4 Ways to Improve Contract Management and Drive Hospital Revenue Recovery

A CFO knows their facility inside and out—from managing staffing shortages to overseeing equipment investments. But when it comes to the reimbursement terms buried in dozens of payer contracts, they're flying blind.

If this describes your situation, don’t worry, you’re not alone.

Most hospitals are operating without full visibility into what their payers owe them or why reimbursements fall short. Without a clear understanding of contract language, rate schedules, or performance clauses, hospitals risk missing out on millions in earned revenue each year.

According to the American Medical Association, up to 85% of providers find payer contracts overly complex, and nearly 70% admit they don’t fully understand them. Add in a mix of traditional fee-for-service models and emerging value-based care arrangements, and it’s no surprise that ineffective contract oversight is costing providers billions.

Here’s how to take control—backed by real examples of what’s possible when you do.

1. Acknowledge the Scope of the Problem

This isn’t just a paperwork problem. Poor contract visibility leads to administrative waste, denied claims, and missed opportunities to appeal underpayments. 

Hospitals that work with MEDTEAM often discover that underpayments were happening for months—or even years—without notice. One Colorado hospital, for instance, unknowingly operated under an incorrect fee schedule for half a year. Once flagged by MEDTEAM, that error led to a $150K+ recovery from a single payor.

2. Get Clear on the Contract Challenges

Even well-staffed business offices struggle to keep up with:

• Dense legal language that hides critical terms like penalty clauses or volume-based thresholds.
• Time-consuming negotiations that siphon hours away from higher-priority tasks.
• Missing benchmarks that make it hard to evaluate if rates are even competitive.
• Ongoing monitoring of active contracts, amendments, and year-over-year compliance.

Without dedicated resources or a focused strategy, most providers can’t manage it all internally—and end up missing what matters most.

3. Make Tactical Improvements That Matter

The good news? You don’t have to boil the ocean to make real progress. Hospitals that work with MEDTEAM start with clear, actionable steps:

• Audit your contracts for outdated terms, conflicting reimbursement language, and missed incentive opportunities.
• Use real-world benchmarks to evaluate what other hospitals are getting paid—and whether your terms align.
• Automate performance monitoring using modern tools that track payment accuracy and flag discrepancies before they become long-term losses.
• Bring in a trusted partner like MEDTEAM to analyze underpayments, renegotiate terms, and recover lost revenue that’s already been earned.

4. See the Results in Action

MEDTEAM partners with hospitals nationwide to uncover hidden revenue and strengthen financial operations. In just the past four years, we’ve helped facilities:

• Recover $7.35M+ across 25 hospitals in 2023 alone
• Reclaim $1.8M+ for a single California hospital
• Recoup $343K through a targeted audit in 2024
• Total more than $19 million in identified and recovered underpayments since 2021

View the full MEDTEAM Revenue Recovery Impact Report here.

Take Control of Your Contracts—And Your Revenue

Contract misalignment isn't just frustrating—it’s financially devastating. Hospitals that prioritize payer agreement visibility, benchmark their rates, and take action to enforce fair payment are seeing meaningful returns.

Whether you’re running a lean front-office team or navigating a hybrid payment model, MEDTEAM can help you reclaim revenue and build a smarter, more resilient future. Contact us today.