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For the first time, Robert F. Kennedy is going to face lawmakers as he looks to make the case to be the next U.S. Secretary of Health & Human Services.

The Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing for Wed., Jan. 29 to consider Kennedy’s nomination. President Trump nominated Kennedy to lead the federal health agency and said Kennedy is the right choice to Make America Healthy Again.

Kennedy has been meeting with senators as he attempts to lock up the nomination.

Many healthcare leaders have denounced the choice of Kennedy

 to lead the nation’s health department, which includes the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institutes of Health, and other agencies.

Donald Trump’s first steps on healthcare

his many public criticisms of vaccines and his lack of experience

Dr. Georges C. Benjamin, executive director of the American Public Health Association, told Chief Healthcare Executive® in November that he opposes the nomination of Kennedy to lead the health department.

“We do not believe that Mr. Kennedy is qualified to be HHS secretary, and do not believe that he should have that job under any circumstances,” Benjamin said.

The Committee to Protect Health Care, an advocacy group for physicians, 

 opposing Kennedy’s confirmation. More than 22,000 have signed it.

U.S. Rep. Kim Schrier, a Democrat from Washington state and a pediatrician, appeared at a 

 with other elected officials opposing Kennedy’s nomination. Schrier said she has fielded more questions from parents asking about the safety of vaccines and has had to correct misinformation about vaccines.

“Sowing needless doubt in the minds of parents and the citizens of this country should disqualify Robert Kennedy Jr. from this job,” Schrier said at the press conference earlier this month. “Make no mistake: stoking vaccine hesitancy will lead to deaths.”

Hawaii Gov. Josh Green, MD, an emergency physician, appeared at the press conference to speak out against the confirmation of Kennedy.

Green accused Kennedy of sowing doubt about measles vaccines in Samoa in 2019. Two deaths due to vaccines were attributed to human error, when clinicians put the wrong re-agent in the vaccines, Green said. Kennedy visited Samoa and criticized the use of vaccines, which Green said contributed to a “crash” in immunizations and a measles outbreak. Green went to Samoa with other doctors to help with vaccinations, which he said helped curb the outbreak.

But Green said he worries that Kennedy could do lasting damage leading the health department.

The health department’s secretary “has to believe in science, has to take these absurd biases away,” Green said. “Otherwise, you will be condemning America's children to disease and fatalities, and we healthcare providers will have to do all we can to clean up after that disaster.”

Republicans hold the Senate majority, and Kennedy has received support from GOP lawmakers. Kennedy's backers cite his focus on chronic diseases and raising awareness of the dangers of processed foods. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said he was impressed when he met with Kennedy last month.

“Bobby was thoughtful in his answers and sincere in his desire to work with President @realDonaldTrump and all members of Congress to make America a healthier place to live,” Graham 

 on X. “He has clearly done his homework when it comes to the state of American health.”

Kennedy has engendered opposition from some conservatives who say he isn’t fully committed to opposing abortion. Former Vice President Mike Pence, who served under Trump, has publicly come out against Kennedy’s nomination.

“I believe the nomination of RFK Jr. to serve as Secretary of HHS is an abrupt departure from the pro-life record of our administration and should be deeply concerning to millions of Pro-Life Americans who have supported the Republican Party and our nominees for decades,” Pence 

It’s worth noting that only the Senate will vote on Kennedy’s confirmation. The full Congress doesn’t vote on Cabinet nominations.

Four physicians, all Republicans, serve in the U.S. Senate: U.S. Sens. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.); Bill Cassidy (R-La.); Rand Paul (R-Ky.); and John Barrasso (R-Wyoming).

Paul has publicly backed Kennedy. After Trump announced the nomination of Kennedy, Paul wrote on X: “Get ready for health care freedom and MAHA!” (MAHA is an acronym touted by Kennedy: “Make America Healthy Again.”)

Cassidy, who is chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, said he met with Kennedy earlier this month. His committee will also hold a hearing on Kennedy’s nomination.

 on X Jan. 8, Cassidy wrote, “Had a frank conversation with HHS nominee @RobertKennedyJr. We spoke about vaccines at length. Looking forward to the hearings in HELP and Finance.”

