This month is about the gap between what a system offers and what people actually get from it: drugs that work better with support nobody's paying for, AI that's already answering more medical questions than most doctors ever will, and a labor market where staying healthy can mean staying stuck. Halle and Michael break down the stories reshaping digital health in August.

We cover:

Why GLP-1 funding is shifting from prescribing platforms into "companion" ecosystems
The FDA panel vote that opens a legal pathway for six unapproved peptides, and what this could mean
Our thoughts on OpenAI's new ChatGPT Health product, now available to every US adult
The Florida pastor's lawsuit against OpenAI
Why nearly one in four US workers are staying in jobs they'd rather leave, just to keep their health insurance
The healthcare argument buried inside the bill to make daylight saving time permanent

Links:

Rock Health, H1 2026 digital health funding recap
Halle's research piece, Virtual GLP-1 startups: Pill mills or the future of obesity care?
RAPS, FDA advisory committee backs six peptides for compounding list
TechCrunch, OpenAI makes ChatGPT Health available to all US users
CBS News, ChatGPT's medical advice nearly killed a Florida man, lawsuit claims
Gallup, One in four US employees locked in jobs for health insurance
The Hill, House passes Sunshine Protection Act

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📣 Digital Health Download: August 2026

The Heart of Healthcare | A Digital Health Podcast

📣 Digital Health Download: August 2026