HITshow Daily Audio Newscast

Today on HITshow: Strong earnings continue and AI shows promise in diabetes care. Today's HITshow Daily spotlights Q3 results from Universal Health Services and UnitedHealth Group, groundbreaking AI research in diabetes prevention, and FDA fast-tracking of autism therapy. Then in our second half, an interview with EY's Kim Della Torre on why 67% of families can't navigate aging care—and what health systems must do about it. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Hospital Earnings — Logan Stokes Universal Health Services beats expectations with Q3 net income of $373 million and net revenues up 13.4% to $4.5 billion. Company raises full-year adjusted EPS guidance to $21.50-22.10 and increases stock repurchase program by $1.5 billion to $1.76 billion total authorization. 📍 Payer Performance — Xavier Banks UnitedHealth Group posts $113.2 billion in consolidated revenues (up 12% YoY) with adjusted EPS of $2.92. Company raises 2025 outlook to at least $14.90 net earnings per share and $16.25 adjusted earnings. UnitedHealthcare serves 50.1 million domestic consumers. 📍 AI Diabetes Prevention — Jade Romero JAMA study shows AI-powered app matches human coaches in diabetes prevention. Johns Hopkins research with 368 participants found 31.7% of Sweetch Health app users met CDC benchmarks versus 31.9% in human-led programs, with higher initiation and completion rates. 📍 FDA Development — Anika Shah FDA fast-tracks leucovorin as potential autism therapy for children with cerebral folate deficiency. Small clinical studies show improvements in language, communication, and adaptive behavior. Researchers advocate for national leucovorin-autism patient registry to track real-world performance and ensure safety, similar to registries for cancer treatments and vaccines. 📍 Aging Care Interview — Jalen Cross with Kim Della Torre, EY Global EY consumer survey reveals 67% can't navigate aging care system, with caregivers spending 30+ hours weekly caring for loved ones. Survey of 3,000+ people shows consumers ready for technology solutions—already using fitness watches, sleep monitoring, and telehealth post-COVID. Della Torre urges health system CEOs to engage patients in communities, provide at-home care, and shift focus from sick care to well care. 🎙️ Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit_show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26-29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: For-profit hospitals shine in Q3 earnings season. Today's HITshow Daily spotlights strong results from HCA Healthcare and Community Health Systems, a surge in hospital M&A activity, and Optum's real-time claims platform. Then in our second half, digital health funding exceeds 2024 totals, and CVS layoffs signal Medicare strategy retreat. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Hospital Earnings — Logan Stokes HCA Healthcare exceeds expectations with Q3 revenue of $19.16 billion (up 10% YoY) and net income of $1.64 billion (up 29%). Performance driven by state supplemental payments, improved payer mix (6.1% increase in inpatient revenue per equivalent admission), and Hurricane Helene recovery. Shares traded 2.5% higher following announcement. 📍 CHS Performance — Xavier Banks Community Health Systems beats estimates with $3.09 billion in net operating revenues (above $2.99 billion consensus). Same-location revenues rose 6% and adjusted admissions jumped 7.7%. Shares traded 25%+ higher as company crosses from negative to positive free cash flow after nine consecutive quarters of improvement. 📍 Hospital M&A — Teresa Vaughn Q3 hospital deal activity increases with 15 new transaction announcements. This activity reflects "ongoing realignment in transitioning or less attractive market models" as organizations seek resilience through outpatient care, labs, and health plan management capabilities. 📍 Claims Processing — Jade Romero Optum launches Optum Real at HLTH—AI-powered platform providing real-time claims and reimbursement processing. Over 5,000 visits processed show reduced administrative errors and improved patient experience. 📍 Digital Health Investment — Nate Collier U.S. digital health raises $3.5 billion in Q3 across 107 deals, bringing YTD total to $9.9 billion—already exceeding 2024's $8.4 billion through Q3, per Rock Health. Sector recorded 19 mega-deals ($100M+) accounting for 40% of year's funding ($3.8 billion). Notable rounds include Ambience Healthcare (AI documentation), Judi Health (benefits platform), and OpenEvidence (AI medical search). 📍 Workforce Reduction — Anika Shah CVS Health lays off 72 employees (remote workers in OH, MI, KY reporting to Hartford office) following exit from Aetna Medicare Medicaid Program after losing 2026 contract. Cuts occur December 31, 2025 through March 31, 2026, affecting primarily case manager RNs plus analysts, associates, and social workers. 🎙️ Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit_show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: A tale of two earnings reports and rural healthcare fights back. Today's HITshow Daily spotlights contrasting Q3 results from Molina and Community Health Systems, Ballad Health's lawsuit against UnitedHealth over Medicare Advantage denials, and the government shutdown's impact on ACA enrollment. Then in our second half, the AMA's AI policy push, BD's connected care platform launch, and Verizon's 5G healthcare infrastructure play. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Hospital Earnings — Logan Stokes Molina Healthcare stock tumbles after earnings miss driven by ACA marketplace cost pressures, slashing forecasts as marketplace costs outpace premiums. Meanwhile, Community Health Systems beats estimates with 6% same-store revenue rise and 7.7% jump in adjusted admissions, showing strong operational execution and volume growth amid challenging market conditions. 📍 Legal Action — Xavier Banks Ballad Health sues UnitedHealth Group, alleging systematic denials and delays of medically necessary care in Medicare Advantage plans. The Tennessee-based rural health system serving 29 counties claims UnitedHealth's utilization management practices harm patients and divert resources from care delivery. The lawsuit seeks changes to prior authorization and medical necessity determination practices, potentially setting precedent for other provider legal challenges. 📍 Government Shutdown — Anika Shah CMS recalls furloughed workers to prepare for ACA open enrollment beginning November 1st despite federal government shutdown starting October 1st. The agency treats marketplace enrollment as essential work, ensuring healthcare.gov platform readiness and customer service operations. Extended shutdown creates ripple effects including delayed policy guidance, slower state Medicaid responses, and potential provider reimbursement impacts. 📍 AI Policy — Jade Romero AMA launches AI policy initiative to establish physician leadership in artificial intelligence governance for healthcare. The organization enters a crowded field two years after groups like Coalition for Health AI, AHA, and specialty societies published extensive guidance. AMA brings physician credibility but faces questions about offering distinctive value beyond existing frameworks. 📍 Connected Care — Nate Collier BD launches Incada Connected Care Platform at HLTH—an AI-enabled, cloud-based system unifying BD medical devices including infusion pumps, patient monitors, medication dispensing, and pharmacy robotics on AWS infrastructure. First application provides enterprise-wide medication inventory visibility through BD Pyxis Pro, leveraging three million deployed smart devices globally to transform device connectivity into actionable clinical intelligence. 📍 5G Infrastructure — Jalen Cross Verizon announces partnerships with AdventHealth and Tampa General Hospital for private wireless and neutral host network solutions. Interview with Robin Goldsmith reveals Verizon's strategy positioning connectivity infrastructure as workforce multiplier, addressing healthcare labor shortages through technology enablement rather than replacing bedside care. 🎙️ Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit_show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: Pharma makes a major sleep medicine bet, and CMS advances national provider directory plans. Today's HITshow Daily spotlights Alkermes' $2.1 billion Avadel acquisition, CMS proof-of-concept contracts for unified provider data, and WeightWatchers' new employer GLP-1 model. Then in our second half, AI safety standards for mental health chatbots, and Bain research showing health systems are prioritizing primary care expansion and AI operations. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Pharma Acquisition — Logan Stokes Alkermes acquires Avadel Pharmaceuticals for $2.1 billion. The deal gives Alkermes immediate access to LUMRYZ, an FDA-approved once-nightly narcolepsy treatment generating $265-275 million in annual revenue with 3,100 patients on therapy. 📍 Interoperability — Nate Collier CMS awards proof-of-concept contracts to Availity, CAQH, Palantir, and Gainwell Technologies ($1 million each) to develop prototypes for a national provider directory. 📍 Employer Benefits — Peter Betterworth WeightWatchers launches RxFlexFund at HLTH—a new employer model offering flexible funding for GLP-1 medications without breaking benefit budgets. The program addresses surging demand for drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy (often $1,500+ monthly) while helping employers manage costs through flexible coverage rather than all-or-nothing decisions. 📍 AI Safety Standards — Anika Shah Spring Health introduces VERA-MH the first open, evidence-based standard for AI chatbot safety in behavioral health. The framework addresses concerns about hallucinations, inappropriate responses, and lack of clinical oversight in mental health AI applications, giving health systems and payers an evaluation framework before deployment. 📍 Strategic Research — Teresa Vaughn Bain and Company survey reveals 77% of health system executives plan to expand primary care footprint over the next 5-7 years through owned practices and employed providers. Survey of 60 executives from systems with $1+ billion revenue shows heavy AI investment to address workforce shortages and administrative burden. 🎙️ Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit_show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: Physicians stake their claim in AI development. Today's HITshow Daily spotlights the AMA's new Center for Digital Health and AI, AWS outage disrupting 500+ hospitals, and GE HealthCare's operational AI partnerships with Duke and Queen's Health. Then in our second half, consumer innovations from HLTH: Hinge Health's AI care tools, WeightWatchers partnering with Amazon Pharmacy, One Medical's pediatric telehealth, and Verily's new health records app. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Policy & Leadership — Anika Shah American Medical Association launches the Center for Digital Health and AI, led by CEO John Whyte. The center focuses on policy leadership, clinical workflow integration, education, and collaboration to ensure physicians shape AI regulation and development. The AMA emphasizes "augmented intelligence" that supports rather than replaces physician judgment. 📍 Infrastructure Failure — Teresa Vaughn Amazon Web Services suffers major outage affecting 500+ hospitals, beginning at 3 AM Eastern in the US-EAST-ONE region. DNS resolution failures disrupted hospitals, Amazon services, WhatsApp, ChatGPT, Venmo, and British government sites. AWS resolved issues by 6:35 AM. The incident highlights healthcare's critical vulnerability to cloud service single points of failure. 📍 Healthcare Innovation — Logan Stokes GE HealthCare partners with Queen's Health Systems in Honolulu and Duke Health to develop AI-driven hospital operations software. The company also unveiled 2025 AI Innovation Lab research projects, pushing GE beyond medical imaging into operational efficiency tools. ☀️ After the Break Consumer health innovations from HLTH: Hinge Health's AI Movement Analysis and Robin care assistant, WeightWatchers and Amazon Pharmacy partnering for GLP-1 home delivery, Amazon One Medical launching pay-per-visit pediatric telehealth, and Verily Me app pulling patient health records for personalized care recommendations. 🎙️ Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit_show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: Healthcare innovation takes center stage in Las Vegas. Today's HITshow Daily spotlights HLTH 2025's opening day with twelve thousand industry leaders, Rob Lowe's clinical trial advocacy with Eli Lilly, and Mark Cuban's pointed criticism of PBM pricing. Then in our second half, Cedar's new Medicaid enrollment tool, sobering statistics for Clean Hospitals Day, and Brook AI's breakthrough in remote patient monitoring retention. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Conference Coverage — Nate Collier HLTH 2025 opens in Las Vegas with 12,000 attendees at the Venetian Expo Center. The eighth annual conference features 400 speakers addressing AI, diagnostics, and workforce burnout under the theme "Heroes and Legends." CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O'Neill withdrew due to the government shutdown. 📍 Clinical Innovation — Peter Betterworth Rob Lowe and Eli Lilly spotlight the clinical trial gap, with only 7% of U.S. cancer patients enrolling in trials. Lowe shares his grandmother's breast cancer trial experience, which later became standard care, urging patients to explore trials early rather than as a last resort. 📍 Drug Pricing — Logan Stokes Mark Cuban blasts the pharmaceutical supply chain at HLTH, calling CEOs "complicit" in broken PBM pricing. Cost Plus Drugs bypasses middlemen with transparent 15% markup on over twenty-three hundred products and will join Trump's TrumpRx website as a referral partner. ☀️ After the Break A look at Cedar's digital safety net for Medicaid work requirements, Clean Hospitals Day data revealing concerning hygiene statistics, and Brook AI's remote patient monitoring achieving 82% retention—earning a $28 million Series B. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: Healthcare providers are under pressure — and preparing for change. Today’s HITshow Daily spotlights the Kaiser Permanente strike, Jefferson Health’s layoffs, and Cleveland Clinic’s new partnership with Khosla Ventures. Then in our second half, an exclusive focus on Google: the ROI of GenAI report, IKS Health’s agentic AI rollout, and Logan’s interview with Aashima Gupta, Global Health Leader at Google Health, ahead of HLTH 2025. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Workforce & Labor — Logan StokesThe Kaiser Permanente strike enters day four, with 30,000 nurses and frontline workers walking out across California, Oregon, and Hawaii. Operations continue, but the action is reshaping the national conversation on staffing and burnout. 📍 Financial Restructuring — Teresa VaughnJefferson Health announces 650 layoffs, primarily in nonclinical roles, as part of a turnaround plan following its merger with Einstein Health. Leaders say the cuts will strengthen long-term stability amid tightening margins. 📍 Innovation & Investment — Logan StokesCleveland Clinic partners with Khosla Ventures to co-fund and launch new digital-health and biotech ventures, blending clinical rigor with venture-capital speed. Early focus: AI diagnostics, surgical robotics, and new care-delivery models. 📍 System Expansion — Teresa VaughnHeritage Valley will join Allegheny Health Network, extending Highmark’s regional footprint and promising shared specialty coverage and unified EHRs across western Pennsylvania. 📍 Academic Integration — Logan StokesUCSF Health completes integration of Saint Francis Memorial and St. Mary’s Medical Center, consolidating governance and technology systems to expand coordinated care throughout San Francisco. 💥 After the BreakA full focus on Google’s healthcare momentum — the ROI of GenAI report, how IKS Health is using agentic AI in clinical operations, and Logan Stokes’ exclusive interview with Aashima Gupta, Global Health Leader at Google Health — all ahead of HLTH 2025. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: The Joint Commission redefines quality by elevating nurse staffing, NRC Health crowns top performers in patient experience, and Oracle’s billion-dollar Nashville campus takes shape — plus Pear Suite’s new funding and Carrum’s value-based momentum. HOST: Rhonda Brooks Today’s episode of HITshow Daily spotlights the human side of healthcare transformation — from bedside staffing and patient empathy to billion-dollar innovation and community impact. Hosted by Rhonda Brooks. 📍 Quality & Safety — Nate CollierThe Joint Commission calls it a “defining moment for nursing.” Beginning in 2026, nurse staffing will be recognized as a core quality metric, formally linking workforce adequacy to accreditation and patient outcomes. Hospitals will need to elevate nurse leadership, publish staffing data, and use analytics to prevent burnout. 📍 Patient Experience — Jade RomeroNRC Health’s 2025 Patient Experience & Consumer Loyalty Awards highlight hospitals that build trust through empathy and communication. Insights from more than 310,000 consumers show human connection now drives loyalty more than convenience or digital access. 📍 Innovation & Infrastructure — Logan StokesOracle’s $1.2 billion East Bank campus will reshape Nashville’s skyline and establish the city as a national AI and tech hub. The massive development includes two office towers, a riverfront park, and pedestrian bridge — with 8,500 jobs projected by 2031. 📍 Digital Health — Anika ShahPear Suite raises $7.6 million Series A to scale its AI-powered platform for community health workers. The software streamlines care planning, social-needs documentation, and claims submission — enabling CBOs to partner directly with Medicaid and Medicare plans. 📍 Market & Models — Teresa VaughnCarrum Health doubles covered lives to 6.7 million, expanding its Centers of Excellence bundled-care model. Employers gain predictable costs and outcomes, while hospitals face new pressure to improve coordination, pricing transparency, and referral pathways. 🌟 Bright Spot — ProducedPear Suite’s Series A & the Rise of Community Health Workers — celebrating a new era where grassroots care teams are recognized and reimbursed as vital partners in population health. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: HLTH 2025 Preview Special — Heroes & Headliners A Tuesday edition of HIT show Daily with an extended preview of one of the healthcare industry’s biggest events — HLTH 2025 in Las Vegas. With the federal government still in partial shutdown and policy uncertainty weighing on hospitals and payers alike, today’s HIT show Daily steps back from the headlines to look ahead — offering a full-length preview of HLTH 2025, which begins this weekend in Las Vegas. Host Rhonda Brooks leads the full HITshow reporting team — Nate Collier, Logan Stokes, Teresa Vaughn, Anika Shah, Xavier Banks, Jade Romero, Jalen Cross, as well as hosts Steve Daily, and Ida Klein — in a 10-minute “Heroes & Headliners” special exploring the trends, personalities, and partnerships that will define this year’s conference. Highlights include: AI & Governance: From ambient documentation and predictive analytics to the new rules of algorithmic trust. Finance & Strategy: Capital discipline replaces growth at any cost; partnerships over mergers. Workflow Innovation: How hospitals are using automation to rebuild efficiency and staff morale. Food as Medicine & Health Equity: Where nutrition, access, and population health finally converge. Celebrities & Star Power: Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Oz, and Rob Lowe join industry heavyweights like Rasu Shrestha to put healthcare’s human side in the spotlight. After Hours at HLTH: VC dinners, rooftop meetups, and the off-schedule gatherings where real deals get done. The team also flags what to watch across AI Zone, Diagnostics Alley, Startup Pavilion, and the Policy Stage, where the shutdown’s ripple effects are already sparking debate on Medicare Advantage payments and interoperability timelines. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: Hospitals accelerate outpatient strategy as Methodist Healthcare launches its largest expansion and health systems nationwide invest in ambulatory growth. Nurse-led innovation takes center stage with Atrium Health Union’s national award and Suki’s international AI consortium. After the break, Notable’s Flow AI and a new Bain & KLAS report show how healthcare’s AI spending is shifting from pilots to measurable returns—ending with Northwell Health’s campaign confronting gun violence as a public-health crisis. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Finance & Strategy — Teresa VaughnHospitals accelerate outpatient strategy as Methodist Healthcare launches the largest expansion in its 60-year history, while systems nationwide invest heavily in ambulatory surgery centers—turning what was once a budget line into a strategic growth engine. 📍 Workforce & Innovation — Jade RomeroAtrium Health Union earns the 2025 ANCC Pathway Award for AI-driven nursing innovation that streamlines documentation and strengthens retention, highlighting how frontline nurses are shaping the next wave of digital transformation. 📍 Digital Health — Anika ShahSuki launches a global nursing consortium spanning the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. to ensure AI voice assistants reflect real-world nursing workflows, signaling a more inclusive era of clinician-led design. 