) verification, demographics, insurance coverage and financial status into a single workflow. This allows providers to: Quickly collect accurate patient information upfront Eliminate the need to re-run eligibility checks, which now take more than 10 minutes for over half of providers Reduce manual data entry errors that lead to downstream denials Free up staff time for higher-value tasks Case study: Experian Health & OhioHealth See how OhioHealth cut denials by 42% with Patient Access Curator and solved claim errors at the source. Takeaway 3: An AI paradox in healthcare claims: High optimism, low adoption Patient Access Curator is a great example of how AI can help address the data problems behind denials. But clean data alone isn’t enough. Errors and risks still emerge mid-cycle. Here, AI Advantage offers another application for AI, using predictive analytics to identify high-risk claims before submission and routing them for correction. It also triages denials based on the likelihood of reimbursement, so staff don’t lose time on unproductive rework. 69% of healthcare providers who use AI say that AI solutions have reduced denials and/or increased the success of resubmissions.State of Claims 2025 report | Experian Health The survey shows many providers are enthusiastic about AI's potential: 67% believe AI can improve the claims process, and 62% are very confident in their understanding of how AI differs from automation and machine learning, up sharply from just 28% in 2024. Despite this optimism, adoption is surprisingly low. Only 14% of providers are currently using AI to reduce denials. The survey suggests that even though the majority of AI adopters report fewer denials and more successful resubmissions, fear of the unknown seems to be slowing progress. Blog: Leveraging artificial intelligence for claims management Read more about how our AI-powered claims management solutions help healthcare providers improve reimbursement rates and reduce denials. Takeaway 4: Tech upgrades aren’t enough without integration Even if they remain on the fence about AI, providers are still moving to modernize claims management. Only 56% believe their current technology is sufficient to handle revenue cycle demands, a major drop from 77% in 2022. This explains why 55% are willing to completely replace their existing claims management platform if presented with a compelling return on investment. Much of the frustration comes from fragmentation. Nearly eight in ten providers say their organizations still rely on multiple solutions to collect the information needed for a claim submission. Switching between systems slows down intake, creates duplication and increases the risk of errors that feed directly into denials. An integrated solution like Patient Access Curator solves this problem by replacing a patchwork of tools with a single platform that manages intake and eligibility in one workflow. Information is captured in one place, reducing the duplication and errors that are inevitable when data is entered into multiple databases. Extending this with AI Advantage links front-end accuracy with back-office intelligence, giving providers a connected denial-prevention system rather than stitching together isolated fixes. With fewer tools to log into, staff can work more efficiently and focus on submitting cleaner claims. Explore how Experian Health is reshaping the way health systems manage Coordination of Benefits. Learn how automation and AI are eliminating manual errors, reducing denials and unlocking millions in recoverable revenue. Watch now > Closing the technology gaps in claims management to prevent denials The 2025 State of Claims report clearly shows that denials remain a persistent and costly problem for healthcare organizations. An overwhelming majority say that reducing them is a top organizational priority. Beyond the financial concerns, the survey reveals a system still held back by data errors, fragmented technology and delays. At the same time, there are hints of cautious optimism. Last year, many providers felt in the dark about AI and machine learning. This year’s survey shows that awareness of these technologies has grown considerably, even if adoption is still early. As the report sheds light on how leaders are weighing investments in new technology, the question now is whether providers can turn growing confidence in AI into action that delivers the results they need. To see the full picture of where claims management stands today, and where it could go next, download the State of Claims 2025 report. Download now Contact us

“Registrars used to wonder, ‘Do I run Coordination of Benefits? Which insurance is primary?’ Now Patient Access Curator does all that work and removes the guess work, and it does it in under 20 seconds.”Randy Gabel, Senior Director of Revenue Cycle at OhioHealth Challenge OhioHealth faced rising denial rates and inconsistent insurance discovery. Registrars relied heavily on what patients told them at check-in, without knowing if that information was complete or current. Forced to make judgment calls about whether to run Coordination of Benefits (COB) or check for Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBI), staff could do little to avoid errors and denials. Randy Gabel, Senior Director of Revenue Cycle at OhioHealth, says, "We were sending claims with the wrong insurance simply because staff didn't know what to do next." They needed a reliable solution to identify coverage upfront – without asking patients to dig out old insurance cards or involving costly contingency vendors. OhioHealth's search became more urgent when a nationwide cyberattack hit the industry in early 2024. They needed a trusted revenue