Raising Health

Medicaid Matters with Mark Smith

Sep 17, 2024

Mark Smith, MD, is a Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF and the former CEO of the California HealthCare Foundation. He shares insights on the Medicaid system, reflecting on its evolution and the complexities it faces. The conversation covers challenges in California's Medi-Cal program, from funding issues to insurance eligibility. They also discuss the importance of addressing social determinants of health and the potential for technology, like telehealth, to enhance access and efficiency in the Medicaid landscape.

27:05

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Mark Smith

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Quick takeaways

Medicaid is vital for healthcare access in California, covering a significant portion of the population but facing funding and bureaucratic challenges.

Technological innovation, especially through telehealth, presents opportunities to improve Medicaid services and streamline access for underserved populations.

Deep dives

Understanding Medicaid's Significance and Challenges

Medicaid, particularly California's Medi-Cal program, plays a crucial role in ensuring access to healthcare for a significant portion of the population, covering over 40% of births and approximately one-third of the state's residents. Despite its importance, the program faces several challenges, including bureaucratic complexity that often deters eligible individuals from enrolling. Historically, Medi-Cal has been funded at levels lower than Medicare and private insurance, leading to accessibility issues for its beneficiaries. This disparity in funding, combined with a complicated eligibility verification process, creates significant barriers for the low-income individuals who depend on this vital support.

Intro

2min

Navigating the Complexities of California's Medicaid Program

3min

Incentives and Challenges in Medicaid

4min

Navigating the Complexities of Medicaid Eligibility and Social Determinants of Health

3min

Navigating the Challenges of U.S. Healthcare

14min

Over the next three episodes, we’re going to talk about why Medicaid matters, and the potential for technology to make it easier for enrollees to access and utilize the program. Our first guest is Mark Smith, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCSF.

He was the founding President and former CEO of the California HealthCare Foundation from 1996-2013, which is where he began his work to improve Medicaid. He experienced Medicaid from a provider perspective when he began his residency during the early days of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco in the 1980s.

In this interview, he is joined by a16z Bio + Health venture partner Will Shrank, MD. Together, they discuss Mark's time at CHCF, how Medicaid works, and how founders can potentially partner with the Medicaid program.

In future episodes, we’ll also hear from Marta Bralic Kerns, founder and CEO of Pomelo Care, and Nikita Singareddy, cofounder and CEO of Fortuna Health. Both companies are directly working with Medicaid patients to make their lives easier.

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Raising Health

Medicaid Matters with Mark Smith

Episode guests

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Deep dives

Understanding Medicaid's Significance and Challenges

The Impact of Eligibility and Access Issues

Leveraging Technology for Healthcare Improvement

Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts