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October 16, 2026

Takeaways from the most recent news in the technology and policies shaping healthcare.

Telehealth

Becker's Names 272 Telehealth Companies to Know for 2026

Becker's Hospital Review has published its list of 272 telehealth companies to know for 2026, a roster that captures how deeply virtual care has embedded itself in healthcare delivery since the pandemic.

According to Becker's, COVID-19 exposed pent-up demand for telehealth and pushed hospitals, health systems, and vendors to expand virtual offerings fast. That momentum has not faded. Patients and clinicians learned that quality care does not always require an in-person visit, and the market grew to match. The sheer length of the list points to a sector that is now crowded and specialized, covering primary care, behavioral health, chronic disease management, remote patient monitoring, and specialty consults.

For operators and investors, the takeaway is that telehealth is no longer a novelty to pilot but a competitive category to navigate. With hundreds of players, the pressure shifts from simply offering virtual visits to proving clinical outcomes, integration, and cost savings. Buyers should expect consolidation as differentiation becomes harder to sustain.

More in Telehealth

Telehealth

Remote Monitoring Targets US Maternal Care Gap in Rural Areas

Health systems are using remote patient monitoring and care management to extend prenatal and postpartum care into rural America, targeting preventable maternal deaths that often occur at home.

Why it matters: Most US maternal deaths are preventable and happen after patients go home, making remote monitoring a practical tool to reach rural mothers between visits.

Telehealth

10 Health Systems Now Use AI Triage for 24/7 Virtual Care

UVA Health joins at least nine other U.S. health systems offering 24/7 virtual care that uses AI to triage patients before connecting them with a clinician.

Why it matters: AI triage is shifting from experiment to standard infrastructure for how health systems run their digital front door.

Telehealth

The Illegal Drug Marketplace Hiding in Patients' Pockets

Patients are buying drugs through social media, med spas, and telehealth platforms while believing the products are legitimate, creating a hidden clinical risk.

Why it matters: When patients do not recognize their online purchases as drugs, clinicians lose critical information needed to diagnose and treat safely.