In this episode of The Dish on Health IT, Tony Schueth and Rob Dribbon are joined by Neikisha Charles Director of Quality Improvement and Risk Management of Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center (Bed-Stuy), a federally qualified health center (FQHC) in Brooklyn, NY. Together, they dig into common misconceptions about FQHCs and shine a spotlight on the opportunities they present for strategic engagement across the healthcare ecosystem—especially for health IT and life sciences organizations.

Neikisha opens with her personal journey: starting as a data analyst at Bed-Stuy in 2021 and quickly rising into her current leadership role because of her knack for using data to drive quality improvement. Her story illustrates the increasing sophistication of FQHCs and sets the tone for a broader conversation about how these organizations are evolving.

To help orient listeners who may not fully understand the role of FQHCs, Neikisha provides a clear definition: FQHCs are federally funded community-based providers mandated to offer care to all residents in underserved areas, regardless of insurance status. They are deeply attuned to social determinants of health and committed to removing access barriers for vulnerable populations.

Rob adds context from his years in pharma, highlighting the unique value proposition of FQHCs—namely, their holistic and integrated approach to care. He urges listeners not to overlook these organizations simply because they’ve historically focused on commercial health systems.

Neikisha then debunks a major myth: that FQHCs only serve uninsured or homeless patients. In fact, Bed-Stuy primarily serves Medicaid-managed populations, but also sees commercially insured and uninsured individuals, offering services on a sliding scale. Services range from primary care and mental health to dental, podiatry, and optometry, along with extensive care coordination and social support services.

When asked what health IT vendors and life sciences companies may be missing, Neikisha makes it clear: FQHCs are not tech or data-poor. Bed-Stuy uses a robust EHR (eClinicalWorks), the Azara DRVS population health platform, and Artera for two-way patient communication. These tools aren’t just window dressing—they are integrated into care delivery to close gaps, improve compliance, and monitor population health in real time.

She offers a compelling case study: When colorectal cancer screening rates began to drop, Neikisha led a data-driven campaign using Azara to identify noncompliant patients, Artera to send targeted outreach texts, and a partnership with Exact Sciences to offer Cologuard kits to patients by mail. The result? A 12.3% increase in screening compliance over 18 months.

Rob underscores the significance of this approach—not just the smart use of technology, but also the community-level relationships and the trust that make this kind of intervention effective.

The discussion then shifts to interoperability. Neikisha notes the complexities of data exchange and the importance of dedicated roles like a Director of Health Integration to manage relationships and reporting. Bed-Stuy is connected to a regional health information organization (RHIO), uses platforms like Azara to track transitions of care, and maintains read-only EMR access with key partners to streamline care coordination. While true vendor-agnostic interoperability remains elusive, FQHCs are actively working with what’s available.

Tony brings the conversation back to the bigger picture: What gaps do vendors and life sciences partners need to close? Neikisha points to the need for better education about what FQHCs actually do and who they serve. She challenges companies to co-create solutions with FQHCs—offering tools that reflect real-world workflows and support sustainable partnerships rather than transactional engagements.

The episode wraps with both Rob and Neikisha emphasizing the untapped potential of FQHCs. With over 30 million Americans relying on them for care, these organizations are not fringe players—they are essential infrastructure. And as Neikisha puts it, they’re “here to stay.” To partner successfully, the first step is simple: reach out, learn what’s needed, and build something meaningful together.

Related Content

• What Are FQHCs, & Should Life Sciences Manufacturers Even Care About Them?
• HIT Perspectives May 2025: FQHC Myth vs Fact 
• Bedford Stuyvesant Family Health Center Brooklyn NY - Primary Care Services 

In this episode of The Dish on Health IT, host Tony Schueth sits down with two of the industry's sharpest minds leading the charge to fix one of health IT’s most persistent headaches: digital consent management. Janice Reese, Senior Consultant at Point-of-Care Partners and Program Manager for the FHIR at Scale Taskforce (FAST), and Mohammad Jafari, Co-Lead of FAST’s Consent Work, offer an unflinching look at why consent is still so messy—and what it’ll take to make it scalable, interoperable, and actually work for patients.

The conversation kicks off with a reality check. While the question “Who can access what data and when?” might sound simple, it quickly falls apart in practice. Consent today is often paper-based, fragmented, non-interoperable, and rarely computable. Mohammad explains how even digitized forms—often scanned PDFs—are barely better than paper when it comes to machine-readability and cross-system portability. The burden lands on both sides: patients are stuck filling out redundant forms at every touchpoint, and providers face access barriers that can delay or limit care.

