Healthcare revenue cycle leaders are navigating a difficult balancing act: improving financial performance while reducing administrative burden, managing cost, and adapting to rapid technology change.
AI and advanced automation create new opportunities to streamline workflows and improve outcomes, but successful strategy requires more than adopting the latest tool. Leaders need solutions that fit their operations, deliver meaningful value, and help teams work more efficiently — while reducing complexity.
In a recent panel discussion with healthcare revenue cycle leaders, several priorities emerged. Here are 5 key strategies to build a more resilient revenue cycle.
1. Start with intentional AI adoption
AI is becoming embedded within everyday healthcare revenue cycle operations — not a separate initiative or future-state concept. The challenge is less about whether to adopt it, but more about where to start. The most effective approach is practical and focused: identify specific use cases, test what works, and expand from there.
A good first step is identifying where manual work creates the most friction. Advanced automation and AI can help teams reduce repetitive work and make faster, more informed decisions across areas such as:
- Eligibility verification
- Prior authorization
- Claim monitoring
- Denial prevention and appeals
- Payment reconciliation
The key is ensuring new technology fits within existing workflows and shows value early.
Baptist Health’s experience underscores how AI-powered healthcare payments technology is already moving from concept to practice. Charles Colvin, System VP of Revenue Strategy at Baptist Health, shared that his team is actively applying AI-powered tools in revenue cycle processes from partners like Waystar. With capabilities like Waystar’s AltitudeAI™ and advanced automation, intelligence is embedded across the healthcare payments ecosystem to help organizations move beyond experimentation and toward meaningful outcomes.
Learn how Baptist Health achieved a 98.88% clean claim rate and saved $250K on recurring operating costs. Read the success story.
2. Balance cost containment with revenue growth
Cost is one of the first filters in revenue cycle technology decisions — and the bar keeps getting higher. Healthcare organizations need tools that can do more than promise increased revenue. They need practical solutions that reduce manual work, manage growing complexity, and support financial performance without requiring a comparable increase in overhead.
Leaders are not only asking if solutions will generate more revenue, but also whether they will help them do more with less — a reflection of the broader resource constraints facing healthcare organizations.
Proliance Surgeons’ approach reflects that same priority. Jessica Weathers, VP of Revenue Cycle at Proliance Surgeons, emphasized the importance of solutions that help organizations scale without simply adding more headcount — a practical lens for evaluating technology in today’s cost-conscious environment.
Learn Proliance Surgeons increased productivity by 33% and saw $200K in projected savings. Watch the video.
3. Reduce denial risk at the source
Denial prevention is one area where cost and operational pressures are especially clear. Nearly 15% of claims are denied on the first pass. While some are eventually overturned, that often requires a costly, time-intensive appeals process.
According to HFMA research, surveyed respondents cited that 60% of denials can be attributed to front-end processes — yet only 17% of organizations dedicate most of their denial resources to prevention. Most organizations still focus on working denials after the fact rather than addressing issues in areas like eligibility and authorization.
Providers seeing the most progress are addressing denial risk earlier — improving efficiency, reducing rework, and protecting revenue.
Learn how to prevent, manage, and overturn denials with our comprehensive guide: 4 steps to prevent denials with AI and automation. Get the eBook.
4. Simplify complex buying decisions
Revenue cycle buying decisions are becoming more complicated. Today, evaluating a new platform or solution often involves stakeholders across finance, IT, operations, compliance, and executive leadership. Each group brings different priorities, from ROI and workflow impact to data security, implementation lift, and long-term scalability.
That means successful buying decisions depend on more than product capabilities. Teams need a clear view of how a solution will operate within their processes and technology ecosystem. They also need realistic timelines and confidence that implementation will not create unnecessary disruption. Strong partners should be able to explain what outcomes organizations can expect, and what support will look like before, during, and after implementation.
5. Choose a partner that will grow with you
As healthcare leaders evaluate revenue cycle solutions, partner fit is becoming just as important as product fit. Limited IT capacity, competing priorities, and the need for greater operational efficiency are pushing some to reassess how many vendors they manage — and whether those relationships are helping or hindering progress.
This often means moving away from disconnected point solutions and toward more integrated platforms. But “integrated” can mean different things, depending on the provider. A solution may technically connect to other systems, but if staff still have to bridge gaps manually, the experience may not feel integrated in practice.
The right partner helps teams reduce handoffs, improve visibility, streamline workflows, and continue optimizing over time. They should also be transparent about what works today and where friction may still exist. The most successful technology partners treat discovery as an ongoing process that helps the organization adapt as its needs evolve.
For a helpful guide to choosing an RCM partner for your organization, download our eBook. Get the eBook.
Build a smarter revenue cycle strategy
An effective revenue cycle strategy requires a thoughtful approach to AI adoption, cost management, buying decisions, and partner alignment.
For a closer look at how industry trends are impacting these priorities, explore the Waystar whitepaper, Reimbursement trends in healthcare, featuring insights from Dr. Elizabeth Woodcock — including practical steps leaders can take to build a smarter RCM strategy.
