HealthFirst 2026 Payment Integrity Alert 

Facility vs. Non-Facility Misclassification Driving Systemic Underpayments 

By Susanna Bekirova, Billing Department, WCH  

A systematic reimbursement discrepancy has been identified in HealthFirst claims processing following its 2026 platform migration. A configuration error in the payer’s reimbursement logic has resulted in the widespread application of facility-based rates to claims contractually eligible for non-facility (Medicare benchmark) reimbursement. 

This issue is not isolated to individual billing errors. It reflects a structural breakdown in payer-side rate mapping during system transitions, with direct financial implications for office-based providers across multiple specialties. 

Affected provider groups include: 

Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants from 02/01/2026  Physicians from March 2026 onward  

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