We are excited to share the highlights from ACEP Scientific Assembly 2025 in Salt Lake City. Our leaders had insightful discussions and gathered valuable information that we believe will be beneficial for you. Here are the key points you need to know:
Transparency in Performance Data & The Power of Actionable Analytics
Emergency practices are increasingly seeking greater access to performance data presented in a clear and transparent way. Many feel that this level of transparency and access should no longer be a value-add or special feature but a standard expectation in today’s data-driven healthcare environment.
As the interest in data and analytics continues to grow, many practices are eager to turn insights into action. Insight into the data, combined with provider education and feedback, was a repeated theme. As one client succinctly put it: “We don’t know what we don’t know.” It’s clear that groups are not just looking for data, but for proactive guidance to uncover and act on opportunities that can significantly enhance revenue.
Viability of Independent Groups
The viability of independent groups without growth was a significant concern. As consolidation continues to reshape the healthcare landscape, groups that remain static in size are finding it increasingly difficult to stay competitive and financially sustainable.
This pressure is compounded by steadily declining reimbursement rates and rising operational costs. Without growth—whether through organic expansion, strategic partnerships, or mergers—many independent groups risk losing negotiating power with payers, falling behind in technology adoption, and struggling to achieve the economies of scale needed to manage administrative burdens.
Payer Behavior and Misaligned Goals
Conversations consistently highlighted the ongoing tension between payers and providers, particularly around misaligned goals and problematic payer behavior. Providers expressed frustration with delayed reimbursements, denials without clear justification, and increasingly complex authorization requirements.
At the core of the issue is a fundamental disconnect: while providers are focused on delivering high-quality, patient-centered care, payers often prioritize cost containment and utilization control. This misalignment not only disrupts revenue cycles but also creates unnecessary administrative burden and financial strain.
Price Transparency and Payer Contracting
Several attendees mentioned they were aware of available price transparency data but weren’t sure how to interpret it or apply it strategically. While access to this data is a step in the right direction, many organizations are still struggling to connect the dots between raw information and actionable insights.
The same challenge applies to the Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) process. Although some groups have participated in or followed IDR outcomes, few are leveraging these results to shape their payer contracting strategies or strengthen negotiation positions. There’s a clear opportunity to turn passive awareness into active utilization by educating teams on how to analyze pricing data, benchmark rates, and use IDR decisions as leverage in discussions with payers.
AI and Automation in Healthcare
There were numerous questions about how AI and automation will change the healthcare landscape. While there is some healthy skepticism, many are curious about the potential impact of AI. We received multiple questions about how we use AI in our services as well as the effect of ambient scribe notes compared to traditional notes on revenue cycle management (RCM).
What became clear is that while excitement around AI is growing, there’s a strong need for education around practical implementation. Attendees were especially interested in how AI can reduce administrative burden, improve documentation quality, and speed up the billing process without introducing risk. The consensus was that AI should be viewed not as a replacement for providers or staff, but as a tool to enhance efficiency, support clinical decision-making, and ultimately improve financial outcomes.
Emergency Department Observation Units (EDOUs)
EDOUs were a hot topic at the conference, with many groups expressing ongoing challenges around compliance, documentation, and reimbursement. Despite being a common component of hospital-based care, EDOUs remains a gray area for many providers and billing teams. Attendees voiced confusion about the proper use of observation codes, especially when it comes to differentiating between observation and inpatient status—an important distinction that carries significant reimbursement implications.
Uncovering Gaps in Billing Awareness
Many attendees stopped by our booth with fundamental questions about the billing process, revealing a clear gap in understanding among those not directly involved in revenue cycle management. This highlights the critical need for ongoing education and proactive communication, especially for practitioners who may be disconnected from the financial side of their practice. Equipping staff with the right training ensures they understand the impact of documentation on revenue—and empowers them to contribute more effectively to the financial health of the organization. We hope you find these insights valuable and look forward to continuing our partnership to navigate the evolving reimbursement landscape together.
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