17 Nov Health Data News Roundup: The Pope’s Take on Healthcare AI; AI Ready Data for Payer Analytics; and Gartner AI Report

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Roundup from IMAT Solutions. As the power of data continues to grow in the healthcare arena, today’s care organizations need to be on the forefront of all news and trends to help ensure that their data analytics efforts deliver accountable and informed care. Each week, we will provide you with the actionable news you need to meet these goals.

Pope: AI Use in Healthcare Must Ensure Quality of Care and Relationships
Pope Leo XIV recently encouraged participants in a Vatican-organized conference to help ensure that artificial intelligence does not replace interpersonal relationships in the field of healthcare, according to the Vatican News.

How AI Ready Data Helps Payer Analytics Leaders Improve Medical Cost Performance and Network Value
Payer analytics teams are under growing pressure to deliver measurable financial and network results. In his latest IMAT blog, Mark Coetzer explains how clean, complete, and current data gives payers the foundation to improve cost forecasting, strengthen provider network performance, and accelerate value-based care insights.

OpenAI Considers Consumer Health Tools in Push Beyond Core AI Offerings
OpenAI is weighing building consumer health products, including a generative AI-powered personal health assistant, as the ChatGPT maker aims to move beyond its core offerings, according to Reuters.

Healthcare Players Refine Their AI and Tech Strategies: Key Trends and Takeaways from HLTH 2025
Health systems get real about AI, there’s building momentum behind agentic AI, and big tech players are focused on healthcare infrastructure, are some of the major trends and takeaways from the HLTH 2025 conference, according Fierce Healthcare.

Report: Payers Need to Do More to Demonstrate Value to Plan Sponsors
Amid rising cost pressures, it will become imperative for health payers to do more to demonstrate true value to plan sponsors and clients, according Numerof & Associates’ outlook analysis for 2026, which highlights the biggest trends to watch for insurers and other segments.

Payers Continue to Predict Medicare Advantage, ACA Marketplace Enrollment Losses
With enrollment now underway for next year’s Medicare Advantage and ACA marketplace plans, major payers are spiking prices and reducing benefits—an approach they hope strategically curbs growth amid elevated medical costs, according to those companies’ Q3 earnings calls, according to Healthcare Brew.

Gartner® Report: A Journey Guide to Deliver AI Success Through AI-Ready Data
Gartner has released new guidance outlining how data and analytics leaders can build the foundation needed for AI to succeed at scale. The report highlights how organizations can evolve their data management, architecture, and skills to support AI use cases with confidence. Gain exclusive access to the report here.