AVBCC Value-Based Voices

Value-Based Voices welcomes Maria Ghazal, JD, MA, President & CEO, Healthcare Leadership Council, for a dynamic conversation spanning Medicare Advantage, prior authorization reform, artificial intelligence, Most Favored Nation drug pricing, and the growing competitive pressure from China in biopharmaceutical innovation.

During this conversation, hosted by Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, Maria shares insights from HLC’s diverse membership of 60+ C-suite leaders and explains how consensus-driven policy can shape the future of value-based care. 

Together, Jayson and Maria explore: 

• The evolving landscape of Medicare Advantage

• HLC’s newly released AI policy recommendations

• The implications of Most Favored Nation drug pricing and why affordability and innovation must not be treated as competing goals

• The rapid rise of China in biopharmaceutical development and AI-enabled healthcare—and what the U.S. must do to maintain leadership

• How HLC builds consensus across one of the most diverse memberships in healthcare

This episode offers a candid, cross-sector look at the policies, pressures, and opportunities that will define the next decade of value-based care.

Listen and subscribe for more conversations shaping the future of oncology and value-based healthcare.

#ValueBasedCare #MedicareAdvantage #HealthcarePolicy #AIinHealthcare #AI #Innovation #AVBCC #HLC #China #biopharma 

Resources: 

Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC): https://avbcc.org/

Healthcare Leadership Council (HLC): https://www.hlc.org/

Medicare Advantage cost analysis & MedPAC rebuttal: https://www.hlc.org/news/hlc-leader-reacts-to-latest-medpac-report-to-congress-on-medicare-payment-policy/

AI Federal Framework Preliminary Report: https://www.hlc.org/news/healthcare-sector-calls-for-unified-federal-framework-to-unlock-ais-full-potential-for-patients/

Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act: https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/3514

CMS prior authorization reforms: https://www.cms.gov/initiatives/burden-reduction/overview/interoperability/policies-regulations/cms-interoperability-standards-prior-authorization-drugs-proposed-rule-cms-0062-p

Connect with our Guests:

Maria Ghazal, JD, MA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-ghazal/

Jayson Slotnik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-slotnik-3932305/

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

Are oncology treatments losing their "special status" with payers?

In this episode of Value-Based Voices, host Brian Reid, MS, Principal of Reid Strategic and author of the Cost Curve newsletter, sits down with James Chambers, PhD, MSc, MPharm, Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine and Director of the Specialty Drug Evidence and Coverage (SPEC) Database, to examine how payer coverage decisions are shaping access to cancer therapies in the United States. 

Drawing on nearly a decade of research, Dr. Chambers discusses the growing use of utilization management tools, including step therapy and clinical eligibility requirements, and explains why oncology, long considered one of the least restricted therapeutic areas, is seeing a noticeable increase in coverage limitations. The conversation explores payer variation, the impact of biosimilars and therapeutic competition, and the unique challenges associated with cell and gene therapies. 

Listeners will gain valuable insights into the complex balance between innovation, affordability, evidence, and patient access that continues to define the modern oncology landscape. 

#Oncology #DrugCoverage #CancerDrugs #cancer #PatientAccess #HealthcarePolicy

Resources & Links
• Specialty Drug Evidence and Coverage (SPEC) Database: https://cevr.tuftsmedicalcenter.org/databases/spec-database
• Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC): http://avbcc.org

Connect with our Guests:
Brian Reed: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbreid/
James Chambers, PhD, MSc, MPharm: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-chambers-8845752/

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but what does that look like in the day-to-day practice of oncology? In this episode of AVBCC's Value-Based Voices, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, sits down with Samyukta Mullangi, MD, MBA, Medical Oncologist at Tennessee Oncology and Vice President of Clinical Strategy at OpenEvidence, to discuss how AI-powered clinical decision support tools are helping clinicians navigate an increasingly complex evidence landscape. 

View a demo of Open Evidence: https://youtu.be/iBOlnjuHQxE

Dr. Mullangi explains how OpenEvidence's retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) architecture delivers evidence-based answers grounded in trusted sources such as NCCN Guidelines, ASCO Guidelines, JAMA, and The New England Journal of Medicine. The conversation explores how AI can improve clinical efficiency, support better decision-making, reduce disparities in care, and ultimately give physicians more time to spend with patients. 

