Award reflects Waystar's AI leadership and proven ability to deliver meaningful client ROI at scale

LEHI, Utah and LOUISVILLE, Ky., Feb. 16, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Waystar (Nasdaq: WAY), a provider of leading healthcare payment software, today announced it has been named an Inc. Best in Business honoree. Inc. recognized Waystar in the Best AI Implementation category for excellence in AI execution and demonstrable business impact.

The distinction underscores the rapid market adoption of Waystar AltitudeAI™, the company's suite of AI capabilities powering automation across the revenue cycle. Since launching AltitudeAI, Waystar clients have prevented $15.5 billion in denials, achieved 95% time savings in denial prevention workflows, and increased denial overturn rates by double digits.

"This recognition reflects the meaningful progress our clients are experiencing with Waystar AltitudeAI," said Matt Hawkins, Chief Executive Officer of Waystar. "We are focused on what's ahead — advancing our vision for the industry's first autonomous revenue cycle and our mission to simplify healthcare payments for providers and their patients."

Waystar's AI advantage is rooted in a mission-critical system of record, embedded directly in the flow of dollars, decisions, and denials, where AI agents act on behalf of providers to resolve issues and close the loop on payment. It is powered by a proprietary data asset that unifies financial, clinical, and administrative intelligence at scale. Waystar's self-reinforcing models learn from every claim, denial, and payment—revealing patterns that new market entrants cannot replicate.

Advocate Health, a large nonprofit health system with a broad footprint across the Midwest and Southeast, leverages Waystar's software platform to streamline administrative workflows and support growth at scale. "[Waystar AltitudeAI] is a huge win-win for our organization and a win for our patients who ultimately get the best service. Advocate Health is continually growing at a very fast rate, and we need technology to come alongside and help us scale," said Jonathan Johnson, Associate Vice President of Pre-Arrival Services at Advocate Health.

Inc.'s Best in Business Awards honor entrepreneurial excellence and superior execution. Each submission is carefully reviewed by Inc.'s editorial team, with honorees selected in the award categories that deliver impactful results for their industries, clients, and future growth.

Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not historical facts. The words "anticipate," "assume," "believe," "continue," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "potential," "predict," "project," "future," "will," "seek," "foreseeable," the negative version of these words, or similar terms and phrases are intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are based on management's current expectations and are inherently subject to various risks, uncertainties, assumptions, or changes in circumstances that are difficult to predict or quantify. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties associated with the consummation of the offering and other risks described in Waystar's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2024 and any subsequent filings with the SEC. Except as required by law, Waystar has no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to conform these statements to actual results or revised expectations.

About Waystar
Waystar's mission-critical software is purpose-built to simplify healthcare payments so providers can prioritize patient care and optimize their financial performance. Waystar serves over 30,000 clients, representing over 1 million distinct providers, including 16 of 20 institutions on the U.S. News Best Hospitals list. Waystar's enterprise-grade platform annually processes over 7.5 billion healthcare payment transactions, including over $2.4 trillion in annual gross claims and spanning approximately 60% of U.S. patients and one in three U.S. hospital discharges. Waystar strives to transform healthcare payments so providers can focus on what matters most: their patients and communities. Discover the way forward at waystar.com.

Media Contact 
Kristin Lee 
kristin.lee@waystar.com 

Investor Contact
investors@waystar.com

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SOURCE Waystar