The state of the middle revenue cycle

Financial and clinical data meet in the mid-cycle

The middle revenue cycle is pivotal to the financial health of healthcare organizations, yet 86% lack integration between the mid-cycle and claims systems. Most rely on manual processes or operate in silos without visibility into payer payment and denial outcomes — and that must change.

Organizations that combine financial and clinical data in an AI-powered revenue cycle are achieving better outcomes and higher ROI. In a survey conducted by Qualtrics for Waystar, 50 CFOs, VPs of revenue cycle, and mid-cycle leaders shared perspectives on their own mid-cycle performance. This report explores those findings and reveals key areas where AI is already working to prevent revenue leakage, remove barriers, and surface new insights.

Publication date: June 2026

What’s inside

1. 1 The top mid-cycle challenges, from integration gaps to rapidly changing payer clinical policies
2. 2 An accurate picture of UM, CDI, and revenue integrity today
3. 3 Real-world stories of organizations that are successfully applying AI to the mid-cycle
4. 4 Five ways organizations can optimize their own mid-cycle to align incentives and boost ROI