Next up: Interoperability. Will our experts convince us that “slow and steady wins the race?” Or will it just be the same old lip service we have been hearing for years with no light at the end of the tunnel? Will we just be resigned to this is the best we can do?
We asked our experts if they think we will be more interoperable in 2025. Here is what the experts had to say. And check out all our prediction posts looking to 2025
Sulabh Agarwal, Chief Technology Officer, KeyCare
LinkedIn: Sulabh Agarwal
When considering healthcare interoperability, one often-overlooked area involves the ability of virtual care companies that partner with health systems to access full patient records when delivering telehealth services to the health system’s patients. By using the same EHRs as health systems, virtual providers can deliver a more continuous care experience that takes into account patients’ full medical histories, improving patient satisfaction and outcomes.
BJ Boyle, Chief Product Officer, PointClickCare
LinkedIn: BJ Boyle
Interoperability and AI Will Become More Interdependent in 2025
The premise of AI in healthcare is largely centered on creating greater efficiencies and clinical decision support for care teams. The integrity and free flow of data is a key part of the equation. In 2025, adhering to federal data-sharing standards will become increasingly important when it comes to advancing AI use cases in a highly regulated industry. While this will require greater upfront investment, secure data exchange is table stakes for patients and providers in today’s increasingly connected world. The efficacy of AI use cases, including automated documentation and predictive modeling, will be highly dependent on the quality of data feeding the models on which these processes run. What’s more, the speed at which data is shared across the continuum will be augmented with the help of AI and fueled by a complete picture of each individual patient. As such, we will see more frequent intersection points between interoperability and AI, with one hand feeding the other to improve patient outcomes at scale in 2025. Providers will also demand a more responsible infrastructure and expect more fluid, bi-directional learning between humans and technology to ensure safer and more secure interoperable data.
Sufian Chowdhury, CEO, Kinetik
LinkedIn: Sufian Chowdhury
Conquering interoperability will unlock efficiencies
- Healthcare spending continues to climb throughout our country, even as healthcare outcomes show little or no improvement. This massive inefficiency within the system is due to the lack of connectivity and data sharing with the healthcare ecosystem.
- There will be a huge push to unlock efficiency in healthcare, and a key driver will be conquering interoperability. Despite the wealth of technology available, much of it is underutilized because of fragmentation. Healthcare providers increasingly realize that incorporating technology and sharing data is essential to ensure collaboration and mitigate interoperability.
- Looking ahead, expect a consortium of companies to come together to address these data challenges. Working as a network rather than in silos, we can tackle inefficiencies in our healthcare system to drive better outcomes.
Katie Devlin, DHSc, MS, CPHIMS, Vice President, Interoperability, Cotiviti
LinkedIn: Katie Devlin, DHSc, MS, CPHIMS
TEFCA gained a lot of momentum in 2024, with seven designated QHINs and the second version of the Common Agreement supporting FHIR-based exchange. However, there is still inconsistent adoption of FHIR across the industry, which has limited its impact.
In 2025, we can expect to see this improve through increased collaboration between healthcare stakeholders including payers, providers, and technology vendors. For example, the DaVinci Trebuchet Pilot is now actively testing scenarios such as prior authorization and QHIN-brokered data exchange to inform real-world implementations. Similarly, NCQA has implemented its Bulk FHIR API Quality Coalition to test against HEDIS-specific implementation guides. We can also expect to see an uptick in data availability for payers, thanks to two major factors: Epic’s commitment to have all clients onboarded to its QHIN by the end of the year, and the approaching requirement for QHINs to respond to queries under healthcare operations exchange purposes by February 2026.
Bob Farrell, CEO, mPulse
LinkedIn: Robert Farrell
Payer API Efficiencies: As payers meet CMS requirements around payer interoperability standards, they will have the foundation to deliver better consumer experiences by leveraging the patient access API, provider directory API, and other elements of payer data exchange. These data enhancements create more consumer-focused tools and health plans that direct consumers to these tools and integrate them into their self-service navigation experiences will benefit from more efficient organizational processes and deliver more consumer-centric experiences.
