Today on HITshow: AI, access, and affordability are under the federal spotlight today, while cyber risks and at-home care are pressuring providers to modernize. We're tracking Washington's aggressive push for AI adoption, a major obesity drug deal that could reshape hospital service lines, federal funding clarity on SNAP and Medicare claims, and the 2026 telehealth landscape. After the break, serious capital backing hospital-at-home care, AI expanding beyond radiology into rehabilitation, a cybersecurity warning about ecosystem vulnerabilities, and we'll close with a mental health collaboration that's making real community impact. HOST: RHONDA BROOKS ???? Federal AI Push — Anika Shah The HHS Chief Technology Officer is signaling an aggressive push for AI-driven modernization across healthcare, including a unified national provider directory, API-first infrastructure, and a potential app store ecosystem for health applications. Health systems need robust governance frameworks now to match the federal pace responsibly. ???? Obesity Drug Deal — Jade Romero Eli Lilly and the federal government announced a framework to cap certain obesity medications for Medicare beneficiaries at $50 per month starting in 2026, with expanded Medicaid options and discounted self-pay pricing through Lilly Direct. The deal has massive implications for cardiovascular and metabolic service lines and long-term volume planning. ???? Federal Funding & SNAP — Teresa Vaughn A federal judge ordered full November SNAP benefits funded while CMS resumed some claims processing operations. Food insecurity directly impacts ED utilization, readmissions, and pediatric/obstetric volumes, making payment clarity critical for cash-flow planning, especially for safety-net systems. ???? Medicare & Telehealth 2026 — Peter Betterworth The latest AMA summary details the 2026 payment and telehealth landscape, including sustained support for key virtual care flexibilities and physician payment adjustments. Virtual care is now permanent infrastructure—health systems should budget for telehealth as core capability, not temporary accommodation. ???? Hospital-at-Home Investment — Logan Stokes SteelSky Ventures led an investment in myLaurel, targeting acute and transitional care at home with virtual clinical oversight. Serious capital is backing hospital-at-home as core infrastructure, signaling that home-based acute care will become standard delivery model. ???? AI in Rehabilitation — Nate Collier New data highlights growing use of AI and automation in rehabilitation and therapy operations, offering mid-market hospitals an opportunity to use automation in post-acute and outpatient settings to relieve workforce pressure. Rehabilitation settings offer good testing grounds for AI tools before deploying in higher-stakes clinical environments.