At SYNERGEN Health, we’re not just keeping up with the changing healthcare landscape, we’re helping define what’s next. Whether it’s through smarter automation, stronger cybersecurity, or forward-thinking revenue cycle strategies, our team is driving meaningful results for our partners.
Our work and insights have recently been featured across several leading healthcare publications, showcasing how we’re solving today’s toughest RCM challenges with innovation, data, and deep industry expertise.
Explore the highlights to see how we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in revenue cycle management.
Revenue Cycle Management: Staking Their Claim
This recent For The Record Magazine article highlights the complexities of managing the revenue cycle in ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), from fluctuating patient volumes to evolving payer requirements. Patricia Smith, MBA, Director of Revenue Cycle Consulting at SYNERGEN Health, shares strategies ASCs can use to protect profitability and maintain compliance.
“Claims older than 90 days enter the danger zone,” Smith explains. “Once they hit 120 or 180 days, the likelihood of payment drops significantly.”
Smith emphasizes the importance of automation in improving accuracy and efficiency—especially for benefit verification, coding, and denial management. Machine learning, for example, can help ASCs flag potential issues before submission and reduce the need for manual intervention.
“Automation isn’t about replacing people—it’s about supporting them,” she says. “Reducing backend costs allows ASCs to reinvest in patient care.”
Smith also underscores the need for robust data protection and choosing partners with strong compliance credentials, like HITRUST or SOC 3, particularly when outsourcing aspects of the revenue cycle. With the right tools and safeguards, ASCs can remain financially viable and deliver exceptional care.
Revenue Cycle Management: Strategic Tips for Lab Success
In this Lab Manager article, Teri Gatchel-Schmidt, Vice President of Consulting & Business Development at SYNERGEN Health, shares key revenue cycle strategies to help labs strengthen their financial performance heading into 2025.
Gatchel-Schmidt emphasizes that a lab’s revenue cycle operations shouldn’t be viewed as a cost center but as a strategic driver of growth. From delayed reimbursements to denied claims, labs face persistent challenges—but with the right tools and processes, these can be managed proactively.
She recommends combining automation with industry expertise to reduce errors, speed up reimbursement, and stay ahead of evolving payer requirements. “Clean data isn’t just about accuracy—it’s about cash flow,” she explains. Tools that digitize paper orders, flag coding mismatches, and monitor payer communications can have a major impact on financial outcomes.
With historical denial data, real-time monitoring, and a focus on high-value appeals, labs can shift from reactive to strategic RCM—and set the stage for more sustainable growth in the year ahead.
Optimizing RCM in the ASC Marketplace
Leaner margins. Smaller teams. Bigger challenges. That’s the reality for ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)—and it’s exactly why Patricia Smith, RCM expert and Director of Revenue Cycle Consulting at SYNERGEN Health, outlines the need for more strategic revenue cycle operations in this BC Advantage article.
Smith highlights six pressures ASCs are navigating today: rising labor costs, complex payer requirements, growing procedure volumes, patient demand for price transparency, collection difficulties, and a surge in denied claims. Each one chips away at cash flow—but they also open the door to smarter, more resilient processes.
Her advice? Embrace AI and automation to handle repetitive tasks like claims processing and eligibility checks. Get proactive about payer negotiations and denials. And adopt patient-friendly tools that simplify collections and support price transparency.
“Optimizing your RCM isn’t just about survival,” Smith says. “It’s about creating long-term financial sustainability—even in the face of tight margins and evolving expectations.”
Is AI the Answer to Improving Laboratory Reimbursements?
In a Clinical Lab Products (CLP) interview, Teri Gatchel-Schmidt, MBA, CPC, Vice President of Consulting and Business Development at SYNERGEN Health, breaks down why labs are facing some of their toughest financial pressures yet and how AI and automation are the key to staying viable.
From cutting-edge molecular tests being denied due to outdated coding systems to the looming 15% Medicare reimbursement cuts in 2025, labs are stuck between rising costs and shrinking payments. “With 10%–30% of lab claims denied on first submission, labs can’t afford to rely on manual processes anymore,” says Schmidt.
She calls AI a “must” for order entry and billing, particularly as labs continue to deal with paper requisitions, prior auths, and high-volume, low-dollar claims that overwhelm small teams. Clean claims start at the front end, and AI-driven automation is critical to getting insurance info right, reducing rework, and increasing reimbursement rates.
Harnessing RCM Technology in 2025 with Sunil Konda
Sunil Konda, Chief Product Officer at SYNERGEN Health, joins the Leaders in Medical Billing Podcast to chat with host Chanie Gluck about the evolving role of technology in revenue cycle management. He shares how organizations can use AI, automation, and cloud-based tools to streamline operations, reduce administrative burdens, and improve financial performance. Tune in for a thoughtful take on what it really takes to modernize RCM.
This Week in Surgery Centers: Mel Gunawardena – What an Experienced RCM Expert Needs to Know
Mel Gunawardena, Managing Partner and Co-Founder at SYNERGEN Health, joins This Week in Surgery Centers by HST Pathways to break down what ASC leaders need to know about optimizing their revenue cycle. He covers key tactics like improving front-end processes, boosting eligibility and prior auth completion rates, and building effective denial management strategies.
Mel also shares how AI and automation can help ASCs reduce costs, improve accuracy, and stay financially strong in today’s complex environment. A must-listen for anyone looking to sharpen their RCM approach.
Becker’s Health IT & Revenue Cycle Up-And-Comers
Patricia Smith, Director of Revenue Cycle Consulting at SYNERGEN Health, was recognized by Becker’s Hospital Review as one of the top health IT and revenue cycle up-and-comers. Known for her strategic work with ambulatory surgery centers, Patricia has led initiatives that boosted net revenue by 15%, reduced A/R days by 20%, and improved patient experience scores by 25%. Her recognition highlights the impact of her leadership and SYNERGEN’s commitment to innovation in RCM.
Driving the Future of RCM
With innovative tech solutions and seasoned expertise, we’re helping healthcare organizations stay ahead. Ready to elevate your RCM strategy? Let’s talk.
