Analyzing more than 1,500 cases of patients who got sent from an acute-care hospital to an ostensibly more-capable facility, Harvard researchers have found 1 in 4 such transfers could—and probably should—have been avoided. 

The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and other U.S. medical societies have collaborated on new recommendations that cover everything from preoperative patient evaluations to postoperative care. 

A little more than half a year after establishing a healthcare affordability lab, Yale University is out with freshly detailed policy prescriptions for cutting costs without compromising care.

The agency said the move comes after a May 2026 audit of Medicaid outcomes found that states are motivated more by a desire to check boxes than to ensure patients are healthy. Once completed, the new framework will ideally align financial incentives with care outcomes. 

Patient engagement expert John Deutsch says consumers are already used to “frictionless experiences” when it comes time to catch a ride or buy a coffee. Can AI bring healthcare up to speed?