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Health Plans Urged to Bridge Trust Gap to Leverage Technology for Member Engagement

Health Plans Urged to Bridge Trust Gap to Leverage Technology for Member Engagement

At the 2025 Fierce Health Payer Summit in Nashville, experts highlighted the critical need for health plans to bridge a significant trust gap with their members to effectively engage them through digital means. Abner Mason, chief strategy and transformation officer for GroundGame.Health, and Dustin Smart, vice president for digital value and performance at Centene, discussed the challenges and opportunities in using technology to enhance member engagement. They emphasized that building trust starts with getting the basics right, such as correctly pronouncing a member's name, which can significantly impact the relationship. Mason pointed out that while other industries have advanced in providing personalized experiences, healthcare has lagged due to regulatory barriers and a lack of willingness to innovate. He compared the healthcare experience to banking, where customer treatment varies based on their financial status, suggesting that healthcare should similarly cater to individual needs. Smart added that ...

Dr. Sunny Bhatia of Prime Healthcare Recognized Among Top 100 Influential Healthcare Leaders

Dr. Sunny Bhatia of Prime Healthcare Recognized Among Top 100 Influential Healthcare Leaders

Dr. Sunny Bhatia, President and Chief Medical Officer of Prime Healthcare, has been named one of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare by Modern Healthcare. This recognition highlights his leadership in strengthening community hospitals and expanding access to quality care. Under Dr. Bhatia's leadership, Prime Healthcare has grown into one of the largest physician-led health systems in the U.S., operating 51 hospitals and over 360 outpatient locations across 14 states. In 2025, Prime Healthcare completed a significant acquisition of eight hospitals in Illinois, ensuring their continued operation and contributing to local economies. Dr. Bhatia has also spearheaded investments in technology and infrastructure, including the expansion of Epic EMR and the integration of AI-enabled workflows, to enhance patient care and support clinicians.

Banner Health CEO Amy Perry Recognized Among Top Influential Healthcare Leaders

Banner Health CEO Amy Perry Recognized Among Top Influential Healthcare Leaders

Amy Perry, President and CEO of Banner Health, has been named to Modern Healthcare's list of the 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare for the second consecutive year. Since joining Banner Health in November 2021, Perry has been instrumental in positioning the organization as a leader in healthcare innovation and integration. Under her leadership, Banner Health has expanded its use of artificial intelligence and clinical research to improve health outcomes and access. The organization operates 33 hospitals and provides health insurance coverage to 1.2 million members across six states. Banner Health's commitment to community-centered care and its nonprofit mission have been key factors in its recognition. Perry's leadership has also been acknowledged through her inclusion in Modern Healthcare's Top 25 Women Leaders and Becker's Top 130 Women Healthcare Leaders to Know.

Health Plans Urged to Bridge Trust Gap to Enhance Technology Use in Member Engagement

Health Plans Urged to Bridge Trust Gap to Enhance Technology Use in Member Engagement

At the 2025 Fierce Health Payer Summit in Nashville, experts highlighted the challenges health plans face in bridging a significant trust gap with their members, which is crucial for effective digital engagement. Abner Mason, chief strategy and transformation officer for GroundGame.Health, and Dustin Smart, vice president for digital value and performance at Centene, discussed the importance of building trust through consistent and personalized interactions. They emphasized that while other industries have advanced in personalizing customer experiences, healthcare lags due to regulatory barriers and a lack of initiative. Mason compared the healthcare sector's slow adaptation to personalized care to the banking industry's tailored customer service. Smart noted that technology teams must align business value with member value, using health risk assessments as an example of how data should be leveraged to improve care outcomes.

FDA Launches Pilot Program for Digital Health Devices to Access Medicare Payment

FDA Launches Pilot Program for Digital Health Devices to Access Medicare Payment

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has introduced a new pilot program that allows digital health devices to access a Medicare payment option through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). This initiative, known as the Technology-Enabled Meaningful Patient Outcomes (TEMPO) for Digital Health Devices Pilot, aims to facilitate the collection of real-world data by waiving certain premarket authorization and investigational device requirements. The CMS program, called Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS), is designed to address barriers in care due to Medicare’s fee-for-service model. It will provide recurring payments to healthcare sites managing patients with qualifying conditions, contingent on achieving measurable health outcomes. The FDA plans to accept up to 10 U.S.-based manufacturers in each of four focus areas: early cardio-kidney-metabolic, cardio-kidney-metabolic, musculoskeletal, and behavioral health.

