Skip to content
    Clinical decision support

    2026 Trends: Exploring innovative solutions to rising healthcare costs

     

    The new year is here, and with it are higher healthcare costs. For the third year in a row, employer healthcare costs are encroaching on double digit increases, expected to rise 9.5% in 2026. But what exactly are driving these costs? How can organizations manage costs effectively without sacrificing care for employees and members?  

    In our 2026 trends webinar, Truven presented original data and expert commentary on innovative solutions teams are taking to tackle increasing healthcare costs. Designed for employers, payers, and benefit advisors, our session: 

    • Highlighted key cost drivers, such as weight loss drugs and gene therapies
    • Addressed approaches to measuring and mitigating high-cost claimants 
    • Discussed optimizing plan design and influencing member behavior to contain cost growth 
    • Covered real examples of how organizations have found solutions from their own data to combat ever-increasing costs

    Speakers

    Kevin-Ruane

    Kevin Ruane

    Practice Leader, Analytics Advisory Practice

    Kevin Ruane is a Practice Leader in Truven’s Analytics Advisory Practice. He assists clients in the design, development, implementation, and ongoing support of healthcare information systems. Mr. Ruane manages a team of consultants that support all aspects of health plan analytics and has over 30 years of experience in the health and welfare field. Mr. Ruane received a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Michigan State University.

    IMG-Headshot-Katherine-Shanahan

    Katherine Shanahan

    Senior Pharmacy Analytic Advisor, Truven by Merative

    Katherine Shanahan is a pharmaceutical industry expert, assisting commercial and government payers, providers, and research teams in developing actionable pharmacy-related analytics, strategies, and programs. With a background in pharmacology, toxicology, drug research and development, she began working with payers over a decade ago, driven by the emergence of specialty medication and the opioid crisis. Katherine supports efforts to identify cost saving opportunities, improve prescribing quality, reduce misuse and abuse of medications, and lower barriers to effective treatment in order to make healthcare more affordable and effective for plans and patients alike.

    Brandi-Hodor

    Brandi Hodor

    Senior Healthcare Analytic Advisor

    Brandi Hodor brings more than two decades of healthcare strategic planning and a demonstrated history of leveraging a consultative approach to identify solutions and devise highly customized strategies to transforming the healthcare industry.  She is an industry expert in the integration of socio-demographics and Social Determinant of Health data and oversees a cross functional team with capabilities to deliver analytics with commitment to innovative solutions in both traditional and value-based care arrangements.  Ms. Hodor holds a B.S. degree in Applied Mathematics and Statistics from Missouri University of Science and Technology.