cycle partner to close the gaps in claims and eligibility workflows and prevent denials from the start. Solution To strengthen front-end revenue cycle operations, OhioHealth selected Experian Health's Patient Access Curator® (PAC). This all-in-one solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to check eligibility, COB, MBI, demographics and insurance discovery through a single process. This solution gave staff more accurate data in real-time. Although they had not worked with Experian Health before, the OhioHealth team was immediately convinced that Patient Access Curator fit the bill. Gabel says that during the evaluation, "Patient Access Curator discovered a whopping 18% more insurance on self-pay accounts than our current vendor. No other company or product found that much." PAC fits directly into existing workflows, so OhioHealth's 800+ staff members did not have to learn a new tool or change their daily processes. And with real-time insurance discovery and auto-population of coverage data into Epic, staff no longer needed to rely on guesswork and manual data entry. The tool's ability to automatically determine primacy and remove expired coverage meant staff could submit claims with confidence. "One of the primary reasons we chose Experian and Patient Access Curator was because it makes the manual work of revenue cycle much easier on the registration teams, which in turn improves productivity, empowerment and morale," said Gabel. Outcome When Patient Access Curator went live, the effects were felt almost immediately. Registrars who once spent valuable time debating which checks to run found that PAC handled those decisions automatically, and much faster. Manual searches were no longer necessary, and the system's accuracy drastically reduced the number of errors. These front-end improvements have boosted performance throughout the revenue cycle. Clean registrations meant fewer denied claims, less manual cleanup and faster reimbursements. PAC even uncovered insurance for accounts that had already been sent to collections, helping OhioHealth reduce reliance on contingency vendors and cut avoidable bad debt. PAC continued to prove its value long after it went live. Within the first year, OhioHealth achieved: 42% reduction in overall registration/eligibility-related denials 36% decrease in COB-related denials 69% drop in termed insurance-related denials 63% fewer incorrect payer-related denials $188 million in claims unlocked by reassigning staff and improving productivity What's next? Building on this success, OhioHealth's next steps are to expand their use of PAC by launching a patient financial experience initiative. This will allow patients to complete registration themselves and find their own coverage without waiting for a staff member to become available to help. Resolving more insurance issues upfront will deliver a faster, easier and more transparent registration experience from the start. With Patient Access Curator, OhioHealth has gone from losing time and money dealing with the downstream effects of claims errors to ensuring coverage accuracy at the source – while cutting denials by almost half. Along with a better experience for staff and patients, these gains have created a more resilient revenue cycle, ready to withstand whatever unexpected changes may be in store. Find out more about how Patient Access Curator prevents claim errors before they begin, helping teams submit clean claims and reduce denials. Learn more Contact us

Key takeaways: Billing mistakes and claims delays are common when providers rely on manual patient insurance verification processes. Automated patient insurance verification can speed up eligibility checks and ensure patient insurance and billing information is accurate. Claims denial rates go down and reimbursement rates go up when providers adopt real-time insurance eligibility technology. Patient insurance verification is critical to managing healthy revenue cycles. Without a complete picture of a patient's insurance policy details—like payable benefits, deductibles and co-pay thresholds for out-of-pocket maximums—providers run the risk of non-reimbursement. Yet, many providers still rely on manual insurance verification processes that are often error-prone, resulting in high claims denial rates. Implementing patient insurance verification software helps boost both accuracy and speed, ultimately helping health organizations reduce claims denial and keep revenue cycles on track.  What is insurance verification? In healthcare, insurance verification is the process of confirming if a patient has active medical insurance coverage and finding missing health insurance. Also called an eligibility check, insurance verification typically takes place before a patient receives care, even if they are a long-time patient. During insurance verification, providers check insurance status, coverage details, benefits for medical services and billing details. To keep revenue cycles on track, providers must have the most up-to-date patient insurance information on file to maintain more accurate billing and reduce costly and time-consuming claim denials. Insurance verification also benefits patients by helping them better understand their financial responsibility so they can plan for out-of-pocket costs. Challenges of manual insurance verification processes Many healthcare organizations still rely on manual insurance verification processes to check patient insurance information. Unfortunately, running eligibility checks by hand can result in increased mistakes, a heavy administrative burden on busy staff and higher claim denial rates. Here's a closer look at some of the common challenges of manual insurance