AffirmedRx Launches AffirmedRx Intelligence, a Human-First Approach to AI in Pharmacy Benefits
For Immediate Release
Media Contact
Sarah Forti
hello@affirmedrx.com
(Louisville, Kentucky) October 20, 2026 — As artificial intelligence rapidly transforms healthcare, AffirmedRx today announced the launch of AffirmedRx Intelligence™, a new initiative designed to harness AI responsibly while ensuring human decisions remain at the center of patient care.
The initiative reflects AffirmedRx’s belief that AI should enhance human expertise, not replace it. Built on a foundation of transparency, governance, and human oversight, AffirmedRx Intelligence™ provides a framework for how the company evaluates, implements, and oversees AI-enabled tools and processes to improve member experiences and help drive better health outcomes.
The launch comes at a pivotal moment for the healthcare industry. As healthcare organizations and government programs increasingly adopt AI, important questions are being raised about its role in decision-making. Automated denials that left patients waiting on care have highlighted the risks of relying too heavily on automation without meaningful human oversight. As a Public Benefit Corporation, AffirmedRx is helping define a better path forward, one where AI enhances human judgment while people remain accountable for decisions that affect care.
“Healthcare has experienced major technology shifts before,” said Laurel Cipriani, Chief Information Officer at AffirmedRx. “Electronic health records and other digital tools promised greater efficiency, but they also created new burdens and unintended consequences. AI presents tremendous opportunities, but only if we learn from those experiences. At AffirmedRx, we’re committed to using AI in a way that strengthens human decision-making, supports our teams, and ultimately delivers better experiences for the members we serve.”
A former registered nurse, Cipriani worked on the front lines during one of healthcare’s most significant technology transformations and now leads AffirmedRx’s approach to AI. Drawing on her clinical experience and research, she has developed the Vital Signs Framework, a system for monitoring AI that applies the same principles nurses use to assess patients by examining multiple indicators together to uncover what may be happening beneath the surface.
At the core of AffirmedRx Intelligence™ is a set of ten guiding principles that balance innovation with responsible oversight. The framework reinforces the company’s commitment that decisions affecting a member’s care remain subject to human review, that AI is deployed where it can create meaningful value, and that its impact on patients and communities is continuously evaluated. For employers and plan sponsors, these guiding principles provide strong data protection, clear accountability, and the confidence that comes with greater transparency and no surprises.
“AI can help organizations work smarter, but it cannot replace the judgment, empathy, and real-world context that healthcare professionals bring to every decision,” Cipriani added. “Our approach is simple: use technology to empower people, not substitute for them. The future of healthcare isn’t artificial intelligence alone. It’s human intelligence, strengthened by the responsible use of AI.”
For more information about AffirmedRx Intelligence™, visit here.
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About AffirmedRx
AffirmedRx is the first Pharmacy Benefit Manager structured as a Public Benefit Corporation. Partnering with employers, health plans, hospital systems, and other payers seeking a fully transparent, clinically driven, and member-first approach to pharmacy benefits, AffirmedRx ensures every dollar is accounted for, and employer groups have complete visibility and access to their data. By delivering full transparency, data access and financial predictability, AffirmedRx prioritizes patients over profits. AffirmedRx simplifies the complexities of filling prescriptions, so patients can confidently access the best care to get and stay healthy. To learn more, please visit www.affirmedrx.com