📍 Automation & AI — Nate CollierNotable debuts Flow AI, a conversational platform that lets healthcare teams build automations with natural language—bridging clinical operations and IT while cutting project build times in half. 📍 Finance & Technology — Logan StokesA new Bain & KLAS study confirms healthcare AI has entered its “proof-of-value” phase, with hospitals deploying automation to improve margins and payers focusing on utilization management to reduce medical loss ratios. 🌟 Bright Spot — Peter BetterworthGun violence now claims more children’s lives than car crashes. Northwell Health continues its national leadership with a new Ad Council campaign, Agree to Agree, uniting hospitals, parents, and communities to prevent firearm injuries and reframe gun violence as a public-health crisis. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by EY, Kimmchi and HLTH 2025 — the epicenter of healthcare innovation, where the future of care happens, October 26–29 in Las Vegas.

Today on HITshow: A new Medicare analysis raises tough questions about spine surgery appropriateness and what comes next for hospitals and surgeons. We pivot to strategy as Atlantic Health and Saint Peter’s walk away from a two-year merger effort, then zoom into the bedside with Connecticut’s evolving maternal-care model—midwifery integration, postpartum rehab, and safety-bracelet monitoring. After the break, Harvard Medical School’s content licensing to Microsoft hints at an AI-era “knowledge fabric,” and we spotlight momentum in Parkinson’s monitoring startups. HOST: Steve Daily 📍 Quality & Safety — Anika ShahMedicare flags nearly 200,000 spine surgeries as “low-value,” spotlighting 1.9 billion dollars in questionable spend. Hospitals push back on the data’s nuance, while CMS hints at future prior-auth pilots and quality-alignment initiatives. 📍 Finance & Strategy — Logan StokesThe planned Atlantic Health–Saint Peter’s merger collapses after two years of work, underscoring federal scrutiny and signaling a shift toward partnership models over full consolidation in regional care networks. 📍 Patient Experience — Teresa VaughnConnecticut hospitals expand maternal-care models statewide—integrating midwifery programs, postpartum rehab, and wearable safety bracelets—to cut severe maternal complications and boost continuity of care. 💥 Break — EY Sponsor Tag“Building a world of better health — EY helps healthcare leaders accelerate transformation, from AI adoption to workforce resilience.” 📍 Digital Health — Nate CollierHarvard Medical School licenses portions of its vetted clinical content to Microsoft, embedding authoritative data into Copilot and Bing Health Answers. The partnership reframes accuracy and accountability as AI becomes the front door to consumer health information. 📍 AI & Machine Learning — Jade RomeroStartups including Rune Labs and Kneu Health secure new funding for Parkinson’s monitoring tech that bridges home wearables with clinical documentation — a step toward continuous neurology care at scale. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by HLTH 2025.

Today on HITshow: Global collaboration takes center stage as the new ARC Initiative connects health innovators worldwide to advance responsible AI and data sharing. Mass General Brigham unveils a new plan to cut emergency department boarding times, while a California hospital prepares to close its labor and delivery unit. Plus: RXNT debuts Ambient IQ to streamline clinical documentation, Amazon introduces pharmacy kiosks inside One Medical clinics, and today’s Bright Spot celebrates the next generation of healthcare workers. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 🩺 The Day’s Pulse — October 8, 2025 📍 Feature — Rhonda BrooksSheba Medical Center launches a new U.S. innovation accelerator in Boston, building a bridge between Israeli health-tech startups and U.S. hospital partners to fast-track pilots and commercialization. 📍 Providers — Teresa VaughnMass General Brigham unveils a system-wide plan to reduce emergency department boarding, focusing on improved bed turnover, faster discharges, and predictive capacity modeling to shorten patient wait times. 📍 Workforce & Access — Anika ShahA California community hospital announces plans to close its labor and delivery unit, citing declining birth rates and obstetric staffing shortages — a trend reshaping maternity access across rural and suburban regions. 💥 Break — HLTH 2025 Sponsor Tag“Last Call for HLTH 2025” — the industry converges in Las Vegas for bold conversations on innovation, technology, and the Food as Medicine content track. 📍 Innovation & Technology — Nate CollierRXNT debuts Ambient IQ, an AI-powered ambient listening tool that transcribes and drafts clinical documentation in real time, saving clinicians hours of charting each week and setting a new bar for usability in ambient systems. 📍 Business & Retail Health — Peter BetterworthAmazon brings pharmacy kiosks into One Medical clinics, combining physical convenience with Prime-style fulfillment. The rollout aims to simplify prescription access and increase retention within Amazon’s growing healthcare ecosystem. 🌟 Bright Spot — Jalen CrossToday’s Bright Spot celebrates the next generation of healthcare workers — from medical students to nursing residents — finding new ways to integrate AI and compassion into patient care. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by HLTH 2025.