But the episode isn’t just a critique, it’s a roadmap forward. Janice and Mohammad walk listeners through how FAST is approaching consent differently. Rather than focusing on the content of specific consents (like for research or behavioral health), the team is building a foundational infrastructure: a FHIR-based implementation guide that supports core consent operations, like requesting and revoking consent, delegating authority, and syncing consent decisions with digital identity and security frameworks. In other words, FAST is working on the plumbing that everyone else can build on.

What sets this work apart is its real-world grounding. The team has prioritized broad stakeholder input through public calls and is actively incorporating lessons from pilot participants. Janice highlights that many organizations don’t even know where to start—some have APIs, patient portals, or identity systems in place, but lack a cohesive strategy for managing consent. That’s where FAST can help, not just with standards but with education and architectural guidance.

The discussion also tackles the elephant in the room: policy fragmentation. With states having vastly different rules—sometimes even conflicting ones within the same region—scaling consent can feel impossible. But rather than trying to standardize policy, FAST is focused on standardizing structure. That means creating frameworks flexible enough to accommodate policy differences without hardcoding for each new rule change. Mohammad notes this kind of flexibility is key to making systems resilient and future-proof.

Both guests agree that the time to act is now. Technology has matured, regulators are engaged, and public expectations for privacy and control over personal data are higher than ever. As Janice puts it, the stars are aligning. With CMS showing growing interest in digital identity and consent, and with FAST’s security IG set to be required for FHIR under TEFCA in 2026, organizations can’t afford to sit this one out.

Whether you’re a health plan, HIE, health tech vendor, or public health department, this episode makes one thing clear: scalable, patient-centered consent management isn’t just possible—it’s already underway. And FAST is laying the groundwork.

To get involved, attend a public call (2nd & 4th Fridays at 1:00 Central/2:00 Eastern), reach out to Janice directly at [email protected], or contact the team at [email protected]. Now’s the time to shape the future of consent—before it shapes you.

In this episode of The Dish on Health IT, host Tony Schueth and payer interoperability expert Kendra Obrist sit down with Rob Alger, SVP of Health Plan Technology at Kaiser Permanente, for a candid and sweeping conversation about payer interoperability, AI, FHIR, and the realities of health IT innovation at scale.

Rob kicks things off by discussing Kaiser Permanente’s unique care and coverage model, highlighting how it streamlines internal coordination and shapes investment priorities. He notes that, unlike many other health plans, Kaiser’s vertically integrated structure allows for fewer administrative hurdles, particularly in areas like prior authorization.

The conversation then turns to CMS-0057. While Rob acknowledges Kaiser must comply like everyone else, the regulation presents less of a lift for them due to their internal alignment. That said, both he and Kendra agree: the success of any interoperability initiative hinges on provider adoption, and that remains uncertain.

Looking ahead to 2025, Rob shares Kaiser’s strategic focus on simplifying healthcare experiences, especially by leveraging AI to remove friction from both clinical and administrative processes. One standout example is their ambient listening tool from Abridge, now rolled out across 40 hospitals and 600 medical offices, which is allowing clinicians to focus more on patients than keyboards. It’s one of the fastest clinical tech adoptions Rob’s ever seen.

Naturally, the discussion shifts to FHIR. Rob puts it plainly: “FHIR is non-negotiable.” Regulatory mandates have solidified its role, but he wonders whether the industry will eventually want to use FHIR or continue reacting to policy. Kendra and Tony weigh in, noting signs of growing pull once organizations recognize the potential. They agree that multi-stakeholder efforts like Da Vinci Project and FHIR at Scale Taskforce (FAST) are helping to build real-world traction by solving for shared use cases.

When asked why Kaiser stays engaged in these initiatives, Rob makes it clear it's about shaping standards early, staying ahead of the curve, and making smarter, future-proof decisions, especially when it comes to vendor selection.

The episode then revisits AI, with Rob outlining Kaiser’s guiding principles: human in the loop, bias mitigation, and responsible governance. He explains that while Kaiser isn’t trying to build every tool themselves, they aim to be excellent adopters, using AI to free up clinicians and call center reps to operate at the top of their license. It's less about chatbots and more about smarter workflows, ambient data capture, and preserving session context across modalities.

Data quality surfaces as a recurring theme. Kendra highlights increasing payer interest in tackling inconsistency and fragmentation. Rob acknowledges Kaiser has an edge due to its standardized EHR system, but insists no one is immune to the challenges, especially when AI is in the mix. As he puts it, “If your data’s not clean, you’re not going anywhere.”

As a member of the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) board, Rob brings a unique perspective on industry-wide infrastructure and collaboration. He explains that CAQH, originally formed by major health plans to tackle non-competitive operational challenges, has evolved into a key player in both standards development and practical solutions like coordination of benefits and provider directories. That dual focus—advocacy and action—resonates throughout the conversation, especially as Rob underscores the importance of shared investments in foundational infrastructure that lift the entire industry.

