The healthcare industry is no stranger to change, but the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA) — nicknamed the “Big Beautiful Bill” — may represent one of the most significant shifts in years.

If the projections hold, millions of Americans could lose coverage over the next decade. According to the American Hospital Association, more than 11 million people could be affected, including 3 million marketplace enrollees and 4 million more who would lose subsidies when ACA tax credits expire. The AFL-CIO warns that for families with employer-based coverage, annual costs could rise by $182 to $485 per person.

Now imagine what that means for healthcare providers: more uninsured patients still seeking care, more uncompensated services, and fewer resources to work with.

A Looming Challenge for Providers

The impact isn’t just about numbers on a spreadsheet — it’s about real patients.
Uninsured individuals are far less likely to seek preventative care. They often delay appointments until conditions become urgent, which means more ER visits, more complicated cases, and more pressure on already stretched care teams.

For hospitals and clinics, especially in rural or economically stressed regions, this could mean:

Rising uncompensated care costs
Widening access gaps for vulnerable populations
Financial strain threatening service lines or even the viability of facilities

In short, healthcare providers are being asked to do more with less.

Why AI Belongs in the Conversation

It’s easy to frame AI as just another buzzword in healthcare, but when used strategically, AI can help organizations adapt to this new reality. Not by replacing clinicians, but by taking on tasks that free up their time, lower operational costs, and keep patients engaged between visits.

Let’s explore a few ways AI can help bridge the gap.

1. Keeping Patients on Track with Proactive Adherence Support

One of the biggest drivers of preventable costs is treatment non-adherence. Patients miss doses, skip physical therapy sessions, or forget follow-up appointments. It’s a silent drain on both patient outcomes and healthcare budgets — responsible for up to $100 billion in excess costs annually.

AI-powered proactive outreach changes that.
By analyzing patient data, AI can send reminders precisely when a patient is most likely to need them. That might mean a text prompt to take medication, a nudge to complete a physical therapy session, or a secure message encouraging a follow-up lab test.

In some studies, AI tools have boosted adherence rates by 6% over standard care — and in more targeted programs, adherence improvements have reached 30% or more.

2. Offering Low-Cost, Asynchronous Care

When patients lose coverage, they still need access to professional advice — but an in-person visit isn’t always affordable or necessary. Asynchronous care provides a solution.

This model allows patients to communicate with providers via secure messaging, fill out structured symptom questionnaires, or receive AI-guided triage — all without waiting for a live appointment. Providers can respond when available, keeping care moving without tying up clinical schedules.

It’s not hypothetical: A community-based medical facility, who utilized an e-consult program, avoided 1,800 in-person specialty consultations in one year, saving an estimated $450,000 while expanding access to care.

3. Using Remote Monitoring for Prevention

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is another AI-enabled approach that can make a big difference in a “do more with less” world.
Connected devices can track blood pressure, glucose levels, or heart rhythms in real time. If something goes off track, AI algorithms can flag the issue, alert the care team, and prompt early intervention — often preventing an ER visit or hospitalization.

The result? Better patient outcomes and fewer costly acute care episodes.

4. Allocating Resources Smarter

When resources are scarce, knowing where to focus is essential. Predictive analytics can identify which patients are at greatest risk of deterioration, helping care teams prioritize outreach. Scheduling algorithms can also optimize staff allocation, ensuring that clinical time is spent where it will have the most impact.

Real-World Momentum

AI’s potential isn’t just theory — it’s already in practice.

In one non-profit healthcare organization, a virtual intake platform managed more than 42,000 patient interactions, allowing clinicians to dedicate more time to direct patient care.
Conversational AI in diabetes care increased insulin adherence by 32.7% compared to standard care.
Hospitals adopting asynchronous telehealth have reported shorter wait times and higher patient satisfaction scores without increasing costs.

The Road Ahead

AI can’t replace the human side of care, but it can make that care more efficient, more accessible, and more sustainable. From helping patients stay on track with their treatments to enabling affordable, virtual-first touchpoints, AI empowers healthcare teams to deliver high-quality care even in challenging environments.

The BBB may bring new pressures, but it also accelerates innovation. Providers who embrace AI now won’t just adapt — they’ll lead the way toward a future where care is smarter, and truly patient-centered, no matter the constraints.

To learn more about NiCE for healthcare and contact us nice.com/healthcare

References

American Hospital Association –
https://www.aha.org/fact-sheets/2025-06-05-fact-sheet-one-big-beautiful-bill-act-would-significantly-reduce-availability-coverage-health-insurance
AFL-CIO Legislative Alert –
https://aflcio.org/about/advocacy/legislative-alerts/higher-costs-and-less-care-families-job-based-health-insurance
Frontiers in Digital Health –
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/digital-health/articles/10.3389/fdgth.2025.1523070/full

The post Doing More with Less: How AI Can Help Healthcare Providers Weather the Big Beautiful Bill appeared first on Becker’s Hospital Review | Healthcare News & Analysis.