Each year, the HLTH conference gives healthcare leaders a chance to gather and share ideas. The event also gives companies the chance to announce news — oftentimes about new products, partnerships and business plans.
Below are seven noteworthy announcements made during this year’s HLTH conference in Las Vegas.
Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs company will partner with TrumpRx
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During an onstage session at HLTH, Mark Cuban revealed a forthcoming partnership between his Cost Plus Drugs company and TrumpRx, a federal program designed to bring discounted prescription drugs directly to consumers.
TrumpRx, which is set to launch early next year, will function as a referral platform, directing people to websites like Cost Plus Drugs. Through this partnership, Cost Plus Drugs will provide its pricing data to TrumpRx.
Cuban said he hopes this collaboration will disrupt the traditional PBM model, which he has long criticized for contributing to the nation’s exorbitant drug prices.
Optum launches claims management platform
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UnitedHealth Group subsidiary Optum unveiled an AI-powered real-time claims management platform called Optum Real. The system is designed to reduce friction between providers and payers during claims submission and reimbursement processes.
The platform’s goal is to allow providers to instantly verify details about patients’ benefits and coverage, therefore reducing the guesswork and delays that providers typically face when trying to get paid.
Cedar rolls out new tools to help people afford care
Healthcare payments startup Cedar introduced Cedar Cover, a digital platform aimed at helping patients access Medicaid coverage and financial assistance. The platform — which integrates with hospital billing workflows — helps identify patients’ potential Medicaid eligibility, assists with their enrollment, manages their renewals and connects them to co-pay support for medications.
Given the recent Medicaid cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, Cedar’s new system is meant to mitigate the harm on patients and providers by decreasing uncompensated care costs. Early adopters of Cedar Cover include Novant Health, Baystate Health and The Iowa Clinic.
Oscar Health creates menopause-focused ACA plan
Oscar Health debuted a new Affordable Care Act plan called HelloMeno. The New York-based payer developed the plan in collaboration with Elektra Health, a virtual provider of menopause care.
Tailored for women navigating menopause, HelloMeno offers zero-copay primary care, gynecological and behavioral health visits, as well as no-cost labs, hormone therapy, insomnia medications and bone density scans.
AMA unveils new center for digital health and AI
The American Medical Association launched a new center aimed at giving physicians a stronger voice in shaping how digital health tools and AI technologies are deployed in clinical care.
The center seeks to help shape policies and regulations around digital health technology, as well as find better ways to integrate these tools into clinical workflows. Other goals include providing education and training to clinicians about how to use AI tools and fostering collaboration across industries — including with tech companies, payers, government and researchers.
Knownwell snags $25 million
Knownwell closed a $25 million funding round led by CVS Health Ventures. The startup offers metabolic health services, primary care, nutrition counseling and behavioral health care — and also prescribes GLP-1s when considered appropriate. It provides virtual care nationwide, as well as in person care at its clinics in the Atlanta, Boston, Chicago and Dallas areas.
With its new capital, the startup will focus on expanding care, both by adding additional clinics and growing its virtual care team.
Highmark Health teams up with Noom
Highmark Health, the Pittsburgh-based parent company of payer Highmark and health system Allegheny Health Network, partnered with digital weight loss company Noom. They will offer Noom’s weight management and behavioral health programs to nearly 2 million eligible Highmark members starting next year.
The program is designed to leverage AI tools and behavior‑science techniques, such as food logging, body scan technologies and peer support communities, to help members develop healthy habits rather than just treat disease. The benefit will be available at no additional cost for Highmark’s eligible members.
Photo: HLTH