Key Observations from HIMSS25: AI, Interoperability, and Payment Management in Healthcare

The annual HIMSS conference has long served as a point of convergence for healthcare technology, healthcare policy, education, networking, and collaboration. HIMSS25 was no exception. As expected, this year’s HIMSS conference offered insightful discussions on the latest trends in healthcare technology, and the XiFin team walked away with some key takeaways on the topics shaping the future of healthcare IT.

Our booth was filled with dynamic conversations, but three significant trends stood out:

• Artificial Intelligence (AI) continues to dominate the healthcare conversation
• Interoperability is making new inroads
• Tech companies are promoting new approaches to managing patient payments

AI’s Growing Role in Revenue Cycle Management

AI was undeniably everywhere at HIMSS25, from booth signage to conference sessions. When it comes to AI’s impact on clinical care, we’re only scratching the surface as an industry. There’s much to understand and navigate, from interpreting clinical images to structuring narrative data and optimizing staffing.

While the application of AI in clinical tools has long been a focal point, this year, we saw a notable shift. Attendees were increasingly interested in how AI can positively disrupt administrative and operational aspects of healthcare. This year the discussions were much more practical from an AI standpoint and yet visionary in terms of the scale of cost reduction related to healthcare administration that can be realized, such as improvements in revenue cycle management (RCM) productivity and efficiency. As payors scale up their use of AI in managing claims, healthcare leaders are realizing it is imperative for them to leverage AI to:

• Align staff to the most valuable tasks
• Reduce bottlenecks in patient registration
• Simplify payor interactions and automate actionable follow-up
• Optimize workflow
• Reduce human error
• Ensure greater accuracy in billing, coding, and claims processing

AI helps identify potential issues early in the RCM process, reducing denials and accelerating revenue realization. Our discussions this year were more closely focused on AI’s concrete benefits. We look forward to helping healthcare leaders identify an AI-enabled path to ROI. Rather than theoretical, high-level discussions, HIMSS25 attendees appreciated XiFin’s practical demonstrations on embedding AI into software solutions that streamline RCM processes.

This real-world application drives tangible value for healthcare organizations, and we’re excited to help providers and their teams navigate the evaluation and decision-making process so that they are confident in the AI strategy going forward.

The Vital Need for Interoperability

Interoperability was another hot topic at HIMSS, with many providers expressing frustration over fragmented healthcare systems and, more critically, the need for collaboration to drive economies of scale via interoperability hubs. There were important conversations about the value of interoperability in creating smarter, more connected healthcare environments. Hospitals, in particular, often face integration challenges and data silos that hinder efficiency.

At XiFin, we share this vision of seamless connectivity. We understand that the various healthcare stakeholders and systems must work together in a unified way, breaking down silos and improving secure data-sharing. Healthcare leaders can maximize their investments and enhance real-time, data-driven decision-making by focusing on interoperability.

APIs play an increasingly significant role in facilitating interoperability. They enable real-time, two-way data exchange, creating seamless connectivity between systems, including practice management systems, EHRs, laboratory information systems (LIS), pharmacy management systems, referring providers, payors, and patients. This digital integration supports more efficient patient intake, order processing, billing, and patient engagement. Specific API-driven RCM benefits include:

• Patient Demographic Information Validation: Search, create, or update patient data to ensure accurate claims, accelerate processing, and reduce costly delays and denials
• Streamlined Ordering Processes: Enable seamless exchange of order details between providers and referring physicians, reducing manual errors, and ensuring completeness
• Automated Eligibility Verification: Instant insurance eligibility checks improve clean claims rates and reduce denials; real-time integration with insurance discovery vendors provides access to secondary insurance when relevant
• Enhanced Claim Accuracy: Real-time data sharing allows corrections to be made before claims are submitted, increasing claim approval rates
• Accurate Patient Financial Responsibility Estimation: Provide upfront cost estimates on patient financial responsibility before providing services, improving financial transparency for patients
• Seamless Document Uploads: APIs facilitate the upload of necessary medical documentation, reducing administrative burdens and improving reimbursement timelines

The key is not just adopting new technologies but ensuring that these technologies work together to create a truly unified, patient-centered healthcare system.

Revolutionizing Healthcare Payments

The third trend we encountered at HIMSS25 was managing patient payments. Several vendors at the conference are focused on disrupting the traditional payment processor landscape. They are building solutions to embed payment systems into software solutions to improve payment operations while delivering a better patient experience.

This trend presents an opportunity for healthcare providers and technology companies alike. Integrating payment solutions directly into SaaS platforms may allow providers to streamline payment processes and ensure that patients can easily make payments through multiple channels—whether via card, bank transfer, or mobile wallets—all within a unified system. One potential focus is on shifting part of the payment-related revenue away from traditional financial institutions towards healthcare providers as an alternative way to fund their mission. At HIMSS, new business strategies were discussed to support healthcare profitability for those areas experiencing financial instability or concern over long-term sustainability. Ultimately, this brings along with it new risks that must be weighed. As payment solutions evolve, healthcare providers should partner with solution providers that support long-term growth and can collaborate on business strategies.

Whether streamlining existing payment workflows or integrating new payment options, the ability to scale seamlessly and maintain control over operations will be essential.

The HIMSS conference reinforced the growing importance of AI, interoperability, and payment management in healthcare. At XiFin, we’re excited to be part of these important conversations and be partners in problem-solving. We continue to be committed to helping healthcare providers navigate these changes by offering practical, data-driven solutions that optimize RCM processes, enhance interoperability, and simplify patient payment management. We’re excited to lead the charge in leveraging technology to improve operational efficiencies and financial performance for healthcare providers.

Learn more about XiFin’s approach to embedded AI.