Healthcare Distribution & Supply Chain Winter 2026 Issue by Melissa Blaney

Winter 2026

8 FEATURE Kelley Moffett Charts a Clear Path Forward for Healthcare Distribution ON THE COVER

Kelley Moffett, Senior Vice President of Quality, Regulatory and Medical Affairs for Cardinal Health’s Global Medical Products and Distribution (GMPD) business, addresses members as 2026 Chair of the HIDA Board of Directors.

Please send magazine inquiries to editor@HIDA.org.

2 SALES & STRATEGY

Leadership Lessons: Skills Needed In Your Career

Five Key Benefits Of New Product Data Exchange

4 MARKET INTELLIGENCE

New CMS Rules Drive Changes To Outpatient Care

Post-Acute Market Report Highlights Concerns Over Closures

10 FEATURE

Healthcare Manufacturers Network Names Scott Hirst 2026 Chair

Manufacturing And Marketing In Music City

12 WORK IN WASHINGTON

Medical Products in the Tariff Crosshairs

Strengthening Preparedness: ASPR–HIDA Cooperative Agreement Enters Year Five

Bills To Watch In 2026

Midterm Elections: Impact On The Medical Supply Chain

18 EVENTS & RESOURCES

20 WINTER 2026 MUST-READS

5 10

What Is The Most Important Skill Needed In Healthcare Distribution?

As an ongoing project of HIDA's Learning Center, this series of Leadership Lessons features interviews with healthcare distribution executives discussing the skills needed to thrive in a changing industry.

Chris Fagnani, Lynn Medical

Over the next 5 to 10 years, the skills that are going to be needed to be successful in healthcare distribution industry will have to do with technology. Artificial intelligence is going to continue to evolve how we do our jobs. Data is going to continue to be more important and customers are going to be looking to us even more for data to back up our solutions to them. Our ability to embrace technology, to learn technology, to lean into technology, is going to be extremely important.

Tim Rubert, Bound Tree Medical

The most important skill needed in healthcare distribution is learning how to be a true partner to your customer. It's very important given all the challenges that they have. If you can accomplish that and really be a true partner consultant, you will do very well.

As you look to the future supply chain leaders, they need to be very agile, and they need to be lifelong learners. They need to feel very comfortable working in a cross-functional nature, because supply chain has really now become ingrained into almost all aspects of our business. It's about trying to create systems that can be integrated for our customers, automating processes to keep them on the cutting edge.

Matt Bourne, Midmark

Really good leaders are kind of like pragmatic dreamers. I like to visualize what success looks like. If I have a big presentation, I'll actually visualize before I'm on stage or before I'm behind the microphone, what that presentation is going to look and feel like and just envision what that success is.

Charles Abbinanti, Dukal

HIDA Launches New Product Data Exchange

More than 30 HIDA member companies have signed on to the pilot program for the Product Data Exchange (PDX) -- a new platform to standardize and centralize the exchange of Product Information Management (PIM) data between manufacturers and distributors. The PDX will facilitate the flow of critical product data such as product descriptions, marketing messages and images.

The HIDA Product Data Exchange strengthens the medical supply chain in several key areas.

1. Transforms Data Into An Asset Healthcare distribution is powered by online information, transforming product data into a key asset that drives repeat purchases and longterm revenue growth.

2. Improves Customer Experience

Accurate data enhances search ranking and reduces cart abandonment, boosting conversion rates.

3. Enhances Product Discoverability

Standardized product data improves search functionality and Search Engine Optimization (SEO), increasing product visibility and website traffic.

4. Improves Customer Confidence

Consistent and detailed product information reduces cart abandonment and boosts conversions by building trust.

5. Responds In Real Time

Quick updates to product information help manufacturers stay

6. Reduces Operational Friction

Centralized, standardized product data minimizes manual data entry, cuts down on errors, and streamlines coordination between manufacturers and distributors.

