Tech

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Healthcare Brew has been covering developments in the health tech space closely this year, reporting on everything from policy changes to the rise of AI to big tech’s partnerships with hospitals—to name a few.

As we reach the halfway mark of 2026, we checked in with health tech experts about how they think the year’s been going so far, and what they’re anticipating over the next six months.

Here’s a preview from our conversation with Taha Kass-Hout, global chief science and technology officer at GE HealthCare.

What are you seeing as the biggest trends of this year?

The biggest trend is that AI is moving from pilots and point tools into real clinical and operational workflows. For the last few years, most organizations have been experimenting with AI. Now the conversation is much more practical. Healthcare systems are asking: How do I reduce burden on staff, improve throughput, shorten time-to-report, manage capacity, and help clinicians make better decisions?

The AI projects getting traction are the ones embedded into the workflow. In imaging, that can mean helping acquire a scan faster, improving image quality, automating measurements, prioritizing cases, or assisting with reporting. In operations, it can mean helping hospitals manage patient flow, staffing, scheduling, asset utilization, and capacity constraints.

Check out what else technologists think is in store for healthcare.—CM

      

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AI

Morning Brew Inc.

You might have expected AI to cut healthcare costs, whether it’s by reducing paperwork, automating the doctor’s notes, or thinning out hospital staff. But a new 60-page PwC report suggests the reverse: So far, one of its most widespread uses is making medical bills bigger. It’s an example of how AI isn’t only good at making tasks more efficient—it’s also very good at finding more granular ways to boost a sector’s bottom line.

What happened? AI is one of five potential drivers of health costs climbing up to 9% in 2027—matching this year’s rate, the highest since 2010–11—per PwC. The key reason: AI note-taking tools are documenting more specifics about diagnoses and medical complications that a rushed human clinician might have lumped into one broad “code”—a standardized billing label that tells insurers what to pay. Those extra details can justify a higher severity (read: higher paying) code, even if the actual care a patient receives is the same as before.

Keep reading on Tech Brew.—WK

      

Direct Care

Amelia Kinsinger, Photos: Adobe Stock

July is more than just the US’s birthday month!

On July 1, a number of federal and state policies took effect. We’re giving you a look at some of those changes and what they might mean for healthcare. Let’s start with GLP-1s.

CMS began an 18-month pilot called GLP-1 Bridge. It allows Medicare Part D beneficiaries to access certain GLP-1 drugs, including Eli Lilly’s Foundayo and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy, for a $50 monthly copay. A June 29 KFF analysis estimates 3.8 million Medicare beneficiaries may be eligible. However, Axios reported concerns from doctors that they may not be able to handle the influx of patients. The program is planned to run until December 31, 2027.

Keep reading here.—CC

      

vital signs

Francis Scialabba

Today’s top healthcare reads.

Stat: $11.17 billion. That’s how much insurers will exchange in risk-adjustment payments this year. (Modern Healthcare)

Quote: “Everyone’s journey is unique. What works for one person doesn’t necessarily work for another. I don’t ever give people advice and say, ‘Here’s what you should do.’ And that’s why I’m worried about Secretary Kennedy’s oversimplified framing of mental health medications as, like, either they do or they don’t work.”—David Johnson, a teacher for Minnesota’s chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness, on RFK Jr.’s efforts to deprescribe antidepressants (the Minnesota Star Tribune)

Read: Could AI scribes change the way doctors think through diagnoses and treatment plans? (the New York Times)

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Morning Brew Design, Photo: Adobe Stock

Learn what nurses from California and North Carolina had to say about why
they’re concerned about AI and what they’re doing to prevent harm.

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