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Several large healthcare organizations have announced they have signed on to Google Cloud for Gemini-powered AI agents for patient engagement, improved workflows, revenue cycle capabilities and easier-to-read lab results.
At the HIMSS Global Conference and Exhibition, Google Cloud will show how agentic AI can lead healthcare organizations from siloed data entry to automated results.
Companies such as Humana, CVS Health, Highmark Health, Waystar and Quest Diagnostics have announced partnerships with Google Cloud.
CVS Health announced today that it has partnered with Google Cloud in the launch of Health100, a health technology services subsidiary that has agentic AI built in. Health100 offers consumers an integrated healthcare engagement platform, regardless of which pharmacy, care provider, insurer, pharmacy benefits manager or digital health solution providers they use.
Health100 also will serve as the conduit to pharmacist-led care management, CVS Health said. The agent will surface the most relevant information for patients.
AI is building a shift toward "a simpler, more connected healthcare journey," said Tony Ambrozie, SVP, chief digital, technology and information officer, CVS Health, during a roundtable discussion earlier this week.
Highmark Health, based in Pittsburgh, is using generative AI assistant Sidekick, which offers contextual prompts. The health system is serving as a blueprint for how a large-scale health organization can move from AI experimentation to enterprise-wide transformation, Google Cloud said.
In just over a year, Sidekick's volume of interactions has gone from 1 million to more than 6 million prompts, delivering an estimated $27.9 million in AI-enabled value for 2025.
Specifically for the Allegheny Health Network (AHN), which is part of Highmark Health, an AHN IRB protocol and consent builder is a Sidekick-based guided workflow that automates the first draft of complex research protocols.
Richard Clarke, chief data and analytics officer at Highmark Health, said during the roundtable that there is broad adoption of AI by employees.
"The next chapter is bringing multi-agent support to employees," Clarke said
Waystar, which offers healthcare payment software, has announced an expanded collaboration with Google Cloud to accelerate its agentic AI capabilities and autonomous revenue cycle. The partnership will enable increased deployment across complex revenue cycle workflows, the company said.
Since launching Waystar AltitudeAI, Waystar has helped providers prevent more than $15 billion in denied claims, the company said. Clients have reduced time spent on appeal and documentation workflows by 90%.
Administrative waste nationwide causes losses of $440 billion, said Chris Schremser, chief technology officer for Waystar.
Quest Diagnostics, which offers diagnostic information services, has announced Quest AI Companion, a new AI-powered chat feature that helps individuals understand Quest laboratory test results. Through the app and portal MyQuest, individuals can ask questions about their test results and receive explanations in a HIPAA-compliant solution.
Humana's new Agent Assist solution, built using Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX), supports the call center by operating in the background to enhance service quality.
Google Cloud offers the Vertex AI platform command center; Gemini Enterprise, a specialized workspace; and Gemini Enterprise for Customer Experience (CX).
The Google Cloud platform supports HIPAA compliance among other security controls.
Google Cloud said, "We are moving beyond static digital records into the agentic healthcare era. This is a fundamental shift from 'point-and-click' software to anticipatory care."
At HIMSS 26, Google Cloud will have more information at the Google Cloud Press Corner or at the Google booth #3507. The HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition is being held March 9-12 in Las Vegas.
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org