Healthcare Intelligence

How much time does your revenue cycle team spend checking the same reports, fixing small mistakes, and tracking down problems that could have been caught earlier?

At Talley Eye Institute, CFO Bill James and his team have spent seven years building automated checks that run every night, flagging issues across billing, scheduling, drug reimbursements, and accounts receivable.

What started with a few lines of code has grown into thousands of lines of automated checks, helping staff catch mistakes before they become larger problems.

In this episode, Charlene Wang and Bill discuss how the team built these workflows, how frontline employees help identify opportunities for automation, and why starting with one small problem can lead to meaningful operational improvements.

They also explore how faster identification of patient balance issues has helped reduce aging patient A/R.

For finance and revenue cycle leaders looking to improve efficiency without simply adding more staff, this episode offers practical lessons from a CFO who has built these systems firsthand.

Bill James is the Chief Financial Officer at Talley Eye Institute in Evansville, Indiana, with more than 28 years of experience in physician practice management, including thirteen years in ophthalmology. Practices under his management have been recognized by MGMA as Better Performers in profitability, cost management, and patient satisfaction. His work focuses on using data, automation, and AI to improve practice operations, strengthen revenue cycle performance, and help staff spend more time on work that requires their expertise. He has helped develop custom reporting and workflow tools that translate everyday operational challenges into practical solutions. Bill holds an MHA from the University of Kentucky and is a member of MGMA and ASOA.

Healthcare organizations are investing in AI, but where is it actually making a difference?

In this episode of the Healthcare Intelligence Podcast, Charlene Wang talks with Blair Primis, Chief Growth Officer at OrthoCarolina, about how his team is using AI to understand patient demand, improve marketing performance, and make smarter growth decisions.

Blair shares where AI is already delivering value and why his team is taking a more careful approach to AI-powered scheduling.

The conversation covers:
- How AI analyzes patient calls to identify missed appointments and booking opportunities
- Using predictive analytics to decide where to expand and invest
- Why OrthoCarolina hasn't rolled out AI voice scheduling yet
- The opportunity to test AI scheduling after hours before expanding it
- How to balance patient experience, adoption, and business ROI

Rather than adopting AI everywhere, Blair explains why understanding the problem and measuring results should come first.

A practical conversation for healthcare executives deciding where AI belongs in their operations and where human interaction still matters.

Blair Primis is a highly seasoned growth executive, with an extensive background in marketing and experience creation. With over 25 years of experience in strategic marketing communications, creative direction, and social networking, he specializes in driving demand, growth, and establishing best-in-class experience solutions.

Key Roles and Experience

He has held significant leadership roles, primarily in the healthcare and marketing sectors, demonstrating expertise in combining marketing functions with patient/user experience:
●Chief Growth Officer at OrthoCarolina (February 2025 – Present). This role focuses on developing strategies to attract and retain patients and enhance the overall experience.
●Manager Partner at Primtos (July 2024 – Present), transforming ideas into "game-changing realities".
●Chief Marketing Officer at Flagship Specialty Partners (June 2023 – August 2024).
●Vice President of Marketing, Communications, Creative and Events at SCA Health (January 2022 – June 2023).
●Held multiple roles at OrthoCarolina for over 12 years, including Senior Vice President, Marketing & Talent Management (July 2009 – January 2022).
Skills, Teaching, and Boards
●Top Skills include User Experience Design (UED), Growth, Marketing and Organizational Consulting.
●Keynote speaker, teacher, and mentor on topics including growth creation, effective marketing disruption, leadership, and change management.
●Extensive Board of Directors/Advisors experience, primarily in the Charlotte area, with organizations such as the 7th Street Public Market, Carolina Farm Trust, Charlotte Cirque & Dance Center, and the OrthoCarolina Foundation.
●Publications include "How To Build The Right Marketing Team In 2024 And Beyond" and "How Healthcare MSO Leaders Can Leverage Marketing and Communications".
●Education includes a Bachelor of Arts from Duke University.

What does it take to move AI from a small test into daily operations? Charlene Wang talks with Dr. Scott LaBorwit, former Chief Medical Officer of Vision Innovation Partners, about starting with a simple workflow, measuring the patient experience, and expanding only after the team saw results. They discuss how AI is being used across patient calls, scheduling, and revenue cycle work, and what healthcare leaders should measure before scaling it.