How Manufacturers And Distributors Use HIDA's Product Data Exchange

New CMS Rules Drive Changes To Outpatient Care

New rules from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) governing payments for hospital outpatient and ambulatory surgery center care are set to reshape procedure dynamics across therapy areas. The new rules allow more procedures to be performed in outpatient settings when clinically appropriate, reflecting CMS’s ongoing effort to improve flexibility and reduce costs.

Outpatient Shifts Continue: Joint Replacement

These updates build on a decade-long trend toward outpatient care in orthopedics and general surgery. For instance, U.S. large-joint reconstructive implant procedure volumes have grown significantly in nonhospital settings in recent years, with the addition of total knee arthroplasty to the ASC CPL in 2020 and total hip arthroplasty in 2021 accelerating this shift.

Joint Replacement Trends By Site-Of-Care

Source: Clarivate Medtech360 and DRG Commercial Analytics 360

Emerging ASC Opportunities: Cardiovascular Procedures

The recent inclusion of key vascular procedures signals further growth potential across high-acuity specialties. Of note is the inclusion of cardiac ablation for atrial fibrillation treatment on the ASC CPL, which creates new opportunities for device manufacturers, including pulsed field ablation (PFA) competitors, and providers in the cardiovascular space.

Balancing Reimbursement Realities And Therapeutic Considerations

While ASC reimbursement rates remain lower than hospital rates, capital requirements and procedural complexity are often similar across settings. This creates operational challenges for providers and underscores the need for careful financial planning. Adoption patterns will also vary considerably by therapy area, influencing device utilization and prioritization of procedures within ASCs.

Post-Acute Market Report Highlights Concerns Over Closures

Growth continues in the $252.1 billion-dollar post-acute market as America's population ages. Occupancy rates for post-acute facilities have grown since 2021. Questions of affordability of care have arisen recently, as the annual cost of a private nursing home room rose 9% from 2023 to 2024.

Closures Growing, Affordability Suffers

Rising inflation and declining reimbursement rates continue to put financial pressure on skilled nursing facilities. Between February 2020 and July 2024, over 770 nursing homes closed. An additional 20% of surveyed nursing home executives reported the closure of a nursing home wing, unit, or floor due to labor shortages. 250

Mergers Accelerating Over Prior Years

Skilled nursing facilities experienced over 250 mergers and acquisitions in 2024. Analyst attribute these mergers to the slight decline in interest rates. The majority of mergers (53%) involve one for-profit senior living center acquiring a similar for-profit entity.

Focus On Patient Acuity

Nursing homes are pursuing high acuity patients. Nearly half of SNF leaders say that bringing in more acutely ill patients is a top strategic priority – more than any other business initiative. An increasing number of patients live with complex chronic illnesses.

Rising Specialty Services

Mergers and acquisitions of skilled nursing facilities in 2024

770

Nursing homes closed between 2020 and 2024

106.9

Average beds in a certified nursing facility in 2025

Corresponding with the rise in high-acuity patients is an increase in specialty services. More than 38% of SNF leaders cite dialysis and memory care as specialty services they are offering as part of their overall strategic priorities.

Technology Investments

Almost 60% of providers plan to increase profitability by investing in new technology. Senior living executives are prioritizing investments in data analytics tools, wander management systems, and electronic medical records. Advances in artificial intelligence and robotics are also promising fields to enhance post-acute care.

Three Big Questions For 2026

How Will Tariff Policy Change In 2026?

Trade and tariff policy was the biggest policy change of 2025. This will continue with new urgency and uncertainty in 2026. With the Supreme Court invalidating reciprocal tariffs, new legal authorities will be deployed by President Trump. Meanwhile, the Commerce Department continues its investigation into national security tariffs on medical products. The medical supply chain needs clarity and certainty on tariff policy.

What Can Be Done To Increase Domestic Manufacturing?

Increasing domestic medical manufacturing is one aspect of strengthening supply chain resilience. The nearshoring and re-shoring of medical manufacturing has increased since COVID. New regulatory policies, such as reimbursement for providers that used domestic medical products, are currently under consideration. In 2026, HIDA is working with federal partners to develop policies that promote domestic manufacturing. These will be informed by member interviews, workshops and market surveys, with a white paper released in September.

