The Zelis solution integrates predictive intelligence to analyze provider patterns and Independent Dispute Resolution Entity (IDRE) behaviors, allowing payers to optimize their settlement strategies and challenge non-qualifying disputes more effectively. By replacing manual workflows with automated intake, documentation, and escalation alerts, the platform seeks to minimize operational blind spots and prevent financial leakage caused by missed deadlines. Jim Bridges, president of price optimization at Zelis, commented in a statement: “Rule changes by CMS and HHS have improved the efficiency and long-term sustainability of the NSA, but payers are overwhelmed by complexity and costs associated with the IDR process.” He further explained, “Zelis NSA Claim Advantage gives payers a smarter way to manage the IDR lifecycle. It combines AI-native automation, data-driven intelligence and human review across every step in the journey to identify risks earlier, reduce avoidable disputes and replace the guesswork with predictable outcomes.”

Market data indicates that the federal IDR portal has faced an influx of disputes nearly 14 times higher than the government’s initial 2022 projections, with annual volumes now exceeding 100 times those early estimates. Since the establishment of these procedures in April 2022, over 5 million disputes have been submitted to the IDR phase. Recent figures from a 2025 HHS fact sheet suggest that providers have maintained a significant advantage in arbitration; in the second quarter of 2025, provider-suggested rates were selected in approximately 87% of closed cases. Zelis, which serves over 750 payers including major national health plans and TPAs, successfully processed $2.39 billion in savings related to the No Surprises Act process during 2025, with only 8% of those claims ultimately escalating to the arbitration stage.

The joint initiative focuses on transforming raw data into strategic tools to enhance equipment reliability and cybersecurity across the health system. With over 25 years of experience and a vast dataset covering a significant portion of U.S. medical devices, TRIMEDX will assist OSF HealthCare in gaining better asset visibility and maximizing the value of their technology investments. “We’re proud to partner with OSF HealthCare to help advance their mission of delivering outstanding patient care,” says TRIMEDX CEO Neil de Crescenzo. “Healthcare organizations today need more than equipment maintenance – they need trusted partners who can turn data into action and technology into strategic advantage. By combining our clinical engineering expertise with AI-powered intelligence and deep operational insights, we’re helping providers make smarter decisions, improve performance, and create more resilient healthcare environments.”

As the partnership progresses, it will focus on protecting the health system from the rising threat of digital intrusions while ensuring clinicians have seamless access to essential tools. Brian Harms, Chief Administrative Officer for Pointcore, noted, “We are excited to partner with the TRIMEDX team for the comprehensive management and optimization of our medical device inventory.” He further explained that this relationship underscores a commitment to high-quality care. Eric Webb, Chief Development Officer for Pointcore, added, “This partnership represents our commitment to providing the highest quality of care to our patients. Through this relationship with TRIMEDX, we will ensure our clinicians have access to the tools and equipment they need to best serve their patients-all while using the latest technology and processes to bolster our defenses against the ever-growing number of cyberattacks on healthcare organizations.” This clinical asset management strategy will be implemented across the OSF system, which includes 18 inpatient facilities and 16 licensed hospitals, utilizing advanced analytics to support long-term operational goals.

The ongoing collaboration is set to evolve through various initiatives aimed at strengthening cybersecurity and supporting patient care. By focusing on clinical asset management, the organizations will continue to optimize healthcare technology and operational efficiency. This data-driven approach ensures that OSF HealthCare remains at the forefront of medical innovation, utilizing equipment reliability and asset informatics to maintain a strategic advantage in a complex regulatory and technological landscape. The partnership is currently underway, marking a significant phase in the management of clinical technology for the integrated health system.

The upgrade options are designed to minimize disruptions to clinical operations while maximizing previous capital investments and supporting long-term sustainability goals. Jyoti Gera, CEO of CardioVascular and Interventional Solutions at GE HealthCare, stated: “These Allia upgrade pathways reflect our commitment to helping customers modernize on their own terms by extending the capabilities of existing systems while providing access to the latest Allia innovations and AI-enabled technologies in a less disruptive, more sustainable way.” Depending on the specific configuration and regional regulatory approvals, the pathways offer access to various advanced tools. These include CleaRecon DL for AI-enabled image reconstruction and the OmnifyXR Interventional Suite, an augmented reality solution intended to improve workflow efficiency and ergonomics during procedural tasks. Access to these innovations ensures that aging systems remain compatible with modern medical standards.

Additional features available through these interventional suite upgrades include Embo ASSIST AI for optimized embolization strategies and the AVVIGO+ intravascular imaging platform. To support long-term reliability and sustainability goals, GE HealthCare is also offering Tube Watch and OnWatch Predict service options. These AI-powered tools provide estimated lead times to failure, allowing healthcare providers to proactively manage maintenance and reduce unplanned downtime. Through these programs, the company aims to help clinicians deliver advanced care by improving image quality and streamlining clinical operations across various imaging modalities, including X-ray, MR, and CT systems. Regular maintenance and smart technology integration allow healthcare providers to modernize their workflow efficiency while maintaining operational continuity.

