What’s new in 2026? Three health care trends to watch this year Image By HPN Staff Key Points AI is moving into everyday health care operations, improving diagnostics, drug development, and automation—while raising new safety, ethics, and oversight challenges. Federal legislation (“One Big Beautiful Bill”) is reshaping financing and patient choice, expanding tools like health savings accounts and adjusting Medicaid/Medicare protections. GLP-1 medications are transforming chronic disease management, pushing care toward prevention and long-term outcomes, but cost and coverage barriers remain. Health care in 2026 is poised for significant change, driven by technology, policy and emerging therapies. Artificial intelligence, federal legislation and GLP-1 medications are set to influence how care is delivered, how patients make decisions and how chronic conditions are managed. Understanding these trends can help providers, patients and policymakers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape. 1. AI moves from research to real-world care Artificial intelligence is moving from theory into everyday clinical care. Generative AI, robotics and synthetic health data are accelerating drug development, improving diagnostics and automating administrative and clinical tasks. Virtual hospitals and remote specialist networks are emerging, enabling doctors to support more patients without overwhelming local resources. Why it matters: AI can make care faster, more precise and more personalized. Its rapid adoption raises important questions about safety, ethics and oversight. Policymakers at the state and federal level are racing to establish guidelines for AI in clinical settings. How they balance innovation with regulation will affect costs, access and quality of care nationwide. 2. Federal policy shifts influence patient choice President Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is reshaping health care financing and delivery. The law strengthens Medicaid and Medicare protections for vulnerable populations, expands health savings accounts to give patients more control over spending and targets inefficiencies in the system. Why it matters: By improving program integrity and giving patients more flexibility in how they use health care dollars, the law aims to reduce waste and make the system more sustainable. Critics warn that certain coverage areas could face tighter restrictions. This year will be key for assessing whether federal policy can balance access, affordability and fiscal responsibility. 3. GLP-1 medications transform chronic disease management GLP-1 therapies, now widely prescribed for obesity, diabetes and other metabolic conditions, are reshaping long-term health management. These drugs are increasingly integrated into routine care and preventive strategies, giving patients a more active role in managing their own wellness. Why it matters: GLP-1 medications emphasize proactive, prevention-focused care and patient engagement. Challenges like cost, insurance coverage and long-term access remain. Still, their growing adoption signals a shift toward results-oriented, patient-driven approaches to health care. The health care system is entering a dynamic period in which innovation, policy and new therapies intersect. Patients, providers and policymakers may need to act strategically to make the most of these opportunities, maintain access and control costs. While the landscape is complex and constantly evolving, the trends emerging in 2026 point toward care that is more efficient, personalized and focused on patient outcomes. SUGGESTED STORIES Bringing sophisticated care to all Americans This is a lightly edited excerpt of testimony recently provided to the U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee hearing "Examining Opportunities to Advance American Health Care through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies." Read more Why Ohio needs the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact This is a lightly edited excerpt of testimony recently provided to the Ohio State Senate’s Health Committee hearing. On behalf of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), representing more than 42,000 licensed respiratory care professionals nationwide, Read more Health coverage vs. health care vs. health For more than 25 years, I’ve been responsible for managing our company’s health insurance plan. This is one of the largest line items on any business’s income statement, so it requires careful attention. As anyone involved in this endeavor will tell you, it can be a long, tedious a Read more
Bringing sophisticated care to all Americans This is a lightly edited excerpt of testimony recently provided to the U.S. House’s Energy and Commerce Health subcommittee hearing "Examining Opportunities to Advance American Health Care through the Use of Artificial Intelligence Technologies." Read more
Why Ohio needs the Respiratory Care Interstate Compact This is a lightly edited excerpt of testimony recently provided to the Ohio State Senate’s Health Committee hearing. On behalf of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), representing more than 42,000 licensed respiratory care professionals nationwide, Read more
Health coverage vs. health care vs. health For more than 25 years, I’ve been responsible for managing our company’s health insurance plan. This is one of the largest line items on any business’s income statement, so it requires careful attention. As anyone involved in this endeavor will tell you, it can be a long, tedious a Read more
