A new survey of 70 healthcare executives reveals where payers and providers stand on artificial intelligence adoption, exposing persistent gaps in readiness as organizations push forward with deployment. The 2026 Healthcare AI Readiness Index, produced by MedCity News and Cotiviti, captures candid perspectives from leaders navigating operational, regulatory, and security challenges in the summer of 2026. A webinar on September 30 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. ET will review the findings.
What the survey uncovered
The index identifies the primary barriers that slow AI adoption across healthcare organizations. It also breaks down how providers and payers measure success differently - a split that shapes investment decisions and deployment strategies. For providers, clinical outcomes and workflow efficiency often dominate. Payers tend to weight cost reduction and claims accuracy more heavily.
Policies governing employee AI use emerged as another focal point. Many organizations are still scrambling to address shadow AI tools - applications that staff adopt without official approval. The report examines how executives are drafting rules to close those gaps without stifling experimentation.
Security threats on the radar
AI-assisted cyberattacks ranked among the top concerns. Leaders are reassessing their defenses as attackers use generative AI to craft more convincing phishing campaigns and bypass traditional safeguards. The survey explores how organizations are hardening multi-factor authentication and preparing for threats that didn't exist two years ago.
The AI for Healthcare readiness data arrives at a moment when both payers and providers face pressure to show returns on technology investments. The September 30 webinar will unpack the operational realities behind the numbers, offering a direct look at what's working and what's stalling.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
The survey data makes one point clear: AI deployment is not a technology problem alone. Governance, metrics, and security readiness determine whether an initiative delivers results or stalls out. For healthcare leaders, the gap between enthusiasm and operational readiness is where careers and budgets get tested. The webinar offers a chance to benchmark your organization against 70 peers who are making those calls right now.
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