HIMSS ’26: CMS Health Tech Ecosystem Updates from Ryan Howells (#495)

HIMSS ’26: CMS Health Tech Ecosystem Updates from Ryan Howells (#495)

Author: Healthcare Rap Media March 28, 2026 Duration: 17:10

Live from the Healthcare Now Radio studio at HIMSS, Jared speaks with Ryan Howells, Principal at Leavitt Partners. Ryan recaps a series of recent announcement from CMS about their Health Tech Ecosystem, what’s coming next, and why it’s significant for anyone paying attention to the consumer experience space. 

All that, plus our newest shout out to consumer and retail brands working in healthcare. 

USE OUR PLATFORM TO CONNECT WITH HEALTHCARE INNOVATORS 

Healthcare Rap continues to be a top platform for thought leadership on consumer-centered health, and our new partnership with Healthcare Now Radio expands our distribution further than ever. Keep us in mind as you're looking for new, creative ways to tell your story to healthcare leaders. Request our media kit today at jared@ulteradigital.com. 

(#495) 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.


For eight years running, Healthcare Rap has carved out a unique and essential space in the audio landscape, consistently ranking among the world's most-listened podcasts. Hosts Jared Johnson and Zain Ismail, from Shift Forward Health, steer conversations that fundamentally shift the perspective on health from a system-focused model to one built around the individual's experience. Each episode digs into the practical innovations and emerging strategies that are finally bridging the long-standing divide between reactive sick care and proactive, preventive well-being. You'll hear from the founders, executives, and thinkers who are actively redesigning what healthcare can be, moving it beyond clinic walls and into daily life. This isn't theoretical discussion; it's a frontline report on the business of health, fitness, and consumer empowerment. The longevity of this podcast-hitting 500 episodes-is a testament to its relevance, offering healthcare leaders and curious listeners alike a sustained look at the evolving playbook for a more human-centered system. Tune in for candid analysis and stories that put the consumer's point of view at the very center of the health conversation.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Healthcare Rap
Podcast Episodes
How AI is Helping Us Understand Consumers' Health Behaviors (#506) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:08
Kristy Roldan, VP of Growth at MDRG, joins Jared to talk about the newest ways that healthcare is happening outside of hospitals, why outlier thinking is important in consumer research, and how AI is and isn’t helping us…
How Array is Connecting Behavioral Health Experiences (#505) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:12
Shannon Werb, CEO of Array Behavioral Care, describes what the digital entry points for mental health look like today, the downsides of investing so heavily in digital access, and what it takes to make virtual mental hea…
How Do Clinicians & Patients Feel About Prior Auth? (#504) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:13
Lynne Nowak, Chief Data and Analytics Officer, at Surescripts, shares highlights from their research on how clinicians feel about prior authorization, her point of view on responsible AI, and how it all ties back to bett…
Why Amenities Health Pivoted to Premium Memberships (#503) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:24
Aasim Saeed, Founder of Amenities Health, joins Jared for real talk about building in the direct to consumer health space, why he doesn't consider the current U.S. healthcare system to be patient-centric at all, and his…
How to Address the Patient-Tech Disconnect With Scheduling (#502) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 24:57
Rom Cohen, Co-Founder of Hyro, talks about the state of patient communication, Hyro’s new research on the topic, and how an unsophisticated approach to AI means lots of patients don’t get treated. All that, plus the Flav…
Wei-Li Shao on Omada's IPO & the Rapidly Evolving GLP-1 Market (#501) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:25
Wei-Li Shao returns to talk about Omada Health’s IPO, the rapidly evolving landscape of GLP-1 therapies, market complexities associated with AI-driven innovation, and what it all tells us about consumer behaviors. All th…
How Founders Can Partner With Medical Centers (#498) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:45
Frank McGillin returns to share key lessons for digital health founders to partner with academic medical centers, curated from his time leading The Clinic by Cleveland Clinic. All that, plus the Flava of the Week about R…