"Health plans are projecting the highest medical cost trend in nearly two decades, with commercial healthcare cost trend expected to rise to 9% in 2027.... [I]nflators include provider adoption of AI-enabled revenue optimization tools, growing provider reimbursement pressure, rising pharmacy spending, sustained growth in behavioral health utilization, and escalating out-of-network payment disputes under the No Surprises Act. Without macro health cost deflators, payers and employers face mounting pressure to act."  MORE >>