As the healthcare landscape shifts, one provision in The One Big Beautiful Bill stands out for its sweeping financial impact: A projected $1 trillion reduction in federal Medicaid spending over the next decade. While the policy’s long-term implications are still unfolding, its immediate effect is already being felt inside hospitals across the country.

A spike in uncompensated care, a system under pressure

Hospitals are seeing a rapid rise in uncompensated care, tightening margins and pushing traditional billing workflows. The longstanding “treat first, bill later” mindset is no longer financially sustainable for many organizations. To stay solvent, and to support patients more effectively, providers must rethink where and how the financial conversation begins.

This is driving a major shift: Revenue Cycle Management (RCM) systems must move the financial clearance process upstream, evaluating coverage possibilities before services are delivered.

Now, let’s talk about predictive eligibility.

The next generation of RCM tools won’t just verify insurance, they’ll predict it. These systems assess the likelihood that a patient qualifies for Medicaid, commercial coverage, or marketplace plans. By identifying coverage pathways early, hospitals can reduce denials, limit bad debt and guide patients toward financial options that work for them.

In essence, the financial journey becomes just as orchestrated and personalized as the clinical one.

A new standard for a patient’s financial experience

Today’s patients expect healthcare billing to feel more like online shopping. Patients now expect a financial experience akin to e-commerce: Transparent, mobile-first and seamless. This includes text-to-pay functionality, digital wallets and self-service payment plans.

This retail-inspired shift isn’t just about convenience—it’s about trust.

Trust as a form of currency

Hospitals that treat billing as a core part of the patient experience consistently earn higher satisfaction scores and greater loyalty. Providing clear, consolidated cost estimates and offering compassionate financial counseling can significantly improve a patient’s comfort and confidence.

The financial benefits are real, too. Organizations that invest in these improvements report 18–25% increases in point-of-service collections—a critical boost in an environment where every dollar matters.

A partner for the journey ahead

At Altera Digital Health, we know organizations’ financial outlook can challenge the important care that is delivered. To support healthcare organizations, and the patients they serve, we must adapt to these challenges and deliver new models of service delivery. In our work with Sunrise™, these challenges are top of mind as we work to equip healthcare organizations with the right tools.

Learn more about Altera’s Sunrise.