ViVE 2026: Federal Policies and Priorities Shaping Healthcare IT

At the ViVE 2026 conference, healthcare leaders discussed how changing federal policies and funding programs are shaping the future of healthcare IT, especially as organizations face tighter budgets, workforce shortages and growing pressure to modernize technology. With reductions in some research funding and planned Medicaid spending cuts, healthcare organizations must now focus on cost optimization, workflow automation and strategic technology investments.

One of the main priorities discussed at the conference was improving interoperability and data access across the healthcare system. Federal health IT leaders emphasized the need for better data sharing so that patients and healthcare providers can access health records more easily. The goal is to create a healthcare system where accessing medical records is as simple as tracking an online order. To support this, the government is encouraging the adoption of modern data standards such as HL7 FHIR APIs and the Trusted Exchange Framework, which allow different healthcare systems to share data securely and efficiently.

Federal officials also highlighted new policy initiatives, including expanding access to real-time prescription data so patients and providers can compare drug prices. There is also increased enforcement against information blocking, meaning healthcare organizations and electronic health record vendors must provide patients with access to their health data and cannot restrict access for business reasons.

Another major topic at the conference was the $50 billion Rural Health Transformation Program, which aims to improve healthcare services in rural areas over the next five years. The program will provide funding to states to support preventive care, improve access to healthcare services, develop the healthcare workforce, invest in healthcare technology and improve care delivery systems.

This program is not designed to maintain existing systems but to support transformational changes in rural healthcare. For example, funding can be used for alternative payment models, workforce development programs, technology upgrades and infrastructure improvements. However, the funding cannot be used simply to replace existing electronic health record systems if they are already certified, although upgrades and improvements are allowed.

Healthcare leaders at the conference emphasized that rural healthcare systems face unique challenges, including difficulty recruiting specialist doctors, limited infrastructure and smaller budgets. Technology is expected to play a major role in solving these challenges. For example, virtual care and telemedicine can connect rural patients with specialists located in larger cities. Healthcare organizations can also train nurses and local healthcare workers to use digital tools and medical devices so that specialist care can be delivered remotely.

Speakers also discussed the importance of partnerships between healthcare providers, technology companies and government agencies. Rural hospitals often have very small IT teams, so collaboration between organizations can help them share resources, improve cybersecurity and implement new technologies more effectively.

Technology leaders also highlighted that artificial intelligence can help rural healthcare by acting as a workforce extender, helping automate administrative tasks and support clinical decision-making. Improved internet connectivity, cloud services and cybersecurity solutions are also important for rural healthcare modernization.