Bringing Health Innovation to Capitol Hill at CES on the Hill
By Leslie Krigstein, VP of Communications & Government Affairs, Transcarent
Think of CES on the Hill as a mini, curated version of the iconic CES show in Las Vegas, but set in the heart of our nation’s capital. It was a chance for lawmakers to see and interact with innovations across industries, from quantum computers to autonomous vehicles — and yes, healthcare too.
We were proud to showcase the WayFindingTM experience, a health and care experience that goes beyond navigation. We know today’s healthcare experience is too complex, costly, and confusing... but it doesn’t have to be. WayFinding puts generative AI to work to instantly get people trusted answers, confidently guiding them to the next steps, and access on-demand care – all at their moment of need.
For many lawmakers, it was their first time seeing how an application of generative AI can be put into the hands of the consumer to improve their healthcare experience. Their reactions were encouraging and insightful:
"I absolutely see the need for this. It can be hard to know where to start when you or a loved one are facing a health issue. Your Members have one place to go. This is a really valuable service.”
“This is great. My aunt is a nurse, so I usually just call her with questions. She’d be thrilled if I had access to this experience so I stop harassing her with all my questions.”
“Everyone could benefit from something like this!"
Throughout the evening, I had the chance to meet with several members of Congress and their staff to talk about the critical role of innovation in healthcare and how we can work together to ensure policy supports responsible, continued progress and consumer-focused solutions. Some of their reactions were too good not to share:
“So this is personalized to each individual person’s benefits... no way. And you can access telehealth from here? Wow. We all need this.”
“Wow, I really wish my family had access to this... my son just picked a new health plan and he had 1,001 questions. He could have gotten them all answered right here.”
“Can we test it... will it actually deliver care?” [Suggested to WayFinding Care Assistant that I have strep throat. Care Assistant prompted user to do a telehealth visit, sharing access directly from experience.]
“Wow, you were spot on. It won’t provide care or pretend to be a doctor. That’s really important to know where the AI starts and stops.
It was exciting to see that we are in good company. From well-known tech giants to top engineering firms, the event brought together a diverse mix of tech leaders, all showcasing products and platforms designed to improve lives. While it appeared that Transcarent may have been one of the only companies in the healthcare space, it made our presence — and our message — even more impactful.
The timing of the event couldn’t have been more fitting. It came during the same week that Transcarent completed its merger with Accolade, bringing us one step closer to delivering on our shared vision: to make it easy for people to access high-quality, affordable health and care — all in one place.
It was energizing to see lawmakers actively engaging with the technologies on display — asking thoughtful questions, sharing their perspectives, and recognizing the importance of supporting innovation through smart, forward-thinking policy.
For Transcarent, CES on the Hill was so much more than a chance to demo our cool technology— it was a powerful opportunity to lead the way in the broader conversation about what’s next for healthcare, technology, and the people we all serve.
We’re grateful to the Consumer Technology Association for hosting such a dynamic and meaningful event and for inspiring so many to change the status quo. We look forward to continuing the conversation.
Want to learn more about WayFinding and how we’re simplifying the health and care experience? Explore here.
