Healthcare M&A, Market Shifts, and Policy Trends to Watch in 2026 with Alan Condon & Laura Dyrda

In this episode, Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director, Becker’s Healthcare, breaks down new prior authorization transparency rules and the growing scrutiny of insurer vertical integration, exploring what these trends could mean for costs, policy, and the future of the payer landscape.

In this episode, Scott Becker discusses major healthcare trends including hospital financial strain, cuts to labor and delivery services, Medicare Advantage growth, policy shifts impacting the future of care delivery, and more.

In this episode, Samantha Smeltzer, VP of Simulation at Orbis Education, explores how simulation is transforming nursing education by bridging gaps between theory and real-world practice. She shares how hands-on training, debriefing, and stronger collaboration with health systems can improve clinical readiness, patient safety, and workforce retention.This episode is sponsored by Orbis Education.

In this episode, Melissa Chase, PharmD, BCSCP, CPEL, Director of Pharmacy at Valley Children’s Healthcare, joins the podcast to discuss investing in new technologies, including robotics, to enhance pharmacy operations. She shares how these innovations support patient and staff safety, and emphasizes the critical role frontline team members play in delivering high-quality, reliable care.

In this episode, Jeffrey Cohen, MD, FACS, FASCRS, CPE, Executive Vice President and Chief Clinical Operating Officer at Hartford HealthCare, joins the podcast to discuss breakthroughs in outpatient care management and how data is improving safety and quality. He shares insights on HHC 2035 and the shift toward a more consumer-centric healthcare system, along with ways Hartford Healthcare is enhancing the overall patient experience.

In this episode, Benjamin Schwartz, MD, MHCM, President of Academic Delivery, Banner Health, and Patricia A. Prelock, PhD, CCC-SLP, BCS-CL, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at University of Arizona, reflect on a decade-long partnership advancing academic medicine, workforce development, and research-driven care. They share lessons on trust, shared purpose, and aligning clinical and academic missions to deliver world-class outcomes.

In this episode, Laura Dyrda, Vice President, Editor-in-Chief, Becker's Healthcare, discusses the rise of AI adoption, evolving care delivery models, and why health system leaders remain cautiously optimistic about the future. She also highlights financial pressures in rural healthcare and renewed investment in digital health and workforce innovation.

In this episode, Jeff Flaks, Chief Executive Officer, Hartford HealthCare, reflects on pivotal moments like 9/11 and COVID-19 and how they shaped his leadership philosophy. He shares insights on continuous improvement, team-driven culture, and the need to disrupt healthcare to advance access, affordability, and quality.

In this episode, Mac Boyter, revenue cycle management and Business Solutions Research Director at KLAS Research, and Josh Margulies, VP of Brand Advocacy, Suki AI, discuss how health systems can validate ROI and scale ambient AI from pilot to enterprise. They explore key findings on revenue lift, clinician efficiency, patient satisfaction, and the importance of strong partnerships and change management.This episode is sponsored by Suki.

In this episode, Meeta Gandhi, Chief Operations Officer at Orlando Health Melbourne Hospital, shares her perspective on human-centered leadership, building trust with teams, and developing strong workplace culture. She outlines five key practices leaders can adopt to stay grounded, connected, and effective in today’s evolving healthcare environment.Learn more about relentlessly raising RCM yield here: https://med-metrix.com/?utm_source=beckers&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=brand