#197 - Maximizing Quick Wins in 2026 Healthcare HR

In this week’s Monday News Drop, Co-hosts Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan, along with ASHHRA Executive Director, Jeremy Sadlier, break down the biggest healthcare HR trends and policy changes shaping the road to 2026—what HR leaders need to watch, prepare for, and take action on now. From telehealth reimbursement cliffs to workplace violence standards and double-digit benefit increases, this episode arms you with a strategic playbook for the year ahead.

🔍 Key Topics Covered

1. The 2026 Telehealth Cliff
Major Medicare telehealth flexibilities expire on January 31, 2026, unless Congress acts. HR teams must evaluate which roles, programs, and services rely on telehealth revenue and prepare contingency plans. Telehealth remains essential for rural healthcare access, care continuity, and patient convenience—making this deadline one of the most urgent risk points for 2026.

2. New Workplace Violence Prevention Standards Coming
California’s OSHA will finalize its workplace violence prevention standard by December 31, 2026, setting the stage for national adoption. Even if you’re not in California, expect other states to follow. HR leaders should begin preparing now, focusing on safety protocols, staff training, and readiness for tighter regulatory oversight.

3. The Coming 10% Benefits Cost Surge
Employer benefit costs are projected to surpass 10% increases, driven by GLP-1 medications and catastrophic claim trends. Traditional cost-shifting to employees has reached its limit. HR must pivot to precision benefit design, using data to tailor plan eligibility, target high-cost categories, and protect affordability.

4. Physician Payment Cuts & Retention Challenges
CMS’s 2026 rule includes a 2.5% “efficiency adjustment,” triggering tension between rising admin burden and lower physician compensation. HR will need to rely on non-monetary strategies—flexible scheduling, administrative relief through AI, and culture improvements—to retain clinical talent.

5. Hospital at Home Stability Through 2030
With a five-year extension secured, HR should stop treating Hospital at Home roles as pilots and begin building permanent job codes, staffing models, and career pathways for home-based acute care teams. This is now a core component of the care delivery ecosystem.

6. The Employer Network Problem
As healthcare delivery narrows into high-performance networks, employees increasingly report, “I can’t find a doctor in my network.” HR must ensure access aligns with the organization’s own employee health plans and proactively manage communication around provider availability.

🎧 Why Listen?

This episode gives healthcare HR professionals a clear, actionable forecast of what’s coming—and how to build a strategy before the pressure hits. If you’re preparing budgets, workforce plans, or leadership updates for 2026, this is your essential Monday briefing.

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