The episode also tackles important questions about:
- medical education
- regulatory oversight
- payer adoption
- physician liability
- the future of AI-assisted healthcare

Whether you're a clinician, policymaker, payer, researcher, or healthcare innovator, this discussion offers valuable insights into the next generation of cancer care.

#Oncology #CancerCare #HealthcareAI #ArtificialIntelligence #ai #ValueBasedCare #ClinicalInnovation #DigitalHealth #OpenEvidence #AVBCC

Resources: 
- OpenEvidence: https://www.openevidence.com
- Association for Value-Based Cancer Care (AVBCC): https://www.valuebasedcancer.com
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN): https://www.nccn.org
- American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO): https://www.asco.org
- JAMA Network: https://jamanetwork.com
- The New England Journal of Medicine: https://www.nejm.org

Connect with our Guests:
Samyukta Mullangi, MD, MBA: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mullangi/
Jayson Slotnik: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-slotnik-3932305/

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of Value‑Based Voices, host Deirdre “Dee” Saulet, PhD, Chief Strategy Officer, Jasper Health, and AVBCC Southwest Regional Collaborative Co-Chair, sits down with two extraordinary guests, Kommah "Koko" McDowell, MS, a 21‑year survivor, nationally recognized advocate, and Chief Customer Officer at Tali Health, and Leon Cristobal, MPH, an eight‑year leukemia survivor, and Oncology Sales Consultant, Bayer.

Recorded following the AVBCC Regional Collaborative in Los Angeles, this conversation explores what person‑centered care truly looks like in practice—and why the distinction between “patient” and “person” is more than semantics. Koko and Leon share candid reflections on being seen, heard, dismissed, supported, and ultimately cared for by the teams who walked alongside them.

Together, they unpack the realities of ageism, cultural bias, caregiver strain, communication gaps, and the emotional weight of diagnosis. They also illuminate the frontline heroes—nurses, navigators, physicians, and access teams—whose humanity shapes the cancer experience.

This episode is a call to action for every stakeholder across oncology to design solutions with humility, curiosity, and a commitment to treating people as whole beings.

A powerful, deeply human conversation you won’t forget.

Resources
AVBCC Regional Collaboratives: avbcc.org/regional-collaboratives

Association for Value‑Based Cancer Care (AVBCC): avbcc.org

City of Hope: cityofhope.org

Connect with the Speakers
KoKo McDowell: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kommahmcdowell/
Leon Cristobal: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leon-cristobal/
Deirdre “Dee” Saulet: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deirdresaulet/

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

What happens when patients with cancer spend weeks navigating insurance requirements before receiving physician-prescribed care?

In our latest episode of Value-Based Voices, Brian Reid, Principal of Reid Strategic and author of the Cost Curve newsletter, and Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, sit down with CancerCare's  Alexandra Zaleta, PhD, VP of Research & Insights, and Kim Czubaruk, JD, VP of Policy, to discuss findings from CancerCare's groundbreaking Red Tape Report. Based on responses from more than 1,200 people affected by cancer, the report sheds light on the very real impact of prior authorization, coverage interruptions, step therapy, and other utilization management practices on patients and families. 

Our conversation explores:

• The clinical, financial, and emotional impact of treatment delays
 • Why patients with employer-sponsored coverage reported some of the greatest administrative burdens
 • The growing challenge of "time toxicity" for both patients and caregivers
 • Coverage disruptions during active treatment
 • Opportunities for employers, providers, policymakers, and advocates to work together on solutions 

One theme emerged clearly throughout the discussion: when access barriers delay care, the costs extend far beyond claims data. Patients, caregivers, providers, and employers all feel the impact.

Resources:

CancerCare: https://www.cancercare.org/

The Red Tape Report: https://www.cancercare.org/redtape

Connect with our Guests:

Alexandra Zaletta, PhD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandra-zaleta/

Kim Zubarak, JD: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kim-czubaruk-50532261/

Brian Reid: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brianbreid/

Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jayson-slotnik-3932305/

#ValueBasedCare #Oncology #CancerCare #HealthcarePolicy #PatientAccess #PriorAuthorization #CancerAdvocacy #HealthBenefits #ValueBasedVoices #CancerCareDelivery

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of Value-Based Voices, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, sits down with Joel White, Partner and Head of Health Practice at Monument Advocacy, and a principal architect of Medicare Part D, to discuss one of the most consequential challenges facing cancer care today: the end of the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration. 

Bringing unmatched historical insight, policy fluency, and practical clarity to the conversation, Joel breaks down how we got here, how this decision will affect access to cancer therapies, and the real, actionable solutions that could stabilize the market and protect patients. 