The strategic alliance will provide local scientists with increased visibility into emerging medical technologies and novel therapies. This access allows researchers to identify future areas for innovation and align their activities with the evolving needs of the domestic healthcare system. A significant portion of the agreement focuses on Health Technology Assessment (HTA) capacity building. This initiative will assist professionals in evaluating the societal, economic, and clinical impacts of various medical interventions, ranging from digital health tools to new pharmaceuticals. Strengthening these assessments is vital for evidence-based decision-making and the efficient management of medical resources. This focus is a cornerstone of the broader Qatar clinical research objectives intended to attract international trials to the region.

Assistant Managing Director of Hamad Medical Corporation Ali Al Janahi highlighted the significance of the agreement, stating: “This collaboration represents an important step in strengthening Qatar’s clinical research ecosystem and supporting our ambition to deliver world-class healthcare through innovation, evidence-based practice, value-based healthcare, and international collaboration.” He further commented, “By expanding opportunities for clinical trials, enhancing research capabilities, and strengthening expertise, we are creating new opportunities to advance patient care and improve health outcomes for the people of Qatar, as well as having a sustainable health system. We are pleased to partner with Boehringer Ingelheim in support of these shared goals and look forward to the positive impact this collaboration will have on healthcare in Qatar,” Al Janahi added.

Dr. Anas Ahmad Hamad, Deputy Chief of Drug Supply in HMC and Lead of National HTA and Innovation Regulation Program in the National Health Strategy 2024-2030, said: “This collaboration marks an important step in advancing Qatar’s HTA ecosystem by strengthening local capacity, enhancing technical expertise, and supporting the development of sustainable HTA infrastructure within Hamad Medical Corporation and the wider healthcare system.” He also noted, “Through strategic partnerships with industry, like this one, we are building the capabilities needed to ensure evidence-based decision-making, accelerate responsible access to innovation, and ultimately improve health outcomes in alignment with the National Health Strategy 2024-2030,” he added.

Derek O’Leary, Regional Managing Director, India, Middle East, Turkiye, and Africa at Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “Our collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation reflects a shared commitment to co-create advanced research capabilities, unlock scientific potential, and support the continued advancement of healthcare in Qatar.” Adding to this sentiment, Abdallah Hamed, General Manager and Head of Human Pharma, Saudi Arabia, Gulf and East Africa (SAGEA), Boehringer Ingelheim, said: “Our collaboration with Hamad Medical Corporation reflects a shared commitment to strengthening research capabilities while embedding innovation more effectively into clinical practice. This kind of partnership is critical to ensuring that scientific advances move beyond discovery and deliver real value at the point of care.” Boehringer Ingelheim is a global biopharmaceutical company specializing in the development of innovative therapies that improve the health of both people and animals. The company currently serves more than 130 markets through three core business areas: human pharmaceuticals, animal health, and biopharmaceutical contract manufacturing.

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. emphasized the importance of individual data control in a formal statement, noting: “Americans deserve secure, timely access to their health records. We are strengthening TEFCA to put patients in control of their health information, improve care coordination, and ensure health data moves securely where it is needed. Access to your own health records is a fundamental right.” This administrative push comes as healthcare technology leaders and more than 75 health systems expressed concerns regarding bad actors potentially exploiting the system. Critics have argued that the current reliance on self-attestation and decentralized monitoring is insufficient to prevent the unauthorized monetization of patient data under the guise of the treatment pathway. Consequently, the new contract with Alliance Global Tech Inc. includes a baseline year of approximately $1.28 million to establish centralized scrutiny and verify compliance among participants.

Beyond network monitoring, the administration is intensifying its stance against information blocking, with potential penalties reaching $1 million per violation for developers and the loss of Medicare payments for providers. Thomas Keane, M.D., National Coordinator for Health IT, informed HIMSS26 attendees in March that the department has received over 1,500 complaints via its specialized portal. Highlighting the clinical necessity of these rules, Chris Klomp, HHS Chief Counselor and Director of the Center for Medicare, stated: “Seamless interoperability is essential for quality care; health records must flow easily between providers and patients. When critical health information is blocked or withheld, patients suffer the consequences. We are fully committed to using every appropriate regulatory and policy tool available to root out information blocking and protect patients’ right to access their own health data.” If behaviors indicating fraud or criminal activity are identified, the ONC plans to refer cases to the Department of Justice, the HHS Office of Inspector General, or the HHS Office for Civil Rights for further investigation. Through these combined efforts, the administration aims to facilitate a more robust health record exchange while protecting the legal rights of individuals to access their information securely.

