Sanford Health and Cedar Partner to Bring Cutting-Edge Financial Solutions to Rural Care

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May 14, 2025, 08:00 ET

The nation's largest rural Epic health system selects Cedar to enhance the patient financial experience in America's heartland

NEW YORK, May 14, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cedar, the leading patient financial experience platform for health care providers, today announced a partnership with Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, serving over 2.4 million patients. By working with Cedar, Sanford Health will deliver a simple, transparent payment experience to patients across its extensive network.

"Rural health systems like Sanford Health have shown remarkable ingenuity in serving the unique needs of their populations," said Florian Otto, CEO and Co-Founder of Cedar. "This partnership demonstrates a commitment to addressing the comprehensive needs of rural populations, recognizing that financial health is an integral part of overall patient care. We're thrilled to complement Sanford Health's robust Epic infrastructure with our latest innovation in financial engagement to empower patients and strengthen the health of rural communities."

Sanford Health will implement Cedar Pay to differentiate the payment experience across its extensive network. Cedar Pay integrates critical information into medical bills, including real-time health savings account data, creating a consumer-grade financial experience that patients can understand and trust. The dual result is an increase in patient loyalty, with a simultaneous lift in provider financial performance. Innovative features include:

Rapid experimentation to personalize outreach strategies and maximize patient engagement
Empathetic, plain-language messaging to reduce patient stress and improve billing comprehension
Seamless incorporation of health savings account (HSA) information, enabling informed financial decisions
Personalized payment plan recommendations, offering flexible options tailored to each patient's financial situation

"For nearly 150 years, millions of patients across America's heartland have depended on Sanford Health to provide exceptional care," said Bill Gassen, President and CEO of Sanford Health. "As the nation's largest rural health care system, we've built a reputation for pioneering and adopting innovative solutions that meet the unique needs of our communities. By implementing Cedar's financial engagement platform, we're empowering our patients with the modern, seamless billing experience they deserve."

This collaboration aims to create a model for rural health systems nationwide, demonstrating how technology can bolster provider margins while helping patients understand and manage their bills. By streamlining the patient financial experience, Sanford Health and Cedar aim to improve patient engagement, reduce barriers to care, and ultimately contribute to the long-term sustainability of rural healthcare providers.

"With rural hospitals under increasing pressure, innovative solutions are no longer optional – they're imperative for sustainability," said Otto. "Our partnership with Sanford Health isn't just about modernizing billing; it's about securing the future of healthcare for entire communities."

About Cedar
Cedar helps healthcare providers connect patients with the financial resources they need to access and afford care. Our AI-powered technology with human-centered design creates personalized financial journeys for every patient. With deep revenue cycle expertise and a focus on intuitive user experiences, Cedar has served more than 50 million patients nationwide and processed over $10 billion in payments. Our solutions have proven to increase collections, maximize reimbursement, and improve efficiency—all while improving patient satisfaction. Learn more at www.cedar.com and join us on LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube.

About Sanford Health
Sanford Health, the largest rural health system in the United States, is dedicated to transforming the health care experience and providing access to world-class health care in America's heartland. Headquartered in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the organization serves 2.4 million patients and more than 425,000 health plan members across the upper Midwest including South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Wyoming, Iowa, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The integrated nonprofit health system includes 56 hospitals, more than 270 clinic locations, 144 senior care communities, 4,500 physicians and advanced practice providers, nearly 1,000 active clinical trials and studies, and nine world clinic locations around the globe. Learn more about Sanford Health's commitment to shaping the future of rural health care across the lifespan at sanfordhealth.org or Sanford Health News.