2025 Healthcare Affordability and Patient Revenue Report: Benchmarks & Insights from 213 RCM Leaders

Patients are shouldering more costs — and providers are paying the price.

In 2024, bad debt surged 14%, while collection rates remained stagnant at below 25%. Many in-house payment plans carry 20-30% default rates. Without a new approach, revenue leaders risk tying up capital and sending even more accounts to collections. This report — based on a Healthcare Financial Management Association-partnered survey of 213 health system revenue cycle leaders — reveals strategies that work in the real world.

Inside the report:

• Performance benchmarks from hospitals with $100 million to over $25 billion in annual revenue
• How UTMB achieved a 25% lift in overall collections and a 37% lift in pre-service collections with patient-friendly financing
• Practical recommendations to reduce financial risk, improve cash flow, and make care more affordable