The buzz around artificial intelligence in healthcare hasn’t waned, and for major companies to keep up, they must invest in key applications. For the biggest firms, that translates to hundreds of use cases in practice and testing.

At Elevance Health, that work is grounded in a key mantra: keep the member at the center. 

In this episode of "Podnosis," Senior Writer Paige Minemyer sat down with Ratnakar Lavu, chief digital information officer at Elevance Health, to discuss where the insurer is seeing success and how it’s building ethical guardrails for AI development.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
A look inside Elevance Health's artificial intelligence strategy
Elevance Health offers employees AI skills training in collaboration with OpenAI
ECRI flags misuse of AI chatbots as a top health tech hazard in 2026
CMS wants to speed up tech innovation and AI for patients, setting major goalposts in 2026
2026 Outlook: Setting the standard for health AI programs

The buzz around artificial intelligence in healthcare hasn&rsquo;t waned, and for major companies to keep up, they must invest in key applications. For the biggest firms, that translates to hundreds of use cases in practice and testing.
At Elevance Health, that work is grounded in a key mantra: keep the member at the center.&nbsp;
In this episode of "Podnosis," Senior Writer Paige Minemyer sat down with Ratnakar Lavu, chief digital information officer at Elevance Health, to discuss where the insurer is seeing success and how it&rsquo;s building ethical guardrails for AI development.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/look-inside-elevance-healths-artificial-intelligence-strategy">A look inside Elevance Health's artificial intelligence strategy</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/elevance-health-offers-employees-ai-skills-training-collaboration-openai">Elevance Health offers employees AI skills training in collaboration with OpenAI</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/ecri-flags-misuse-ai-chatbots-top-health-tech-hazard-2026">ECRI flags misuse of AI chatbots as a top health tech hazard in 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/cms-trying-speed-tech-innovation-and-ai-patients-major-goalposts-set-2026">CMS wants to speed up tech innovation and AI for patients, setting major goalposts in 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/2026-outlook-setting-standard-health-ai-programs">2026 Outlook: Setting the standard for health AI programs</a></li>
</ul>

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

Podnosis

Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.

A closer look at Elevance Health’s AI strategy

Colorectal cancer rates are rising rapidly among young people worldwide. Experts expect it to become the leading cause of cancer death among people ages 20 to 49 by 2030. Younger patients are also more likely to be diagnosed at later stages.

In 2019, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute launched its Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center. The center is pioneering a specialized model of care to address and study the unique needs of younger cancer patients.

To break down the clinical and research offerings at the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, senior writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks to Kimmie Ng, M.D., the center’s founding director. Ng is also associate chief of GI Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School. 

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 


More patients are surviving cancer, but incident rates rising among women and younger adults: ACS report


As colorectal cancer patients get younger, governments need to boost awareness, screening: report
Cancer death rate continues to decline but new cases expected to top 2 million this year, study finds

Colorectal cancer rates are rising rapidly among young people worldwide. Experts expect it to become the <a href="https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9327138/">leading cause</a> of cancer death among people ages 20 to 49 by 2030. Younger patients are also <a href="https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2024/for-younger-adults-a-colorectal-cancer-diagnosis-impacts-their-lives-much-differently-than-older-adults/">more likely</a> to be diagnosed at later stages.
In 2019, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute launched its Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center. The center is pioneering a specialized model of care to address and study the unique needs of younger cancer patients.
To break down the clinical and research offerings at the Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center, senior writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks to Kimmie Ng, M.D., the center&rsquo;s founding director. Ng is also associate chief of GI Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.&nbsp;
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/acs-annual-report-cancer-mortality-down-overall-incidence-rise-women">More patients are surviving cancer, but incident rates rising among women and younger adults: ACS report</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.fiercepharma.com/marketing/colorectal-cancer-patients-get-younger-governments-must-boost-awareness-screening-report">As colorectal cancer patients get younger, governments need to boost awareness, screening: report</a>
</li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/cancer-death-rate-continues-decline-new-cases-expected-top-2-million-year-study-finds">Cancer death rate continues to decline but new cases expected to top 2 million this year, study finds</a></li>
</ul>

How doctors are rethinking care as colorectal cancer shifts younger

With all the talk about generative AI over the past few years, the conversation in healthcare has largely shifted away from less flashy use cases, such as automating administrative tasks. But doing the basics well remains key to minimizing missed appointments, delayed treatments and lost revenue. 

