Despite nearly eight in 10 currently being engaged in AI projects, only slightly more than half of hospitals feel operationally ready to implement them, the 2026 Healthcare AI Trends report from Guidehouse found.

Jessica Brooks Woods, the outgoing chief executive, has been a longtime advocate for healthcare access.

Employers are prioritizing fewer, more critical hires rather than broad hiring plans, and expects activity to pick up as budgets unlock through the first quarter.

The truth is, even the most engaged plan sponsors can only exert so much control over healthcare costs. What they can control is how they evaluate and monitor their vendors.