verification. Prone to errors Patients typically provide their insurance information when they register or check in for an appointment with a provider. However, this information can be outdated, incorrect or incomplete. According to Experian Health data, nearly half of providers (48%) say data collected at registration or check-in is somewhat or not accurate, and 20% of patients report encountering errors in their medical records and/or billing information. Patients may make mistakes when entering information, switch insurance coverage after filling out their paperwork or forget about secondary coverage they may have. Staff can also incorrectly input patient information from a paper form into a billing system or forget to update a patient’s file with new insurance information. Workflow bottlenecks and reduced efficiencies Staff often get bogged down correcting errors or may waste valuable time contacting patients by phone to update insurance information. Billing errors that result from mistakes made during patient insurance verification also create extra work for staff. Inaccurate insurance information may also result in patient confusion about out-of-pocket costs and disrupt care, further jamming up collections and patient scheduling for busy practices. The 2025 State of Patient Access Survey shows that one in five patients face challenges before they even get to see a provider due to data and information discrepancies, while 22% of patients reported experiencing delays in care due to insurance verification. Increased claim denials When providers submit claims with inaccurate or outdated information, it can result in delayed claims processing or denials. More than half (56%) of providers say patient information errors are a primary cause of denied claims. Claims may require rework and resubmission due to outdated billing information, which adds even more delays and burdens staff. Providers may also bill the wrong payer if a patient has unknown secondary insurance coverage and needs to resubmit to the correct provider. Bottlenecks in claims management that result from manual insurance verification create headaches for staff and patients. They also directly impact cash flow, potentially disrupting a provider’s entire revenue cycle. How insurance verification software can improve efficiency When providers leverage insurance verification software, like Experian Health’s Insurance Eligibility Verification solution, there are fewer medical billing errors, cleaner claims submissions and staff are no longer burdened by time-consuming, tedious manual tasks. Automation of eligibility checks: Automating insurance verification throughout the entire patient financial journey ensures cleaner claim submissions, speeds up reimbursement and reduces medical billing errors. Other tools like Experian’s Health’s Coverage Discovery automatically work across the entire revenue cycle, searching both commercial and government payers to find previously unknown coverage, identifying accounts as primary, secondary or tertiary coverage. Real-time coverage and benefits updates: Insurance verification software ensures patient information is always up-to-date. Experian Health’s solution, for example, lets providers access real-time patient reliability data by connecting with over 900 payers. Additionally, its optional Medicare beneficiary identifier (MBI) lookup service can automatically find and validate Medicare coverage—a process that’s commonly done manually. Integration with existing systems and interfaces: Automated insurance eligibility solutions that integrate seamlessly with the tools providers are already using—like claims management and health record systems—accelerate insurance verification, keep patient insurance information up-to-date and allow staff to leverage data analytics to further streamline operations. For instance, Experian Health clients have access to insurance verification tools through eCare NEXT®, which offers a single interface for staff to manage several patient functions. Key features to look for in insurance verification software Healthcare organizations adopting patient insurance verification software should prioritize solutions offering features such as multi-payer support, real-time eligibility checks and analytics tools. As healthcare regulations continue to evolve, especially around price transparency, providers adopting insurance verification software will also benefit from partnering with a solution provider that offers compliance support. Embracing patient insurance verification technology helps providers get paid faster The entire revenue cycle hinges on timely and accurate payer reimbursements. Although often underestimated, the right patient insurance verification solution can be the key to minimizing reimbursement roadblocks and getting claims paid faster. Automating patient insurance checks as early as registration—and at every step along the patient journey—helps providers prevent cash flow issues and reduce long-term revenue losses. Learn more about how Experian Health’s Insurance Eligibility Verification solution can help healthcare organizations reduce eligibility verification errors and accelerate reimbursements. Learn more Contact us

