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

Prior authorization is often cited as a major pain point in healthcare—but it doesn’t have to be. In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Gourdine, Chief Medical Officer at CVS Caremark, shares how Caremark is transforming the prior authorization experience through automation, clinical rigor and responsible use of artificial intelligence.

Dr. Gourdine explains why prior authorization remains an important tool for ensuring medications are used safely and appropriately while acknowledging the burden it can place on providers and patients. She details how Caremark has reduced median processing times from hours to minutes, processed millions of requests at scale and proactively renewed approvals to avoid treatment disruptions.

The discussion also explores how AI is being applied in a clinician‑decides model, supporting faster decisions without ever being used to deny care. From specialty drugs to high‑cost therapies like GLP‑1s, Dr. Gourdine outlines how clinical evidence, affordability and patient outcomes guide every decision. The result is a more efficient, transparent approach to prior authorization that keeps care moving forward.

Prior authorization is often cited as a major pain point in healthcare&mdash;but it doesn&rsquo;t have to be. In this conversation, Dr. Michelle Gourdine, Chief Medical Officer at CVS Caremark, shares how Caremark is transforming the prior authorization experience through automation, clinical rigor and responsible use of artificial intelligence.
Dr. Gourdine explains why prior authorization remains an important tool for ensuring medications are used safely and appropriately while acknowledging the burden it can place on providers and patients. She details how Caremark has reduced median processing times from hours to minutes, processed millions of requests at scale and proactively renewed approvals to avoid treatment disruptions.
The discussion also explores how AI is being applied in a clinician‑decides model, supporting faster decisions without ever being used to deny care. From specialty drugs to high‑cost therapies like GLP‑1s, Dr. Gourdine outlines how clinical evidence, affordability and patient outcomes guide every decision. The result is a more efficient, transparent approach to prior authorization that keeps care moving forward.

Automation, AI and clinical oversight are cutting prior authorization times without compromising patient safety.

How CVS Caremark is using innovative technology to simplify the prior authorization process (Sponsored)

How many doctors are using AI tools in a healthcare setting? It’s a question everyone wants answered, and one that’s impossible to pin down exactly. But recent data may offer a clue.

Wolters Kluwer, which creates evidence-based clinical decision support tools for physicians, conducted a survey of more than 500 health professionals, finding that 40% have encountered unauthorized AI tools at work and 17% have used them. But a blanket ban may not necessarily be the best approach. The unauthorized use of AI tools is referred to as “shadow AI” in a report on the findings.

To explain what organizations can do to protect themselves, their providers and their patients, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Alex Tyrrell, CTO of Wolters Kluwer Health.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
57% of healthcare professionals have encountered or used unauthorized AI tools at work
ECRI flags misuse of AI chatbots as a top health tech hazard in 2026
Microsoft unveils Copilot Health as an AI health companion for consumers
OpenEvidence clinches $250M series D as AI platform sees explosive growth with doctors
Some doctors are using public AI chatbots like ChatGPT in clinical decisions. Is it safe?

How many doctors are using AI tools in a healthcare setting? It&rsquo;s a question everyone wants answered, and one that&rsquo;s impossible to pin down exactly. But recent data may offer a clue.
Wolters Kluwer, which creates evidence-based clinical decision support tools for physicians, conducted a survey of more than 500 health professionals, finding that 40% have encountered unauthorized AI tools at work and 17% have used them. But a blanket ban may not necessarily be the best approach. The unauthorized use of AI tools is referred to as &ldquo;shadow AI&rdquo; in a report on the findings.
To explain what organizations can do to protect themselves, their providers and their patients, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Alex Tyrrell, CTO of Wolters Kluwer Health.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/digital-health/nearly-fifth-healthcare-professionals-use-unauthorized-ai-tools-work">57% of healthcare professionals have encountered or used unauthorized AI tools at work</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/microsoft-unveils-copilot-health-ai-health-companion-consumers">Microsoft unveils Copilot Health as an AI health companion for consumers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/ai-and-machine-learning/openevidence-clinches-250m-series-d-rapidly-growing-its-reach-doctors">OpenEvidence clinches $250M series D as AI platform sees explosive growth with doctors</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-reports/some-doctors-are-using-public-generative-ai-tools-chatgpt-clinical-decisions-it">Some doctors are using public AI chatbots like ChatGPT in clinical decisions. Is it safe?</a></li>
</ul>

Shadow AI: Dos and don’ts for healthcare orgs 

The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted burnout in healthcare. While not new, the challenge was compounded by the toll of caring for patients on the frontlines. Burnout rates have swelled since then, and addressing them is not simple.

A recent Johnson & Johnson survey of more than 1,500 surgeons across five countries found that half experience burnout, and 43% have seriously considered leaving surgery.

To understand the implications of the findings, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Africa Wallace, M.D., vice president of medical affairs, surgery and medtech at Johnson & Johnson.

She also speaks with Angela Chaudhari, M.D., associate professor and vice chair of faculty affairs at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chaudhari discusses a clinician peer support initiative she directs at Northwestern and the role it plays in mitigating burnout.

To learn more about the topics in this episode: 
Nearly all doctors suffer burnout, survey finds, but many cautiously hopeful that AI could help
5 years later: A look back at the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare has changed

The COVID-19 pandemic spotlighted burnout in healthcare. While not new, the challenge was compounded by the toll of caring for patients on the frontlines. Burnout rates have swelled since then, and addressing them is not simple.
A recent Johnson &amp; Johnson survey of more than 1,500 surgeons across five countries found that half experience burnout, and 43% have seriously considered leaving surgery.
To understand the implications of the findings, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Africa Wallace, M.D., vice president of medical affairs, surgery and medtech at Johnson &amp; Johnson.
She also speaks with Angela Chaudhari, M.D., associate professor and vice chair of faculty affairs at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Chaudhari discusses a clinician peer support initiative she directs at Northwestern and the role it plays in mitigating burnout.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/nearly-all-doctors-suffer-burnout-survey-finds-many-cautiously-hopeful-about-use-ai">Nearly all doctors suffer burnout, survey finds, but many cautiously hopeful that AI could help</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/providers/five-years-covid-19-pandemic-how-has-healthcare-changed">5 years later: A look back at the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare has changed</a></li>
</ul>

A closer look at Elevance Health’s AI strategy

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