Zachary Fox, EVP, Business Development, DrFirst
LinkedIn: Zach Fox
In 2025, expect to see disruptive innovations that allow all electronic prescriptions to be treated as the clinical orders they are rather than as drug-related purchase orders, something especially needed for specialty medications and other complex conditions. Change is long overdue as physicians and pharmacists continue to lose countless hours trading phone calls and messages, computer systems lack true semantic interoperability, and patients suffer from the resulting gaps in collaboration. Stakeholders throughout healthcare hunger for an approach that is aware of clinical context, which perfects workflows, and that goes beyond the simple exchange of information to remove the cap on innovation which limits the ability to provide the best care for patients.
Michael Gould, Associate Vice President, Interoperability Strategy, ZeOmega
LinkedIn: Michael Gould
In 2025, we will see an increased focus on interoperability between payers and providers. They will begin building standard HL7 FHIR® APIs to exchange patients’ clinical data and conduct prior authorization transactions for roll out at the start of 2027. For these FHIR APIs to yield business value, payers and providers will also benefit by implementing AI-based tools and technology that support automated querying of independent clinical data repositories that providers and payers maintain separately. While much of the interoperability context will serve individual transactions between a single provider and payer, scalable interoperability across many provider and payer systems will be necessary to process the overall volume of transactions across the healthcare IT ecosystem.
Gary Hamilton, CEO, InteliChart
LinkedIn: Gary Hamilton
Interoperability will reach new heights in 2025, with systems integrating seamlessly to facilitate real-time data sharing across providers and care settings. AI will play a crucial role in enabling seamless communication between disparate data sources, enabling clinicians to make more informed decisions and improving patient care coordination. This enhanced connectivity will support better management of chronic diseases and transitions of care, reducing redundancies and improving outcomes. As a result, healthcare will become more cohesive, efficient, and patient-friendly.
Nolan Kelly, Chief Customer Officer, 1upHealth
LinkedIn: Nolan Kelly
In 2025, the industry will focus on transforming payer/provider data exchange with real-time computational workflows, drawing inspiration from innovations in other industries. Despite the availability of FHIR APIs and advanced technology, interoperability progress has been hindered by mistrust and competitive dynamics between stakeholders. A shift towards free-market solutions is emerging, where payers and providers may increasingly demand real-time, standards-based data exchange in their contracts. Organizations that leverage this shift to gain competitive advantages, by replacing outdated data-sharing methods with on-demand FHIR API access for example, will lead the way. While challenges persist, financial pressures on Medicare Advantage plans and the industry’s growing recognition of business impacts are expected to drive meaningful transformation.
Tom Langan, Interim CEO, Veradigm
LinkedIn: Tom Langan
In 2025, I see a renewed focus in establishing unified networks that bridge all healthcare stakeholders, from providers, to payers, to life sciences. I refer to this as the “Veradigm Network.” This approach not only drives efficiency but ensures that care is coordinated and effective. I predict that we’ll see several important initiatives across the healthcare ecosystem to ensure a more seamless data exchange, including the use of AI to standardize data formats and strengthened bi-directional connections between providers and payers.
David Lareau, CEO, Medicomp Systems
LinkedIn: David Lareau
In 2025, healthcare organizations will finally move beyond basic data exchange to tackle the more complex challenge of semantic interoperability — ensuring that clinical information is not just shared but meaningfully understood across different systems and care settings. The industry will increasingly recognize that true interoperability requires more than technical standards — it demands validated clinical documentation that accurately represents patient conditions and care decisions. We’ll see a growing focus on point-of-care validation tools that ensure accurate, standardized clinical documentation as the foundation for meaningful health information exchange.