The discussion then touches more specifically on directories and the potential of shared infrastructure for non-competitive areas of healthcare. Rob emphasizes that while payers care deeply about directory accuracy, the solution likely involves more human accountability than tech alone.

In closing, the trio shares their perspectives on under-discussed industry challenges. Rob flags cybersecurity as a growing threat, especially in light of recent ransomware attacks. Kendra and Tony shine a light on consent and pharmacy interoperability, two areas that, while not headline-grabbing, could unlock major gains in care coordination and equity.

Rob’s parting call to action? It’s time for the industry to align on clinical policy. Competing on utilization rules isn’t sustainable, and getting consensus on what’s appropriate care could help streamline prior auth and improve patient trust.

Kendra wraps by urging payers to suspend disbelief and start planning for a world where APIs and data exchange work as intended. Dream a little, and then build accordingly.

In this special HIMSS25 recap episode of The Dish on Health IT, host Tony Schueth, CEO of Point-of-Care Partners (POCP), is joined by co-hosts Brian Bamberger, POCP’s Life Sciences Lead, and Vanessa Candelora, Senior Consultant and Program Manager of the HL7 Gravity Project. Together, they break down the biggest themes from the conference, covering interoperability, artificial intelligence (AI), FHIR adoption, and the growing focus on improving data quality in healthcare innovation.

HIMSS25 once again proved to be a crucial gathering of healthcare leaders, vendors, and policymakers, drawing nearly 28,000 attendees. Vanessa notes the continued focus on interoperability and trust, with a clear divide between experienced stakeholders refining their strategies and newcomers trying to grasp the fundamentals of FHIR. Brian, a HIMSS veteran, points out that first-time attendees often struggle with the complexity of both the conference itself and the discussions around health IT’s latest advancements, particularly AI and its real-world applications.

To add perspectives from the conference floor, Tony introduces a series of interviews with HIMSS25 attendees and industry leaders, including Anna Taylor, Associate Vice President, Population Health and Value-Based Care of MultiCare, Erin Weber, Chief Policy & Research Officer, CAQH, Mariann Yeager, CEO, The Sequoia Project, Matthew Holt, Founder/Writer of The Health Care Blog, and Lynne Nowak, Chief Data and Analytics Officer. Each interview provides insights into the real-world implementation of interoperability and FHIR, the evolving use of AI, and how data privacy and governance are shaping health IT strategy.

FHIR adoption was one of the topics covered in the interviews. Some, like Mariann Yeager and Erin Weber, expressed optimism about FHIR’s expanding role in clinical data exchange, while others, such as Anna Taylor, highlighted persistent scalability challenges and limited adoption for administrative functions like prior authorization. Matthew Holt offered a broader view on data exchange, arguing that while data mobility has improved, the real challenge is how organizations actually use and integrate that information. Vanessa underscores that while FHIR is gaining traction globally, large-scale implementation remains a work in progress. The panel agrees that translating theoretical frameworks into real-world adoption is the next crucial step.

AI was another dominant topic, with a mix of enthusiasm and skepticism surrounding its potential. The HIMSS interviewees discuss AI’s growing role in streamlining administrative workflows, summarizing patient records, and enabling ambient listening for clinical documentation. However, as Brian bluntly puts it, the “magic” of AI is still far from reality—many tools promise seamless EHR integration but lack the ability to write back into clinical systems, requiring manual intervention. Lynne Nowak and others emphasized that AI’s effectiveness is directly tied to data quality—bad inputs will only lead to bad outputs. The consensus? AI has real potential to enhance workflows but cannot replace clinicians, and health IT leaders must focus on governance, usability, and ensuring AI supports, rather than replaces, human decision-making.

As the conversation wraps up, Vanessa highlights the critical role of policy and strategic innovation in shaping the next wave of health IT progress. With new regulatory shifts and uncertainty around TEFCA, organizations must stay agile while ensuring that patient privacy, data integrity, and consent management remain top priorities. Brian brings the discussion back to life sciences, stressing the importance of leveraging patient insights and real-world data to drive treatment adherence and improve outcomes.

HIMSS25 reinforced that while FHIR, AI, and interoperability remain hot topics, the industry is now at a critical inflection point—shifting from theory to execution. Organizations must filter out hype, focus on data quality, and build scalable solutions that improve both clinical and administrative functions.

For those who couldn’t attend HIMSS25 or want a deeper dive into what’s next for health IT, this episode provides a comprehensive breakdown of the major takeaways. Subscribe to The Dish on Health IT on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. The podcast is also available on HealthcareNOW Radio. Full video versions are also available on POCP’s YouTube channel. As always, health IT is a dish best served hot.

