Listening In (With Permission): Conversations About Today's Pressing Health Care Topics

Suzanne Delbanco chats with Jeffrey Davis, MD, MPH, Senior Health Management Consultant with Willis Towers Watson, about a rapidly expanding area of intrigue for employers: genetic testing. He breaks down the types of genetic testing out there, as well as concrete steps employers can take to navigate this space. Listen in to find out if and when genetic testing is more than just a "shiny new object" that Silicon Valley employers are using to retain top talent.

Episode 61: George Schwartz on the Benefits of Palliative Care for Patients and Caregivers by Catalyst for Payment Reform

Suzanne Delbanco calls up Lisa Woods, Senior Director of Health Care Benefits at Walmart Stores Inc., to discuss Walmart’s efforts to control costs and deliver high-value health care using a Center of Excellence approach. Suzanne and Lisa catch up about Walmart’s COE strategy for spinal surgery, why Walmart initially began the program, and how these efforts have helped to reduce inappropriate care so far. Lisa also shares Walmart’s decision to expand its’ Center of Excellence approach and where Walmart’s COEs are headed in the future.

Suzanne Delbanco checks in with Mike Stull, Chief Marketing Officer at Employers Health Coalition, to talk all things pharmacy. Listen in as Suzanne and Mike discuss what employers and health care purchasers can do to stay afloat amid rising pharmacy costs, the role of the pharmacy benefit managers now and in the future, and much more.

Suzanne Delbanco, CPR's Executive Director, checks in with Debbie Welle-Powell, Chief Population Health Officer at Essentia Health, an integrated health system in the Midwest. Debbie and Suzanne discuss the definition of accountable care organizations (ACOs), how ACOs can impact the quality and cost of health care, patient experience in an ACO and the importance of incorporating risk. Listen in and learn!

Suzanne Delbanco dials up Emily Transue, MD, Associate Medical Director for Clinical Quality and Care Transformation at the Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA), to chat about HCA's shared decision making strategy and the results so far. Learn what shared decision making is, why HCA introduced shared decision making, how HCA is using shared decision making in tandem with its' Accountable Care program, and more.

Suzanne Delbanco dials up Ann Greiner, President and CEO of the Patient Centered Primary Care Collaborative (PCPCC), to discuss the patient centered medical home model. Ann shares where the PCMH came from, how the concept and use has evolved over time, how the PCMH can influence health care delivery, and the evidence on PCMHs so far.

Suzanne Delbanco checks in with David Schleifer, Ph.D.,Vice President and Director of Research at Public Agenda, a nonpartisan, nonprofit research and public engagement organization that works to strengthen democracy and expand opportunity in America by fostering thoughtful public opinion, meaningful public participation and responsive public institutions. They discuss the perspectives of Americans who have experienced either type 2 diabetes, maternity care or joint replacement on what makes for good quality health care, based on research funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: www.publicagenda.org/pages/qualities-that-matter. David also gives a preview of future research designed to shed light on whether or not New Yorkers think that state policy should play a larger role in improving transparency and accountability in health care quality.

Suzanne calls Frederick Isasi, Executive Director of Families USA, to understand the aspects of today’s health care insurance landscape that are putting the greatest strain on families. They discuss prescription drug costs and solutions, the comeback of short term and association health plans, and how health care purchasers share the same concerns as individual patients. Frederick, who helped write the Affordable Care Act, clears up any lingering doubts about the bipartisan nature of this hot topic.

Suzanne Delbanco calls Mai Pham, MD, Vice President of Provider Alignment Solutions at Anthem Inc., and former Chief Innovation Officer at CMMI, to discuss the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule. They explore the history of the fee schedule, its repercussions across the entire health care marketplace, and what Anthem plans to do - in the long haul- to diverge from the status-quo for the sake of improving health care quality and affordability. With all the recent news about CMS' proposed changes to the fee schedule, you won't want to miss this exciting discussion!