3 Key Takeaways from ViVE 2026

Last week, I attended the ViVE conference in Los Angeles, an event co-created by HLTH and CHIME, that brought together over 8,000 leaders and innovators in health systems to connect, collaborate, and explore the future of digital healthcare.

The event centered around the strategic adoption of AI, moving past experimentation and towards practical, ROI-driven implementation within workflows. 

Here are 3 of my top insights from the ViVE conference that tech companies contributing to the growth and improvement of healthcare should keep their eye on this year: 

1. AI Integration is a MUST

The organizations that are seeing real results from AI are the ones applying it to very specific operational problems, not just chasing headlines. Practical automation and better decision support are where the greatest impact is being seen today. That means the time for chatbots has passed. 

The next phase of AI in healthcare will likely not be about new tools, but about how they are seamlessly embedded into prescription workflows, including medication selection, formulary alternatives, therapeutic interchange, prior authorization routing, and adherence prediction. AI tools should feel invisible while delivering high impact.

2. Transparency is no longer negotiable

No more estimating costs. Accurate pricing must be presented at the point of care. True transparency must include details like PBM benefit prices, deductible impacts, cash prices, the lowest discount prices, manufacturer coupons, pharmacy variability, and mail vs. retail options. As health plans compete on affordability, it's crucial that price transparency evolves from a compliance requirement to a competitive advantage.

Currently, 76% of providers cite cost as a significant barrier, yet many lack real-time insights into patient financial responsibilities. By embedding actionable cost intelligence into EHR workflows, we can help providers optimize claims and reduce prescription abandonment. Organizations that operationalize affordability within their existing systems will build more trust and long-term loyalty.

3. Maximize patient experiences by simplifying

In today's fast-paced healthcare environment, adopting simplified tools is essential to alleviate provider friction while maximizing financial outcomes. Pharmacies seek solutions to the hurdles involved in filling prescriptions, which often lead to inefficiencies that impact patient care.

The demand for technology that reduces unnecessary clicks, streamlines prior authorizations, and enhances pharmacy communications is growing. By simplifying these processes, we can achieve significant economic benefits, including increased fill rates, reduced leakage, revenue-share opportunities, measurable cost savings per script, lower denial rates, and decreased staff labor costs.

By prioritizing solutions that minimize steps and drive measurable impact, we can ultimately enhance patient experiences and support our healthcare providers. To learn more about how Buzz Health is operationalizing these principles across prescription workflows, visit buzzhealth.com.