Over the past two decades, U.S. hospitals have absorbed nearly $745 billion in uncompensated care, according to the American Hospital Association. This burden continues to grow as hospitals struggle to verify active insurance. The task is made harder by patients frequently changing jobs, relocating and moving through a fragmented payer system that providers must track and interpret. The result? Missed billing opportunities, delayed payments and unnecessary write-offs threaten not only the hospital's financial stability, but also their ability to provide care to their communities.  Now, the newly enacted "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" adds even more pressure. With sweeping Medicaid cuts and stricter eligibility rules, millions of Americans could lose coverage — and hospitals may face a sharp rise in uncompensated care. Key provisions include:  More frequent eligibility reviews (every six months instead of annually) Higher out-of-pocket costs (up to $35 per doctor visit) New limits on state Medicaid funding (including bans on provider taxes) According to the Congressional Budget Office, an estimated 11.8 million people could lose Medicaid coverage by 2034.  These changes shift more financial responsibility to hospitals and patients.   But the impact isn't just financial. For patients, undetected coverage can lead to surprise bills, postponed treatment, or even collections, all of which erode trust in the healthcare system. Vulnerable populations, particularly those affected by the latest Medicaid changes, are at the greatest risk of falling through the cracks.   Hospitals are committed to serving their communities, including those who may not be able to afford to pay. To do this, they must recover every dollar they're entitled to. That means identifying coverage wherever it exists, even when it’s hidden, forgotten or misclassified.   That’s where Coverage Discovery comes in. Experian Health's solution uses proprietary data and advanced machine learning to identify unknown or forgotten insurance coverage across the entire revenue cycle — before, during, and after care. Unlike traditional eligibility checks, Coverage Discovery goes deeper. It scans commercial, government and third-party payers in real time; it uncovers primary, secondary and even tertiary coverage that might otherwise go unnoticed. This proactive approach helps providers bill the right payer the first time, which reduces denials, accelerates reimbursements, and minimizes bad debt.  Coverage Discovery identified over $60 billion in insurance coverage across 45+ million unique patient cases in 2024 alone, turning missed opportunities into paid claims. In a time of uncertainty, clarity is essential. Coverage Discovery empowers providers to take control of the coverage gap — not just react to it. By surfacing hidden coverage early and often, hospitals can protect their financial health while improving the patient experience.  Here's how it all comes together:  Learn more Contact us

For patient access leaders at large healthcare organizations, the pressure is mounting and has been building for some time. Healthcare claim denials are climbing. Staffing is stretched, and the tools healthcare organizations have relied on for years are no longer enough. But what if providers could stop denials before they start? Welcome to the new era of denial prevention in healthcare, powered by predictive intelligence. Experian Health's innovative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions, Patient Access Curator and AI Advantage™, were designed to help organizations prevent denials before they occur. Explore how Experian Health is reshaping the way health systems manage Coordination of Benefits. Learn how automation and AI are eliminating manual errors, reducing denials and unlocking millions in recoverable revenue. Watch now > The denial spiral explained: A systemic challenge in revenue cycle management  Claim denials aren't just a back-end billing issue. They're a symptom of upstream breakdowns—often rooted in inaccurate or incomplete patient data at registration. According to Experian Health's 2024 State of Claims Survey, 46% of denials are caused by missing or incorrect information. And the cost of reworking a denied claim? $25 for providers and $181 for hospitals. The result? A denial spiral that drains resources, delays reimbursements, and frustrates patients and staff alike.  Why Epic users are especially vulnerable While Epic is a powerful EHR platform, many Epic-based organizations still rely on staff to make complex decisions at registration. Questions like: Is this coverage primary? Should discovery be run? Is this data accurate? ...are often left to frontline staff. This guesswork leads to inconsistent outcomes—and denials. What's needed is a layer of predictive intelligence that works within Epic to automate and correct data before it becomes a problem.  How Patient Access Curator fixes registration errors Patient Access Curator is that layer. Patient Access Curator is an all-in-one solution that automatically finds and corrects patient data across eligibility, Coordination of Benefits (COB) primacy, Medicare Beneficiary Identifiers (MBI), demographics and insurance discovery—within seconds. It integrates directly into Epic workflows, eliminating the need for staff to toggle between systems or make judgment calls on the fly. Instead of relying on registrars to catch every error, Patient Access Curator uses machine learning and predictive analytics to: - Identify and correct bad data in real time - Return comprehensive coverage directly into Epic - Reduce denials, write-offs, and vendor fees - Improve staff morale by removing administrative burden As one early-adopting Patient Access Curator client puts it: "If your current workflow still depends on frontline decisions, you're not just risking denials—you're building them in."  