In healthcare finance, we’ve all heard it: “Let’s revisit this in 90 days—we have other priorities.” But after 20 years of walking hospital floors, leading revenue cycle transformations, and helping providers protect their margins, I can tell you this: waiting 90 days is not a strategy—it’s a liability.

We’re not in the business of reacting. We’re in the business of making decisive moves based on timely, accurate insight. Here’s why the old “wait-and-see” mindset doesn’t work anymore:

1. Delays = Real Financial Losses

Hospitals across the country are under severe financial pressure. In 2023, over 40% of U.S. hospitals operated at negative margins (American Hospital Association [AHA], 2024). Nearly half of rural hospitals had net operating losses, and that number is expected to climb due to labor shortages, inflation, and underpayments from Medicare Advantage and Medicaid.

Even modest improvements in leakage recovery or patient access can equate to $1–2 million annually. Delaying execution by 90 days could mean $250,000–$500,000 in missed opportunity, while your organization continues to hemorrhage revenue.

2. Costs Are Rising Faster Than Reimbursement

From 2019 to 2022, hospital expenses grew by 17.5%, outpacing Medicare reimbursement, which only rose 7.5% in that same period—a staggering 10-point gap (AHA, 2023). Contract labor costs surged 258%, and total labor expenses grew by 20.8%. Supply costs increased nearly 19%, with little relief from payers. On top of that, Medicare Advantage plans are now reimbursing hospitals less than 90% of traditional Medicare rates, further squeezing margins (AHA, 2024).

In this climate, waiting to shore up revenue is like watching water rise while deciding whether to build a levee. Every quarter of inaction intensifies the financial strain and reduces your options.

3. The OBBBA Has Changed Everything

Signed into law in July 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) mandates more than $1 trillion in federal healthcare cuts over the next 10 years, including up to $500 billion from Medicare and Medicaid (Congressional Budget Office [CBO], 2025). The CBO projects 10.9 million Americans will lose coverage by 2028 as a result of reductions in ACA subsidies and Medicaid eligibility rollbacks. KFF estimates that number could climb to over 17 million when combined with other policy changes (Kaiser Family Foundation [KFF], 2025).

These aren’t theoretical impacts—they are operational threats. The increase in uninsured patients and reduction in reimbursement is happening now. Hospitals—especially rural, safety-net, and Medicaid-reliant systems—will see more bad debt, fewer elective volumes, and increased strain on already thin margins.

Final Word: Delay Equals Decay

If you’re leading a healthcare organization and have access to a proven initiative that can uncover lost revenue, optimize access, or improve speed to cash—waiting 90 days isn’t cautious. It’s costly.

In this environment, 90 days is not a buffer—it’s a risk multiplier. Act while you still have room to maneuver. Because standing still in healthcare finance is the fastest way to fall behind.

References

American Hospital Association. (2023). Escalating operational costs and economic pressures on hospitals and health systems.
American Hospital Association. (2024). 2023 Costs of Caring: Trends, challenges, and outlook for hospital margins.
Congressional Budget Office. (2025). Estimated budgetary effects of H.R. 1 (“One Big Beautiful Bill Act”).
Kaiser Family Foundation. (2025). About 17 million more people could be uninsured due to the OBBBA and related policy changes.