Cedar

The final analysis from the CBO is in: The health sector will lose $1.1 trillion, and 10 million people will become uninsured from the OBBB But the real cost of H.R.1 won’t show up in legislation. It’ll show up in the Emergency Department. Patients will lose coverage, not because they’re ineligible, but because they couldn’t keep up with the paperwork. Our policy brief shares how providers can step in with smarter, digital solutions. 👉 https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/enFcAPKJ

Earlier this year, we launched our medication aid solution. So far, about 65% of eligible patients are 50+, which isn't surprising. But this is: Older patients start applications 40% more often than younger ones, but get approved at half the rate. The data suggests that older patients are motivated but struggle with the complexity of the application itself, presenting clear opportunities for personalization. This is just one pattern we're seeing. Read the full analysis here → https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eceRurHp

📞 AI that actually resolves billing issues? It’s time to go beyond chatbots. In today’s healthcare landscape, rising patient financial responsibility is colliding with overwhelmed call centers, burnt-out staff, and frustrated patients. While generative AI is often pitched as the fix, most tools weren’t built for the nuance and emotion behind real billing conversations. Join Cedar during HealthLeaders Revenue Cycle Technology Week for a webinar on how purpose-built AI is transforming revenue cycle operations by handling full billing inquiries — from authentication to resolution — with the precision and empathy of a seasoned agent. Register now to save your spot: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/e5mVfUBG

If $5 billion in medication assistance exists, why do only 3% of patients receive it? We started with this question. Now that we're actually connecting patients to these resources, the data is revealing the answer: 👥 What stops (and helps) patients depends on age  🔄 Frequent flyer or not, the process must be simple  🎯 It comes down to the last mile: application submission Read the full analysis from our Director of Product Management, Vaibhav Goel ↓ https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eceRurHp

I was thrilled to reconnect with Dugan Winkie, Head of Commercial Strategy for Cedar, at the #HFMA25 conference in Denver and talk about something that’s becoming impossible to ignore: the affordability crisis in healthcare and how AI can help tackle it head-on. Dugan explained the major shift in healthcare finance: patients are now the fastest-growing payer group, yet many providers still rely on outdated billing strategies. He highlighted how Cedar’s AI, Kora, is actively reducing billing-related calls by offering personalized support, and shared key insights on self-pay trends, upcoming Medicaid changes, and the financial pressures facing CFOs. What stood out most was his emphasis on real-world results over AI hype and his challenge to health systems to demand proof of impact from their technology partners. This is a must-listen for anyone thinking about the future of healthcare finance and how to prepare for what’s next! Check the link below in the comments to listen to the entire conversation!!

📢 As patients become the fastest-growing payer group in healthcare, financial strategies must evolve — fast. Recorded live at Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA) 2025, the latest episode of Outcomes Rocket features Dugan Winkie, who unpacks the growing affordability crisis and what it means for providers. From the rise of self-pay to the limits of generic portals, Dugan and Saul W. Marquez discuss why health systems need smarter, more personalized financial engagement. 💡 His advice for CFOs? Treat patients as critical financial stakeholders, and only invest in AI that delivers real-world results. 🎧 Tune in to hear how tailored billing strategies and actionable AI can help health systems protect margins and better serve patients: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ez9-ey8Y

At Cedar's CEO Council event in February, former U.S. Chief Technology Officers Aneesh Chopra and Todd Park made a powerful point: it only takes a few committed CEOs to spark industry-wide change. Inspired by that insight, we convened a CEO policy briefing in the wake of the One Big Beautiful Bill — not just to understand its real-world impact, but to begin shaping a proactive response. Led by Dr. David Lubarsky of Westchester Medical Center Health Network and Peter Banko of Baystate Health, the conversation brought together 20 provider CEOs for a candid discussion on how to navigate this moment and lead through it. Three takeaways stood out to me. 🔹 1. The financial reality may seem years away, but it's closer than many think While the OBBB’s Medicaid coverage cuts won’t begin to take effect until late 2026, uncompensated care is already becoming the new normal. Among our client base, about 35% of dollars owed from patients already come from those with no insurance, a figure poised to rise dramatically with these policy changes. Also, the provider tax freeze is already in effect, DSH payments will be cut on October 1st, and ACA subsidies are expiring on December 31st. The financial pressure is mounting now. Rather than take a “wait-and-see” approach, we need to shift now to supporting this vulnerable, growing population. 🔹 2. The coverage crisis is a care crisis. As David Lubarsky succinctly put it: In the long run, society pays the price if people can’t get the care they need. When ACA subsidies expire and Medicaid work requirements take effect, even those technically “insured” are effectively self-pay. Patients won’t just be losing insurance — they’ll lose trust in the healthcare system, face bills they can’t pay, and ultimately delay necessary care. This will disproportionately affect lower-income working families who earn too much for Medicaid but can't afford high-deductible ACA plans. In some states, 30% of the population falls into this category. They're "self-pay in disguise," often one bill away from a financial crisis. Leaders on our call are rethinking the role that the health system plays in keeping patients enrolled, and the tools to do so. 🔹 3. Technology is a lever for both efficiency and equity Hospitals can’t navigate rising coverage churn and shorter enrollment windows with paper forms and staffing alone. Leaders agreed that technology is necessary to identify who is eligible for Medicaid and facilitate sign-up. 75% of low-income adults own smartphones, highlighting a huge opportunity to meet patients where they are in this crisis. Technology is a lever for equity, not just efficiency.

Hospitals are already navigating workforce shortages, inflation, and denied claims. Now add $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid over the next decade, nearly 12 million uninsured patients, and more than $400 billion in uncompensated care There’s no manual solution to this. In our latest policy brief, we break down how a digital safety net can help and how leading providers are preparing: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/enFcAPKJ

What if your biggest RCM operational wins are hiding your biggest patient financial experience problems? This academic medical center thought they were winning—until they used our PFX Benchmarks to look at the metrics they weren't tracking in the EHR. Full story in the carousel below 👇 Deep dive here → https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eh4qM2wk

🎙️ Have you listened to the latest ThinkData Podcast? Cedar's CTO Kinshuk Mishra joined host 🚀Alex Hutchings for an in-depth conversation at the intersection of AI, digital health, and patient experience, including: 🤖 How we're using AI to solve patient billing problems 📞 Our new AI voice agent, Kora 🤝 Building trust and staying ahead in a changing healthcare landscape 🔗 Listen now: https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/ebJQaKY6