Welcome to Wellness on Mass. I'm Dr. Nicole Sapphire, and this is your first weekly rundown of

2026 and doesn't it feel good? As we head into this new year, I've been doing a lot of thinking,

not just about medicine, but about how I want to show up in my own life. One of my biggest

personal goals for

26 is simple. Well, in theory, but it's hard in practice, spending less time on my phone.

That's right. Like many of you, my phone has become a constant companion.

Emails, headlines, social media, text, notifications that never seem to stop. And while technology

connects us and makes life easier, it also fragments our attention. I want to be more present

with my patients, my family, and honestly, with myself. Less scrolling, fewer distractions, more intentional time, because mental clarity,

focus, and real connection are foundational to health. And I need to practice what I preach.

Now, on the professional side, I'm also cautiously optimistic about something that could

meaningfully improve patient care heading into 2026.

CMS under Dr. Mehmet Oz has made changes to the whole prior authorization process.

You know the process in getting insurance companies to cover things?

For years, prior authorizations have been one of the most frustrating barriers in health care.

Delayed medical imaging,

medications at the pharmacy, treatments, not because something isn't medically necessary,

but because paperwork got in the way. Patients feel it, doctors feel it, and it has absolutely

contributed to burnout and worse outcomes.

Now there's growing momentum to streamline this process using automation, clear guidelines, and faster turnaround times.

If done right, this could mean fewer delays, less red tape, and more time spent where it actually belongs on patient care,

not fighting with insurance companies, because that's

...