PocketHealth automates nonclinical workflows for providers, from image release and scheduling to patient communication. Co-founder and CEO Rishi Nayyar argues that providers still have a long way to go before mastering this type of automation. Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Nayyar about the different types of AI, how advances in the technology have enabled faster integrations and what the future of automation could look like.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Physicians and administrators view AI as key to reduce professional burdens: Innovaccer
Economic pressure, consumer behavior will push providers to speed up AI adoption in 2026
Adoption of AI for hospital RCM surges, but cost, operational constraints slow progress

With all the talk about generative AI over the past few years, the conversation in healthcare has largely shifted away from less flashy use cases, such as automating administrative tasks. But doing the basics well remains key to minimizing missed appointments, delayed treatments and lost revenue.&nbsp;
PocketHealth automates nonclinical workflows for providers, from image release and scheduling to patient communication. Co-founder and CEO Rishi Nayyar argues that providers still have a long way to go before mastering this type of automation. Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Nayyar about the different types of AI, how advances in the technology have enabled faster integrations and what the future of automation could look like.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/physicians-and-administrators-view-ai-key-reduce-professional-burdens">Physicians and administrators view AI as key to reduce professional burdens: Innovaccer</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/economic-pressure-consumer-behavior-will-push-providers-speed-ai-adoption">Economic pressure, consumer behavior will push providers to speed up AI adoption in 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/adoption-ai-hospital-rcm-surges-even-health-systems-navigate-cost">Adoption of AI for hospital RCM surges, but cost, operational constraints slow progress</a></li>
</ul>

Have providers missed the mark on basic automation?

On January 1, CMS launched its latest alternative payment model: TEAM, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model. The mandatory program requires hundreds of acute care hospitals to participate in episode-based payments for five common, high-cost surgeries.

TEAM's goal is central to value-based care: improve quality while reducing Medicare spending. But the model has faced industry resistance. Critics argue it puts smaller, less-resourced hospitals at risk and should be voluntary. CMS maintains that the model builds on past voluntary programs and aligns with recommendations from federal partners.

To understand TEAM and what it demands of hospitals, senior writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with Jeff Gleason, M.D., the new chief medical officer of Navvis, a value-based care enablement company. He argues that hospitals that don't prepare now will struggle later.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Hospitals rail against 'inadequate' pay bump, mandatory TEAM participation in IPPS comments
Hospitals, health systems expect to ramp up value-based care in 2026, 2027
CMMI to cut participation in payment models, estimates $750M in savings

 

On January 1, CMS launched its latest alternative payment model: TEAM, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model. The mandatory program requires hundreds of acute care hospitals to participate in episode-based payments for five common, high-cost surgeries.
TEAM's goal is central to value-based care: improve quality while reducing Medicare spending. But the model has faced industry resistance. Critics argue it puts smaller, less-resourced hospitals at risk and should be voluntary. CMS maintains that the model builds on past voluntary programs and aligns with recommendations from federal partners.
To understand TEAM and what it demands of hospitals, senior writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with Jeff Gleason, M.D., the new chief medical officer of Navvis, a value-based care enablement company. He argues that hospitals that don't prepare now will struggle later.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/provider-orgs-rail-against-inadequate-pay-bump-mandatory-team-participation-ipps-comments">Hospitals rail against 'inadequate' pay bump, mandatory TEAM participation in IPPS comments</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/hospitals-health-systems-expect-ramp-value-based-care-2026-2027">Hospitals, health systems expect to ramp up value-based care in 2026, 2027</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/regulatory/cmmi-cut-short-payment-models-estimates-750m-savings">CMMI to cut participation in payment models, estimates $750M in savings</a></li>
</ul>
&nbsp;

A closer look at Elevance Health’s AI strategy

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