The digital health landscape is witnessing significant progress in the realms of artificial intelligence (AI) and value-based care, as highlighted in Rock Health’s “Digital Health at the Turn of 2024” report. Despite these developments, the report underscores the ongoing struggle for large-scale adoption in these pivotal areas, contrasting with the robust momentum observed in the domains of big box retailers as healthcare providers and data interoperability throughout 2023.
Rock Health’s comprehensive analysis, drawing insights from extensive data, reveals a surge in activity concerning research, funding, and partnerships related to AI in healthcare and value-based care enablement in 2023.
The report, co-authored by Irene Golden, Mihir Somaiya, and Sari Kaganoff, emphasizes the critical considerations for AI builders, including addressing algorithm bias stemming from non-diverse datasets, ethical concerns, and the imperative of transparency for successful integration into clinical use cases. For stakeholders such as providers, payers, and life sciences companies, a strategic focus on AI governance and a meticulous evaluation of tradeoffs between platform-level integrations (e.g., EMR plugins) and specialized solutions (e.g., applications for specific features) are identified as central elements in establishing a sustainable, long-term AI strategy.
Additionally, the report identifies emerging trends in digital health, spotlighting the growing awareness of digital obesity care, caregiver solutions, and companies emphasizing food as medicine, exemplified by Instacart.
Projections indicate that Medicare Advantage plans will continue to lead the charge in adopting food as medicine, while the caregiving-focused market is expected to expand further, driven by the escalating challenges faced by caregivers amid changing macroeconomic conditions.
Looking ahead to 2024, the authors anticipate a period of recalibration and adjustment following the transitional phase of digital health in 2023. The report suggests that major market developments will persist along the innovation maturity curve, posing critical questions for industry leaders. These include determining the necessary capabilities and partnerships to keep pace with table-stakes innovation, capitalizing on emerging opportunities as early movers, and strategically positioning existing businesses and assets for sustained growth in challenging market conditions.
