Scott Becker - The Biggest Issues Shaping U.S. Healthcare Heading Into 2026

In this episode, John Meier, CEO of Aurora Charter Oak Behavioral Health Hospital, discusses his career path, key trends shaping behavioral health, and the impact of new California nursing staffing ratios. He also shares leadership lessons, optimism for expanded access to care, and what it takes to lead through rapid change.

In this episode, Thomas Carey, PharmD, Senior Director, Pharmacy Services, UW Northern Illinois, shares how the organization elevated its Med to Bed discharge program using multidisciplinary coordination, driving a nearly 30% reduction in 30-day readmissions. He also discusses agility in 340B compliance, leveraging learners, and the future of pharmacy growth through technology, automation, and workforce investment.

In this episode,Caswell Samms III, Executive Vice President and CFO of Nemours Children’s Health, discusses financial priorities for 2026, including purposeful growth, Medicaid reimbursement pressures, and strategic investments in maternal care and virtual health. He also shares how CFOs must lead with agility, clinical insight, and mission focus in an uncertain healthcare landscape.

In this episode, Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director at Becker’s Healthcare, breaks down the latest trends in the payer landscape, including pharmacy benefit management, health system cost pressures, and Anthem’s new 10% penalty on out-of-network claims. He also highlights the recent debate between Mark Cuban and PBM leaders on industry transparency and rising pharmaceutical costs.

In this episode,  Scott Becker outlines the eight biggest issues shaping U.S. healthcare as the industry heads into 2026, including physician shortages, rising costs, payer power, and more.

This episode recorded live at the 10th Annual Health IT + Digital Health + RCM Annual Meeting features Nabile M. Safdar, Chief AI Officer, Emory Healthcare. He discusses how Emory is leveraging AI across clinical, operational, and patient-facing applications, and shares strategies for governance, adoption, and safely integrating advanced AI tools into healthcare workflows.

This episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, features Amy Lee, MJ, MBA, MBHA, FACMPE, President and COO of Nantucket Cottage Hospital/Mass General Brigham. She discusses the unique challenges of delivering care on an island, from workforce housing to telehealth partnerships, and how innovation and community support sustain high-quality care in a remote setting.In collaboration with R1.

In this episode, Alan Condon, Editor in Chief, and Laura Dyrda, Vice President and Editor in Chief at Becker's Healthcare, discuss major healthcare stories shaping 2026, including hospital mergers and acquisitions, competitive market dynamics, and policy developments impacting rural and independent hospitals.

This episode, recorded live at the Becker’s 13th Annual CEO + CFO Roundtable, features James Heilsberg, CFO, Tri State Health. He discusses how his organization is using AI, automation, and strategic growth to strengthen care delivery, support clinicians, and sustain financial health in a rural community setting.In collaboration with R1.

In this episode, C.J. Marbley, Chief Nursing Officer at University Medical Center New Orleans and Chief Nursing Officer and Chief Operating Officer at New Orleans East Hospital within LCMC Health, joins the podcast to reflect on how his organization responded to the New Year’s Eve terrorist attack at the start of 2025. He discusses efforts to expand access to care, initiatives focused on ensuring cancer patients receive the highest-quality treatment, and why staying grounded in the “why” of nursing is essential for resilience, leadership, and patient-centered care.