A Once in a Generation Opportunity to Reimagine Rural Health
Rural America faces chronic workforce and infrastructure challenges, but the CMS Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP) offers a multi‑year funding initiative to modernize care delivery. The program encourages a shift toward community‑centered, data‑driven population health models that integrate clinical services with social determinants. It also promotes workforce redesign, interoperable digital infrastructure, and value‑based care contracts to improve access, quality, and sustainability. Leaders are urged to build scalable frameworks that can endure beyond the RHTP funding period.
How to Boost Trust in Tech? 4 Perspectives From SXSW
At SXSW, industry leaders tackled the widening trust gap in technology and healthcare, highlighting four distinct approaches. Merck introduced its “Red Chair” campaign to keep patient perspectives front‑and‑center in drug development. City of Hope showcased Hope LLM, a generative‑AI tool...
Inside One VC’s Litmus Test for Investable Healthcare AI Startups
Katie Jacobs Stanton, former Yahoo, Google and Twitter executive, transitioned into healthcare investing after a stint as CMO at Color Genomics. In 2019 she founded Moxxie Ventures, focusing on early‑stage AI‑driven health companies such as Dandelion Health, Pharos Health, Luminai...
How PreSeed Is Tackling the Sperm Donor Shortage
PreSeed Fertility launched a recruitment and matching platform to address the stark gap between the over 100,000 U.S. families searching for sperm donors and the roughly 1,500 donors currently registered. The service pairs families with a concierge specialist and provides...
Behavior Changes Happen Outside the Exam Room, But Validation of Lifestyle Medicine Programs Cannot
Providers struggle to verify lifestyle‑medicine outcomes because behavior changes occur outside the exam room. The article argues that remote patient monitoring (RPM) can supply objective, real‑time data to validate nutrition, exercise, and stress‑management programs. CMS’s MAHA ELEVATE model and new RPM...
The “Third Way” For Digital Health Engagement
Kris Narayan argues that today’s health‑tech landscape is split between EMR giants that protect clinical data within the office and consumer‑focused AI tools that demand medical expertise to use. Both approaches fail to engage patients during the daily "micro‑moments" after...
Survey on the Healthcare Financial Landscape Offers a Roadmap for Stakeholders
Zelis commissioned Datos Insights to survey over 2,200 health‑plan executives, employer‑benefits leaders and insured consumers, revealing mounting financial pressure across the healthcare ecosystem. The study shows that 63% of employers view price transparency as a key cost‑management tool, while 68%...
Which FDA Division Has the Most Stability As AI Tools Get Adopted Across the Agency?
The FDA has shed roughly 20% of its workforce after the DOGE cuts, prompting a rapid rollout of artificial intelligence tools to offset the expertise gap. Among its centers, CDER is beginning to stabilize, CDRH remains relatively insulated, while CBER...
Employer Groups Applaud Bill that Aims to Spur Competition in Healthcare
Employer advocacy groups praised the Healthy Competition for Better Care Act, a bipartisan bill targeting anticompetitive contracts in the U.S. health‑care market. The legislation would ban all‑or‑nothing network clauses, anti‑steering, anti‑tiering, most‑favored‑nation, and gag provisions that limit price transparency. Introduced...
At SXSW, Cuban and eMed CEO Draw Contrast Between Them and Other “Marketing” Companies
At SXSW, Mark Cuban and eMed CEO Linda Yaccarino announced a partnership that will route employer‑sponsored GLP‑1 weight‑loss prescriptions through Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs. Yaccarino highlighted eMed’s 90 % one‑year retention rate, contrasting it with the 50‑60 % churn seen at direct‑to‑consumer players...
Isaac Health Introduces New Virtual Program to Reduce Dementia Risk
Isaac Health, a virtual memory clinic, unveiled an eight‑week, neurology‑led lifestyle medicine program aimed at reducing dementia risk. The weekly virtual group sessions address sleep, nutrition, physical activity, cognitive engagement, vascular health and stress management, and are offered in individual,...
The Lethal Cost of Regulatory Perfection in Rare Disease
During a congressional hearing, neurologists warned that rare disease patients are dying while therapies linger in FDA review. The FDA recently rejected the SCA drug troriluzole, demanding more statistical certainty despite trial data showing over 50% fall‑risk reduction. Congress has...