How Will Midterm Elections Impact Policy?

Legislative productivity traditionally slows down in an election year, as elected officials from both parties present themselves to the voters – but legislative scrutiny does not. Issues of affordability have dominated political debates, which has focused attention on ways to contain costs across the healthcare system. A record number of Congressional retirements and unprecedented redistricting have introduced additional uncertainty into the political picture. HIDA continues to advocate in a bipartisan fashion for the medical supply chain.

Kelley Moffett Charts a Clear Path Forward for Healthcare Distribution

"HIDA's mission – advancing the essential role of distribution in a high-performing healthcare industry – has never been more important or more challenging."

At the Streamlining Healthcare Expo & Business Exchange, Kelley Moffett – the 2026 Chair of the HIDA Board of Directors – stepped to the podium with a clear message: the ground beneath the healthcare supply chain is still shifting.

Moffett opened with a moment from an unglamorous Labor Day road trip, driving through rural Massachusetts with her children. When they spotted a Cardinal Health truck, debate ensued. Was it delivering products to doctors — or helping patients who needed feeding tubes so they can eat? Moffett’s answer was simple: both. In that exchange, she found a plainspoken truth that often gets lost in industry language. Distributors deliver what clinicians need. Manufacturers create what helps patients heal. The work, she reminded the room, is both practical and deeply human.

That shared mission has been stress-tested from every direction. Moffett discussed the realities of recent years—pandemic disruptions, inflation, PPE whiplash, port delays, regulatory changes, artificial intelligence, tariffs—listing them with humor that landed precisely because the strain was real. Volatility is no longer episodic. It is constant.

Yet complexity, in Moffett’s telling, has brought clarity. The industry’s task is no longer ambiguous. It must remain agile and resilient while making the flow of medical products seamless for both customers and patients. To meet that challenge, she distilled HIDA’s work into four priorities.

• Partnership means tearing down silos across the supply chain.

• Education means equipping members to anticipate change rather than chase it.

• Advocacy means showing up with a unified voice as policies evolve.

• Information—data that drives better decisions—is now table stakes, not a differentiator.

"When we break down silos across the supply chain and collaborate, patients and providers see the benefit of having the products they need when and where care is delivered."

Moffett closed with gratitude and resolve. She thanked the HIDA team and its leadership for steadying the industry through turbulence, then struck a tone of humility about serving as chair. The invitation was brief: celebrate the moment, raise a glass—then get back to work.

"We need to be agile, resilient, and make the distribution of medical products seamless for our customers and the patients they serve."

Healthcare Manufacturers Network Names Scott Hirst 2026 Chair

Scott Hirst, Manager of Corporate Accounts for Medical Division at Midmark Corporation; will serve as 2026 Chair for HIDA’s Healthcare Manufacturers Network (HMN). Hirst succeeds outgoing HMN Chair Erik Graaf. Vice President for OPM Field Sales at B. Braun Medical.

“Scott’s leadership fits precisely with the mission of the Healthcare Manufacturers Network to support the people who power healthcare manufacturing,” said Julie Berry, HIDA Senior Vice President for Conferences & Education. “He is deeply committed to developing talent, strengthening collaboration across the industry, and advancing the shared expertise that helps our members learn, network, and succeed.”

Hirst is responsible for leading strategic initiatives within the Midmark Corporate Accounts Team, overseeing high-value partnerships with GPOs, channel partners, major health systems and government healthcare entities. He drives national contract negotiations, enterprise growth strategies and long-term relationship management to expand market presence and deliver value across the healthcare continuum.

HMN focuses on leadership, strategy, and innovation, providing members with opportunities to connect and share knowledge. HMN hosts events such as the Sales and Leadership Forum and Town Hall Webinars to keep members informed about the latest trends and policies in healthcare manufacturing.