The implementation of the AI-first EHR platform is designed to alleviate the administrative burden on physicians by automating clinical documentation. By utilizing ambient documentation and natural language interaction, the system allows clinicians to access patient histories and test results more efficiently. Alisha Moopen stated, “We have always believed in equipping our doctors and healthcare professionals with the most advanced technologies and transformative solutions that enable them to put our patients first and ensure the best outcomes for every individual who seeks care with us. With Medcare becoming the first healthcare provider in the UAE to implement a next-generation, AI-first electronic health record platform, we are taking a bold step towards redefining how care is delivered. As the future of healthcare lies in intelligent systems that augment human expertise rather than simply digitise existing processes, we are confident that IntelliCare will empower our physicians and caregivers with advanced tools that reduce administrative burden, unlock meaningful insights, and enable more time to be dedicated to what matters most – our patients.”

Strategic Expansion of Healthcare Innovation

This partnership is a continuation of a relationship established in 2020. Ali Abi Raad noted, “Today’s milestone builds on a long-standing partnership, with Medcare trusting InterSystems as an innovation ally since 2020. Transitioning to InterSystems IntelliCare is the natural, innovation-driven progression of Medcare’s mature TrakCare footprint. This milestone also marks a pivotal moment as the broader Aster DM Healthcare relationship expands beyond the UAE market.” The platform, which has seen success at Indonesia’s EMC Healthcare, is the first unified AI EHR to receive the EU Class IIa Medical Device Regulation certification. Dr. Shanila Laiju, Group CEO of Medcare Hospitals and Medical Centres, commented, “Artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare globally, and Medcare is committed to ensuring our patients and physicians benefit from the very latest advancements. While many healthcare providers have successfully integrated AI into specific aspects of their operations, IntelliCare represents a fundamentally different approach. As the first healthcare provider in the UAE to adopt an AI-first EHR platform, we are embedding intelligence directly into the clinical ecosystem. This allows our physicians to access insights faster, streamline workflows, and spend more time engaging with patients, ultimately enhancing both clinical care and the overall patient experience.”

This digital transformation effort focuses on providing more personalized patient care by reducing the time clinicians spend on manual data entry. By prioritizing innovation, Medcare aims to ensure that consultations are more engaging and that treatment decisions are informed by a unified record. The system’s future iterations are expected to include an intelligent assistant to further support the management of clinical workflow while maintaining human oversight. This move solidifies Medcare’s commitment to improving outcomes through the integration of advanced data-driven models. The ongoing transition ensures that both caregivers and patients remain at the center of the healthcare experience, fostering a smoother journey from diagnosis to recovery through ambient documentation and a unified record that alleviates the administrative burden. The evolution toward intelligent systems marks a significant milestone in regional healthcare.

Cadence’s Clinical Intelligence platform is designed to identify patient risks early while supporting older adults between clinical visits through daily vital monitoring, medication adjustment assistance and personalized lifestyle coaching. The platform integrates directly with partner health systems, medical groups, electronic medical records (EMRs) and existing clinical workflows, where supervised AI agents monitor patient health and assist care teams with timely interventions. Founder and CEO Chris Altcheck said the platform was built to “solve the clinical labor constraint at the heart of the chronic disease crisis.” He further stated, “Our AI automates care under close supervision, guided by our medical group, governed by our health system clinical protocols, and reimbursed through billing infrastructure and at-risk contracts. We’re treating 100,000 patients with that system today, alongside partners committed to changing the status quo in chronic care. This investment builds the infrastructure to treat millions.”

The company currently collaborates with more than 20 health systems and provides care for over 100,000 active patients. According to company executives, Cadence tripled annual recurring revenue during 2025 while helping save Medicare approximately $2.7 million each week. Alongside the funding announcement, the company revealed new affiliations with Duke Health and Texas Health Resources. Jeffrey Ferranti, M.D., senior vice president and chief digital officer of Duke Health, said, “At Duke Health, our mission is to advance the health of our patients and the communities we serve. The moments that matter most for a patient’s health often happen at home, not in the clinic. With Cadence, we stay connected to patients with chronic conditions around the clock, monitoring their health continuously so we can intervene early and keep them healthy. Together, we’re reimagining what care can be: healthier patients and a stronger, more affordable health system for all.” Cadence also highlighted peer-reviewed evidence supporting its platform, including a Mayo Clinic study reporting a 27% reduction in hospital admissions and a $1,302 annual reduction in total care costs per patient, while research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology found its remote patient care hypertension program achieved a 70% improvement in blood pressure control. These findings reinforce the company’s approach to AI chronic care.

