What to Watch in US Health Policy Before the 2026 Midterms

What to Watch in US Health Policy Before the 2026 Midterms

As the 2026 midterm elections approach, healthcare leaders are asking whether this is just another policy cycle or a more pivotal moment in an increasingly complex and fragmented landscape. In this episode of PwC’s Next in Health, Glenn Hunzinger speaks with Kelly Griffin and Philip Sclafani about how shifting policy dynamics, persistent cost pressures, and rapid industry transformation are reshaping strategy across the healthcare ecosystem.   Discussion highlights: * Why the 2026 midterms are less about sweeping reform and more about signaling the direction of the operating environment * How affordability, transparency, and increased state-level action are shaping policy and driving industry change * Why healthcare costs continue to rise and why traditional levers may not be enough to bend the cost curve * How pharma, payers, and providers are adapting business models amid regulatory pressure and evolving market dynamics * The growing role of AI, partnerships, and ecosystem convergence in accelerating transformation * What healthcare leaders should prioritize, from policy intelligence and scenario planning to operating effectively in a more fragmented environment    Speakers: Glenn Hunzinger, US Health Industries Leader, PwC Kelly Griffin, Director, Health Policy and Intelligence Institute, PwC Philip Sclafani, Principal, Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences, PwC For more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.

Strategies for accessing funding and managing risk in rural health transformation

With $50 billion flowing through the Rural Health Transformation Program (RHTP), healthcare leaders are questioning whether this marks short term stabilization or a real opportunity to redesign rural care. In this episode of PwC’s Next in Health, Glenn Hunzinger speaks with Thom Bales and Jill Olmstead about how states are deploying funds, how accountability is shaping execution, and what sustainable rural transformation could look like.   Discussion highlights: * Why the RHTP differs from prior relief efforts, with funding tied to measurable outcomes and accountability * How states are prioritizing workforce sustainability, value based care, and regional partnerships * The role of technology, telehealth, shared data infrastructure, and AI in expanding access and modernizing rural delivery models * What successful execution requires across governance, compliance, milestone tracking, and multi state coordination * Why provider engagement with state strategies and ecosystem collaboration will be critical to success * What durable rural transformation could look like over the next three to five years Speakers:  Glenn Hunzinger, US Health Industries Leader, PwC Thom Bales, US Health Services Advisory Leader, PwC Jill Olmstead, Principal, Health Services, PwC You can access the full report here: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-policy-and-intelligence-institute/ruralhealth.html [https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-policy-and-intelligence-institute/ruralhealth.html] For more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.

2026 Healthcare Investment Trends

From the JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Glenn Hunzinger, PwC’s Health Industries Leader, speaks with Jeremy Gelber, Partner at Vitruvian Partners, and Claire Love, Principal in PwC’s Deals Strategy practice to explore where healthcare investment momentum is building for 2026, how technology is reshaping value creation, and what investors are watching as care models, consumer behavior, and capital deployment continue to evolve. Discussion highlights: * Where technology and AI are delivering near term returns by improving efficiency, reducing administrative friction, and streamlining care delivery and payment * Why women’s health is gaining attention as an underinvested growth opportunity, driven by unmet need, changing consumer expectations, and attractive long term economics * How regulatory uncertainty is influencing investment decisions, increasing the importance of scenario planning and flexibility * Where deal activity is expected to pick up in 2026 across healthcare subsectors, including healthcare IT, pharma services, medtech, diagnostics, and biotech * How consumer trust, access to health data, and evolving behavior are shaping future care models and investment priorities Speakers: Glenn Hunzinger, US Health Industries Leader, PwC Jeremy Gelber, Partner, Vitruvian Partners Claire Love, Deals Strategy Principal, PwC This episode is also available as a video on our website: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast/2026-healthcare-investment-trends.html  For more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.

Where will growth emerge in health over the next 10 years?

From the JPM Healthcare Conference in San Francisco, Glenn Hunzinger brings together Sunil Patel of Merck and Sumit Khedekar of Citigroup for a conversation about where growth in the pharmaceutical and biotech industry is headed over the next five to ten years. They explore how scientific innovation, global sources of capital and talent, and a more forward looking approach to risk taking are shaping the future of healthcare, and why this moment may be pivotal for patients and the industry alike. Discussion highlights: * Scientific innovation and unmet patient need remain the primary drivers of long term growth across pharma and biotech * Global sources of innovation, including China, are reshaping licensing strategies and competitive dynamics * Companies are increasingly willing to take calculated risk earlier in the drug development lifecycle * Value creation depends on entering assets at the right inflection point rather than waiting for fully de risked launches * Payer dynamics, pricing pressure, and evolving consumer expectations are influencing how drugs are developed and commercialized Speakers: Glenn Hunzinger, US Health Industries Leader, PwC Sunil Patel, SVP, head of corporate development and business development & licensing, Merck  Sumit Khedekar, Global head of Healthcare Investment Banking, Citigroup This episode is also available as a video on our website: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast/where-will-growth-emerge-across-healthcare.html For more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.

Deals Outlook 2026: What’s ahead for medtech

Join Glenn Hunzinger and James Woods as they discuss what to expect for medtech dealmaking in 2026, including why buyers are poised to return, how technology is reshaping portfolios, and where investors are focusing to drive future growth. Discussion highlights: * Medtech M&A is expected to rebound in 2026 as market conditions improve and capital remains available * Buyers are staying selective, prioritizing assets that support durable growth * Technology and data enabled solutions are key drivers of deal activity * Tuck in and bolt on acquisitions continue to dominate, with private equity playing an active role * Surgical robotics, AI, cardiovascular, and diagnostics remain areas of strong interest Speakers: Glenn Hunzinger, US Health Industries Leader, PwC James Woods, US Medtech Deals Leader, PwC Linked materials: * https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/pharma-life-sciences-deals-outlook.html * https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/medtech-deals-outlook.html * https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/library/health-services-deals-outlook.html For more information, please visit us at: https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/health-industries/health-research-institute/next-in-health-podcast.html.