“Scott’s leadership fits precisely with the mission of the Healthcare Manufacturers Network to support the people who power healthcare manufacturing,”

Manufacturing And Marketing In Music City

While in Nashville for their Fall 2025 Sales and Leadership Forum, members of the Healthcare Manufacturers Network toured the distribution center for NDC in La Vergne, Tennessee.

Founded in 1953, NDC has evolved from a small buying cooperative of independent health care distributors into a unique healthcare supply chain company.

NDC serves the largest network of healthcare distributors in North America, with more than 1,200 distributors located throughout the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico and Guam. NDC also serves over 700 healthcare manufacturers and most major group purchasing organizations (GPOs).

NDC maintains strategically located distribution centers in Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Nevada, and Tennessee. With more than 685,000 square feet of warehouse operating space, NDC’s distribution centers stock more than 90,000 warehouse SKUs with access to over 130,000 SKUs from hundreds of manufacturers through both warehouse and direct programs.

During the tour, HMN members gained a firsthand look at NDC’s high-velocity operations, inventory management, and logistics capabilities that help ensure reliable, efficient product flow from manufacturers to healthcare providers nationwide.

The

Trump Administration has initiated 13 tariff investigations under Section 232.

Each investigation has invited public comments. The medical supply chain enthusiastically shared their thoughts on tariffs, with one of the most active comment pages on Regulations.gov

232 Investigations: Ranked By Number Of Comments

• Unmanned Aerial Systems: 650,204

• Trucks: 3,317

• Pharma: 967

• Medical Products: 816

• Steel and Aluminum: 579

• Robotics: 276

• Critical Minerals: 507

• Lumber: 291

• Semiconductors: 207

• Aircraft and Jet Engines: 205

• Wind Turbines: 145

• Copper: 94

• Polysilicon: 57

Medical Products in the Tariff Crosshairs

Medical products are increasingly caught in a rapidly changing tariff environment. With substantial duties already in place, the Department of Commerce’s Section 232 investigation brings new attention—and new risk—to a supply chain where additional tariffs could further disrupt manufacturing, sourcing, and patient access.

HIDA's Message To Policymakers

Existing Tariffs Are Working

According to a survey of HIDA members, 42% of HIDA members already manufacture a majority of their products domestically, 52% of medical manufacturers plan to increase their own domestic manufacturing in the next two years, and 67% see domestic manufacturing increasing industry-wide in the next five years. Furthermore, 85% of members surveyed see medical manufacturing is already exiting China for friendlier jurisdictions.

Increased Input Costs

Tariffs paradoxically increase costs for domestic manufacturing. Almost 98% of U.S. medical manufacturers rely on imported raw materials or components in whole or in part. So Section 232 and reciprocal tariffs on key inputs simply increase costs rather than encourage more domestic manufacturing.

Weakened Resilience

U.S. manufacturing cannot by itself secure the supply chain. Concentration of medical product manufacturing within a single nation, including within the United States, creates supply chain vulnerabilities. The recent examples of IV saline solution and infant formula illustrate that domestic manufacturing, by itself, is insufficient to achieve resiliency.

"Additional tariffs on medical products will have the unintended effect of slowing the drive towards a more resilient healthcare supply chain."

Strengthening Preparedness: ASPR–HIDA Cooperative Agreement Enters Year Five

Public-private partnerships have been a hallmark of HIDA's strategy to bolster resilience and preparedness. HIDA’s ongoing partnership with HHS Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) to strengthen the nation’s medical supply chain is supported by a five-year cooperative agreement with the agency. As the cooperative agreement enters year five, the project reflects years of progress and look ahead to future opportunities for collaboration.

The Year Five Agenda is built around three key projects.

Advancing Domestic Medical Manufacturing

HIDA will publish a white paper in September 2026 outlining the policies healthcare distributors think will be most effective in promoting domestic manufacturing, informed by member interviews, workshops, and a market survey. For HIDA members, increasing domestic medical manufacturing is one aspect of strengthening supply chain resilience. Although there is broad interest in expanding domestic medical manufacturing, market forces have limited broad expansion of the domestic medical manufacturing base. Policies promoting domestic manufacturing could create more opportunities for a domestic medical manufacturing market and this project is intended to identify which policy or policies would be most impactful.

