Why Payment Plan Flexibility Is Patient Advocacy with Blake Evans | Podcast Shorts from ArceeHQ

In this clip

Blake Evans highlights the financial pressure that the new budget bill places on patients at Rush University System for Health, where projected increases in patient liability and potential coverage losses are requiring revenue cycle teams to take a more proactive advocacy role. His response: extend and diversify payment plan options, communicate liability expectations as early as possible, and treat every touchpoint from scheduling through billing statements as an opportunity to support patients financially rather than simply collect.

Key Takeaway

When policy shifts increase patient liability, revenue cycle teams that extend payment plan flexibility, communicate proactively, and act as patient advocates from scheduling through billing collections are better positioned to maintain both collections performance and patient trust.

“How do we act as an advocate to the patients to help guide them through that process, not only at the time of scheduling but all the way through registration to the point of getting your first bill, your second and third and fourth statement, and really trying to be very intentional about how we communicate with our patient population.”
Blake Evans, System Vice President of Revenue Cycle, Rush University System for Health

Patient FinancingFinancial Assistance

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Blake Evans

Season 2 · Episode 1 · 38 min

Building a High-Performance Revenue Cycle: Alignment, Automation & Cash Flow

Blake Evans · System Vice President of Revenue Cycle, Rush University System for Health

Blake Evans shares a system-level perspective on what it takes to build and sustain a high-performance revenue cycle inside a complex, multi-hospital academic health system. Drawing from his journey from frontline patient access to enterprise revenue cycle leadership, he explains why alignment across access, mid-cycle, and back-end functions is the foundation for financial stability, scalability, and patient trust. The conversation explores how Rush has unified revenue cycle operations under a single strategy, balanced optimization with patient financial experience, and scaled performance through intentional automation. Blake outlines how denial prevention, patient financing, and financial assistance must be approached holistically, with early transparency, clear communication, and advocacy for patients at every step of the financial journey. Blake also offers a grounded view on AI and agentic automation in healthcare RCM, separating real opportunity from hype. He emphasizes disciplined adoption, risk management, and leadership practices that prioritize communication, cross-functional collaboration, and trust while navigating large-scale change.

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