Two former health secretaries have lambasted the choice of Kennedy.

Donna Shalala, who led HHS under President Clinton’s administration, 

 on X that Trump’s nomination of Kennedy was “shocking.”

“Kennedy is an unqualified, know nothing,” Shalala wrote. “He is dangerous to the health and well being of every American.”

Kathleen Sebelius, who led the U.S. Health Department under President Obama, 

 that the prospect of Kennedy leading the agency “is absolutely terrifying and people should understand how serious it is.”

In an interview with MSNBC, Kennedy said he wasn’t going to get rid of vaccines.

“I’m not going to take away anybody’s vaccines,” Kennedy said. “If vaccines are working for someone, I’m not going to take them away.”

Green said he worries that Kennedy, if confirmed, will discourage millions of Americans who are skeptical from being vaccinated.

“Millions of millions of people who are on the bubble … they will not get vaccinated, or they will delay,” Green said.

President Trump has chosen Kennedy to lead the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Many healthcare leaders oppose the pick and are urging the Senate to reject the nomination.

Topic

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., HHS nominee, faces first Senate hearing this week

More hospitals and health systems engaged in mergers and acquisitions in 2024, and many of those deals involved an organization in financial distress, according to a new 

There were 72 announced hospital mergers in 2024, up from 

 in 2023. For more perspective, there were 

53 hospital mergers and acquisitions in 2022

Nearly one in three hospital mergers (30.6%) involved a party in distress, which represents a record, according to Kaufman Hall, the healthcare consulting firm. In 2023, 27.7% of hospital deals involved a provider in financial distress, and that was a record, albeit a short-lived one.

Many of those distress-driven deals involved Steward Health Care, the for-profit firm that filed for bankruptcy and 

In addition, 2024 also witnessed a peak percentage of deals involving a health system divesting some of its hospitals, with some systems leaving certain markets. Many of those deals involved Steward facilities, but other systems shifted strategies. In 2024, Tenet Healthcare Corp. 

More than half (62.5%) of the hospital deals in 2024 involved divestitures, Kaufman Hall said.

Many hospitals continue to struggle financially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the hospital mergers offered more evidence of the difficulties of some providers.

The percentage of deals involving the smaller party with a credit rating of “A-” or higher fell to an all-time low, Kaufman Hall said. Only 2.8% of the deals in 2024 involved a smaller party with a rating of at least “A-”, down from 12.3% in 2023.

In previous years, many deals involving hospitals in financial trouble have been smaller hospitals, but there are larger hospitals in distress seeking partners, Kaufman Hall notes. In 2024, the average size of a distressed hospital in a merger rose to $401 million, nearly double the figure just two years earlier ($219 million in 2022).

The past year has seen some large mergers, including mega-mergers where even the smaller party in the deal has more than $1 billion in revenue. 

Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic Health System

 announced plans to come together last summer, and they completed their merger last week, creating a $10 billion system.

But Kaufman Hall says another trend is emerging, judging from the deals seen in 2024. More hospitals and systems are striking deals with much larger partners. Even some that aren’t exactly distressed are looking for larger systems to maintain their viability, Kaufman Hall notes.

Such deals include Northwell Health’s planned acquisition of Nuvance Health, 

. Northwell, New York’s largest health system, operates 21 hospitals. Nuvance owns seven hospitals, with four in Connecticut and three in New York. Nuvance has struggled with financial losses.

Risant Health, a subsidiary of Kaiser Permanente, 

, a North Carolina hospital system. The deal follows Risant’s purchase of the Geisinger health system in Pennsylvania.

Greg Adams, CEO of Kaiser Permanente, has said 

Risant is looking to acquire more hospital systems

 in the coming years. However, he has said Risant is not looking to acquire hospital systems in financial trouble.

“We’re looking for organizations that on their own can be financially sound,” Adams said at the HLTH Conference in October.

In another merger that’s gained attention, General Catalyst, the venture capital firm, reached 

a definitive agreement to buy Summa Health

 in Ohio in a $485 million deal. A subsidiary of General Catalyst, Health Assurance Transformation LLC, dubbed HATCo, and Summa Health announced the agreement in November.