In this episode of The Dish on Health IT, host Tony Schueth leads an engaging discussion on pharmacy interoperability, a topic at the center of a recently published POCP white paper funded by the NCPDP Foundation and supported by Surescripts. Joining Tony as guests are, John Hill, Executive Director of the NCPDP Foundation, and Larry King, Director of Intelligent Prescribing at Surescripts, to unpack the white paper’s findings and explore the future of pharmacy’s role in patient care.

The conversation begins with Tony laying the foundation for the discussion by defining pharmacy interoperability as the seamless, bi-directional exchange of health information between pharmacy care settings and the broader healthcare ecosystem. This connectivity ensures that data flows effortlessly without adding complexity to the workflows of pharmacists or other providers. Tony highlights the POCP white paper, which outlines critical opportunities and challenges in achieving this vision. The document calls for leveraging standards and technology to integrate pharmacists as key contributors to care teams, addressing  medication management and broader clinical services.

John Hill and Larry King bring their unique perspectives to the conversation. John shares insights into how the NCPDP Foundation is focused on grants that expand the pharmacist's role, improve patient safety, and enhance access to care. He emphasizes that the white paper marks a pivotal step toward identifying gaps in interoperability and opportunities to engage pharmacists more fully in patient care. Larry draws from his experiences as a pharmacist and industry leader, highlighting the complexity of patient needs and the roadblocks that prevent pharmacists from working to the highest and best purpose of their license. Both guests underscore the need for workflow-friendly solutions to reduce administrative burdens and allow pharmacists to spend more time on meaningful, patient-centered work.

The discussion delves into the growing role of pharmacists, who are increasingly stepping beyond dispensing medications to provide direct patient care services, including immunizations, chronic disease management, and comprehensive medication reviews. Tony and his guests agree that pharmacies are uniquely positioned to fill gaps in care, especially in underserved areas, and to offload basic services from overburdened primary care practices. However, for pharmacies to step into this larger role, significant progress is needed in interoperability, reimbursement models, and technology adoption.

A key focus of the conversation is the critical role of standards in enabling interoperability. John elaborates on how NCPDP works to ensure data can be exchanged seamlessly, highlighting their collaboration with HL7 on standards like the eCare Plan. He explains that standards not only ensure data consistency across systems but also reduce the burden on users by integrating into existing workflows. Larry adds that Surescripts’ efforts to implement interoperable solutions, such as Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) under TEFCA, demonstrate the potential of standards to create a nationwide framework for secure data exchange.

The guests also discussed the importance of using sustainable financial models to incentivize investment in interoperability. Larry points out that while there are some reimbursement programs for clinical services, inconsistencies remain a significant barrier. Both guests stress that the industry must develop scalable payment models that align with pharmacists’ expanded roles and address the technology investments required to connect pharmacy systems with the broader care continuum.

Emerging technologies like AI are also prominently featured in the discussion. Larry shares how Surescripts is leveraging AI for tasks like parsing patient instructions and monitoring network activity for compliance issues. John highlights NCPDP’s efforts to explore how AI can support standards adoption and governance. Both agree that while AI offers enormous potential to optimize pharmacy workflows and enhance clinical insights, it must be implemented cautiously, with safety and security as top priorities.

As the episode nears its conclusion, the guests reflect on the ideal future state of pharmacy interoperability. Larry envisions a world where patients experience seamless care, with providers and pharmacists having immediate access to comprehensive, accurate health information. This would eliminate redundant data collection, reduce errors, and enable faster, more informed decision-making. John echoes this vision, emphasizing that interoperability can empower pharmacists to operate at the top of their licenses, improving patient outcomes and addressing provider shortages.

Tony closes the discussion by encouraging listeners to take actionable steps, such as engaging with workgroups like NCPDP’s Work Group 20, reviewing the POCP white paper, and participating in industry initiatives that drive interoperability forward. John and Larry emphasize the urgency of acting now, describing this as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create lasting change in healthcare delivery.

For more insights and resources, including links to the white paper and details on key industry initiatives, check the episode summary. Subscribe to The Dish on Health IT on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Healthcare Now Radio to stay informed. Let’s continue the journey toward a more connected and efficient healthcare system—because health IT is a dish best served hot!

Reference Links: 

POCP Pharmacy Interoperability Whitepaper: https://info.pocp.com/pharmacy-interoperability-whitepaper 

NCPDP Foundation abridged results report: https://ncpdpfoundation.org/pdf/PharmacyInteroperability_AbridgedResults.pdf  

NCPDP Foundation website (for grant proposals in connection with the CTA of future opportunities for grants): https://ncpdpfoundation.org/home.aspx  

NCPDP Standards website (for encouraging involvement/collaboration in WGs in connection with the CTA of getting involved/supporting the mission): https://standards.ncpdp.org/  

Surescripts Blog, "Ready for Action: Advancing Pharmacy Interoperability": Preparing Pharmacy with Technology to Participate in Healthcare Interoperability | Surescripts 

In this episode of The Dish on Health IT, Host Tony Schueth, CEO of Point-of-Care Partners (POCP) and Co-host, Kendra Obrist, Payer Strategy Senior Consultant with POCP, welcome Anthony Murray, Chief Information Officer of MRO, to tackle one of health IT’s most pressing topics: payer-provider data exchange and interoperability.

