News: Outpatient healthcare infrastructure is strained, report finds

Clinics, specialty groups, and ambulatory care centers are facing systemic strains from the outpatient healthcare infrastructure, according to the Outpatient Pressure Index 2025 published by CERTIFY Health.

The report states that outpatient healthcare volumes have returned to or exceeded pre-pandemic levels, while the infrastructure has not kept pace, JustCoding reported. According to the report, the key forces driving systemic pressure in outpatient care include:

• Persistent staffing shortages in front offices
• Increased demand from aging and chronic patients
• Longer times spent verifying patients’ identity, insurance, and eligibility

This strain puts outpatient care facilities under revenue pressure due to lost revenue from no-shows, denials when coverage isn’t confirmed at the front end, and slower payment collection without patient reminders or pre-visit education. Meanwhile, patients face their own pressures, such as longer waits, communication lags, and fragmented journeys. 

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in JustCoding. To read the full report, click here.