By Amanda Ramsey, Marketing Director Acentra Health returned from the 16th Annual State Healthcare IT Connect Summit energized by the urgency and scale of change facing Medicaid and Health and Human Services (HHS) leaders nationwide. Held February 24–26, 2026, in New Orleans, the well-attended conference brought together state and federal leaders, technologists, and industry partners at a pivotal time for health IT transformation. Across sessions and conversations, several themes consistently surfaced: Artificial Intelligence (AI), rural health transformation, community engagement requirements under H.R. 1, interoperability, and the operational impact of sweeping federal policy changes. At its core, this year’s Summit reinforced a simple reality: policy change and technology modernization are no longer separate efforts; they must move forward together. A Pivotal Policy Moment The conference convened amid significant federal changes affecting Medicaid eligibility, cost-sharing, provider payments, and IT system requirements. Provisions within H.R. 1 are reshaping how states administer programs and how technology must support them. Eligibility systems must incorporate new work and community engagement requirements. Financial and claims platforms must align with updated payment rules. Oversight and reporting expectations continue to expand. At the same time, federal initiatives such as the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Health Technology Ecosystem and CMS Aligned Networks emphasize interoperability, digital identity, and responsible data use, signaling a national vision for more connected, person-centered systems. States now face a critical challenge: modernizing in ways that are compliant, scalable, and sustainable amid fiscal pressure and evolving priorities. What We Heard: Key Themes Artificial Intelligence in Action AI has moved from theory to implementation. Sessions highlighted practical applications including intelligent document processing, pre