Ballad Health Receives HFMA’s 2026 MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle

Award highlights efforts to make healthcare costs easier to understand and navigate for patients

Patients across the Appalachian Highlands are experiencing clearer bills, faster insurance decisions and easier access to financial assistance — and that progress has earned Ballad Health national recognition from the Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA).

Ballad Health has been named a recipient of the HFMA’s 2026 MAP Award for High Performance in Revenue Cycle, its fourth time receiving the honor. This award recognizes U.S. healthcare organizations that excel across HFMA’s MAP Keys benchmarks, implement patient-centered financial communication practices and demonstrate innovation in revenue cycle processes. Learn more about HFMA’s 2026 MAP Award for High Performance.

“We are honored to receive the 2026 MAP Award,” said Alan Levine, chairman and CEO of Ballad Health. “For our patients, this means clearer information about the cost of care, faster answers and fewer delays related to insurance or billing. We are focused on making healthcare easier to navigate so patients can spend less time worrying about paperwork and more time focusing on their health.”

Ballad Health has implemented tools and processes that simplify the financial experience, including price transparency resources, digital-first billing and expanded access to financial assistance. Patients can receive estimates, manage bills and submit financial assistance applications through MyChart, streamlining the process and reducing barriers to care.

“Our team works to make every financial interaction clear, timely and easy to navigate for patients,” said Shane Hilton, chief financial officer of Ballad Health. “Being recognized by HFMA for our revenue cycle performance validates those efforts and motivates us to continue innovating on behalf of our patients.”

Ballad Health is also expanding outreach and education to help patients better understand their financial options, using proactive engagement and enhanced digital tools. At the same time, the organization captures and responds to patient feedback in real time, using it to improve billing clarity, customer service and overall experience.

“We want to congratulate these award winners for their dedicated efforts to strengthen the delivery and support of our healthcare system,” said HFMA President and CEO C. Ann Jordan, JD. “High performance in revenue cycle means these teams are building strong financial foundations, and that translates to protecting patient access and care. The MAP Awards are about more than metrics. They are about recognizing organizations that are moving the industry forward.”

Ballad Health was one of 20 award recipients nationwide. This recognition reinforces the health system’s focus on delivering a more transparent, responsive and patient-centered financial experience — so patients can access the care they need with greater confidence and peace of mind.