Tune in to gain an understanding for this moment and the path forward!

Resources & Links: 

Medicare Part D overview: https://www.medicare.gov/drug-coverage-part-d

Medicare Extra Help / Low-Income Subsidy: https://www.ssa.gov/medicare/part-d-extra-help

Connect with Our Guests: 

Connect with Joel White:   / joel-white-6b8a953/

Connect with Jayson Slotnik:   / jayson-slotnik-3932305  

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

In this follow up conversation, Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies and AVBCC Board Members, and Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, Washington, BioCentury Publications, take a clear eyed look at the future of the FDA and the forces shaping biopharmaceutical innovation. Building on their earlier discussion of FDA history and political dynamics, Steve offers candid insights into how U.S. policy, global competition - particularly with China - and shifting regulatory priorities are influencing the life sciences ecosystem.

He explores:
- the implications of NIH funding erosion
- restrictions on international collaboration
- immigration challenges
- the growing tension around drug pricing and intellectual property
- practical realities companies and investors must navigate in coming months

The episode also examines what the FDA can do to strengthen clinical trial efficiency, restore transparency, and rebuild confidence across industry and patient communities.

Thoughtful, timely, and grounded in deep policy expertise, this conversation offers listeners a nuanced understanding of where the FDA is headed, and what that means for the future of oncology innovation.

If you missed Part 1 of this conversation, catch it here.

Resources & Links:
BioCentury Publications
Operation Trial Blazer

Connect with Our Guests:
Connect with Steve Usdin 
Connect with Jayson Slotnik  

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

In this first of a 2-part series featuring Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, Washington, BioCentury Publications, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies and AVBCC Board Member, leads a spirited conversation around  developments at the FDA, the political influence shaping its decisions, and the outlook for the future. 

Key topics covered include:

• The state of morale among FDA career staff and the challenges in attracting new talent
• Eroding confidence levels within the investor community and implications for funding
• Political and ideological influence on FDA activities 
• The debate over the upcoming FDA commissioner appointment and potential candidates
• The significance of recent initiatives like Operation Trial Blazer in restoring confidence
• Opportunities for optimism with FDA’s recent engagement with rare disease advocates and international collaboration efforts

Resources & Links: 

• BioCentury Publications
• Operation Trial Blazer

Connect with Our Guests: 

• Connect with Steve Usdin
• Connect with Jayson Slotnik

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

In this episode of Value-Based Voices, we delve into the mission and inner workings of the NCCN, a cornerstone organization shaping cancer treatment standards in the U.S. and beyond. We're joined by Bill McGivney, PhD, Principal, McGivney Global Advisors, and Former CEO, NCCN; and host Nicolas Ferreyros, Managing Director, Policy, Advocacy, and Communications, Community Oncology Alliance. 

Hear expert insights on how guidelines, payer decisions, and evolving technologies influence patient access and outcomes as well as some of Bill's own thoughts on the NCCN and his time at its helm. 

Resources & Links: 

• National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN)
• NCCN Guidelines
• Community Oncology Alliance 

Connect with Our Guests: 

• Connect with Bill McGivney 
• Connect with Nicolas Ferreyros 

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening! 

We're taking a deep dive into the upcoming Global Cancer Research and Innovation Symposium (GCRIS) in this latest episode of Value-Based Voices.

Join GCRIS Scientific Co-chairs Stan Skrzypczak, MS, MBA, Managing Partner, 5 Prime Life Science Consulting, and Nick Sarlis, MD, PhD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Cleara Biotech, as they talk with GCRIS Co-chair Matt Vossler, Managing Director, DSG Global, about the groundbreaking science, innovative drug development, and collaborative ecosystems that are reshaping oncology. 

Hear about: 
- the rise of "biotech 2.0" 
- the complexity of bringing new therapies to market
- strategies to accelerate drug development cycles and regulatory pathways
- what the future holds for researchers and the investors eager to capitalize on emerging science
- why GCRIS and its collaborative, unscripted conversations are needed now more than ever

Whether you’re in research, investment, or policy, this episode is essential listening for anyone who wants to stay ahead of the curve in cancer innovation. 

Request your invitation to attend the GCRIS taking place October 5-6, 2026 in New York City: https://avbcc.org/gcris/

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Resources & Links
• Swim Across America: https://www.swimacrossamerica.org

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at [email protected]

Thanks for listening!