While hospital mergers have risen for the third consecutive year, it’s worth noting that hospital M&A activity still hasn’t returned to pre-pandemic levels.

There were 92 mergers in 2019, and 79 in 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, although work on some of those 2020 transactions had begun the previous year. Hospital mergers fell to a record low of 49 in 2021.

California children’s hospitals complete merger

Many of the year’s transactions involved systems or hospitals on shaky ground. There were other noteworthy trends in mergers over the past year.

Hospital mergers rose in 2024, driven by ‘record’ number of distressed providers

Artificial intelligence emerged as one of the leading issues in healthcare and dominated conversations at health technology conferences over the past year.

In 2025, expect AI to remain a prime area of attention in the healthcare industry.

More than a dozen healthcare leaders and executives offer their projections of what to expect with the use and development of AI in the coming year.

They weigh in on how hospitals and healthcare organizations will use AI in their business operations and how AI technologies will be used in patient care.

Greg Samios, president & CEO at Wolters Kluwer Health Clinical Effectiveness

“I think as these generative AI technologies start working through their value add models, I think we'll see a bigger impact. Six months ago it was like, ‘What do you have that says, generative AI on it?’ Now we're at, ‘How are you applying that to your core proposition?’ I think as we go into next year, I think we're going to see more real value there and more demonstrable value there. I think we're seeing signs of it right now.”

Looking at how hospitals will be using AI in 2025

Ronald Rodriguez, MD, PhD, professor of medical education at UT Health San Antonio

“Artificial intelligence has the possibility to transform diagnosis, treatment, and patient care. AI will help clinicians make quicker, more precise decisions, enable more direct interactions with patients, enhance communication and provide personalized care.”

Nate Perry-Thistle, chief product & technology officer of CipherHealth

“Despite AI’s potential, healthcare organizations remain cautious about its widespread deployment, especially for patient-facing roles. In 2025, we anticipate a ‘measured adoption,’ aimed at demystifying AI, that will focus on supporting healthcare operations without compromising care quality. This means AI will be embraced incrementally—first to assist in data processing, workflow automation, and patient outreach—laying the groundwork for eventual clinical applications. This gradual, strategic approach helps systems build trust and confidence in AI’s role as a supportive force in healthcare.”

Shaan Khurshid, MD, cardiologist, Massachusetts General Hospital

"I think in 2025 we will see implementation of generative artificial intelligence (AI) language models (i.e., chatbots) for some aspects of routine clinical care, such as the preparation of patient communications, generation of preliminary diagnostic test reports, or summarization of patient medical records."

Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO of ABOUT Healthcare

“In recent years, the increased demand for care has placed unprecedented strain on provider resources, highlighting the inefficiencies of the transactional care delivery model. In 2025, AI-driven patient throughput will empower providers to deliver more accessible, efficient, and personalized care. These technologies will streamline workflows, integrate data, and guide patients to the optimal care setting, reducing administrative burdens and enhancing clinical decision-making. By improving engagement and outcomes, technology can support providers in aligning with value-based care goals and adapting to the evolving needs of patients in a rapidly transforming healthcare landscape.”

Kim Perry, chief growth officer, emtelligent,

“In the coming year, health systems will increasingly be called upon to scale quality and operational improvements across their networks, while simultaneously battling a very real clinician burnout crisis. By automating complex billing, coding, and documentation tasks, medically aligned AI will help protect revenue, reduce administrative load, and free clinicians to focus on patient care. Beyond financial impact, AI will close workflow gaps, streamline care transitions, and reduce readmissions, making it indispensable for improving system-wide quality, efficiency, and revenue.”

Stephanie Lahr, MD, president of Artisight

“Healthcare's next frontier will be shaped by computer vision technologies that enhance, rather than replace, clinical decision-making. Just as we've seen in other industries, capabilities evolve gradually and healthcare will experience a measured progression in AI adoption, with each advancement carefully balanced against ethical considerations and governance frameworks. The key will be ensuring these systems adapt to local healthcare environments while maintaining transparency and trust.”

