As we turn the page to April, we reflect on March’s most pressing healthcare stories. From regulatory debates and cost transparency to community trust in clinical research, we’re bringing insights that impact advocacy, policy, and innovation. This month, healthcare headlines were dominated by policy shifts surrounding Medicaid funding and work requirements, ongoing scrutiny of pharmacy benefit managers, and renewed federal interest in healthcare price transparency. In parallel, discussions on health equity and patient engagement gained momentum, underscoring the urgency to address systemic gaps in access and trust. Amidst these changes, Archo Advocacy remains committed to keeping you informed, empowered, and equipped to drive meaningful impact. Let’s explore what shaped the healthcare landscape last month—and what it means for patients and advocates going forward.

Key Insights:

👉 Share your thoughts: How should Medicaid balance cost control with care equity?

Coming up: We shift from Capitol Hill to your wallet—how insurers, pharmacies, and hospital systems are shaping the cost of care at the ground level.

Behind every policy lies a price tag—and behind every patient story, the struggle to afford care. From payer influence to pharmacy closures, economic forces are reshaping access and driving healthcare inequities. This section dives into where dollars are flowing—and where barriers are building.

Key Insights:

👉 Question for readers: How do pharmacy closures affect patient care in your community?

Next, we zoom in on the lived experience—how access, trust, and representation shape outcomes at the community level.

Equity in healthcare goes beyond coverage—it’s about trust, dignity, and inclusion. As the nation emerges from pandemic-era protections, millions are left behind in Medicaid rollbacks. Simultaneously, persistent gaps in clinical trial trust continue to undermine participation among historically marginalized communities.

Key Insights:

👉 Join the conversation: Has your organization (or how have you) seen a shift in Medicaid-covered populations?

Up next: From AI at the bedside to cyberattacks on hospital systems—how tech is changing the game in real-time.

Whether it’s generative AI helping clinicians or ransomware halting hospital operations, technology is transforming every corner of healthcare. This month’s tech insights reveal promise and peril—highlighting the need for innovation, readiness, and digital literacy. Patients and Advocacy organizations continue to battle for a voice to keep a seat at the table for the patient voice to ensure large language models and AI do not replace them. However, there are valuable spaces for AI in patient navigation and identification through analyzing patient insights via the electronic medical records within the health system.

👉 Explore more: Is your health system prepared for AI and cybersecurity threats?

Let’s close out with a few final reflections and an invitation to engage further with our community of advocates.

Information is power in a healthcare system undergoing seismic shifts, and collaboration is the engine of progress. As you reflect on this month’s stories, we invite you to stay curious, stay connected, and continue pushing for systems that center on patients and communities.