Gist Weekly: September 11, 2026

In the News

What happened in healthcare recently—and what we think about it.

Indiana ends routine hospital diversion. Indiana recently became the third state to prohibit hospitals from diverting ambulances because of emergency department (ED) or hospital overcrowding. The state’s Department of Health developed the policy with input from hospitals, EMS organizations, professional associations, and emergency care groups. In a statement, the policy developers described diversions as “a temporary measure to alleviate crowding but could lead to unintended consequences on patient care,” and said they will work together to “develop patient-centered solutions” to ED crowding. Starting Sept. 1, diversions will only be permitted during disasters or infrastructure failures. Indiana joins Massachusetts, which prohibited diversions in 2009, and Rhode Island, which prohibited them in 2024.

• The Gist: Diversion due to routine overcrowding signals systemwide strain. “The ED alone can’t solve this problem,” says Roy Boland, vice president, Kaufman Hall. When one hospital diverts ambulances, others nearby may become overwhelmed quickly, creating longer transport times, tying up scarce resources, and increasing the risk that time-sensitive conditions will be missed, leaving communities vulnerable. “It just becomes this domino effect. And the unfortunate part is that the patient and the paramedic are often caught in the middle,” Boland says. Further, overcrowding is often “the result of inefficiencies throughout the entire care continuum,” says Tracey Szewczyk, vice president, Kaufman Hall. Hospitals can address these inefficiencies with flexible staffing, timely transitions, improved bed management, and earlier escalation of capacity concerns. Diversion may occasionally be appropriate, but routine overcrowding requires a coordinated, systemwide response.

And—what we’re following.

• As the number of measles cases continues to grow, a new study estimates the cost of each case is almost $60,000.
• A cyberattack disrupted Boston Scientific global operations, the company said this week, affecting its ability to process and ship orders.
• A new report on obstetric service availability found significant declines between 2010 and 2024, with rural hospitals being disproportionately affected.

Plus—what we’ve been reading.

Patients want more say about AI in their care. A recent Pew Research Center study found that patients want more transparency and involvement in decisions about how AI is used in their care. In the survey, published in August, more than 70% of respondents said it is extremely important for their provider to disclose when AI is being used, while more than half said they feel they have no input into whether it is used at all. More than 60% said they want more input. The findings shed light on a significant awareness gap: less than half of patients were aware of AI use in their care, and among those who knew, only 22% indicated they understood its use well. The findings come as the American Medical Association released its framework centering physicians in AI-assisted medicine, and more than 100 major technology companies including OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google called for collective action on cyber defense from AI-enabled attacks.

• The Gist: In a recently published blog post, Bill Gates poses a provocative question: as AI becomes capable of performing more tasks that once required human cognition, what should remain what he calls “Human Reserved?” Healthcare may be one of the clearest places to ask that question. “We are so quickly trying to evolve in this space to capture efficiency, and we are forgetting the patient experience,” says Elizabeth Mack, M.D., a pediatric critical care physician and senior vice president, Kaufman Hall. Dr. Mack explains that AI in healthcare must be “engineered with trust,” ensuring that patients remain aware of what is happening. For healthcare organizations, the Pew survey highlights the need for disclosure, consent, and clear explanation about AI-enabled care.

Graphic of the Week

A key insight illustrated in infographic form.

GLP-1 medications are profoundly reshaping healthcare, according to a new report from Wells Fargo. GLP-1 use increased to 15% of U.S. adults while rates of obesity and type 2 diabetes declined over the past two years, according to the latest Gallup poll. FAIR Health found that GLP-1 prescriptions increased 587% from 2019 to 2024, while bariatric surgery volumes declined by 34% just between 2022 and 2024, according to estimates from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery. As GLP-1 use reshapes how patients manage weight and chronic conditions, consumer preferences will increasingly drive care delivery models. Demand may continue to shift volumes from procedure-driven services like bariatric surgery toward medication management and nutrition support, requiring hospitals to revisit service line strategies.

This Week at Kaufman Hall

What our experts are saying about key issues in healthcare.

Tribal hospitals need substantial capital investment but face unique financing challenges involving federal funding, land ownership, sovereign status, and unfamiliar revenue structures.

In a new article, Kaufman Hall experts outline five steps to financing for tribal hospitals. Learn how early planning, right-sized debt, investor education, and multidisciplinary expertise can support sustainable growth.

On Our Podcast

The Gist Healthcare Podcast—all the headlines in healthcare policy, business and more, in 10 minutes or less every other weekday morning.

Coming up Monday, rural healthcare providers are facing a pivotal moment as federal funding becomes available to transform care delivery. Kenny O’Neill, managing director, Kaufman Hall, joins host J. Carlisle Larsen to discuss how leaders should approach the opportunity.

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Best regards,
The Gist Weekly team at Kaufman Hall