In 2025, Debra Jaeger, MSN, RN, was hired as New York City-based Mount Sinai’s first chief revenue officer, tasked with unifying the system’s fragmented revenue cycle.
The role was designed to elevate Mount Sinai’s revenue cycle into a center of excellence, aligning it more closely with the system’s clinical and research reputation, Ms. Jaeger said on a recent episode of the Becker’s “CFO + Revenue Cycle Podcast.”
That effort included building a fully integrated revenue cycle across front-end, mid-cycle and back-end billing functions, while also expanding the system’s focus beyond transactional revenue to include value-based payments.
In the first year, the transformation resulted in improvements in cash collections and reductions in denials.
“Much of that is done by just bringing these teams together and having collaborative conversations and leveraging each other’s skills in this area to be more uniform,” she said.
She said the team has spent significant time focusing on standardizing practices and policies, along with Epic optimization.
Looking ahead, the system is looking to utilize tools and education to improve the patient financial experience, particularly as healthcare costs and coverage complexities continue to grow.
The health system is also exploring the use of AI and predictive analytics to better anticipate revenue trends. Ms. Jaeger said predictive tools could help identify potential delays in payment earlier in the claims process and improve cash forecasting, allowing teams to take a more proactive approach to revenue cycle management.
Listen to the full podcast episode here.
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.