The discussion begins with introductions and a light-hearted acknowledgment of the traditional friction between payers and providers. Anthony shares his journey from pharmaceutical work to leading MRO’s efforts in clinical data exchange. He emphasizes the enduring challenges in interoperability, including siloed systems and the complexities of real-time data sharing.

The conversation then shifts to the evolving patient-centric approach. Anthony and Kendra explore how technology like patient portals has improved engagement but highlight gaps in bidirectional data exchange. They dive into the payer-provider dichotomy, with Kendra explaining how payers are shifting their mindset to view data holistically as patient data rather than isolated categories like claims or provider information.

Later, the trio examines successful payer-provider collaborations, such as Anthony’s example of a client achieving a 63% improvement in quality scores through seamless digital connectivity. They also spotlight the Da Vinci Project and other initiatives driving innovation in the space.

The regulatory landscape takes center stage with a discussion of the CMS-0057 rule, which aims to streamline prior authorization and bolster interoperability. Both Anthony and Kendra share candid views on the challenges of implementing these changes and the opportunities they present for strategic advantage.

Closing on a forward-looking note, Anthony calls for active industry participation in shaping health IT’s future, urging stakeholders to engage in accelerators and public comment opportunities. Kendra envisions a healthcare system that embraces real-time digital experiences, aligning with the expectations of younger generations.

Tune in for actionable insights and spirited dialogue about the future of health IT and interoperability!

Key Themes:

• Challenges in payer-provider data exchange
• Opportunities in patient-centric interoperability
• Regulatory impacts, including CMS 0057
• Examples of successful collaborations driving innovation
• Strategic shifts in viewing data holistically

Listen now to explore how collaboration, technology, and regulation are reshaping health IT! Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Healthcare Now Radio, or watch on the POCP YouTube channel. Don’t forget, health IT is a dish best served hot!

In this lively recap of the HLTH 2024 conference in Las Vegas, The Dish on Health IT dives deep into the event’s biggest topics with host Tony Schueth, CEO of Point-of-Care Partners, and guest co-host Seth Joseph, Managing Director of Summit Health and contributor to Forbes.com. Known for its forward-looking focus on healthcare innovation, HLTH 2024 was packed with discussions on artificial intelligence, data interoperability, data security, and the emerging technologies shaping the industry.

Tony and Seth kick off the episode by reflecting on HLTH’s unique vibe, contrasting it with other industry events like HIMSS. They offer honest reactions to the glitzy atmosphere and networking opportunities that HLTH provides and discuss how its “futuristic” focus is a magnet for healthcare investors, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. Seth provides a candid look at the range of perspectives on AI in healthcare. While excitement around generative AI applications remains high, he notes a growing willingness to challenge its real-world impact and value, marking a shift from last year's unbridled enthusiasm to more cautious optimism. Tony echoes this sentiment, observing that AI and other tech innovations will only prove their worth when they meaningfully improve patient care and operational efficiency.

Throughout the episode, Tony shares exclusive clips from his one-on-one interviews with several key industry leaders who each offer unique insights into the conference themes and the road ahead for health IT. The interviews include:

• Bevey Miner, EVP of Consensus – Bevey shares her views on HLTH as a stage for innovation and the importance of collaboration in advancing health IT solutions.
• Frank Harvey, CEO of Surescripts – Frank discusses the critical role of data and interoperability in healthcare, and how AI could streamline data exchange and improve patient outcomes while noting the limitations of isolated “point solutions” that need a more holistic approach.
• Tim Pletcher, CEO of MiHIN – Tim emphasizes the importance of regulatory compliance, particularly with TEFCA, HTI-1 and HTI-2, as well as the need to build trust across state lines to enhance data-sharing frameworks.
• Charlie Harp, CEO of Clinical Architecture – Charlie dives into the challenges of data quality and the vital role of accurate, clean data in effective AI applications.
• Brian Anderson, MD, CEO of CHAI – Brian brings a thoughtful perspective on responsible AI use in healthcare, stressing the need for realistic expectations and industry-wide collaboration to ensure AI’s impact matches its promise.

Tony and Seth revisit the recurring theme of interoperability, an area of focus for POCP. They discuss its complex challenges and how data standards and regulatory shifts are beginning to create a more integrated system. Highlighting Blue Shield of California’s partnership with Salesforce on prior authorization as a standout announcement, Tony notes the significance of innovations that simplify administrative burdens on providers and reduce care delays for patients.

