Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast

In this episode, Bill Harlan, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Point32Health, shares how his team is addressing access challenges, supporting members through navigation services, and building innovative partnerships to improve mental health care delivery.

In this episode, Dan LaVallee and Dr. Brandy Hershberger of UPMC share how the health system is creating innovative apprenticeship programs to support Medicaid members and employees in pursuing meaningful careers. They discuss workforce development, grant funding, and how these programs are shaping the future of healthcare talent pipelines.

In this episode, Alan Cohen, Co-founder and Chief Product Officer at Centivo, joins the podcast to share his perspective on escalating healthcare costs, premium increases, and the risks facing the ACA market. He also explains how Centivo partners with high-performing providers to deliver cost-effective, sustainable coverage for employers and their employees.

In this episode, Dr. Nathan Crock of Premera Blue Cross shares how the AI-powered chatbot “Alice” is helping hundreds of customer service representatives quickly find accurate information, reducing call times, improving member satisfaction, and enhancing internal knowledge management.

In this episode, John Byrnes, Chief Operating Officer at Banner|Aetna, discusses how the organization is advancing value-based care through integrated technology, strong payer-provider collaboration, and personalized member support. He highlights key strategies driving improved health outcomes and sustainable cost management in Arizona.

In this episode, Karen Ignagni, Executive Chair, and Dr. Dan Knecht, Chief Medical Officer at EmblemHealth, discuss the launch of the first health plan covered lifestyle medicine program for early-stage Alzheimer’s. They explore how evidence-based interventions, community support, and integrated care are reshaping brain health and advancing equity in underserved populations.

In this episode, Jeff Yuan, Co-founder of Mending, discusses how his company is building an AI-native health insurer focused on reducing provider burden and improving patient access through direct primary care partnerships. He also shares insights on rebranding, early success in Maine and Oklahoma, and plans for thoughtful national expansion.

Dawn Maroney, President of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, brings decades of Medicare advocacy to the forefront. She shares her experience testifying before Congress about Medicare Advantage. Key issues include the need for hospital parity, expanding rural care, and preserving member choice, especially for dual-eligible beneficiaries. Maroney emphasizes the importance of competition and quality care, urging Medicare leaders to prioritize seniors and leverage AI responsibly. Her insights highlight the evolving landscape of healthcare in America.

In this episode, Michael Hunn, CEO of CalOptima Health, joins Jakob Emerson to discuss how the organization is preparing for sweeping changes under the Federal Reconciliation Bill. He shares insights on preserving access to care, the importance of managed care partnerships, and how collaboration, communication, and innovation will be essential to maintaining Medicaid’s long-term sustainability.

This episode features Anthony J. Colistra, President of MD Live by Evernorth, discussing how virtual care has evolved, where consumer demand is headed, and how MD Live is using AI to personalize the patient experience, improve patient-provider communication, and streamline provider administrative tasks to give them more time to spend with patients.This episode is sponsored by Evernorth.