Payer denials and low reimbursement squeeze hospital margins

Hospital CFOs face unprecedented financial pressures as reimbursement challenges and administrative burdens threaten sustainability. Lower payer reimbursement rates and rising denial rates have created a perfect storm for healthcare organizations still recovering from pandemic losses.

A survey of 130+ health system CFOs highlights factors squeezing margins and survival strategies, including:

· Increased payer denials since pre-pandemic and their revenue impact
· Labor shortages in nursing and technical roles driving costs
· Responses like Medicare Advantage plan cuts and revenue cycle outsourcing

Explore full findings and CFO predictions for 2026 budgets in the complete handbook.