Supporting State and Local Stockpiles

HIDA is working with ASPR to facilitate a series of conversations on how healthcare distribution can collaborate across levels of government to integrate effectively with the existing commercial supply chain. There has been a growing interest in developing stockpiles of critical medical products at the state, regional, and local levels in recent years. These efforts are designed to augment the federal Strategic National Stockpile, with some policymakers reconsidering which medical products are best suited for the SNS versus more localized stockpiling efforts. manufacturing and targeted policies.

Convening Stakeholders to Build Resilience

Activities in year five will emphasize convening stakeholders to sustain dialogue and share best practices. HIDA will continue its leadership in key work groups addressing supply chain resiliency, shipping, and PPE and vaccine preparedness. These work groups are open to federal partners, ensuring consistent engagement between industry and government.

The Year Ahead In Washington: Bills To Watch In 2026

While legislative progress tends to slow down in midterm election years, the policy signals emerging from the final year of the 119th Congress will indicate how both parties plan to deal with healthcare issues in the future. HIDA is monitoring the following legislation for the year ahead.

S. 891: Bipartisan Health Care Act (including PAHPA Reauthorization)

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) & Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

S. 891 explicitly includes the legislative title on the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness and Response Act. The legislation would extend and improve several federal public-health readiness programs – strengthening the role of the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR), maintaining the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS), enhancing medicalcountermeasure development and distribution, and supporting state/territorial preparedness efforts.

The reauthorization of PAHPA influences funding, federal procurement, stockpile turnover, countermeasure manufacturing and supply-chain logistics — all of which can affect distributor inventories, contract opportunities, and regulatory expectations of readiness.

CHECK HIDA Supports

S. 998 | HR 2213: Medical Supply Chain Resiliency Act

Senators Thom Tillis (R-NC), Chris Coons (D-DE), John Cornyn (R-TX), Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO). Reps. Nicole Malliotakis (R-NY) and Brad Schneider (D-IL)

This legislation authorizes the President to negotiate “trusted trade partner” agreements for favorable tariff rates on medical goods and devices in order to strengthen U.S. access to medical supplies.

For medical-supply distributors, this bill is directly relevant as it affects international sourcing, import duties, supply-chain diversification strategies, and potentially reduces dependence on risk-supply countries.

CHECK HIDA Supports

S. 257 | HR 2444: Promoting Resilient Supply Chains Act of 2025

Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE). Reps. John James (R-MI) and Debbie Dingell (D-MI)

The bill mandates the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Industry & Analysis to establish a Supply Chain Resilience Working Group, assess and model critical supply chains, identify vulnerabilities, and collaborate internationally.

Because medical supplies (devices, inputs, logistics) are part of the broader “critical supply chains” the bill targets, distributors should monitor how the legislation may create new reporting, audit, or oversight burdens or influence sourcing/manufacturing incentives.

CHECK HIDA Supports

H.R. 1980: State Strategic Stockpile Act of 2025

Lead Sponsors: Reps. Buddy Carter (R-GA) and Marc Veasey (D-TX)

Reauthorizes and enhances a federal pilot program under the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) that grants states resources to build/maintain medical-supply stockpiles through FY2030 — including logistics, best-practice sharing, and coordination with healthcare and emergencymanagement stakeholders.

The law will directly impact state purchasing, reserve-stock contracting and turnover, which can significantly affect distributor demand flows, contract availability, and inventory planning.

CHECK HIDA Supports

Midterm Elections: Impact On The Medical Supply Chain

Like every year divisible by two, 2026 is an election year. HIDA is looking ahead to November's midterm elections, how they will change the legislative agenda in Washington, and what that means for healthcare distributors.

Wave Election?

Midterm elections tend to be referenda on the party in power – where the party out of power makes larger than expected gains. An historically large number of Senators and Representatives – more than 60 by early 2026 – will lead to a considerable amount of turnover in the legislative branch.