Angel Mena, MD, Chief Medical Officer, symplr
LinkedIn: Angel Mena, MD
Clinicians are uniquely positioned to bridge the gaps between IT, operations, and patient care. However, as the 2024 Compass Survey highlights, 85% of clinicians still waste significant time on administrative tasks – time that could be reclaimed through better collaboration and technology alignment. The solution is clear: clinicians must be brought into the fold early, not just as users but as decision-makers in technology strategy. By actively involving clinicians in system consolidation efforts and pre-purchase decisions, health systems can reduce redundancies, enhance patient care, and protect staff from burnout. The future of healthcare depends on leveraging clinicians’ insights to create systems that actually work for everyone (patients included).
David Navarro, Senior Director of Data Science, Harmony Healthcare IT
LinkedIn: David Navarro
Acceleration in the adoption of AI within healthcare.
I anticipate a significant surge in AI adoption within the healthcare sector in 2025. Healthcare organizations and software vendors are increasingly recognizing AI’s transformative potential. This growing awareness will necessitate the adoption of new C-suite roles, such as Chief AI Officer (CAIO). Leading healthcare institutions like Mayo Clinic and Cleveland Clinic have already adopted this strategy by hiring their own CAIOs.
AI will make significant strides in the areas of AI-powered chatbots that can efficiently address patient inquiries and provide information, allowing healthcare providers to focus on complex cases. We will see additional growth in AI algorithms that can analyze extensive patient data to predict potential health risks, enabling proactive interventions and superior patient outcomes.
John Orosco, CEO, Red Rover Health
LinkedIn: John Orosco
In 2025, interoperability will transition from being a buzzword to a critical expectation in healthcare. Providers will demand seamless data-sharing across systems to eliminate silos that hinder care coordination and outcomes. The ability to integrate disparate platforms effortlessly will ensure that vital information reaches clinicians and patients precisely when and where it’s needed.
Tim Price, Chief Product Officer, Infermedica
LinkedIn: Tim Price
In 2025, interoperability will evolve from simply connecting systems to driving smarter, more efficient data exchange that transforms how care is delivered and accessed. The industry will prioritize not just integration but actionable insights that empower clinicians to make informed decisions and patients to confidently navigate their health journeys. As we move into the next phase of healthcare transformation, real-time access to meaningful information will be the foundation for delivering more connected, patient-centered care.
Kel Pults, DHA, MSN, RN, NI-BC, NREMT, Chief Clinical Officer and VP Government Strategy, MediQuant
LinkedIn: Kel Pults
While there will be incremental progress in interoperability, significant challenges will remain, particularly at the vendor level in 2025. Patients and providers want seamless data sharing, but vendors’ reluctance to fully embrace standards like FHIR continues to impede true interoperability. Although FHIR is mandated, the lack of consistent implementation and the ability to customize it for specific technologies create gaps. As a result, some organizations send data in FHIR format, only for recipients to convert it back to outdated HL7 standards, leading to wasted resources and inefficiencies.
Advancements in interoperability will require stricter regulations and clearer definitions of what compliance entails. Smaller healthcare organizations, often constrained by financial pressures, may delay adopting interoperability standards unless penalties become enforceable. Progress will be slow until there is a unified approach where interoperability standards are non-proprietary and universally enforced. Ultimately, while 2025 may bring some improvements, achieving seamless interoperability will depend on cooperation, regulation, and the willingness of vendors to prioritize patient outcomes over proprietary interests.
Lance Reid, CEO, Telcion Communications Group
LinkedIn: Lance Reid
Interoperability will remain a key focus in 2025, driven by both government policies and industry demand. While progress will be made, achieving seamless data exchange across all platforms will take time.
Instead of a breakthrough year, 2025 will likely see incremental advancements, with local healthcare organizations continuing to collaborate and share data to improve care for mutual patients. The journey toward full interoperability is long, but each step brings us closer to better-connected care.
