Investing in digital and artificial intelligence technologies is a higher priority for payer CFOs than for their health system counterparts, according to a July 10 report from Deloitte.
Deloitte's annual survey of healthcare financial leaders has been conducted since 2020 by the Deloitte Center for Health Solutions. It features responses from more than 60 health plan and health system CFOs.
The survey found that 50% of payer CFOs see investing in technology as a top priority, compared to 36% of health system CFOs.
Few CFOs on either side view these investments as margin drivers in the near to mid-term, however, according to the report. Three in four surveyed CFOs said they viewed generative AI as a longer-term solution for their operations.
Deloitte said that generative AI has "many uses that can benefit health plans and systems," including improving medical coding and authorization processes, drafting claim denial appeals, and assisting physicians and patients in identifying opportunities for member/patient interventions.
With generative AI's potential come challenges that CFOs may need to overcome, Deloitte said in the report. The firm's research shows that healthcare organizations may be overlooking key factors for successful implementation, such as creating a governance model, building consumer trust, and securing workforce buy-in and skills.
Read the full report here.