What 2026's Policy Avalanche Means for Your Health System Partnerships
A wave of federal and state healthcare policies taking effect in 2026 is bringing major changes to hospital operations, reimbursement, and patient access—from expired ACA subsidies to site-neutral payment expansions and tightened prior authorization rules. For industry partners, this creates both urgency and opportunity. Hospitals will face a rise in uncompensated care as subsidy expiration drives coverage loss, shifting executive priorities toward revenue cycle optimization and access point expansion.
Meanwhile, the acceleration of surgical care to outpatient settings and new price transparency requirements posting actual consumer-friendly prices mean health systems will scrutinize partners on their ability to support outpatient infrastructure, data accuracy, and consumer-facing tools. Partners who can demonstrate ROI in denials management, ambulatory surgical center enablement, or patient engagement will find receptive audiences—executives are navigating transformation under financial pressure and need solutions that align with these regulatory realities.