Healthcare organizations have always faced operational, financial, and strategic pressures—but in 2025, those challenges are intensifying. A wave of current and anticipated policy changes is reshaping the industry, leaving leaders to navigate an increasingly complex and uncertain landscape.

To better understand how executives are preparing for what’s ahead, Advisory Board held more than 130 conversations through one-on-one calls, small-group policy forums, and other formats. These discussions revealed a wide range of strategies, concerns, and priorities.

The reality? There’s no universal playbook for this moment.

When best practices fall short, peer-to-peer insights offer a powerful way to benchmark reactions and learn from others.

In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with Natalie Trebes and Chad Peltier—two researchers leading Advisory Board’s policy work. Together, they explore why peer learning is more critical than ever, what’s top of mind for executives across the industry, and how organizations are responding to the shifting policy landscape.

Interested in joining future focus groups or workshops? Reach out to the team at podcasts@advisory.com to get involved.

We’re here to help:

In times of uncertainty, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by what’s out of your control. That’s why over the next few weeks we’re revisiting three powerful conversations that remind us where to focus: on operational excellence, on what is within your control, and on the urgency to act now. Don’t miss Radio Advisory’s operational excellence series, beginning August 19th.

Send a voice message to Radio Advisory.

A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

260: What does progress in behavioral healthcare look like? Three leaders weigh in