The episode wraps up with Tony and Seth’s thoughts on HLTH’s atmosphere, especially the mixed reactions from attendees about the conference’s glitzy setup. While some question the balance between style and substance, Tony appreciates the energy and enthusiasm HLTH brings to healthcare, believing it encourages important investment and public interest in health IT. Seth offers a dose of realism, pointing out that while glitz can attract attention and funding, the true test will be in the hard work and strategic planning needed to implement these innovations at scale.

For those eager to hear about the latest in healthcare innovation, this episode delivers a nuanced take on HLTH 2024, blending high-level industry insights with grounded observations on where health IT is—and isn’t—making an impact.

In this episode of The Dish on Health IT, Tony Schueth, CEO of Point-of-Care Partners, and Kim Boyd, Regulatory Resource Center Lead, are joined by Pam Schweitzer, former Assistant Surgeon General of the United States and current Chair of the NCPDP Foundation Board of Trustees. Together, they deliver an in-depth discussion on critical topics impacting the health IT landscape, including interoperability, public health data modernization, and evolving healthcare regulations.

The episode begins with introductions from Tony and Kim, highlighting Pam’s extensive career in healthcare, ranging from her leadership roles in the Indian Health Service and the Veterans Affairs (VA) system to her current position as chair of the NCPDP Foundation. Pam reflects on her experience overseeing the transition from paper to electronic health records and how this complex shift required the coordination of multiple healthcare departments, including radiology and labs.

Pam shares her insights into how policy changes, such as CMS 0057 and the HTI-2 proposed rule, are shaping the future of healthcare interoperability. The trio discusses how these regulations, aimed at improving data sharing between payers, providers, and public health systems, will ultimately drive real-time data exchange. They also emphasize the importance of infrastructure, standards, and innovation to support these efforts.

As the discussion moves forward, Pam talks about her work on public health initiatives, particularly around pharmacy interoperability, maternal health, and the broader impacts of nutrition and food supply on community health. Kim and Pam also explore the evolving role of pharmacists in public health, especially in rural areas where they often serve as the primary healthcare providers.

The conversation includes key steps for modernizing public health data systems, such as addressing the data silos between healthcare and public health systems. Pam emphasizes the need for greater collaboration and data sharing to enable a more effective public health response, especially during crises like pandemics or natural disasters.

Pam, Kim, and Tony also touch on the role of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) in promoting data fluidity and expanding the integration of pharmacists and other healthcare stakeholders into the broader healthcare ecosystem.

The episode wraps up with Pam expressing her optimism for the future of health IT and public health interoperability, while stressing the importance of ongoing collaboration between stakeholders, from policymakers to healthcare technology vendors. Kim adds that the evolution of pharmacy practice and regulatory changes are driving significant improvements in patient care and medication management.

Listeners can tune in for a deep dive into the intersections of health IT policy, pharmacy standards, and public health modernization, with practical insights from leaders in the field. This episode is a must-listen for those interested in healthcare interoperability, the impact of CMS and ONC policies, and the future of public health and pharmacy integration.

Catch the full episode on your preferred podcast platform, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Healthcare Now Radio, or watch the video version on YouTube.

Other resources you may be interested in:

• Healthy People 2030 – Data and Information Systems
  https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/public-health-infrastructure
• Public Health Infrastructure - Healthy People 2030 | health.gov
  https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/public-health-infrastructure
• Strategies for Public Health Interoperability | PHDI | CDC
  https://www.cdc.gov/data-interoperability/php/public-health-strategy/index.html
• March 27, 2024 – Draft 2024-2030 Federal Health IT Strategic Plan
  https://www.healthit.gov/sites/default/files/page/2024-03/Draft_2024-2030_Federal_Health_IT_Strategic_%20Plan.pdf
• 2023 – Infrastructure for Scaling and Spreading Whole Health – Health Informatics
  https://www.nationalacademies.org/our-work/transforming-health-care-to-create-whole-health-strategies-to-assess-scale-and-spread-the-whole-person-approach-to-health

Welcome to "The Dish on Health IT," a podcast brought to you by Point-of-Care Partners, a leading health IT consultancy. Each episode features a rotating panel of senior consultants and guests who discuss trends and innovations in health IT, providing insights and recommendations to help organizations leverage advances to solve their business problems.

In this episode, POCP hosts Tony Schueth, CEO of Point-of-Care Partners, and Pooja Babbrah, PBM and Pharmacy Lead, are joined by Shivani Patel, Executive Vice President of Patient Access Operations and Technology Solutions at Asembia. Together, they delve into key topics including specialty prescribing, pharmacy interoperability, TEFCA, and consent management, highlighting how technology, policy, and process improvements can drive positive changes in healthcare.