“We have aligned our investments with our Healthcare customers’ specialised needs. Our global cross-dock facilities strengthen our end-to-end cold-chain capabilities to ensure critical treatments are delivered safely and reliably to patients around the world,” said Kate Gutmann, EVP and President of International, Healthcare and Supply Chain Solutions at UPS. “This effort – and all of our work in healthcare logistics – extends from a deep understanding that we’re doing more than moving packages. We are helping patients access the medications and treatments they need.” The company stated that all 27 facilities comply with IATA CEIV Pharma certification standards for pharmaceutical handling and quality. By operating within a single integrated network, UPS said it can reduce provider handoffs, improve oversight and strengthen accountability for high-value, temperature-sensitive shipments. The network is also supported by a 24/7/365 control tower that monitors shipments, identifies potential risks and enables intervention when necessary.

The growing number of biologic medicines entering the market is adding complexity to healthcare supply chains. PharmaSource estimates that around one-third of newly approved medicines are biologics, with more than 85% requiring temperature-controlled handling. Treatments including cell and gene therapies, mRNA platforms and GLP-1 injectables are increasing demand for specialised logistics services. Industry estimates indicate that cold-chain failures can cost up to $35 billion annually, while the WHO has linked such failures to as much as 50% of global vaccine waste. “Biologics and personalized treatments are driving better, more targeted care for patients,” said John Bolla, President of UPS Healthcare. “These investments reflect our commitment to continue to align our leading end-to-end supply chain to protect innovative treatments and diagnostics, supporting better patient outcomes.”

The investment builds on UPS’s broader healthcare logistics strategy, supported by acquisitions including Bomi Group, Frigo Trans and BPL in Europe, as well as Andlauer Healthcare Group in North America. The company also recently expanded its Incheon, Korea air hub to support pharmaceutical trade flows, with Observatory of Economic Complexity data showing South Korea imported nearly $9.7 billion in pharmaceutical products during 2025. UPS said the enhanced network is designed to support seamless movement of time- and temperature-sensitive healthcare products across air, ocean, ground and final-mile transportation channels. Through these investments, the company is further strengthening Cold-Chain Healthcare Logistics capabilities to manage increasing industry demand and operational complexity.

The framework has received support from healthcare policy specialists and stakeholders within the medtech sector, who believe it could help NHS purchasing decisions better account for the long-term benefits and impact of healthcare technologies. Chris Whitehouse, Director of Health and MedTech Policy at Whitehouse Communications, which advises medical device suppliers, said: “For many years, procurement decisions across parts of the NHS have too often been driven primarily by upfront cost.” While the framework establishes a new direction for procurement practices, industry observers note that its success will depend on how effectively it is adopted across NHS organisations and integrated into existing decision-making processes.

Attention will also be required in areas such as procurement culture and stakeholder engagement to ensure the intended benefits are realised. Whitehouse emphasised that policy changes alone would not be enough to transform purchasing practices, stating: “Changing procurement frameworks on paper is relatively straightforward. Changing behaviours and cultures that have developed over many years is much harder,” he said. A central feature of the framework is the earlier involvement of clinicians in procurement discussions, recognising their insight into how technologies perform in real-world healthcare environments and how they influence patient care.

The framework further underlines the importance of patient experience as a measure of value. NHS organisations are encouraged to consider how technologies affect factors such as independence, dignity and quality of life when assessing procurement options. Through this outcomes-focused model, value-based procurement for Medical Device assessment aims to support more informed purchasing decisions while aligning procurement practices with broader healthcare objectives across the NHS.

The companies first shared details of the partnership with Fierce Healthcare. Chris Pricco, CEO of Marathon Health, said the organizations share a common objective of helping patients access appropriate treatment in the right setting. “Lantern and Marathon have very common philosophies around getting patients to the right care at the right kind of service setting,” Pricco said. Pilot program findings also showed substantial financial benefits for participating employers. The companies reported that employers achieved average savings of 53% compared with network rates for necessary procedures while also avoiding unnecessary interventions.

John Zutter, CEO of Lantern, said the company currently manages specialty care for approximately 12 million members nationwide, providing access to a broad provider network focused on quality and cost efficiency. “Through a highly integrated partnership like we have with Marathon, you can pass along those benefits of greater utilization and a better and more seamless experience, to the employer and the member, respectively, and that’s exactly what we saw in the pilot,” Zutter said. Beyond surgical cost management, the Integrated Care Management approach is intended to position primary care as the entry point for specialty services. Marathon’s employer-based clinics are expected to play a central role in identifying patient needs and connecting individuals with Lantern’s specialty care resources.

The companies said the program will initially remain focused on musculoskeletal care and will be available to employer clients this year. They noted that musculoskeletal services continue to represent a significant area of healthcare spending for employers. Pricco added that Lantern’s established provider network gives Marathon clinicians confidence when making specialty referrals. “This lines right up with what we’re about in our value proposition to our employers around strong primary care, good management of the specialty downstream care, making sure consumers understand what their options are,” he said.