Doctors take issue with NYU Langone Health’s Super Bowl ad: They’re largely questioning the not-for-profit’s choice to pay $8M+ for the ad. We explore why health systems would be better off advertising in local markets than national TV events.

US hospitals increase use of robots for surgical procedures: But healthcare marketers must do a better job educating the public on how robotic-assisted surgery works as more folks shop around for the best surgical care.

Oracle unveils AI-powered EHR system: We think it could help the vendor capture market share from smaller players in the space because convincing Epic’s customers to switch platforms will be a tough sell.

Some health systems expand local pharmacy services: But it’s not enough to fill gaps created by thousands of drugstore closings. We expect more consumers to explore alternative pharmacy offerings in 2025.

New York attorney general tells hospitals to continue gender-affirming care: The mandate stands in opposition to President Trump’s recent executive order that outlaws gender-affirming care in children, with hospitals’ access to federal funding on the line.

For instance, the hospital-level median negotiated rate for four common heart and vascular surgical procedures ranges from about $27,000 in St. Louis to $154,000 in New York City, per Trilliant Health data. Even within the same market, there is significant variation in hospital procedure rates, Trilliant found.

US hospitals use predictive AI tools, but many use biased data: Most AI models make recommendations based on homogenous data samples, which could actually harm many patients. But more regulatory oversight of healthcare AI isn’t guaranteed to happen in the near term.

In an era of uncertainty, healthcare providers still buy tech: Most hospitals and health systems aren’t pressing pause on software investments. We analyze what’s driving the spending and where the money is going.

Pediatric care provider Summer Health acquires Gen Z-focused virtual care company: Summer has an opportunity to establish rapport and build trust with young patients who don’t have much experience with the conventional healthcare system.

On today’s podcast episode, we discuss the trend of healthcare and pharmaceutical brands selling prescription drugs, treatments, and medical services directly to consumers and how rising medical costs are changing patients’ relationship with the healthcare system. Tune in to the conversation with Senior Director of Podcasts and host Marcus Johnson, and Senior Analysts Dane Finley and Rajiv Leventhal. Listen everywhere and watch on YouTube and Spotify.

New rule removes medical debt from credit reports: While this will help in terms of approval and interest rates for loans, relief won’t be felt until health systems stop aggressively chasing down patients’ unpaid bills.

Petco—which runs Vetco hospitals, mobile clinics, and grooming services—is working to harness customer data more effectively to better understand shoppers' buying patterns, refine engagement strategies, and boost wallet share, said CEO Joel Anderson during the company’s earnings call. Why it matters: Pet adoption rates, which surged during the pandemic, have returned to normal levels.

Health systems partner with wellness brands for digital advertising: We explore how legacy healthcare providers are offering health and wellness brands ad placements on their digital platforms to drive revenue and connect patients with medical products and services.

Consumers feel it’s the US government’s responsibility to ensure health coverage: But a for-profit healthcare system that incentivizes insurers to make coverage decisions based on what’s best for business means it’s unlikely to happen.

Pfizer explores a sale of its hospital drugs unit: The move was spurred by activist investor Starboard Value, which has put pressure on Pfizer to reduce its debts after taking a $1B stake in the company.

Some health systems scale back telehealth offerings: But trimming virtual care too much may cause patients to flee to competing healthcare providers.

AI dominates HLTH conference: We explore the most significant AI news from the event and examine why some health systems feel a sense of urgency to invest in AI.

Healthcare stakeholders will increase digital health investments: But health tech vendors must deliver on key performance metrics such as clinical outcomes, cost savings, and user satisfaction to ensure they catch investment dollars.

The US healthcare system spends high, but ranks low on overall performance: We unpack the reasons why the US is performing worse than all other high-income countries when it comes to delivering healthcare, and explore how the upcoming presidential election could signal changes.