Reimbursement cycle time is the elapsed time between claim submission and payment receipt, measuring how quickly payers process and pay your claims.

This differs from Days in AR by starting the clock at submission rather than date of service. The gap between the two metrics reveals internal billing delays—if your Days in AR is 45 and your reimbursement cycle time is 25, you're taking 20 days to submit claims after visits.

Track reimbursement cycle time by payer. Variations reveal which payers process quickly versus slowly, informing both cash flow forecasting and payer contracting strategy. A payer that pays 15% more but takes 30 days longer might be a worse deal depending on your cash position.

Telehealth-specific factors that extend reimbursement cycle time include payer requests for additional telehealth documentation, place-of-service clarifications, and review of out-of-state provider credentials. Address these proactively by including required documentation in initial submissions.

Related terms: Days in Accounts Receivable, Clean claim rate, First-pass resolution rate