Today on HITshow: U.S. News & World Report unveils the 2025–2026 Best Children’s Hospitals rankings, spotlighting excellence and access in pediatric care. Plus: Valley Children’s proves AI delivers measurable ROI, Kaiser braces for a multi-state strike, Qualtrics buys Press Ganey in a $6.7B experience data deal, Talkspace adds Wisdo Health for peer connection, and this year’s Nobel Prize honors breakthroughs in immune regulation. HOST: IDA KLEIN 🩺 October 7, 2025 📍 Feature — Ida KleinU.S. News & World Report releases its 2025–2026 Best Children’s Hospitals Rankings, offering new insight into pediatric excellence across 11 specialties — and growing attention to behavioral health, access, and equity. Managing Editor Ben Harder joins HITshow to explain how the data-driven analysis helps families and clinicians make informed decisions about care. 📍 Providers — Teresa VaughnAt Valley Children’s Hospital, artificial intelligence is delivering measurable ROI — cutting wait times, improving sepsis detection, and optimizing staffing decisions through predictive analytics embedded in daily operations. 📍 Workforce & Culture — Peter BetterworthKaiser Permanente faces a potential multi-state strike involving more than 75,000 workers, as contract negotiations stall over staffing and pay. Analysts warn the standoff could signal wider workforce stress as health systems enter Q4. 📍 Finance & M&A — Logan StokesQualtrics acquires Press Ganey in a $6.7 billion deal that fuses experience management with clinical quality data. The move aims to connect satisfaction, safety, and outcomes — turning patient experience into a measurable driver of performance. 📍 Telehealth & Remote Care — Jade RomeroTalkspace acquires Wisdo Health, adding AI-guided peer communities to its mental health platform. The deal expands Talkspace’s model beyond therapy sessions — blending community, coaching, and behavioral engagement in a unified ecosystem. 📍 Science & Discovery — Jalen CrossThe 2025 Nobel Prize in Medicine goes to Dr. Jeffrey Bluestone (UCSF) and Dr. Shimon Sakaguchi (Osaka University) for identifying regulatory T cells, unlocking new therapies for autoimmune diseases and advancing precision immunology. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by HLTH 2025.

Today on HITshow: Hospitals face new financial strain and climate risk amid a prolonged shutdown, while AI and investment reshape the future of care — from Heidi Health’s funding milestone to new ventures by General Catalyst, Ultrahuman, and NeueHealth. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Government & Providers — Teresa VaughnFederal shutdown enters day six, raising fears of delayed payments and looming furloughs across hospitals and agencies. 📍 Providers & Finance — Peter BetterworthVirginia hospitals face Medicaid cuts and new service closures as federal funding uncertainty deepens. 📍 Quality & Safety — Anika ShahNew report finds 170 U.S. hospitals — roughly 30,000 beds — at major flood risk amid waning federal mitigation support. 📍 Innovation & AI — Logan StokesHeidi Health secures 65 million dollars to build an AI care partner for every clinician. 📍 Enterprise Transformation — Nate CollierGeneral Catalyst launches Percepta to embed AI teams inside enterprises, backed by AWS and Anthropic partnerships. 📍 Digital Health — Jade RomeroUltrahuman unveils Vision Cloud and a 99-dollar blood test spanning 60+ biomarkers to democratize preventive diagnostics. 📍 Finance & M&A — Jalen CrossNeueHealth completes a 1.465 billion-dollar go-private deal led by NEA and partners, delisting from the NYSE. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by HLTH 2025.

