Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast

In this episode, Ellen Sexton, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer at Blue Shield of California, discusses the impact of major policy changes on Medicaid and commercial markets, how her team is preparing for uncertainty, and the strategies needed to support members, stabilize employer coverage, and advance innovation across California's health care landscape.

In this episode, Dr. Cynthia Brown, Medical Director and Clinical Lead for Women’s Health at Elevance Health, discusses Elevance Health’s expansion of doula services into select employer health plans, highlighting how doula support improves outcomes, reduces disparities, strengthens the care experience, and creates long-term value for mothers and babies.

In this episode, Steve Levin, CEO of Quest Analytics®, shares how health plans can prepare for 2026 as regulations evolve and market expectations shift. He unpacks what current network trends are signaling for plan strategy, why provider data accuracy and operational efficiency are becoming key competitive differentiators, and how leaders can adopt technology and AI in practical ways that drive real, measurable value.This episodeis sponsored by Quest Analytics®.

In this episode, Dr. Saria Saccocio, Chief Medical Officer at Essence Healthcare, explains how strong provider partnerships, real time data, and a member centered approach drive the plan’s four and a half star performance. She also shares how addressing social needs and listening closely to members shapes future benefit design and care delivery.

In this episode, Steve Tringale, President of Mass General Brigham Health Plan, shares how the organization is expanding its product portfolio, entering the dual eligible market, and investing in integrated digital care management to better support members across all stages of life.

In this episode, Kevin Adams, CEO of HealthEdge, discusses how health plans can overcome legacy technology challenges through modernization, business process as a service (BPaaS), and AI-driven efficiency. He shares insights on building stronger operational foundations and how next-generation automation is reshaping payer operations. This episide is sponsored by HealthEdge.

In this episode, Rick Harbit of Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina and Bob Tavernier of Quest Analytics discuss how payers are navigating financial pressures, advancing network adequacy 2.0, and using data and network intelligence to drive long-term success. This episode is sponsored by Quest Analytics.

Dr. Meera Atkins, Chief Medical Officer at Lyric.ai and board-certified OB-GYN, discusses how clinically informed AI can revolutionize payment accuracy in healthcare. She highlights the shift from reactive to proactive strategies in payer-provider relationships, emphasizing the importance of trust and clinical validation. Dr. Atkins explains how AI can reduce administrative burdens and enhance value-based care while ensuring equity and ongoing governance. She offers practical pilot suggestions for healthcare organizations to harness AI effectively.

Join Marcy Tatsch, Executive VP and General Manager at Truven by Merative, as she dives into the complexities of rising healthcare costs. With a wealth of experience in healthcare analytics, Marcy discusses key drivers like aging and chronic diseases. She highlights innovative solutions such as GLP-1 drugs and data-centric strategies that can save employers millions. Marcy emphasizes the importance of sophisticated data use for crafting smarter benefit strategies while enhancing care quality. It's a data-driven approach to navigating today's healthcare landscape!

In this episode, Shana Hoffman, President and CEO of Lucet, shares why behavioral health is the key to transforming patient outcomes and reducing costs. She discusses how Lucet is breaking down fragmentation, scaling integrated care, and achieving measurable results for patients and health plans. This episode is sponsored by Lucet.