As Artificial Intelligence transitions from a futuristic concept to a daily clinical tool, the focus of healthcare leadership has shifted. It is no longer enough to have a powerful algorithm; the success of AI now hinges on the integrity of the data that fuels it. For AI to be effective in a clinical setting, it
Virtual and Digital Health Digest – February 2026
Welcome to the latest installment of Arnold & Porter’s Virtual and Digital Health Digest. This digest covers key virtual and digital health regulatory and public policy developments during February and early March 2026 from the the United Kingdom, and European Union.
February 2026 saw a period of substantial regulatory activity across both the UK and EU,
Robotics in Hospital Operations: Automation Beyond the Operating Room
Robotics in healthcare is often associated with surgical precision and cutting-edge operating rooms. But in 2026, the real transformation is happening beyond surgery. Hospitals are increasingly adopting robotics across everyday operations—from logistics and sanitation to patient support and diagnostics—reshaping how care is delivered behind the scenes.
As healthcare systems face rising costs, staffing shortages, and
AI, Upcoding, and the Case We Wish Had Been Litigated: Lessons from UCHealth
A recent enforcement action involving UCHealth could have been the case that defined how courts treat artificial intelligence in medical coding. Instead, it became yet another settlement—leaving providers with more questions than answers and regulators with more unchecked leverage.
What Happened?
At the center of the case was the use of AI-assisted coding tools that
AI, Privilege, and Confidential Business Information: The Heppner Case and What It Means for Life Sciences Teams
Earlier this month, Judge Rakoff of the Southern District of New York issued a first-of-its-kind ruling in United States v. Heppner. The case involved a criminal defendant, Heppner, who used a public generative AI platform (Claude) to “prepare reports that outlined his defense strategy (what he might argue with respect to the facts and the
EDPB/EDPS Joint Opinion on the European Biotech Act Proposal: Key Data Protection Implications for Pharma and Life Sciences
On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published its Proposal for a Regulation establishing a framework of measures for strengthening the EU’s biotechnology and biomanufacturing sectors, particularly in the area of health (the “European Biotech Act” or the “Proposal”). The Proposal is ambitious in scope: it amends several major pieces of EU health legislation, including
Healthcare & Life Sciences Private Equity Deal Tracker: Chicago Pacific Invests in Nexben
Chicago Pacific Founders (CPF) has announced an investment in Nexben.
Nexben, founded in 2015 and based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a fintech company that provides plan administration and payment solutions for the benefits industry.
CPF, founded in 2014 and based in Chicago and San Francisco, is a private equity firm focused on
Wearables as Clinical Tools: How Consumer Devices Are Entering Healthcare
Smartwatches, fitness trackers, and other wearable gadgets have gone from consumer curiosities to powerful health companions. What started as simple step counters now capture heart rhythms, sleep patterns, blood oxygen levels, stress indicators, and more. Increasingly, clinicians are asking: Can these devices be used as true clinical tools?
As health systems, clinicians, and advanced practice
3 Things Every Business Must Know About AI — Before It Is Too Late
Everyone is talking about AI, but not everyone understands what AI is. AI, or artificial intelligence, refers to technology that enables machines to perform tasks that traditionally required human thinking—things like reading, writing, analyzing information, and making decisions.
A particularly powerful form of AI today is the large language model (or LLM), which is a
AI in Nursing Education: Transforming How We Train the Next Generation
Nursing education is undergoing one of the most profound shifts in its history. As healthcare becomes more complex and data-driven, educators are under pressure to prepare nurses who are clinically competent, technologically fluent, and ready to adapt to rapidly changing care environments. In this context, artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging not as a buzzword, but