Scott LaBorwit, MD is the former chief medical officer of Vision Innovation Partners and president and founder of Select Eye Care. A board-certified ophthalmologist specializing in cataract surgery, Dr. LaBorwit completed his residency at the Krieger Eye Institute and a glaucoma fellowship at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University. He also serves as associate professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He has engaged in the Artificial intelligence healthcare Space as an angel investor in Ufonia and a startup called CoDoc AI.

Strong payer negotiations are not only about asking for higher rates. The best results come from understanding what matters to both sides and finding areas where their goals meet.

Tom Golias, SVP of Health Plan Relations at AMSURG, joins Charlene Wang to share lessons from his experience on both the payer and provider sides. They discuss how healthcare leaders can use data, quality, patient satisfaction, and value-based care to strengthen their position at the negotiating table.

They also cover why scale alone does not guarantee leverage, how regular payer communication can prevent costly problems, and what separates a true payer relationship from a simple contract exchange.

For healthcare executives leading finance, revenue cycle, managed care, or payer strategy, this conversation offers a practical look at building contracts that work for both sides.

Thomas Golias is Senior Vice President of Health Plan Relations at AMSURG, one of the nation’s leading ambulatory surgery center platforms. A visionary and results-driven senior healthcare executive, he brings more than three decades of experience in complex contract negotiations, total medical cost management, and value-based performance programs.

Thomas has built his career on both sides of the payer-provider table, a dual perspective that shapes how he approaches network strategy, acquisition integration, and long-term partnership alignment. He is known for tackling complex challenges in matrix organizations with a direct, no-nonsense style and a focus on operational excellence.

Based in the greater Indianapolis area, Thomas holds a Master’s degree from Rush University and is a regular voice at national ASC and healthcare investment conferences.

AI can help healthcare organizations find problems faster, but technology alone cannot fix weak processes, unclear ownership, or disconnected teams.

Steven Shore, RCM Operating Partner, Shore Healthcare Consulting, joins the Healthcare Intelligence Podcast to discuss what healthcare organizations need in place before introducing AI into revenue cycle operations.

In this episode, Steven explores:

• Why AI acts as an accelerator, not a cure-all
• How weak processes can limit the value of new technology
• The importance of ownership, accountability, and quality checks
• Why RCM performance reflects the entire healthcare operation
• How to turn data and AI insights into day-to-day action
• Which KPIs leaders should measure consistently

A grounded discussion for healthcare executives evaluating AI, automation, and new revenue cycle technology, and looking for measurable financial results.

Steve Shore is a healthcare executive, operating partner, and advisor specializing in revenue cycle performance, cash flow optimization, and operational execution across multi-site healthcare organizations. He partners with private equity sponsors, transaction advisors, and management teams to improve cash conversion, strengthen operating discipline, and drive value creation throughout the investment lifecycle.

His experience spans operational diligence, post-acquisition integration, organizational transformation, and the development of scalable, KPI-driven operating models that enhance financial performance and enterprise value. Steve believes sustainable enterprise value is created when disciplined execution consistently translates into predictable cash flow. His work focuses on helping healthcare organizations build the accountability and operating discipline necessary to achieve that outcome.

Steve earned his Master of Business Administration in Finance from the Fox School of Business at Temple University and a Bachelor of Science in Health Planning & Administration from The Pennsylvania State University.

As more procedures migrate from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers, the economics are becoming more complex, not less.

Mark Wainner, Sr. Director of ASC Acquisition and Development at Community Health Systems, joins the Healthcare Intelligence Podcast to unpack how ASC reimbursement, payer contracting, and health system partnerships are evolving.

Mark explains why comparing commercial contracts can be so difficult, how implant reimbursement and multi-procedure payment rules change the economics of a case, and why Medicare can still serve as a useful benchmark when evaluating payer rates.

The conversation also explores:

• Why hospital-ASC partnerships are no longer simply a “rate lift” strategy
• How to evaluate reimbursement at the case level, not just the CPT level
• The challenges of benchmarking commercial payer contracts
• How implant costs and reimbursement affect ASC margins
• Why physician alignment remains critical to ASC performance
• What healthcare leaders should expect as more procedures move outpatient

For CFOs, revenue cycle leaders, ASC executives, and health system operators, this conversation offers a practical look at the financial forces shaping the next phase of outpatient care.

