The Collective Voice of Health IT, A WEDI Podcast

Michael welcomes Todd Van Meter, CEO of Accuity and a 30-year healthcare RCM veteran. Todd shares insights on navigating change in revenue cycle management. From separating AI hype from real ROI to building resilient teams and redefining the patient–provider–payer relationship, Todd offers practical lessons from decades of leading large-scale healthcare operations. A must-listen for anyone shaping the future of healthcare finance.

In this episode, Michael welcomes Lightbeam Health CTO Mike Hoxter to discuss how advanced analytics and social determinants of health (SDOH) data are reshaping population health management. As organizations deepen their commitment to value-based care, Mike explains how modern risk stratification tools help identify at-risk populations earlier, reduce avoidable costs, and drive more equitable, proactive care. With real-world examples and practical insights, this conversation offers a clear look at what’s working—and what’s next—in population health innovation.

Michael welcomes Jaelynn Williams, former CEO of Air Methods and a respected healthcare and business thought leader. Jaelynn has developed the Board AI Governance Index™, a groundbreaking framework that helps boards assess and strengthen their AI readiness—balancing innovation with accountability.

They explore how this 100-point model gives leaders a structured way to oversee AI risk, capture opportunity, and ensure responsible use of technology in complex, high-stakes environments like healthcare.

From WEDI’s recently concluded National Conference in Washington DC, co-chairs Emma Andelson from the American Medical Association and Anna Hyde from the Arthritis Foundation introduce WEDI’s newest workgroup, Patient Experience.

The workgroup’s primary aim is to embed the patient perspective into healthcare business processes and workflows while elevating the patient voice across WEDI’s broader workgroups and initiatives

Michael sits down with Ben Scharfe, EVP of AI at Altera Digital Health, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare. From ambient listening that lightens documentation load to specialty-trained AI agents enhancing decision-making, Ben shares practical examples of what’s working today—and where challenges like clinician resistance and AI “hallucinations” remain. Hear why he believes AI, when implemented thoughtfully, can deliver what clinicians want most: more time with patients and less time with paperwork.

Michael interviews Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Center for Research Informatics at the University of Chicago, about synthetic data in healthcare. Julie shares her unconventional career path, which included studying nursing at Georgetown and conducting video game research to improve surgical skills. They discuss the definition, creation, and potential of synthetic data in accelerating research and improving efficiencies, while addressing challenges such as trust and privacy concerns. Julie emphasizes the importance of validating findings with real-world data and explores the future of synthetic data in reshaping medical research and decision-making.

What happens when dental data becomes as accessible and actionable as medical data? Steve Roberts, CEO of Vyne, explores how interoperability can transform the patient experience, equip providers with deeper insights, and strengthen the connection between oral health and overall health.

This podcast is sponsored by MCG Health, which offers evidence-based clinical guidelines and software tools for healthcare providers and payers. These resources aim to optimize patient care and support care management. Learn more about them at https://www.mcg.com/ 

Michael welcomes Raj Godavarthi, MCG’s AVP of Technology and Interoperability to discuss industry progress on payer-provider compliance work on the CMS Final Rule (CMS-0057-F). After that, Michael addresses artificial intelligence with Dr. Jason Gillman, MCG’s Director of Clinical Informatics. Dr. Gillman is currently involved in the NCQA AI Governance workgroup, and he’s MCG’s representative in the “Clinical Decision Support” workgroup at the Coalition of Health AI (or CHAI).

Michael welcomes 

to discuss their workgroups working together to spotlight the intersection between direct to consumer (DTC) genetic tests and some different privacy and security issues associated with these types of tests. The two workgroups collaborated to develop a Fact Sheet to help consumers take action to protect their data, available here- https://www.wedi.org/2025/07/12/direct-to-consumer-genetic-dna-testing-actions-consumers-can-take-to-protect-their-health-data/ 

Current regulations and requirements Thanh Thien references in the episode

Children make up nearly half of all Medicaid enrollees—37 million nationwide—yet their unique needs are too often overlooked in value-based care models. In this episode, Michael sits down with Taylor Beery, Chief Innovation & Administrative Officer and Co-Founder at Imagine Pediatrics, to explore why pediatric value-based care requires its own distinct strategy. From addressing the needs of 14.5 million children with special health care needs to building trust with families and caregivers, Taylor makes the case that centering children in healthcare reform not only improves outcomes for vulnerable populations but also strengthens the foundation for broader Medicaid and commercial models.