As the health tech industry continues to grow—valued at $908.5 billion in 2023 and projected to hit $3.1 trillion by 2033, according to Allied Market Research—so does the amount of patient data floating around.

But many of the companies on the market right now, from smartwatch and AI scribe developers to primary care companies, sell relatively similar products. And in a competitive market like healthcare, that means they aren’t all going to survive. Global information company Health Tech World reported that 90% of health techs eventually fail.

Forward, for example, was a primary care startup that offered virtual appointments in health pods around the country. The company’s abrupt end in November 2024 (it had launched in 2016 and raised $650 million over the course of its life) sparked concerns about closing procedures, as patients had a hard time retrieving their health records and maintaining access to prescriptions, Fierce Healthcare reported at the time.

Experts told us what might happen to a patient's data if a company unexpectedly folded and what safely shutting down looks like.

See how experts advise protecting patient data.—CM

Our readers have spoken, and they’re saying, “Healthcare Brew is our favorite healthcare news source, hands down!” And then there’s lots of confetti and cheering and general merriment.

Or at least that’s what we’re picturing as we reflect back on some of our top-read stories from the first half of the year.

Here’s a look at five of our most-read stories since January and what they delved into.

5. Prior authorization gold cards might need a new prescription by Caroline Catherman

Did you know that some payers offered gold cards to help address long prior authorization wait times? Well, we took a look at what they were and if they were actually working to address the issue. (Spoiler: They’re not really helping much so far.)

Find the full list here.—NO

It’s no secret that Moderna is all-in on AI.

The biotech firm, which is perhaps best known for making Covid-19 vaccines, has partnered with OpenAI since 2023, and has designed more than 3,000 custom versions of ChatGPT to perform functions specific to the company, according to the Wall Street Journal.

And that’s not all. Its head of HR, Tracey Franklin, now oversees both HR and technology functions as Moderna’s inaugural chief people and digital technology officer. In its annual report last year, the company touted the fact that 4,500 of its employees “were actively engaged with AI tools each month.”

Keep reading on HR Brew.—CV