Anurag Mehta, CEO & co-founder, Omega Healthcare

“In 2025, the healthcare industry will start to witness a dramatic shift in revenue cycle management as healthcare providers move beyond viewing AI as just a cost-cutting tool to embracing it as a strategic imperative for improving patient care and financial outcomes. The emerging concept of 'responsible RCM' will gain traction, where providers leverage AI not just to maximize revenues but to also create more transparent, patient-friendly financial experiences while ensuring accuracy and compliance.”

Chris Hartemayer, EVP of enterprise operations at R1

“In 2025, providers will rely heavily on AI to meet the dual challenges of operational efficiency and patient satisfaction. From guiding patients to the right care setting to automating revenue cycle processes, AI will create a more streamlined and responsive healthcare ecosystem. By integrating these technologies into daily operations, providers will enhance care delivery, reduce burnout, and build sustainable practices capable of thriving in a rapidly changing industry.”

Sandra Johnson, SVP of client services at CliniComp

“In 2025, the adoption of AI in healthcare will advance significantly, bringing more sophisticated applications in predictive analytics, personalized medicine, and clinical decision support. This evolution will drive substantial improvements in patient outcomes, operational efficiency, and clinician satisfaction. By focusing on workflow automation and reducing the time spent in EHR systems, we can reintroduce joy into healthcare, allowing providers to dedicate more time to patient care and fostering a more fulfilling work environment.”

“It is becoming more financially and administratively difficult to run a healthcare provider practice. Staff shortages and increasing regulatory complexities are contributing to an ever-growing administrative burden felt by practices across the United States. As we head into 2025, I predict that practices that embrace resource-saving solutions like AI-enabled ambient scribing, mobile patient engagement platforms, and tech-enabled revenue cycle services, will be better suited to face the business and financial challenges presented to them.”

“The increased use of AI and wearable technologies will only expand the capabilities of decentralized trials. Companies are developing AI-powered diagnostics that analyze biomarkers that more accurately reflect disease state that can be used for assessing trial participants’ data. AI can also detect anomalies in health data provided by smartwatches and other wearable devices, flagging concerning data to medical monitors to enable faster decision-making and responsiveness to safety issues.”

Dr. Mimi Winsberg, co-founder and chief medical officer at Brightside Health

“AI will be widely adopted as a time-saving assistant for clinicians. Most clinicians welcome AI tools and assistants to help with automated tasks and case note generation, and user satisfaction thus far has been high. These tools can help them spend their time with patients, rather than in repetitive administrative tasks. In addition, AI will improve diagnostic accuracy and predict treatment response. AI will also drive care insights directly to patients. As models become more refined, there will be greater trust in technology that actively supports both patients and clinicians, making mental health care more proactive and personalized.”

Eric Rock, CEO and founder of Percipio Health

"In the coming year, we are going to see the value of AI begin to prove out in a few specific use cases, such as population health monitoring, giving many providers and payers the confidence they have been waiting for to adopt AI technology. For example, many provider and payer organizations will begin using AI-powered applications to collect a broad range of health signals, such as device-free biometrics, brain health assessments and medication scanning. These will be used for earlier prediction of disease risks and avoidance of acute care utilization at much broader scale, leading to improved value-based measures that we have all been seeking."

Kengo Takishima, president and CEO, Baylor Genetics

“In 2025, artificial intelligence (AI) is poised to become an even more pivotal force in genetic testing and precision medicine, driving advancements that can reshape patient care. As the industry continues to generate immense volumes of genomic data at both individual and population levels, the focus will increasingly shift to leveraging AI to transform this data into actionable clinical insights. This will be particularly critical for identifying pathogenic variants and mutations that influence medical diagnoses, treatment planning, and policy development.”

Leaders and analysts offer their projections on how AI will be used in business operations and in improving patient care.

AI in healthcare: What to expect in 2025

 – While AI and health tech issues are taking up much of the oxygen at the HLTH conference, the election is on the minds of many of those in attendance.