Guest: Mark Wainner, Sr. Director, ASC Acquisition and Development, Community Health Systems

Mark is a healthcare industry veteran with over 30 years of healthcare experience. In his current role with Community Health Systems (CHS), Mark is responsible for growing CHS’s Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) division through ASC acquisition and De Novo projects. Prior to joining CHS, Mark was responsible for developing the SurgeryPlus network with Employer Direct Health.

Mark spent 23 years contributing to the growth of AMSURG in the surgery center industry. His primary focus was strategies to drive top-line growth and operational efficiencies that deliver greater profitability.

Mark most recently served as the President of Ambulatory Surgery Center Association (ASCA) and is currently the Immediate Past President. Mark has an extensive professional network cultivated through affiliations with the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association ASCA, Nashville Healthcare Council, and Leadership Healthcare (LHC).

Mark has a Bachelor of Science (BS), Finance, the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.

Mark enjoys boating, wake surfing, being outdoors, attending sporting events, and spending time with his family during his free time.

Healthcare organizations are investing heavily in AI, but are they solving the right problems?

In this episode of the Healthcare Intelligence Podcast, former payer executive and McKinsey Senior Advisor Myong Lee shares what healthcare executives need to understand about value-based care, payer-provider alignment, AI, and the future of revenue cycle management.

Topics include:

Why most physicians still don't fully understand value-based care
The biggest mistake providers make when preparing for risk contracts
Why data infrastructure—not AI—is the biggest bottleneck
How payers are approaching AI in claims, coding, and compliance
Why CMS changes will increase audits and documentation requirements
Practical advice for provider organizations navigating financial risk

Whether you're leading Finance, Revenue Cycle, Managed Care, or Strategy, this conversation offers a realistic look at where healthcare is heading—and what organizations should prioritize over the next year.

Guest: Myong Lee

Myong Lee is a managed care executive with over 19 years of experience building, scaling, and operating health plans, MSOs, and value-based care organizations, with a track record of leading companies to hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. He was most recently CEO of Advanced Medical Management/Seoul Medical Group, a full-risk Medicare Advantage IPA. He previously co-founded Clever Care Health Plan, a minority-focused Medicare Advantage health plan, raising $220mm in capital, scaling the business from 550 to over 28,000 members and from $14M to $350M+ in revenue.

He currently serves as Senior Advisor at McKinsey & Company, supporting Fortune 500 healthcare clients on strategy, operations, and M&A diligence. His earlier executive roles include VP Payer Contracting at Agilon Health, VP Special Projects and Interim COO at Clover Health, and CFO/COO of Inspira LIFE, where he built health plans and payer contracts at the founding and growth stage. Myong holds an MBA from Arizona State University, a BA in Business Administration and Economics from Franklin & Marshall College, and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Health at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

In this episode, Sap Sinha shares how Allied Digestive Health grew through rapid change by combining operational discipline, physician leadership, and thoughtful use of AI.

Charlene and Sap discuss:

• Building an MSO during and after COVID
• Improving eligibility, prior authorization, and front-end operations
• Winning physician buy-in for new technology
• Why healthcare organizations should redesign workflows before adding AI
• The balance between automation and human expertise
• How to prioritize AI projects that actually move the needle

If you're leading operations, revenue cycle, finance, or digital transformation, this episode is full of practical lessons from someone who has done it at scale.

Sap Sinha is a healthcare executive and strategist who has spent over two decades building high-growth organizations at the intersection of technology and clinical operations. Most recently, he served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Allied Digestive Health, one of the largest independent gastroenterology networks in the United States. Over his tenure, Sap helped scale ADH fourfold, growing the organization to more than 200 physicians and 85 clinical offices across New York and New Jersey. He led the re-engineering of the company’s core infrastructure, introducing revenue cycle automation, AI-driven patient outreach, and a modular middleware technology stack that has become a model for how specialty practices can modernize without getting trapped by legacy point solutions.

Prior to ADH, Sap was a Regional Vice President at SCA Health, part of Optum, where he managed a large network of ambulatory surgery centers. His foundational training in value creation and strategic scaling came from twelve years in management consulting, including roles as a Senior Principal and Partner at Boston Consulting Group and an early career start at Ernst & Young. He currently serves as CEO of Tandem-Allied Clinical Research and advises private equity and venture capital firms as an operating partner and strategic advisor, with a focus on healthcare services and clinical research platforms.