Today on HITshow: ChristianaCare breaks ground on a 140,000-square-foot health center in Delaware; Northeast Georgia Health scales ambient listening with Dragon Copilot; Assort Health secures 76M dollars for AI-powered patient engagement; Koda Health raises 7M dollars to expand advance care planning; and Everlywell launches “Eva,” an AI platform pushing at-home testing into telehealth diagnostics. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Providers — Teresa VaughnChristianaCare breaks ground on a 140,000-square-foot Middletown health center, the first step in an 865M-dollar, three-year expansion across Delaware. 📍 Providers / Workforce — Anika ShahNortheast Georgia Health scales Dragon Copilot in Epic with 480+ clinicians trained, moving ambient listening from pilots into mainstream adoption. 📍 Innovation & Technology — Nate CollierAssort Health raises 76M dollars to automate patient intake, scheduling, and voice interactions — promising smoother throughput and better satisfaction scores. 📍 Startup Stories — Logan StokesKoda Health secures a 7M-dollar Series A to expand advance care planning software, aligning provider documentation with quality metrics and patient trust. 📍 Virtual / At-Home / Diagnostics — Jade RomeroEverlywell unveils “Eva,” an AI health platform that extends its at-home testing business into telehealth diagnostics, signaling new competition and partnership models for providers. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by HLTH 2025.

Today on HITshow: Today’s top story: the federal shutdown is more than politics — Teresa Vaughn walks providers through a detailed checklist on compliance, telehealth, hospital-at-home, finance, and research. Also: UnitedHealth hires Duke’s AI leader as Chief Scientist, Hackensack pairs dogs with AI for cancer detection, Omada launches a nutrition AI for chronic care, and the federal government calls on Eli Lilly and Pfizer to boost production of key drugs. HOST: Steve Daily 📍 Providers / Government — Teresa VaughnThe shutdown fallout is hitting operations: CMS survey triage, telehealth flex expirations, Hospital-at-Home pause, and looming safety-net cuts. Vaughn shares the following checklist for health system leaders: Quality & Compliance: Focus on IJ, EMTALA, dialysis. Access & Scheduling: Update telehealth workflows for therapy and mental health. Capacity: Reallocate staff and beds with Hospital-at-Home paused. Finance: Model DSH and rural add-on reductions through Q4. Community: Coordinate with FQHCs to smooth referrals. Innovation & Research: Expect device and grant delays; adjust timelines. 📍 AI & Payers — Jade RomeroUnitedHealth names Duke’s Michael Pencina as Chief AI Scientist, signaling a credibility-first push to scale responsible AI. 📍 Providers / Research — Logan StokesHackensack Meridian partners with Israel-based startup SpotitEarly to validate canine scent + AI for early cancer detection — a message to providers that bold research can be a differentiator. 📍 Digital Health — Nate CollierOmada Health debuts “Meal Map,” an AI nutrition tool for cardiometabolic patients — early pilots show engagement gains. 📍 Pharma & Policy — Peter BetterworthThe administration asks Eli Lilly to ramp production of insulin, and Pfizer to increase productoin of Ibrance, and Lipitor — raising supply and formulary planning questions for hospitals. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by HLTH 2025.

Today on HITshow: The federal shutdown furloughs 32,000 HHS staff and halts Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home programs. UnitedHealth will exit Medicare Advantage in 109 counties, reshaping payer-provider dynamics. General Catalyst’s HATCo completes its $500M acquisition of Summa Health, converting the Ohio system to for-profit. Visana Health raises $24M to expand a nationwide virtual medical home for women. And we close with a bright spot: a new White House initiative directing AI and $100M in funding toward pediatric cancer research. HOST: Rhonda Brooks 📍 Government & Agencies — Nate CollierFederal shutdown furloughs 32,000 HHS staff and ends Medicare telehealth and Hospital-at-Home flexibilities, leaving programs paused until Congress acts. 📍 Payers — Teresa VaughnUnitedHealth to exit Medicare Advantage in 109 counties by 2026, reshaping regional markets and forcing hospitals to adapt. 📍 Finance & M&A — Logan StokesGeneral Catalyst’s HATCo finalizes a $500M acquisition of Summa Health, converting the Akron system into a for-profit subsidiary. 📍 Women’s Health — Jade RomeroVisana Health secures $24M in Series A funding to expand the first nationwide virtual medical home for women. 📍 Bright Spot — Jalen CrossWhite House launches new initiative directing AI toward pediatric cancer research, backed by $100M in federal funding to accelerate trials and discoveries. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by Kimmchi.

