Electronic Health Reporter

The healthcare payments market is growing rapidly and is estimated to reach $5 trillion by 2022 as a total of both payer and consumer payments. The fastest growing portion of the market is payments from consumers for healthcare services and health plan premiums as a result of shifting payment responsibility and changes because of health reform.

However, the healthcare industry is struggling to address the new role of consumers in the payments process with more than 30 percent of healthcare dollars considered to be wasted because of inefficient, disjointed payment processing and costs associated with paper-based billing and administrative processes. These costs are expected to continue to increase unless the healthcare industry recognizes and addresses the critical role of consumer choice and the impact of the digital economy on payment options.

These latest trends and best practices presented in InstaMed’s Trends in Healthcare Payments Annual Report 2014 outline a critical need for healthcare industry professionals to focus on consumer preferences and their emerging role in the payments process. Healthcare providers and payers who offer consumers preferred payment methods, including card payments and online payments, reduce confusion and ultimately increase collections. Additionally, new electronic payment channels, such as mobile payments and Apple Pay, will further accommodate consumers’ expectations for simple billing and convenient ways to pay. A focus on streamlining the consumer payment experience will improve collection rates, increase consumer satisfaction, and enhance profitability and cash flow.

The following infographic illustrates the top trends, industry challenges and best practices to enable healthcare organizations to adapt to the future of healthcare payments. For more information, download the full report: www.instamed.com/trends.