WebMD Ignite

Ohio’s rural health funding opportunities are now open — and organizations are moving quickly to shape priorities and define executable strategies. Across the states we’re supporting, the challenge is rarely a lack of ideas. It’s building initiatives that are both fundable and operationally realistic within compressed program timelines, while aligning clearly to access, chronic disease management, and measurable outcomes. One area that continues to be underrepresented — but increasingly valuable when structured correctly — is patient education, engagement, and activation as part of a broader rural health and population health strategy. That’s exactly what HEART from WebMD Ignite was built to support. HEART combines clinically reviewed education, digital engagement, assessments, and targeted outreach into a turnkey layer designed specifically for rural transformation initiatives. In Ohio, organizations are exploring practical use cases such as: 🌟 Strengthening access and navigation between visits 🌟 Supporting chronic and behavioral health management outside the clinical setting 🌟 Reducing avoidable utilization through more consistent patient engagement As RFA timelines accelerate, shovel-ready execution matters more than ever. We’re bringing together a small group of organizations in Ohio to compare approaches, share perspectives, and discuss what is most likely to be both competitive in the RFA process and quick to value. Spend 15–20 minutes comparing perspectives and exploring alignment with your goals. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e6tcxpMv

We’re excited to return to Washington, DC this June for the Health Policy Futures Lab Rural Health Summit. It’s the next phase of the RHT conversation — moving from strategy to real-world implementation. Following the 2025 RHT Planning Summit, healthcare leaders, policymakers, and innovators are coming together again to explore how states can operationalize the $50 billion RHT Program and build more sustainable models of rural care. As a sponsor, our team will be on-site, including Amy Rainford and Cindy Bystry Carson, MS. Reach out while you’re there, as we’d love to connect! This one-day convening continues an important dialogue around how technology, data, engagement, and scalable care models can strengthen rural health systems, expand access, and support long-term transformation across communities. If you’ll be in Washington for the Summit, let’s connect. Drop a comment or send us a message — we’d love to compare perspectives and continue the conversation around what’s next for rural health.

 See how UK HealthCare streamlined patient education with Ignite on FHIR, embedding content directly into Epic to reduce friction for clinicians and expand access across care settings. The rollout combined seamless integration with focused change management, using tip sheets, newsletters, and training to align workflows and reinforce the value of FHIR in practice. The results speak for themselves: faster workflows, stronger adoption, FTE savings, and real-time content updates that eliminated previous bottlenecks. A clear example of how the right integration — paired with the right approach to adoption — can scale impact. Read the full story here. https://lnkd.in/eKCfau2j 

Florida’s rural health funding opportunities are moving quickly — and so are the organizations preparing for them. Across the states we’re supporting, the challenge is rarely a lack of ideas. It’s building initiatives that are both executable within program timelines and clearly aligned to access, chronic disease management, and measurable outcomes. One area that continues to be underrepresented — but increasingly valuable when structured correctly — is patient education, engagement, and activation as part of a broader rural health strategy. That’s exactly what HEART from WebMD Ignite was built to support. HEART combines clinically reviewed education, digital engagement, assessments, and outreach into a turnkey layer designed specifically for rural transformation efforts. In Florida, organizations are exploring practical use cases like: • Strengthening access and navigation between visits • Supporting chronic and behavioral health management outside the clinical setting • Reducing avoidable utilization through more consistent patient engagement As funding timelines accelerate, “shovel-ready” matters more than ever. We’re bringing together a small group of organizations in Florida to compare approaches, share perspectives, and discuss what is most likely to be both competitive in the RFA process and quick to value. To join us, sign up here: https://bit.ly/4tTxwsV

Hard to believe it’s already been a week since the 2026 OCHIN, Inc. Learning Forum. We had such a great time connecting with so many organizations, sharing ideas, and learning alongside this community. A highlight for us was spending time with our new friends, Johnny Keeton and Andrea Brooks, PA-C, from Grace Health, and supporting their session: Scaling Patient Education in OCHIN Epic: Standardized Workflows, Multilingual Access, and Measurable Impact. Incredible to see how thoughtful, workflow-integrated education is driving real consistency and outcomes. If we connected — thank you. If you didn’t get a chance to connect with Amy Rainford, Chad Fisher, or Mike Rybarczyk, we’d love to keep the conversation going. Drop a comment or send us a DM. #OCHINLearningForum

