Digital health expert Patty Riskind (CEO, Orbita) digs into three main barriers physicians may perceive in incorporating chatbots into their practice. Virtual assistants, such as chatbots, have changed the way businesses operate, and how people navigate their day-to-day tasks. From making travel plans to scheduling car services, digital tools are improving consumer access while conserving staff resources, but the medical world has been falling behind.

Also, Marc Bonaca, MD, MPH (University of Colorado), discusses the first 10 prescription drugs that will be subject to Medicare price negotiations under the Inflation Reduction Act. A critical step in the Biden administration’s attempt to drive down the high cost of prescription drugs for older people. While Medicare wields enormous power over the costs of other aspects of medical care, dictating how much doctors and hospitals can be paid for medical services, it has been barred from negotiating drug costs. That will change next year, when Medicare for the first time will be able to directly haggle with drug-makers over prices for the costliest medications. The negotiated prices will go into effect in 2026.

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