While much of the talk about healthcare this year has centered on President-elect Trump’s picks to lead Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, there is more to watch in 2025 than those appointees.

There are developments underway that will fundamentally shape healthcare regardless of politics. Healthcare is at a critical point, under pressure from rising costs, cybersecurity risks, AI questions, financial burdens, workforce problems, and more. At the same time, new technologies promise to improve outcomes and streamline operations and interoperability.

As is the case every year, some
developments will be predictable (higher costs!) while others will surprise us.

Here’s what I’m watching in 2025.