Redistricting

One trend that may mitigate the impact of a wave election is the unprecedented level of legislative redistricting. Usually done once every ten years (following the population census) this spate of mid-decade redistricting will change the maps and makeup of Congressional districts in Texas, California, North Carolina, and Missouri.

HIDA PAC

HIDA's political action committee had a busy and successful year, disbursing $14,000 to Senators and Representatives from both political parties. HIDA PAC is the only political action committee that exclusively represents medical products distributors on Capitol Hill. You can learn more about how to support HIDA PAC at www.hida.org/pac

With a commitment to bipartisanship, HIDA remains well-positioned to advocate for the medical supply chain –whether Democrats or Republicans control Congress.

Senator Bill Cassidy is facing a challenge in the Republican primary as he seeks a third six-year term. Cassidy is chair of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) which has jurisdiction over vaccine policy, nominations to federal health agencies, and legislation such as the Pandemic All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).

In Georgia, Congressman Buddy Carter is running in the Republican primary for U.S. Senate. The former Chairman of the House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee and the representative of the Port of Savannah, Carter has been an advocate for transportation and healthcare preparedness issues.

Mariannette Miller-Meeks is a doctor, a nurse, a U.S. Army veteran, and the Congresswoman from the Second District of Iowa. As a senior member of the Energy & Commerce Committee, Rep. Miller-Meeks has been a strong advocate for issues impacting the medical supply chain.

Retirements and redistricting have claimed prominent Democratic lawmakers supportive of the medical supply chain. Among them is Rep. Mark Veasey of Texas. Veasey has been a lead sponsor of the State Strategic Stockpile Act, which helps state preparedness agencies create medical storage similar to the federal Strategic National Stockpile.

New Regulations Focus On Domestic Manufacturing, Durable Medical Equipment And Site Neutrality

CMS Inquiry About Domestically Manufactured PPE

In January 2026, CMS sought public comments on ways to support a market for domestically made personal protective equipment through a new hospital designation and enhanced CMS reimbursement. Specifically, CMS seeks feedback on how a hospital could determine which proportion of its PPE is domestically made, what PPE products would qualify for the program, and how a potential separate Medicare payment would be calculated. Comments are due by March 30, 2026. There is not a specified timeline of a potential rule.

Physician Fee Schedule Supports Site Neutrality

2026 also brings the first increase to the physician fee schedule (PFS) in five years, with CMS providing a 3.77% conversion factor increase for providers participating in Medicare’s AdvanceAlternative Payment Model (A-APM) and 3.26% conversion factor increase for non-A-APM providers. Additionally, the 2026 PFS rule support reimbursement site neutrality by cutting the indirect practice expense allocation for facilitybased physicians by 50%, which will provide higher payments for independent physicians than those affiliated with an integrated delivery network.

HIDA Relaunches Regulatory Working Group

Recognizing the pace and complexity of regulatory change, HIDA reinstated its Regulatory Working Group in December 2025. The group examines regulatory developments such as CMS reimbursement policy and state wholesale licensure, with an emphasis on shared understanding across the industry.

Revival DMEPOS Competitive Bidding

In late 2025, CMS announced a new round of the Medicare Competitive Bidding Program for Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetic Devices, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS). The new round of bidding is expected to start by January 1, 2028 and will include the following product categories:

Class II Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) and Insulin Pumps

Urological Supplies

Ostomy Supplies

Hydrophilic Urinary Catheters

Off-The-Shelf (OTS) Back Braces

OTS Knee Braces

OTS Upper Extremity Braces

Details on program registration and the new nationwide Remote Item Delivery program for these products are forthcoming.

Council Educates Stakeholders On Value Of Surgical Kits

HIDA's Kitting Council produced the following infographic to educate policymakers and key stakeholders on the importance of procedure and surgical kits for patient care.

In 2026, trade policy surrounding the review and potential renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement (USMCA) may have distinct implications for how surgical kits are assembled.

The infographic illustrates how surgical kits drive efficiency in the operating room and keep routine patient procedures running smoothly.