When Recalls Fail — The Gap Between Notification and Action
A 2018 FDA Class II recall of the LINX Reflux Management System failed to remove the device from hospital inventories, leading to implants months after the notice. Lawsuits filed in 2026 allege that recalled implants remained in stock and were used...
Rethinking Where Patient Recruitment Begins
Clinical trials have long relied on site‑based recruitment, leaving under‑ and misdiagnosed patients underrepresented. Recent studies show digital outreach can identify symptomatic individuals who never enter traditional healthcare pathways, dramatically expanding the eligible pool. Digital campaigns have cut cost per...
Report: Virtual GI Solutions Save Money, Improve Patient Symptoms
The Peterson Health Technology Institute report finds that virtual gastrointestinal programs can both improve patient outcomes and lower costs. Wraparound solutions that add nutrition and behavioral support cut annual spending for IBS patients by $1,889, while clinician‑led multidisciplinary platforms save...
The Aging Crisis Is Here, and Technology Is No Longer Optional
By 2034, roughly one‑fifth of Americans will be over 65, creating the first senior‑majority population and an old‑age dependency ratio above 0.35. The surge strains healthcare staffing, with projected physician shortages exceeding 90,000, and inflates caregiver demand beyond the 50 million...
Debunked Episode 24: PBM Reform Brainstorm, Elevance Faces CMS Penalty Risk, Hims & Hers’ Eucalyptus Deal Takeaways
The Debunked Podcast explored reforms for pharmacy benefit managers, highlighting a bipartisan bill from Senators Warren and Hawley aimed at limiting healthcare consolidation. Co‑hosts also warned that Elevance Health’s seven‑year failure to submit risk‑adjustment data electronically could trigger a CMS...
Startup Vima Adds Parkinson’s to Movement Disorder Scope, Expanding Series A Round to $100M
Vima Therapeutics announced an additional $40 million raise, taking its Series A funding to $100 million. The capital will support parallel Phase 2 trials of its lead candidate VIM0423 in isolated dystonia and Parkinson’s disease, expanding the startup’s focus beyond the rare movement disorder....
Carrum, Virta Join Forces on Employer Weight Management Solution
Carrum Health and Virta Health announced a partnership delivering a full‑spectrum weight‑management solution for self‑insured employers. The collaboration links Carrum’s value‑based surgical care with Virta’s virtual nutrition coaching, medication management and GLP‑1 prescribing. It creates a seamless pathway from conservative...
Why Staff Safety Is the Foundation of Clinical Excellence
Healthcare organizations must prioritize staff safety to achieve clinical excellence. Research shows physical and psychological safety are top predictors of patient safety grades, and a 10% rise in staff turnover intent correlates with a 14% increase in inpatient mortality. Burnout...
Chronic Overmedication: The Polypharmacy Waste and Safety Problem
Polypharmacy affects nearly 42 % of adults 65 + taking five or more drugs, with 12 % on ten or more, driving higher pharmacy spend and safety risks. Medicare patients alone incurred about $3 billion in excess drug costs from early refills and oversupply,...
In the Absence of Objective Measures for ALS, Caregivers Are the Only Witnesses. We Shouldn’t Have To Be.
The ALS Functional Rating Scale‑Revised (ALSFRS‑R) remains the primary tool for tracking disease progression, but its limited granularity misses daily fluctuations and subtle improvements. Caregivers, like the author, become the sole recorders of these nuanced changes, highlighting a critical data...
Valuing Early-Stage Life Sciences Companies: The Why, the How, and the Impact
Early‑stage life sciences firms face unique valuation challenges due to regulatory, market and scientific uncertainties. Traditional discounted cash flow models are unsuitable, so practitioners rely on risk‑adjusted NPV, market comparables, and venture‑capital exit methods. These valuations influence capital raising, stock‑based...
Dialysis Isn’t Optional. Transportation Can’t Be Either
Non‑emergency medical transportation (NEMT) is essential for dialysis patients, whose weekly treatments depend on reliable rides. Missed appointments can trigger fluid overload, electrolyte imbalance, and even cardiac arrest, turning a simple no‑show into a medical emergency. NEMT providers act as...
Eyes on the Future: How Retinal Imaging Is Reframing Preventive Medicine
Retinal imaging is transitioning from a niche eye‑disease tool to a non‑invasive platform for systemic health assessment. Recent studies show that microvascular patterns in the retina can predict cardiovascular events, diabetes, kidney disease, and even early cognitive decline. AI‑driven analysis...