South Carolina’s Rural Health Transformation “Leveling Up” Initiative is now open, and health systems are actively defining priorities for this first round of funding. Many investments will focus on clinical capacity, technology, and infrastructure. But one critical factor is often underweighted: how patients access information, navigate care, and stay engaged between visits. In rural communities, that gap directly affects outcomes. WebMD Ignite HEART is designed to address it. It combines clinically reviewed education, digital engagement, health assessments, and targeted outreach to strengthen access, support chronic and behavioral health, and ease pressure on care teams. It works alongside existing programs, extending engagement beyond the visit and helping guide patients to the right next step in care. As Leveling Up plans come together, now is the time to evaluate how patient education and engagement support your broader strategy. Before the June 1 deadline, spend 15–20 minutes comparing perspectives and exploring alignment with your goals. You can sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e6tcxpMv

Most health plans already have the infrastructure to reach members. The real challenge in 2026 is the last mile: earning attention, engagement, and trust. Because if members aren’t opening the text, clicking the link, or taking action, even the most advanced data strategy falls short. At the Cognizant Healthcare Conference, be sure to stop by and see how WebMD Ignite helps turn outreach into real conversations and measurable action. Join Marissa Badders, DNP, MSHI, BSN, RN, CPN, PMP and Laura Bacon for a fast, no-friction experience: a live 30-second demo sent directly to your device featuring a real Coach nudge. Don’t let your data stop at the portal. Let’s ignite action!

Care decisions are happening faster than ever. Health consumers aren’t just researching, they’re ready to act. Care Finder helps your providers show up at the exact moment intent is highest, connecting you with care seekers across trusted WebMD condition and treatment content. Promoted profiles and competitive intercepts capture demand and protect your market share. The result: more calls, increased bookings, and measurable growth, guaranteed. Important question: When health consumers are ready to act, are they finding you?

Rural health opportunities in Texas are moving quickly, and many organizations are now prioritizing initiatives that are both fundable and executable within aggressive implementation timelines. Most discussions focus on infrastructure, workforce, and care delivery models. But one area continues to be underrepresented, despite strong alignment with access, chronic disease, and measurable outcomes: patient education, engagement, and activation. That’s where WebMD Ignite HEART can help. HEART was built specifically for rural transformation efforts, combining clinically reviewed education, digital engagement, assessments, and targeted outreach into a shovel-ready framework that can be deployed quickly and aligned to CMS priorities. In Texas, organizations are exploring practical use cases such as: • Strengthening access and navigation between visits • Supporting chronic and behavioral health management outside the clinical setting • Reducing avoidable utilization through more consistent patient engagement HEART works through existing channels — including websites, portals, email, digital campaigns, and community outreach — helping extend support beyond the point of care without adding burden to clinical teams. As Rural Texas Strong priorities take shape ahead of the May 22 deadline, now is the time to evaluate where patient engagement fits within your broader strategy and how quickly it can deliver value. Spend 15–20 minutes comparing perspectives and exploring alignment with your goals. Sign up here: https://lnkd.in/e6tcxpMv

Most Medicare Advantage strategies still focus heavily on acquisition and the first 90 days. But under V28, sustainable margin expansion depends on what happens after enrollment. The plans that outperform in the next era of Medicare Advantage will be the ones that: 🌟 Turn engagement into measurable clinical and financial outcomes 🌟 Use nurture strategies to improve adherence and reduce avoidable utilization 🌟 Integrate behavioral health into chronic care management 🌟 Identify specialized plan eligibility before costs escalate 🌟 Operationalize internal transitions with speed and precision Because growth is no longer just about bringing members in. It’s about managing rising clinical complexity more effectively over time. Check out Part 3 of our V28 blog series, The engine of sustainable growth: mastering nurture and transition for V28 margin expansion. In it, we explore how long-term engagement and internal transition strategies can become some of the most powerful drivers of margin performance, Star Ratings success, and retention. Spoiler alert: The biggest opportunities may already exist inside your current member population! Read the blog here: https://lnkd.in/ec4FuKVE