Today on HITshow: CMS Hospital-at-Home and RPM waivers expire at midnight without Congressional action as shutdown fears loom; Trinity Health posts a $1.3B net gain despite operating losses while Memphis-based Regional One Health advances a $1B hospital project; Briya and Tanner Health launch a real-world data network in the South; Privia Health buys Evolent’s ACO business for $100M; and Brown University announces the Giuliani RNA Center, expanding RNA research and the Human RNome Project. HOST: Ida Klein 📍 Government & Agencies — Logan StokesCMS Hospital-at-Home and Remote Patient Monitoring waivers expire at midnight without Congressional action, colliding with a looming government shutdown and leaving hospitals scrambling. 📍 Providers — Logan StokesTrinity Health posts a 1.3B net gain despite operating losses, while Memphis-based Regional One Health advances a 1B hospital project — highlighting sharply different strategies in the provider sector. 📍 EHR & Data Partnerships — Logan StokesBriya teams up with Tanner Health to launch a real-world data network in the South, aiming to accelerate clinical research and improve outcomes. 📍 Finance & M&A — Anika ShahPrivia Health acquires Evolent’s ACO business for 100M dollars, adding 120k MSSP lives and expanding into 11 states, as Evolent pivots to specialty condition management. 📍 Bright Spot — Jade RomeroBrown University announces the Giuliani RNA Center after a major philanthropic gift, expanding RNA research and anchoring the Human RNome Project. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by Altera Digital Health and Kimmchi.

Today on HITshow: Hospitals report mixed financials, Medicaid work rules draw scrutiny, and Big Tech deepens its hold on healthcare. Plus, AmplifyMD secures new funding, women’s health gains retail traction with Naomi Watts, and PhRMA readies a patient-facing drug portal. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS 📍 Providers — Logan StokesCommonSpirit reports 40.1 billion dollars in FY2025 revenue, up 8.5% year-over-year; outpatient growth and value-based contracts offset regional margin pressure in California and the Midwest. 📍 Government & Agencies — Anika ShahKFF analysis shows millions may be exempt from new Medicaid work requirements in high-unemployment counties, raising questions about uneven impacts on coverage and uncompensated care. 📍 Innovation & Technology — Nate CollierBig Tech tightens its grip on healthcare: Microsoft, AWS, Google, and Nvidia expand health-system partnerships, embedding AI tools from documentation to imaging and even joint clinical research. 📍 Innovation & Technology • Investment — Teresa VaughnAmplifyMD raises $20 million, with Memorial Hermann joining as a strategic investor; the virtual specialty-care platform gives community hospitals faster access to scarce specialists. 📍 Women’s Health / Retail Health — Jade RomeroWisp partners with Naomi Watts’ wellness brand to launch OTC menopause products, underscoring the mainstreaming of women’s health and efforts to destigmatize midlife care. 📍 Pharma & Policy Pressure — Jalen CrossPhRMA readies AmericasMedicines.com for a soft launch in October; the portal aims to streamline access to affordability programs as scrutiny over drug pricing intensifies. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by Altera Digital Health and Kimmchi.

Today on HITshow: Tampa General earns the Joint Commission’s first Innovation Award for AI-driven safety (Palantir, predictive sepsis); Temple Health’s 2,600 workers move toward a strike; One Medical launches nationwide menopause care amid rising competition; Sonitor–Tagnos merge RTLS with workflow; bipartisan MA “Prompt Pay” bill advances; study links steep elective-surgery markups to poorer outcomes. HOST: Ida Klein 📍 Innovation & Technology — Nate CollierTampa General Hospital wins the Joint Commission’s inaugural Innovation Award for AI-enabled safety—highlighting predictive sepsis tools and data partnerships that deliver measurable quality gains. 📍 Providers — Teresa VaughnTemple Health faces a strike threat from ~2,600 workers over staffing and wages; contingency plans are in motion, with regional capacity and continuity of care on the line. 📍 Women’s Health / Retail Health — Jade RomeroOne Medical launches nationwide menopause care, pushing primary care deeper into midlife women’s health; raises competitive pressure on systems and virtual clinics like Midi Health. 📍 Innovation & Technology (Operations & Workflow) — Peter BetterworthSonitor–Tagnos merge combines RTLS with workflow orchestration to tighten asset tracking, patient throughput, and staff safety—aimed at clearer, system-wide ROI. 📍 Government & Agencies — Anika ShahBipartisan Medicare Advantage “Prompt Pay” bill would require 95% of clean claims paid within 14 days (e-submitted, in-network) or 30 days (paper/out-of-network), easing provider cash-flow strain. 📍 Business of Healthcare • Quality & Safety — Logan StokesNew research ties the highest elective-surgery markups to worse outcomes—fueling payer/employer steerage and intensifying pressure for value-based pricing. 🎧 Subscribe here or wherever you listen to podcasts, and if you like our show, please follow us on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/hit.show. HITshow is made possible by: Altera Digital Health and Kimmchi.