Stay up to date on the latest in health tech, digital health and health AI news with this weekly brief. Read below for news from the week of Nov. 9 to 13.
R1 announces ‘major expansion’ of Phare OS
Revenue management company R1 expanded Thursday its revenue operating system Phare OS with six connected AI solutions to bring agentic automation across pre- and post-bill healthcare operations
Four of the tools are now commercially available: Phare Auth, Phare Audit, Phare UM and a new Phare Denials module. Meanwhile, executives say Phare CDI and Phare Recovery are in early access with select customers—with broader availability expected in 2027.
“We’ve established Phare OS as the foundation for a different model of revenue management where technology isn’t measured by how many tasks it automates, but by the results it delivers,” said Joe Flanagan, R1 CEO, in a statement. “After decades of helping providers navigate the complexity of revenue cycle, we know what it takes to improve performance. We’re bringing that expertise together with AI and payer intelligence, and we stand behind the outcomes. This is the level of accountability health systems should expect from their revenue management partners.”
OpenEvidence launches free Access Intelligence tools for clinicians
OpenEvidence announced Wednesday the launch of Access Intelligence, a slate of tools built directly into its platform that allows clinicians to access affordability and coverage information.
Access Intelligence is free to all clinicians and can answer questions about availability and eligibility on more than 2,500 patient support programs, like copay savings and patient assistance, the company says. Other key features include:
- Allows clinicians to share copay savings and discount offers via Patient TakeHome
- Allows clinicians to download pre-populated enrollment forms or enroll directly on the platform
- Allows clinicians to access prior authorization materials
The company says the suite will “continue to evolve to best support clinicians through the complex affordability and coverage landscape.”
“Programs exist to help patients with treatment access, and prior authorizations can be won, but the process is so fragmented and time-consuming that engaging with it is nearly impossible,” said Ania Bilski, M.D., OpenEvidence clinical AI vice president, in a statement. “Access Intelligence is our commitment to helping physicians and patients close the loop of care, from identifying support programs to completing enrollment to getting a prior authorization approved. Choosing the right treatment should be the hard part. Getting the patient access to it shouldn’t be.”
Ohio State University, Microsoft announce strategic partnership
The Ohio State University and Microsoft announced Tuesday a five-year strategic partnership that aims to accelerate innovation across clinical care settings, education and research.
“Artificial intelligence represents one of the most significant opportunities to transform and improve how hospitals care for patients,” said John Warner, M.D., Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center CEO, in a statement. “Through this collaboration, we have an opportunity to help reimagine the future of healthcare as we bring together Ohio State’s academic medical expertise with Microsoft’s technological capabilities to accelerate the pace of innovation across patient care, research and education.”
Microsoft and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center are co-developing a smart hospital model through the partnership, while also modernizing clinical and research applications and workloads through the cloud, unifying data and using AI to support care teams.
AI can’t be licensed to practice medicine: AMA
The American Medical Association (AMA) adopted a policy on Monday that declares AI can be used to aid physicians and assist with clinical tasks, but cannot be granted licensure, professional titles or certifications to practice medicine.
Moreover, the organization said it will advocate for legislation that establishes a framework for physician oversight of AI clinical-decision making. The organization also is calling for protections for physicians when AI tools cause patient harm.
AMA President Willie Underwood III, M.D., said in a statement that “patients deserve to know who is responsible for their care.”
“Physicians also need the authority, oversight and liability protections to make independent decisions when AI is part of the care team,” Underwood said.
Clear launches 2 identity verification integrations in Epic
Identity verification company Clear launched Monday two integrations within the Epic Toolbox which will allow health systems to verify outside providers and prescribing clinicians.
The company’s CLEAR1 identity platform is now available through Epic Toolbox for EpicCare Link and electronic prescribing of controlled substances. The prescribing integration is available in Epic’s End User Authentication category.
“Doctors and nurses shouldn’t spend their shifts proving who they are,” said David Bardan, CLEAR SVP, general manager and head of healthcare, in a statement. “Getting into a patient’s chart and prescribing a controlled medication are two more places they no longer have to start from scratch. We’re using secure identity to make healthcare safer and easier for care teams, from the first day to the first patient, and every shift after.”
Ellipsis Health acquires Kouper Health to expand AI-powered care
Ellipsis Health, a voice AI care management company, acquired Kouper Health, a startup that built AI agents deeply embedded in clinical workflows.
Kouper’s AI agents work inside health system electronic health record (EHR) systems like Athenahealth and Epic to coordinate care from scheduling through discharge and follow-up.
The deal pairs Ellipsis’s “emotionally intelligent” AI voice care manager, Sage, with Kouper’s native EHR integrations and longitudinal patient maps to deliver continuous, connected patient care, according to the companies.
Ellipsis Health works with seven of the top 20 health plans in the U.S. and leading academic medical centers and integrated delivery networks.
Founded in 2022, Kouper has raised funding from investors including CVS Health Ventures, General Catalyst and 25madison. Its technology embeds AI agents into health system workflows and builds longitudinal patient maps that bring information from across a patient’s care into a more unified view. Ellipsis’ Sage can pick up from there with discharge follow-ups, medication adherence support and clinical check-ins by phone and text. Sage is used by nine of the top 15 U.S. health plans and has delivered up to 7x ROI for customers, the company said.
Sage is powered by a patented “empathy engine” trained on more than 3 million labeled clinical conversations. It analyzes vocal cues in real time to assess emotional signals and adapt its interactions. Through phone and text, Sage supports care management tasks including enrollment, clinical assessments, medication adherence and post-discharge follow-up.
Kouper’s team is joining Ellipsis. Both companies will continue serving existing customers under their respective brands while developing a combined product roadmap, with new offerings for health systems expected in the months ahead.
“Healthcare has enormous potential to benefit from AI, but the hard part has been making that technology work for patients and care teams,” said Mainul Mondal, founder and CEO of Ellipsis Health, in a statement. “We have extraordinary clinicians, but we can’t solve access and continuity problems by asking them to do more. Kouper brings critical infrastructure for making that possible inside health systems. By combining their native integrations and longitudinal patient maps with Sage’s emotional intelligence, we can help care teams extend their reach and deliver more continuous, personalized support.”