Events & Resources

March 10–13 | Bonita Springs, FL (Member-Only)

June 24–26 | Washington, DC (Invitation Only)

April 14-16 | Atlanta, GA

September 22-24 | Chicago, IL

Visit the Events & Education section on HIDA.org for more details HIDA’s Virtual Events are recorded and available on-demand so members can learn at their convenience. To register or get more information, go to HIDA.org/events.

Winter 2026 Must-Reads

A Selection Of Key Articles Addressing Changes Affecting The Healthcare Industry

Hospitals Likely To Face More Financial Pressures In 2026 | Chief Healthcare Executive

Hospitals and health systems should brace for more financial difficulties in the coming year, according to an executive at healthcare consulting firm Kaufman Hall. Hospitals are seeing solid volumes, and have made some progress in controlling labor costs, but are facing challenges with higher prices for supplies and a tight labor market.

Economic Pressure, Consumer Behavior Will Push Providers To Speed Up AI Adoption In 2026 | Fierce Healthcare

In the past few years, AI adoption to tackle administrative work in healthcare has surged, with AI scribes and tools to handle billing and paperwork leading the charge. As health systems learn how to implement AI workflows for those low-stakes use cases, leaders will be more comfortable to expand to other applications and workflows, industry experts say. On the physician side, AI-powered medical search platform OpenEvidence claims that more than 40% of providers have used its technology.

Hospital, Private Equity M&A Expected To Rise In 2026 | Modern Healthcare

Health systems and physician groups were reluctant in 2025 to execute deals that would have led to industry consolidation and rising investment by private equity firms. Dealmaking is expected to increase next year now that hospitals and physician groups have a clearer picture of how new federal and state policies could impact their businesses. New health system and physician group CEOs are mapping out their visions and growth strategies, potentially including new merger partners.

MRI Data Suggest COVID Likely Affects The Neurological Health Of Everyone | Radiology Business

Physicians' stress and anxiety have returned to pandemic levels, according to a national survey from The Physicians Foundation. Nearly six in ten physicians (57%) reported feelings of anger, tearfulness, or anxiety during the last year. This figure is up from about half of physicians in 2024 and 2023 but is similar to findings in 2022 and 2021.

Positive Lending Trends Reveal Cautious Optimism For Skilled Nursing | McKnight’s Long-Term Care News

Cautious optimism reigned during the first half of 2025, as lending trends in the senior housing and skilled nursing sectors remained positive, and at the same time delinquencies improved, according to the latest NIC Lending Trends Report. Permanent lending activity remained steady in the first half of 2025, although diverging trends emerged between senior housing and nursing care with the nursing care permanent loan volume reaching nearly $2.95 billion in the first half of the year.

Nurse Pay Trends Signal Labor Market Stabilization |

Becker’s

Hospital Review

Incremental improvements in nurse compensation and turnover rates during the first half of 2025 signal that the labor market for nurses is entering a period of greater stabilization, according to a new report. Hospitals and health systems reported year-over-year declines in vacancy rates and time-to-fill metrics, compared to 2024.

Study Finds COVID Genetic Material Often in Hospital Air During Outbreaks | Healthcare Purchasing News

A new study published in Respiratory Medicine found that COVID-19 genetic material was frequently detected in hospital air during community outbreaks. These findings underscore the importance of using high-efficiency air filtration and ensuring staff have access to respiratory protection during outbreaks.

CEOs To Keep Spending On AI, Despite Spotty Returns | Wall Street Journal

Chief executives of some of the world’s largest companies are all-in on artificial intelligence, though many haven’t yet seen meaningful returns on their investments. After a year in which trillions of dollars worth of AI investments buoyed global markets and the economy, 68% of CEOs plan to spend even more on AI in 2026, according to an annual survey from Teneo.

Industry Insights To Guide Your Planning

HIDA’s market report series covers the major healthcare markets including hospitals, physician offices, ambulatory surgery centers, labs, and post-acute care. HIDA members use these reports to track trends, benchmark performance, and inform their planning. The entire series is free with membership. Not a member?