Predictive intelligence in healthcare: AI Advantage at work While Patient Access Curator fixes the front end, AI Advantage tackles the middle of the revenue cycle, where claims are scrubbed, edited, and submitted. At Schneck Medical Center, AI Advantage helped reduce denials by 4.6% per month and cut denial resolution time by 4x. The tool flags high-risk claims before submission and routes them to the right biller for correction. It also triages denials based on the likelihood of reimbursement, so staff can focus on the claims that matter most. Together, Patient Access Curator and AI Advantage form a closed-loop system: - Patient Access Curator ensures clean data at registration - AI Advantage predicts and prevents denials mid-cycle - Both tools integrate seamlessly with Epic and ClaimSource®  Why predictive denial prevention matters for patient access leaders  By implementing denial management technology and predictive intelligence, healthcare teams aren't just managing workflows; they're managing risk. Every inaccurate field, every missed coverage, every manual decision is a potential denial. Patient Access Curator and AI Advantage remove that risk by replacing guesswork with certainty. And the benefits go beyond revenue: - Fewer denials mean fewer patient callbacks and less frustration - Cleaner data means faster reimbursements and fewer write-offs - Automation means staff can focus on patients, not paperwork As Jason Considine, President at Experian Health, recently shared: "Our mission is to simplify healthcare. That starts by getting it right the first time, before a claim is ever submitted. With the power of AI and predictive intelligence, we're no longer waiting for denials to happen; we're helping providers proactively prevent them. Tools like Patient Access Curator and AI Advantage allow healthcare organizations to identify issues at the point of registration and throughout the revenue cycle, so teams can focus on care, not corrections. It's about working smarter, reducing risk and protecting revenue."  Denial prevention checklist: Preparing patient access teams for predictive denial prevention  Denial prevention is here, but what if billing teams aren't quite ready? To move toward a predictive denial prevention strategy, healthcare organizations can invest in the following five areas:   Audit front-end workflowsMap out every step from patient registration to claim submission. Identify where manual decisions are being made—especially around eligibility, COB, and insurance discovery. Ask: "Where are we relying on staff judgment instead of system intelligence?" Train staff on data quality awarenessReinforce the impact of inaccurate or incomplete data on downstream denials. Use real examples to show how a single missed field can lead to rework, write-offs, or patient frustration. Introduce the concept of "first-touch accuracy" as a team-wide goal. Evaluate Epic integration readinessAssess whether current Epic environments are configured to support automation tools like Patient Access Curator. Work with IT to assess whether the current setup allows for real-time data correction and coverage updates. Confirm that teams understand how new tools will integrate into their existing workflows, not replace them. Establish a denial prevention task forceBring together leaders from patient access, billing, IT and revenue cycle to align on goals. Assign ownership for key metrics like clean claim rate, denial rate, and registration accuracy. Use this group to pilot new tools like Patient Access Curator and AI Advantage and gather feedback from frontline users. Communicate the "Why" behind the changeFrame automation as a way to reduce burnout, not replace jobs. Highlight how tools like Patient Access Curator eliminate guesswork and free up staff to focus on patient care. Share success stories from peers (like Schneck Medical Center) to build confidence and momentum. The bottom line: Strategic denial prevention is the future Denial management is reactive. Denial prevention is strategic. For healthcare organizations using Epic, Patient Access Curator and AI Advantage offer a smarter, faster and more scalable way to increase reimbursements and improve the patient experience. Learn more about how Experian Health can help protect revenue, reduce staff burdens and reduce claim denials—starting at the first touchpoint. Learn more Contact us

Manual prior authorization workflows represent one of the most tedious and expensive aspects of the healthcare revenue cycle. However, despite access to automated prior authorization software, only 31% of providers use electronic prior authorizations, according to the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH). The CAQH predicts that providers who switch to automated prior authorization software could not only gain back valuable staff time, but also see significant cost savings. What is prior authorization and why is it important? In healthcare, prior authorizations are when providers and payers decide in advance if a patient's insurance plan will pay for a specific treatment. Prior authorizations are crucial to reimbursements and keeping revenue cycles on track. Providers that offer services without prior authorization are unlikely to receive reimbursement from the patient's insurer. This can result in unpaid medical bills, leaving billing teams chasing patient collections or writing off bad debt. During the prior authorization process, providers submit a rationale for a proposed treatment to the payer. The request is approved or denied based on certain criteria, including payer policies and medical necessity. The payer may reject a prior authorization request if the treatment or service isn't covered under the patient's insurance plan, if it's not considered medically necessary or if a more affordable alternative is available. Simple paperwork errors, like missed deadlines or incomplete documentation when submitting a prior authorization, may also result in a denial. Challenges of manual prior