Why This Rural Health System Is Scaling AI for Point-of-Care Decision Making
Presbyterian Healthcare Services in New Mexico is expanding its use of GW RhythmX’s AI‑powered precision‑care platform, now deployed with 200 primary‑care clinicians across its nine‑hospital system. The tool, embedded in the Epic EHR, surfaces clinical insights and evidence‑based recommendations at...
Virtual-First Care Shouldn’t Spark an “A-Ha” Moment Anymore
Michael Dalton argues that virtual‑first care has moved beyond a novelty, yet many health‑system leaders still react with surprise when they see fully integrated models. He highlights that true virtual‑first requires deep EHR integration, clinical governance, and seamless handoffs, not...
Privacy Expectations in Consumer AI Tools: How Patient Use of ChatGPT Health and Claude Differs From HIPAA-Regulated Care
OpenAI and Anthropic are rolling out both enterprise‑grade AI suites for hospitals and consumer‑focused health assistants like ChatGPT Health and Claude Pro. Enterprise tools operate under HIPAA, allowing covered entities to negotiate Business Associate Agreements that impose strict data safeguards....
AI Startups Are Tying Fees to Completed Tasks. Will Hospitals Buy In?
Healthcare AI startups are moving from traditional SaaS subscriptions to transaction‑based pricing, charging per successfully completed task such as scheduling or intake workflows. Companies like Prosper AI, MedCalls.ai and Intelliclinic tie fees to usage, promising alignment with customer ROI. Investors...
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How to Build Effective Referral Networks and Improve Patient Navigation [Video]
Arbiter’s chief product officer Anjali Jameson highlighted systemic misalignment between hospitals and payers, emphasizing how fragmentation undermines referral efficiency. She outlined core components for building effective referral networks, including data standardization and shared accountability. Meanwhile, Clever Care Health Plan’s CIO...
The Kaiser Settlement Should End the Guesswork in Medicare Advantage Oversight
The U.S. Department of Justice secured a $556 million settlement with Kaiser Permanente for allegedly submitting unsupported diagnosis codes to boost risk‑adjusted Medicare Advantage payments. The case, covering nearly a decade of overcoding, underscores the systemic pressure on clinicians to add...
Using Real World Data From the Patient Experience to Improve Drug Development
Randomized trials for non‑small cell lung cancer often miss real‑world nuances that affect patients' quality of life. Real‑world data (RWD) and social determinants of health (SDOH) expose hidden barriers such as transportation gaps and limited molecular testing access. Pharma can...
AI, VR, and the Training Gap: Why New Healthcare Tech Fails Without Workforce Readiness
Artificial intelligence and virtual reality are poised to transform healthcare education, yet adoption rates remain sluggish. The article argues that the primary barrier is workforce readiness, especially among nurse educators who control training decisions. Without intentional change management, leadership support,...
Grow Therapy Raises $150M to Expand Employer, Health System Partnerships
Grow Therapy announced a $150 million Series D round, bringing its total financing to $328 million. The round, led by TCV and Goldman Sachs Alternatives, will fund expansion into employer‑sponsored mental‑health benefits, deeper health‑system partnerships, and advanced AI tools for providers and patients....
How New Medicare Rules Will Reshape Cardiac Monitoring and Remote Patient Care
Medicare’s 2026 Physician Fee Schedule introduces outcome‑based payments for cardiac care, rewarding providers who prevent ER visits, readmissions, or accelerate recovery. The rule also replaces the in‑person supervision requirement for the technical component of remote cardiac monitoring with virtual oversight,...
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Balancing the Role of Physicians and AI [Video]
At the ViVE conference, Smarter Technologies’ chief medical officer Ruben Amarasingham highlighted the firm’s AI strategy aimed at improving data accuracy while easing physicians’ documentation load. He cited positive customer feedback that the platform reduces administrative burden and delivers clear...
5 Notable Health Tech Funding Announcements in February
February saw a wave of sizable health‑tech financings, with Talkiatry closing a $210 million Series D, Honest Health raising $140 million, Solace securing $130 million in Series C, Garner Health obtaining $118 million in Series D, and Midi Health completing a $100 million Series D that pushes its valuation...
