Revenue cycle management (RCM) isn’t just an operational necessity—it’s the financial backbone of healthcare. And according to the leadership team at Radiant Healthcare, it’s due for a serious rethink.

In a recent webinar hosted by Dr. Adam Brown (Chief Medical and Marketing Officer), Guy Miceli (CEO), and Jacob Byrlen (COO), the Radiant team broke down why now is the time for healthcare organizations to take a more strategic, data-driven, and interdisciplinary approach to their revenue cycle. Here’s what they shared—and what it means for your organization.

The Big Misconception: “It’s Working Just Fine”

One of the biggest takeaways came early in the conversation: many healthcare leaders believe their current RCM systems are functioning efficiently. But as Guy Miceli pointed out, that assumption is dangerous. “The reality is that RCM is a constantly evolving, highly complex system with hidden inefficiencies that impact both provider and patient,” he said.

Between administrative fragmentation, high denial rates, and outdated technology, many systems are hemorrhaging time and revenue. And it’s not just a tech problem. Even with new tools in place, without the right team and processes around them, they often fail to deliver on their promise.

Credentialing and Enrollment: The Hidden RCM Levers

Credentialing and enrollment aren’t typically viewed as core components of RCM—but that’s a mistake. As COO Jacob Byrlen explained, these functions directly impact how quickly providers can start seeing patients and, in turn, how quickly organizations can bill for services.

“If credentialing is taking six months, that’s six months of lost revenue,” he said. “An integrated, interdisciplinary approach can reduce onboarding to just a month—and that means care starts sooner and revenue flows faster.”

Dr. Adam Brown reinforced this from a clinician’s perspective, noting the common frustration of duplicative paperwork between credentialing and enrollment teams. “It’s the same data in two different silos,” he said. “And the lag affects everything—staff morale, care access, and reimbursement.”

The True Strategic Value of RCM

Revenue cycle isn’t just about billing—it’s about aligning people, processes, and technology to deliver operational excellence.

“The real value lies in creating a system where technology supports the team, not replaces it,” said Miceli. “You need experts who know the rules, the exceptions, and how to work within them—especially as those rules change constantly.”

Jacob emphasized that strategy must be tailored to each organization’s unique structure, goals, and payer mix. “There’s no one-size-fits-all RCM plan,” he said. “You need to understand your data, your workflow, and your pain points—and build from there.”

A Data-Driven Culture Is a Prerequisite for AI

The team addressed one of the most hyped topics in healthcare: artificial intelligence. Their message was clear—AI won’t fix broken processes. In fact, it could make things worse if the data driving it is unreliable.

“If you’re thinking about AI, you first need a strong foundation of data and transparency,” said Byrlen. “Otherwise, you risk automating the wrong things or missing critical exceptions.”

Radiant’s approach focuses on real-time dashboards, constant quality audits, and proactive reporting to identify bottlenecks and track progress. “Don’t run before you walk,” Miceli added. “Start with understanding where your inefficiencies are—then use tech to target them.”

The Cost of Doing Nothing

Dr. Brown brought up a statistic that stopped the conversation in its tracks: more than 65% of denied claims go unaddressed. That’s not just a missed opportunity—it’s a major revenue loss.

“You can’t get reimbursed if you don’t fight the denial,” said Byrlen. “Payers count on organizations not responding. If you're not up for the challenge, you're leaving money on the table.”

For Radiant, building capacity and expertise—through both global workforce models and deeply experienced teams—means they can support clients in areas they often struggle to staff locally.

Where to Start: Assessment and Alignment

So where should organizations begin? The Radiant team recommends starting with an honest, data-driven assessment of your current RCM performance. This means looking beyond generic productivity metrics to understand quality, denial reasons, and ownership across teams.

Once that baseline is clear, organizations can begin making targeted improvements—prioritizing fixes that not only reduce costs but improve speed, accuracy, and satisfaction for both patients and providers.

“Ultimately, it’s about connection,” said Dr. Brown. “From credentialing to coding, these functions are tightly linked. You can’t skip steps and expect great results.”

Final Takeaways

As the session wrapped, Guy Miceli left attendees with a challenge: revisit your goals, processes, and partner strategy. “We’re here to be more than just a vendor,” he said. “We want to help you assess, adjust, and act—because standing still isn’t an option in today’s market.”

Byrlen added a final push for action: “If two-thirds of your denied claims are going unanswered, it’s time to rethink how you’re operating. We can help you fix that.”

Want to Learn More?

Radiant Healthcare offers consultative RCM, credentialing, and back-office support designed to streamline operations and recover lost revenue.

Visit RadiantHealthcare.com to download the full white paper or schedule a consultation.

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