The business case is collection. Kodiak Solutions' analysis of 2,100-plus hospitals put the collection rate on insured patients' balances at 34.46%; money that is not collected before or at the visit mostly is not collected. An accurate estimate turns a balance that would sit in A/R into a payment at check-in.
There is also a patient-experience case. The same careviso survey found 63% of patients were billed more than their initial estimate and 64% called price transparency very important when choosing a provider. Patients who know the number are less likely to cancel and more likely to return.