authorization processes Despite the importance of prior authorizations in the revenue cycle, tedious manual prior authorization processes present challenges for many healthcare providers. Some of the key obstacles providers face using manual prior authorization include: Heavy administrative burden Healthcare providers spend a significant amount of time starting, completing and revising prior authorization paperwork. An AMA survey found that 86% of physicians say prior authorization has increased healthcare resource usage. At the same time, additional AMA data reports that providers spend around 13 hours working on 39 prior authorizations each week, and nearly one-third of providers report that these prior authorization requests usually end up being denied. Changing payer policies Keeping up with multiple payers and ever-evolving payer policies adds strain on staff and ultimately results in prior authorization denials. Changes are often unannounced, making it hard for providers to stay on top of updates. As a result, prior authorization submissions aren’t always accurate and may be based on outdated rules. This can lead to instant rejection and wasted time correcting and resubmitting requests. Inefficient workflows Prior authorization requirements can be complicated, especially when providers are juggling different payers, standards and service lines. Coping with these complexities often puts strain on manual systems, especially when multiple staff and notetaking methods are involved. Staff members may each get different pieces of information from payer websites (or over the phone) and not have the ability to benefit from their shared knowledge efficiently. Navigating communication hurdles and rapid payer information changes can result in workflow inefficiencies that snowball quickly. How prior authorization software can improve efficiency Replacing manual prior authorization processes with automated prior authorization software can help providers improve efficiency. Here are some key ways providers benefit from automated prior authorization solutions, like Experian Health's Authorizations. Reduces manual interventions: This solution limits guesswork, human errors, and misinterpretations by automating data originating from the EMRs. Automation saves staff time and energy and prevents frustration. Stays current with latest payer policies: The prior authorization system stays up-to-date with the latest regulations and payer requirements. Automatic updates provide staff with the most current information, eliminating the need for staff to visit multiple payer websites or cross-check data by hand. Provides real-time updates: Providers can promptly clear authorizations for service by proactively identifying authorization status as pending, denied or authorized. This allows physicians to make timely treatment plans and for patients to avoid disruptions in care. Reduces risk of denials: Through automation, electronic prior authorization software ensures the accuracy and completeness of submissions by automatically checking with payers and vendors to validate that the authorization is on file. Payers and providers also get a shared view of account information, reducing the need for prolonged discussions about the status of authorization and rework requests. Key features to look for in prior authorization software When implementing prior authorization software, look for a solution that offers a wide range of features to automate and streamline the prior authorization process. Experian Health's prior authorization solution, Authorizations, for instance, offers healthcare providers the following key features: Real-time knowledgebase: Access to up-to-date prior authorization requirements and criteria in the National Payer Rulesets Submissions support: Removes guesswork and directs users to the correct payer portal based on procedure Automated inquiries: Automates the prior authorization payer inquiry process Enhanced workflow: Dynamic work queues display status and guide users through next steps Postback: Allows users to easily send authorization status, number and validity dates to health information systems (HIS) and practice management systems (PMS) Image storage: Receives and securely stores payer responses in an integrated document imaging system Reconciliation: Provides insights into authorization variations and helps resolve them, so staff can take proactive steps to prevent denials and appeals Integration with electronic health records and billing systems: Why it matters Providers often choose a prior authorization platform that seamlessly integrates with existing Electronic Health Records (EHR) and billing systems for maximum efficiency. Solutions like Experian Health's automated prior authorization management tool, Authorizations, easily adapt to existing processes. This eliminates the need for a complete workflow overhaul and minimizes the learning curve for staff. Embracing prior authorization software for a more efficient revenue cycle Revenue cycle leaders who implement prior authorization automation strategies could see significant savings – $494 million annually as an industry, according to CAQH data.  Claims and revenue management processes are often complex and outdated, costing healthcare organizations time and money. High denial rates and slow reimbursements can hurt cash flow and get in the way of financial stability. Automating prior authorization can reduce claim denials, speed up reimbursements and improve the bottom line. Learn more about how Experian Health's electronic prior authorization software, Authorizations, uses automation to achieve greater consistency and efficiency for healthcare organizations. Learn more Contact us