UChicago Medicine Shifts Staff to Harder Revenue Cycle Work

UChicago Medicine is automating routine parts of its revenue cycle, including insurance verification and prior authorization, and redeploying staff to more complex work, according to Becker's Hospital Review. Matthew Kennedy, director of patient access and financial clearance, described the approach during a panel at Becker's 11th Annual Health IT + Digital Health Conference.

The idea is straightforward. Software now handles predictable, high-volume tasks that once consumed staff hours. Employees are moved toward cases that require human judgment, such as tricky payer disputes and denials that automation cannot resolve on its own. That reframes automation as a way to reallocate labor rather than simply cut headcount.

The move reflects a broader trend across hospital finance operations. Systems are under margin pressure and struggle to hire and retain skilled revenue cycle workers. By pushing routine work to technology, health systems aim to reduce burnout, keep experienced staff engaged, and improve collections on the hardest claims.