AI Agents Revolutionize Healthcare Operations, Reducing Administrative Burdens

AI Agents Revolutionize Healthcare Operations, Reducing Administrative Burdens

AI-driven automation is transforming healthcare operations by reducing administrative burdens and improving efficiency. Innovators like Vara Imandi, a Salesforce executive, are at the forefront of this transformation, using AI agents to automate complex tasks such as prior authorization processes. These agents cross-reference patient data, insurance information, and treatment guidelines to expedite approvals, significantly reducing the time and effort required by healthcare providers. Pilot programs have shown that AI agents can cut prior authorization timelines by up to 70% and improve accuracy rates. This technology is also being applied to clinical trial scheduling, reducing no-show rates and enhancing trial efficiency.

WA Health to Implement AI and Data Platform to Enhance Hospital Efficiency

WA Health to Implement AI and Data Platform to Enhance Hospital Efficiency

WA Health is developing a statewide data platform and piloting an AI system at Royal Perth Hospital to optimize patient flow and bed availability. The data platform will provide a live dashboard for real-time insights into hospital demand and capacity. The AI system, funded with $700,000, aims to predict patient length of stay and streamline workflows, improving bed management. If successful, the AI system could be expanded to other hospitals, enhancing overall healthcare efficiency in Western Australia.

Robert Stone Honored as Top Healthcare CEO for Advancing Cancer Care

Robert Stone Honored as Top Healthcare CEO for Advancing Cancer Care

Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope, has been recognized as one of the most influential leaders in healthcare by Modern Healthcare and Becker’s Hospital Review. Under his leadership, City of Hope has expanded its reach, providing advanced cancer care and developing a national network of clinical trials. Stone has been instrumental in advocating for equitable cancer care and has overseen the expansion of City of Hope's services beyond Los Angeles to other major cities, enhancing access to innovative treatments like immunotherapy and CAR-T.

Health Plans Urged to Bridge Trust Gap to Enhance Digital Engagement

Health Plans Urged to Bridge Trust Gap to Enhance Digital Engagement

At the 2025 Fierce Health Payer Summit in Nashville, experts discussed the critical need for health plans to bridge a significant trust gap with their members to effectively engage them through digital platforms. Abner Mason, chief strategy and transformation officer for GroundGame.Health, and Dustin Smart, vice president for digital value and performance at Centene, highlighted the importance of building trust through consistent and personalized interactions. They noted that while other industries have advanced in personalizing consumer experiences, healthcare has lagged due to regulatory constraints and a lack of initiative. The panel emphasized that trust is foundational for successful digital engagement, as it allows health plans to better manage member care and improve outcomes.

Sentara Health Migrates EHRs to Cloud, Enhancing Efficiency and Accessibility

Sentara Health Migrates EHRs to Cloud, Enhancing Efficiency and Accessibility

Sentara Health, a healthcare system operating in Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida, has transitioned its electronic health records (EHR) from an on-premises data center to a cloud-based platform. This strategic move, initiated in 2018, was aimed at overcoming the limitations of their previous system, which restricted access to patient data to physical locations. Jeffrey Thomas, Senior Vice President and CTO at Sentara Health, emphasized that the migration was not a simple 'lift-and-shift' but involved a comprehensive reengineering process. This approach allowed Sentara to reduce the number of applications from approximately 1,300 to 550, thereby streamlining operations and adopting new technologies like data analytics and artificial intelligence. The cloud-based system now enables both patients and healthcare providers to access EHRs remotely, improving the overall healthcare experience.

Robert Stone Honored as Influential Healthcare CEO for Expanding Cancer Care

Robert Stone Honored as Influential Healthcare CEO for Expanding Cancer Care

Robert Stone, CEO of City of Hope, has been recognized as one of the most influential leaders in healthcare by Modern Healthcare and Becker's Hospital Review. Stone's leadership has expanded access to advanced cancer care and research across the U.S., with City of Hope transforming into a national organization. Under his guidance, the organization has launched a national clinical trials network and developed advanced treatments like immunotherapy. Stone's efforts also focus on equitable access to cancer care and workforce development.

No. 23 Nebraska matches best start in school history at 10-0, beats Wisconsin 90-60

No. 23 Nebraska matches best start in school history at 10-0, beats Wisconsin 90-60

Rienk Mast had 17 points and 10 rebounds, and No. 23 Nebraska took over the game midway through the first half and cruised to a 90-60 win over Wisconsin on Wednesday night