Hospital CEOs Elevate Revenue Cycle as Medicaid Cuts Loom
In a Becker's Hospital Review feature, hospital and health system CEOs describe revenue cycle management becoming a top strategic priority heading into 2027, driven by rising payer denials, projected Medicaid enrollment losses tied to new federal work requirements, and payer use of AI in claims review. Premier has projected hospitals could lose $68.6 billion in revenue in 2026 and 2027 as Medicaid enrollment shrinks under HR 1's work requirements and financing restrictions. CEOs from Summit Pacific Medical Center, Ascension, Sinai Chicago, Providence, Tenet Healthcare, and UofL Health describe divergent strategies, from in-house investment and new billing partnerships to outsourcing deals like Providence's $675 million sale of Acclara to R1 RCM. Executives link the urgency to coverage losses, 340B changes, and state-directed payment challenges converging in 2027.