In two weeks, and perhaps a bit longer after mail-in ballots are tabulated, voters will decide if Kamala Harris or Donald Trump will serve as the next president. The next occupant of the White House could have a big impact on the nation’s healthcare policy.

During a session at HLTH Tuesday morning, Andy Slavitt and Seema Verma weighed in on the consequences of the 2024 election and its implications for healthcare, costs and access. Verma served as administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Trump administration, while Slavitt served as acting CMS administrator under President Barack Obama.

In the 2024 contest, unlike recent elections, Slavitt said, “Healthcare is not the main event.”

Harris has made protecting the Affordable Care Act a key part of her campaign, which 

she highlighted at the Democratic National Convention

. Trump attempted to abolish the healthcare law while he was president, although he has said in recent months he wants to improve the law. Slavitt noted the law remains popular, and while it’s not perfect, it has helped many get access to care.

“It’s hard to find something that’s a whole lot better,” Slavitt said.

Verma said that Trump was focused on the cost of healthcare for Americans during his presidency, and he’d likely retain that approach.

“He was in favor of wanting people to have more health insurance,” Verma said. “The concern was affordability.” 

Verma added, “For both candidates, there is a larger concern of general affordability in healthcare.”

Harris has also made abortion rights a centerpiece of her campaign, and that’s likely been the single biggest health issue in the race.

The vice president said she wants to ensure women have freedom to make their own choices. She’s also pointed to women having emergency care delayed or denied in states with strict abortion laws. And she’s repeatedly referenced doctors being prevented from caring for patients in emergencies, even for women who weren’t trying to end their pregnancy.

“She wants to make things more affordable, easier, get rid of the red tape …. And she wants to protect reproductive freedom,” Slavitt said. “Those are the things we know for sure.”

Trump has said he views abortion as an issue for states to decide, though 

, he wouldn’t answer the question about whether he would sign legislation to prohibit abortions nationwide if it reached his desk.

Both Slavitt and Verma generally agreed that the next president’s impact on healthcare will depend heavily on the people they choose to serve in key healthcare posts in the next administration.

“It’s going to be more about the personnel in place,” Slavitt said.

Similarly, Verma said, “It really is going to be turned to whoever’s running the administration.”

The entire House and half the Senate are up for grabs in the election, and they could be divided with narrow majorities, regardless of which party ends up in control.

For that reason, Verma said, the dynamics on Capitol Hill will make it hard to get things done.

“I don’t think we’re going to see a big, huge piece of legislation around healthcare,” Verma said.

If there are significant changes in federal healthcare policy, they will likely come from regulation, rather than legislation.

However, federal agencies could face new constraints in regulatory policy, due to 

 in the summer relating to what’s called the Chevron doctrine. For decades, the court held that when Congress hasn’t spelled out its intent on federal law, courts should generally defer to regulatory agencies and their interpretation of statutes. The justices upended that precedent this summer.

Slavitt said that weakens the role of regulatory agencies.

“The spillover will be real,” he said. “You’ll see a more restrained set of regulations.”

He also envisions the possibility that agencies may simply turn to Congress. And he said that’s problematic.

“Congress just isn’t that good,” he said. “They can’t foresee the future.”

Slavitt said it could unfold in ways to please and anger different groups. He said it would be harder for a new administration to simply impose new work requirements for Medicaid, but it could also weaken public protections.

Verma offered a similar perspective about the difficulties with the new post-Chevron landscape, saying, “I think it makes it a lot harder for agencies.”

Federal agencies are likely to see more lawsuits, Verma said, including on issues “that we consider to be settled.”

Verma said a second Trump administration wouldn’t see any cuts to Medicare, saying, “He’s very protective of the program.”

She noted the increasing scrutiny that has emerged around Medicare Advantage programs. While there is some bipartisan interest in Medicare Advantage reforms, Verma said some efforts may be going too far.

“My guess is the Trump administration may look at that and say, did we over-rotate?” Verma said.

With two weeks until Election Day, Andy Slavitt and Seema Verma talked about what will change, and what won’t, no matter who wins the White House. 

Vanessa G. Ahern

Articles

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