The conversation kicks off with an introduction to specialty prescribing. Shivani explains that specialty prescribing involves treatments that are typically more complex than standard prescriptions due to factors like high cost, special storage requirements, and adherence challenges. She points out the logistical gaps and barriers in the specialty space, such as prior authorizations and communication challenges between stakeholders. Pooja adds that the lack of a standardized definition for specialty medications further complicates the process, leading to delays and confusion.

Moving on to pharmacy interoperability, Pooja describes it as the ability to share clinical data between pharmacists, providers, and other stakeholders. She emphasizes the importance of providing pharmacists with the right information they need, instead of overwhelming them with excessive data. For instance, pharmacists should not have to sift through 500 pages of patient records to find relevant information. Instead, they need targeted, pertinent data to improve patient care and streamline processes.

The discussion then shifts to TEFCA (Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement), which aims to fill information gaps in the healthcare system by setting standards for data exchange. Shivani and Pooja discuss how TEFCA can enhance transparency and interoperability, helping pharmacists and other stakeholders' access and share necessary patient information more efficiently. Shivani notes the potential of TEFCA to establish a universal patient identifier, which could significantly improve data sharing and patient care coordination.

Consent management is another crucial topic covered in this episode. Effective consent management is essential for pharmacy interoperability and ensuring patients' privacy and data security. Shivani and Pooja explore how consent management can be improved to make the sharing of patient information more seamless and secure. They emphasize the need for standardized consent processes that allow patients to control their data while ensuring that relevant information is accessible to healthcare providers.

Throughout the episode, the panel highlights the role of technology in improving the prescription journey. Shivani discusses how Asembia uses technology to support the industry by connecting stakeholders and providing tools to manage patient care better. This includes everything from prior authorizations to benefit checks and copay cards. Pooja underscores the importance of industry collaboration and transparency to create standardized solutions that benefit all stakeholders.

Towards the end of the episode, Shivani shares insights about the Asembia Summit, an annual event that gathers industry stakeholders to discuss trends and innovations in specialty pharmacy. She invites listeners to attend AXS25, the next Asembia Summit, which will take place from April 27th to May 1st, 2025, at the Wynn Las Vegas. The event offers a premier forum for learning, networking, and exploring the latest advancements in the industry.

Tune in to this episode to gain a deeper understanding of the complexities of specialty prescribing, the importance of pharmacy interoperability, and how collaborative efforts in technology, policy, and process can enhance healthcare delivery. Don’t miss the insights shared by industry stakeholders on why they attend the Asembia Summit each year. For more information and to suggest future topics, email us at [email protected] or tweet us at @POCPHIT.

The special episode of The Dish on Health IT episode provides insights and coverage from the recent HIMSS24 conference. Hosts Pooja Babbrah, the PBM and Pharmacy Lead and Jocelyn Keegan, Payer/Practice Lead with Point-of-Care Partners dig into their observation from HIMSS24 before reacting to stakeholder interviews from the floor of the Interoperability Showcase on topics ranging from the impact of the final CMS interoperability & prior authorization, benefits of API adoption and pharmacy interoperability opens with a montage of HIMSS24 attendees. 

--NOTE: The sound quality of the kiosk interviews is not ideal. If you prefer, you can watch this episode on video for close captioning of the kiosk interviews--

The episode opens with a montage of HIMSS24 attendees sharing what they find valuable about attending HIMSS. Pooja Babbrah then opens the episode explaining that she and co-host Jocelyn Keegan share their key takeaways and insights from the biggest health technology conference in the industry. 

Jocelyn started the conversation off by sharing her observation that the work over the last 15 years to forge scalable connections to improve data fluidity has been fruitful and reached a tipping point. Importantly, the conversations we heard at HIMSS24 showed an acknowledgment as important as data fluidity is the content of what we are exchanging, and that data quality is just as important. 

Jocelyn then shared her second observation which is that we need to build a skillset and pool of resources who can do the next phase of work that is needed. She shared that when she worked in the financial industry which was at the time transitioning to interoperability and automation, they had to hire and develop the critical thinkers needed to think through how to best leverage technology, approach change management and do the abstractions needed to be successful. Health IT is at a similar place; we probably need more clinical informaticists because how we use technology in clinical workflows is extremely important, but we also need operational experts to help pull through how shifts in one workflow should get pulled through in others. She went on to say that we need people understand data mapping and why clean data is so important. 

Pooja thanked Jocelyn for her insights before sharing her own. She mentioned that she heard talk about whether ViVE and HIMSS could both survive because they occur so close together, and are big investments for companies to make to attend or exhibit. She shared that her view is that they are different enough in programmatic and attendance mix that she believes they both have value and will survive. 