Jonathan Shoemaker, CEO, ABOUT Healthcare
LinkedIn: Jonathan Shoemaker
Interoperability in 2025 will reach new heights through systems that integrate real-time data from disparate sources, enabling seamless patient flow and care transitions. These tools will empower providers with actionable insights, ensuring patients are guided effectively through their care journey. By breaking down silos and enhancing communication between care settings, interoperability combined with enhanced patient throughput will improve outcomes, reduce inefficiencies, and create a more cohesive patient experience.
Daniel Vreeman, DPT, Chief Standards Development Officer, HL7 International
LinkedIn: Daniel Vreeman
As we move into 2025, the focus on health data interoperability will be sharper than ever. Continued spread of value-based care models, technology-enabled innovation, and the combination of market-driven adoption with regulatory pressures are all driving the demand for seamless, high quality, interoperable data flowing across the health ecosystem.
Key areas of focus for interoperability will include:
- Expanding the Foundation of Data Exchange with HL7® FHIR®: Health Level Seven International’s Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) open API and data model standard will continue gaining momentum as a key enabler of health data exchange. As more healthcare organizations, payers, and software vendors integrate FHIR and networked FHIR usage is encouraged under Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement℠ (TEFCA℠), we’ll see greater flexibility in connecting disparate systems and quicker, more reliable data sharing. With the increased focus on real-time data access, we’re likely to see more FHIR-based APIs connecting diverse settings — from inpatient care, community-based care, public health, and beyond.
- From Interoperable to Interactive: The investments in FHIR-based exchange have paved the way for more gracefully orchestrated workflows across care system participants. We’re seeing this emerge in key use cases among payers and providers such as prior authorization. And while the business and legal complexities have limited FHIR write-back usage, a growing number of platforms and services have enabled open standards-based capabilities for interacting with remote decision support systems (including those powered by AI) using the HL7 CDS Hooks specification. A requirement for CDS Hooks support was included in ONC/ASTP’s HTI-2 Proposed Rule, and while it remains to be seen if it will be included in a Final Rule, no doubt the momentum is growing.
- AI’s Magic can Sparkle, but Data Powers the Glow: Health-related industry meetings this year were dominated by the buzz about AI. But insiders know that realizing the promise of AI is inextricably linked with the availability of the right data and good data practices to manage it. So along with the push for AI-based innovations will come an increased focus on data access, data quality, and data traceability — all of which can be enhanced with open data standards.
- Regulations and Government Action: As we’ve seen with regulations from ONC/ASTP and CMS in 2024 and other legislation like the REAL Health Providers Act, it’s clear that policy will continue to play a major role in pushing forward interoperability efforts. This is true both in the U.S. and internationally, as we see with initiatives like the European Health Data Space that are aimed at facilitating the secure sharing and use of health data across member states. Governments will likely continue to promote the appropriate and necessary kinds of data sharing we need for an efficient digital health infrastructure, and to disincentivize behaviors like information blocking that deny valid rights to access health data and prevent us for achieving the market efficiencies possible given the infrastructure investments we’ve made.
- Collaborative Ecosystems: Interoperability has never been just about connecting technology. It’s really about using technology to connect people and organizations in ways that enable new services that improve health. As our investments in interoperability are sparking new innovations, we’ll increasingly need neutrally convened, collaborative spaces where public and private sector participants can gather to work on these complex health data problems together.
It’s exciting to see the progress we’re making towards seamless interoperability. We’re poised for significant advances in 2025, but the journey will continue requiring collaboration and innovation while we work to enhance the health and well-being of everyone.
Johnathan Welch, Chief Product Officer, TrustCommerce
LinkedIn: Johnathan Welch
With providers looking to reduce friction throughout the patient experience, we can expect increased adoption of omni-channel payment solutions, such as tokens shared across engagement channels. For instance, a token captured via an in-person interaction at a physical location can be shared across channels and later used to complete E-Commerce or back-office transactions. Leveraging tokens shared across channels helps providers offer seamless payment experiences to their patients.