Sap holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honors in Economics, an MBA from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business, and a Master of Health Care Innovation from the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a frequent speaker on the “human-AI hybrid” organization, a vocal advocate for colorectal cancer screening, and a firm believer that in the digital transformation of medicine, people drive change, not technology alone.

More procedures are moving from hospitals to ambulatory surgery centers, but growth alone does not guarantee strong financial performance.

Terry Bohlke, longtime ASC executive and past president of ASCA, shares what healthcare leaders need to understand about building, operating, and growing a successful surgery center. Drawing on decades of experience across finance, operations, development, and acquisitions, Terry explains why details matter so much in the ASC model.

The conversation covers the economics of ASC growth, rising development costs, specialty expansion, cash flow, technology gaps, and the challenge of getting physician owners fully committed to the center.

For C-suite, finance, operations, and RCM leaders looking to better understand where the ASC market is going, and what separates an average center from a high-performing one.

Terry Bohlke is a nationally recognized ambulatory surgery center executive with more than 20 years of multi-site, multi-state ASC leadership experience across 23 states. He has led ASC strategy, operations, development, acquisitions, finance, quality, and physician alignment for major healthcare organizations, including Community Health Systems, National Surgical Healthcare, and Nueterra.

Most recently, he served as Vice President of Ambulatory Surgery Centers for Community Health Systems, where he established and led the national ASC strategy for 51 ASC partnerships. His work has focused on building high-performing outpatient surgery platforms through quality-centered operations, strong physician partnerships, market growth, disciplined financial management, and clinical integration with health systems.

A former healthcare CFO and CPA, Terry brings a distinctive blend of strategic, operational, and financial expertise to the ASC sector. He has also served in national and state ASC industry leadership roles, including President and member of the Board of Directors for ASCA, the national ASC association, and CASA, the California ASC Association.

In addition to his healthcare leadership, he served as Commander and Executive Officer of the Navy’s Center for Naval Leadership Southwest, bringing a deep commitment to leadership development, team culture, and mission-focused execution. He has spoken and written extensively on ASC growth, financial performance, physician partnerships, and leadership, and joins Healthcare Intelligence to discuss the evolving role of ambulatory surgery centers in the future of healthcare delivery.

AI is moving fast, but healthcare's biggest challenge isn't building smarter models.

It's fixing the systems that still don't work together.

In this episode, Charlene Wang sits down with Dr. Neil Hockstein, Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission and practicing ENT surgeon, to discuss what healthcare leaders should really focus on over the next decade.

You'll hear perspectives on:

- Why interoperability is still healthcare's biggest bottleneck
- What digital prior authorization should actually look like
- Where AI can help, and where it can't
- Why better infrastructure matters more than more technology

If you work in healthcare leadership, health IT, policy, or digital health, this conversation is one you won't want to miss.

Neil Hockstein, M.D. is an otolaryngologist specializing in head and neck surgery and currently serves as Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission. He holds faculty appointments and leadership positions at ChristianaCare, Thomas Jefferson University, and The Wistar Institute.

An active head and neck surgeon, Hockstein founded and expanded a multi-state ENT practice, growing it into one of the nation's largest independent otolaryngology groups. He played a pioneering role in the development of transoral robotic surgery and has published and presented widely on surgical innovation and cancer treatment. His clinical and research interests include minimally invasive surgery for head and neck cancer, improving care delivery through independent practice models, and advancing physician workforce policy.

Hockstein is a nationally recognized leader in otolaryngology, frequently presenting at national conferences on practice management, physician workforce, and health policy. He has also served as a mentor to medical students, residents, and fellows, many of whom have gone on to leadership positions in academic medicine and private practice.

In addition to his clinical and academic contributions, Hockstein has been deeply engaged in public service and policy development in Delaware. As Chair of the Delaware Health Care Commission and leader of the Delaware Primary Care Reform Collaborative, he has worked to advance access to care, reduce costs, improve quality, and strengthen the health care workforce. He also chairs the Delaware State Employee Benefit Committee overseeing the deliver of health and pharmacy benefits for 135,000 state employees, dependents, and retirees.

He serves on multiple state-level task forces focused on transparency, cost reduction, and medical education, including the effort to establish a Delaware medical school.