Using Real-Time Intelligence to Eliminate Avoidable Claim Denials with Madhu Pawar, Chief Product Officer at Optum

This podcast is brought to you by Outcomes Rocket, your exclusive healthcare marketing agency. Learn how to accelerate your growth by going to⁠ outcomesrocket.com Real-time transparency between payers and providers is becoming one of the most transformative levers in the healthcare industry. In this episode, Madhu Pawar, Chief Product Officer at Optum, discusses how her team is tackling the long-standing inefficiencies buried in today’s claims processes. She explains how Optum Real connects payers and providers through a real-time multi-party hub, uses AI to interpret contracts and encounter data, and equips providers with AI-first workflows that dramatically reduce denials, rework, and confusion for patients. Madhu also highlights early pilot results with Allina Health, demonstrating improvements in both patient experience and operational accuracy. She shares why 84% of first-time denied claims are avoidable, why eliminating that friction is at the core of Optum’s mission, and why value-based care will benefit enormously from real-time intelligence. Looking ahead, Madhu outlines a bold vision in which real-time payment flows, AI-enabled clinical insights, and improved data exchange reshape the entire system's operations. Tune in and learn how real-time transformation could redefine healthcare’s future! Resources Connect with and follow Madhu Pawar on LinkedIn. Follow Optum on LinkedIn and visit their website!