Adding to Jocelyn’s point about data quality, Pooja added that data governance and sending the right data to the right people at the right time versus just sending a data tsunami. Pooja continued by adding that it’s also important to meet people where they are. This was clear at the post-acute care listening session. Some care facilities are not yet FHIR-enabled, some can send data via FHIR but perhaps are not yet API-enabled, how can we meet those facilities where they are even if they aren’t using cutting-edge technology? Most stakeholders are going to be somewhere on a spectrum of tech adoption. We need to be flexible in how we do things. 

Pooja went on to say that another observation is that the importance of consent management will continue to grow, and that real work is starting to be done to figure out what patient-centered consent management might look like. We need to be able to exchange the right data at the right time with the right people, but we need to ensure we have the right consent to go along with it. 

Pooja mentioned some industry initiatives on consent including the HL7 FHIR at Scale Taskforce Accelerator, which has launched a new consent project. Public meetings for the FAST Consent project have launched and will be held regularly. 

A consent learning lab was held at HIMSS24 for the second year in a row. Pooja expressed that she attended both last year's and this year’s events and she could feel a shift including the presence of regulators who were in the room. She explained that the conversation focused on actual work and progress being made in California and Florida as well as a huge focus on the role of consent in connecting health data and human services data.

Next Pooja and Jocelyn listened and reacted to stakeholders who stopped by the POCP Kiosk in the Interoperability showcase to give their perspectives on the final CMS prior authorization & interoperability rule, API adoption, and pharmacy interoperability. 

Interviewees at the kiosk included:

• Colin Banas, Chief Medical Officer for DrFirst, shared insights on medication management and prior authorization.
• Polina Vaserman, Vice President of product Management with MHK, discussed the complexities and proposed improvements in prior authorization final rule.
• Lathe Bigler, Vice President of Clinical Network Services at First Databank provided perspectives on leveraging FHIR APIs for improving price transparency and patient care.
• Lenel James, Business Lead - Health Information Exchange & Innovation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, highlighted the use of FHIR APIs to enhance data accessibility for all stakeholders, including patients, payers, and providers, underscoring the importance of making healthcare data available across the care continuum to improve service delivery and care coordination.
• Melanie Marcus, Chief Marketing and Customer Experience Officer at Surescripts highlighted the role of pharmacies in expanding care access and the necessity for interoperability and policy support.
• Kathryn Ayers Wickenhauser, Sr. Director of Community Strategy at DirectTrust discusses the critical role of pharmacists in delivering care and the role of Direct Messaging can play in supporting this work. 

Themes from the interviews and host response include: 

• CMS Interoperability and Prior Authorization: There has been broad acknowledgment of the positive progress this final rule will make towards enhancing interoperability and refining the prior authorization processes is widespread, with some hoping for additional policies to go even further.
• Healthcare Ecosystem and CMS Policies: The industry acknowledges the complexities of medications requiring prior authorization. There's an expectation for CMS to broaden its research and policy scope to include specialty medications, recognizing their critical importance.
• Impact of Technology and Innovation: The importance of adopting standards like FHIR for improving healthcare interoperability is emphasized. Leveraging technology and standard adherence is highlighted as crucial for enabling effective communication among healthcare stakeholders, reducing administrative burdens, and improving patient care quality.
• Pharmacy’s Essential Role: Pharmacies are spotlighted as key to healthcare delivery, especially in underserved areas. There's strong advocacy for improved pharmacy interoperability and integration into the care team, stressing the need for policies, payment reforms, and access to health information to support their expanded role.
• Using Existing Technologies: The discussions promote the practical use of existing technologies and workflows to address healthcare delivery challenges effectively. This pragmatic approach centers on solving immediate patient care and business problems with available tools and sharing successful industry practices to foster broader adoption.
• Future Directions and Collective Engagement: A desire for ongoing engagement with health IT innovations, with a focus on interoperability, is clear in future industry events. The importance of collaborative efforts within the community and across the industry is underscored as critical for driving advancements in health IT and interoperability.

After Pooja and Jocelyn listened and reacted to the interviews, Pooja shifted to close out the episode. She took a moment to reflect on the rich dialogue and insights shared by professionals across the healthcare ecosystem. She acknowledged the collective and collaborative effort that is fundamental to advancing health IT, underscoring the critical role of technology, the growing importance of pharmacies in the healthcare delivery ecosystem, and the collective anticipation for the evolution of policies concerning specialty medications and the work toward a better way to manage consent. With a nod to the resilience and spirit of innovation that defines the HIMSS conference, Pooja expressed gratitude for the contributions of all speakers and participants, celebrating another successful year of sharing, learning, and collaborating. Looking ahead with optimism, she voiced enthusiasm for the next HIMSS, where the community will reconvene to delve deeper into healthcare's pressing issues, explore new advancements, and foster further collaborations that promise to shape the future of health IT.