GoodRx Launches Employer Program to Help Subsidize High-Cost Brand Drugs
GoodRx introduced GoodRx Employer Direct, a new service allowing employers to directly subsidize the manufacturer‑sponsored price of high‑cost brand medications such as GLP‑1 drugs without adding them to health‑plan formularies. The model, first piloted with retailer Hy‑Vee, lets employers contribute...
Where the Patient Experience Is Heading – And 3 Ways Healthcare Providers Can Meet That Moment
Telehealth surged from 15% to 86% of physicians between 2019 and 2021, and a 2024 survey shows 94% of patients would repeat virtual visits. This shift has turned remote care into a baseline expectation. AI is now poised to deepen...
How Elevance Health Is — and Isn’t — Using AI
Elevance Health, formerly Anthem, is deploying artificial intelligence across its operations while drawing a firm line against using AI for claim denials. The insurer leverages AI to flag incomplete claims, accelerate prior‑authorization approvals, and power virtual assistants that guide members...
Collective Health Collaborates with Google Cloud to Launch New AI-Powered System
Collective Health has unveiled Collective AI, an AI‑powered benefits assistant built with Google Cloud. The system answers member queries, supplies real‑time data to customer‑service reps, and offers employers plan‑design insights to streamline enrollment. Leveraging Google Cloud’s privacy‑by‑design infrastructure, the tool...
Compliance: Why Your Vendor’s Vendor Is a Growth Risk
Healthcare providers are increasingly dependent on multi‑layered vendor ecosystems to deliver AI, blockchain and IoT solutions, extending HIPAA liability to every downstream partner. The rise of “nth‑party” suppliers creates a hidden growth tax, delaying projects, inflating M&A costs, and exposing...
Valo Health CEO: We Don’t Want Investors To Drive the Science
Valo Health is reshaping drug development by applying AI to human causal biology, aiming to raise clinical success rates from roughly 10% to 20%. The company leverages over 17 million de‑identified patient records and Mendelian randomization to pinpoint genetically validated targets....
4 Health Tech Trends Startups Can’t Ignore, Per an Oak HC/FT Partner
Oak HC/FT partner Vig Chandramouli highlighted four health‑tech trends that startups must address to win investor confidence. First, labor management for nurses and allied professionals—who comprise 70% of the workforce—is a largely untapped market. Second, investors are scrutinizing margins, finding...
Headache Startup Slate Medicines Lands $130M to Bring Novel Migraine Drug Into the Clinic
Slate Medicines, a Raleigh‑based biotech, secured $130 million in Series A funding to advance its anti‑PACAP monoclonal antibody, SLTE‑1009, into Phase 1 trials slated for mid‑2026. The drug targets pituitary adenylate cyclase‑activating polypeptide (PACAP), an alternative migraine pathway distinct from the widely used...
Top-Rated Gel Packs for Physical Therapy: Best Brands and Where to Buy
Healthcare leaders and clinicians are evaluating top‑rated gel packs for physical therapy, focusing on durability, temperature retention, and supply‑chain reliability. Leading providers include Pelton Shepherd, Chattanooga ColPac, Elasto‑Gel, Core Products, and Cardinal Health, each offering reusable hot and cold packs...
2026 Star Ratings Shift: 4 Strategies for MA Plans
CMS has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of the Medicare Advantage Star Ratings, targeting the 2028 and 2029 rating cycles. The agency will drop 12 administrative and two clinical measures, eliminate the Health Equity Index incentive, and introduce a depression‑screening metric....
How AI Is Transforming Detection of Congenital Heart Defects
AI‑enabled ultrasound is emerging as a tool to improve prenatal detection of congenital heart defects (CHDs), which affect about 1 % of U.S. births and are frequently missed. FDA‑cleared AI platforms can analyze cardiac images in real time, flagging abnormal views...
Care.com and Headspace Launch Mental Health Partnership for Caregivers
Care.com and Headspace announced a partnership to bolster mental‑health support for family caregivers. The collaboration introduces ten exclusive micro‑mindfulness videos, each under three minutes, and provides free Headspace subscriptions to Care.com members. The initiative responds to data showing roughly one‑third...
Designing Scalable Measurement-Based Care Systems for Expanding Health Care Organizations
Measurement‑Based Care (MBC) uses patient‑reported outcome measures like PHQ‑9 and GAD‑7 to turn subjective symptoms into quantitative data, driving up to 95 % improvement in outcomes. As patient volumes grow, manual MBC processes become inefficient, leading to incomplete assessments, clinician burnout,...