{
  "id": 4819832,
  "title": "Healthcare’s Next Competitive Advantage Isn’t Coverage. It’s Cash Flow.",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/01/healthcares-next-competitive-advantage-isnt-coverage-its-cash-flow",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-09-01T08:00:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "PYMNTS",
    "slug": "pymnts",
    "url": "https://www.pymnts.com/healthcare/2026/healthcares-next-competitive-advantage-isnt-coverage-its-cash-flow/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Consumers have grown accustomed to swift digital transactions, with instant deposits and real-time peer-to-peer payments reducing expectations for healthcare reimbursements. A PYMNTS Intelligence report, in collaboration with Visa Direct, reveals that payment delays are now shaping the consumer experience for insurers after claim resolution. Speed, reliability, and visibility of disbursements are becoming integral aspects of the customer experience, transforming payouts from mere back-office operations to essential components of the healthcare experience. Approximately 82% of healthcare insurers rely on third-party payment processors, which can significantly impact the speed of payouts. Only around 25% directly control the payment methods utilized by these processors. This creates a unique competitive dynamic, as healthcare organizations must treat disbursements as customer-facing capabilities. Fast payouts can potentially reduce payment-status inquiries and servicing costs while providing a seamless experience for members. Nearly two-thirds of insurers prioritize integration between claims platforms and payment systems as their top modernization priority, while over 60% are actively working on improving these integrations. Real-time payouts depend not only on selecting a faster rail but also on identity verification, fraud management, integration between claims and payment systems, credential management, and continuously updated data. Visa Direct can help facilitate these fast, secure payout experiences. As consumers become accustomed to quick payouts in other areas of their financial lives, delays in healthcare reimbursements become increasingly noticeable and may lead to frustration even when all underlying claim-processing requirements have been met.",
  "summary": "Consumers have been trained by the rest of the digital economy to expect money to move quickly. Instant deposits and real-time peer-to-peer payments have narrowed the gap between when a transaction is initiated and when people expect to see the money. Against that benchmark, a healthcare reimbursement that takes five to seven days can feel […] The post Healthcare’s Next Competitive Advantage…",
  "key_points": [
    "82% of healthcare insurers rely on third-party payment processors.",
    "Only 25% directly control the payment methods used by these processors.",
    "Fast payouts can reduce payment-status inquiries and servicing costs."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}