Emergency department costs in the U.S. have surged, reaching nearly $195 billion in 2023 and projected to hit $287 billion by 2029, driven largely by facility billing practices lacking federal standards. From 2004 to 2021, facility fees rose 531 percent compared to 48 percent for professional fees, with widespread upcoding contributing to payer losses. Conduent’s analysis found that 51 percent of ED facility codes were billed at higher levels than warranted, often by larger hospital systems. By applying data, coding expertise, and rapid review, Conduent helps payers recover millions, reduce surprise billing, and enhance fairness while maintaining strong provider relationships.

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