CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered.

Send us a textIt’s no secret that medical drug prices have been out of control for most Americans.However, one hospital group has a novel idea to control drug spending.Blue Shield of California is bypassing PBMs by negotiating directly with the manufacturer of a biosimilar for Humira.Is this a one-off experiment or the start of a bigger trend that can drive industry-wide impact?In this episode of CareTalk, David E. Williams and John Driscoll discuss these price negotiation tactics and what they see as the long-term results of Blue Shield of California’s attempt to lower pharmaceutical prices.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS(0:34) Sponsorship(1:50) Understanding the Complex Nature of Deals with PBMs(2:40) Examining the Humira Deal(3:18) Is the Humira Deal a Trend in Healthcare?(5:43) Will Deals Like Humira Lower Drug Costs?(7:30) Will Patients See Lower Drug Costs?(9:58) How PBMs Factor into Lowering Drug Costs(11:58) The Investor's Perspective on the Blue Shield Deal(13:20) How Patients Factor into Drug Negotiations(16:48) Exploring Cost Plus's Pricing Deals(20:30) PBMs, Inflation, and the Future of Drug Costs🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterShop official CareTalk merchFOLLOW CARETALKSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textThis year’s hurricane season is battering states across the country, and the healthcare supply chain is feeling the pressure.Making matters worse, Hurricane Helene has just crippled a North Carolina factory responsible for producing 60% of the IV fluids used in U.S. hospitals.Will the healthcare supply chain buckle under the weight?And how will patient care be impacted nationwide?In this episode of HealthBiz Briefs, David Williams and John Driscoll explore how recent natural disasters affect our healthcare system and medical supply chains—and what these disruptions reveal about the long-term need for stronger disaster preparedness.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterShop official CareTalk merchFOLLOW CARETALKSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textSurprise, surprise, the US healthcare system is still the most expensive and lowest performing. That’s the message from the latest Commonwealth Fund report called Mirror, Mirror 2024: A Portrait of the Failing U.S. Health System.   In this episode of CareTalk, John and David dive into the report’s findings to uncover why U.S. healthcare remains so broken—and explore what, if anything, can be done to fix it.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS(0:27) Sponsorship(1:45) Looking at the Commonwealth Report on the State of Healthcare(3:18) How Well Does U.S. Healthcare Perform for Its Cost?(6:00) What is Care Processing?(7:08) Where is the U.S. an Outlier in Health Concerns?(9:30) How Private Equity Ownership is Affecting Healthcare(10:53) Why Primary Care is in Crisis(11:49) How the Healthcare System Can Strengthen Primary Care(13:56) The Task of Improving Care Access(16:30) How AI and New Technology Can Improve the U.S. Healthcare System(17:55) Administrative Inefficiency in U.S. Healthcare🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT AMY BROWNAmy Brown, the founder and CEO of Authenticx, has built a distinguished career in healthcare, advocating for underserved populations, leading teams to expand coverage, and mastering corporate operations. Drawing on two decades of experience across healthcare and insurance sectors, she founded Authenticx in 2018 to address the missed opportunities in utilizing customer interaction data. Authenticx provides healthcare organizations with a unified source of conversational data, bringing the authentic voice of the patient into the boardroom to drive growth, profitability, and improved healthcare outcomes.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT AUTHENTICXAuthenticx was established to revolutionize how healthcare organizations listen on a large scale. By harnessing the power of AI, Authenticx transforms everyday conversations into actionable insights, aiming to uncover transformative opportunities within the healthcare sector.With over 100 years of collective leadership experience in pharmaceutical, payer, and healthcare organizations, the team at Authenticx understands the challenges and opportunities that clients encounter, having navigated similar landscapes themselves. This deep industry knowledge drives their commitment to delivering solutions that truly address the needs of their clients and enhance healthcare outcomes.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textNurses and frontline healthcare workers are under tremendous pressure.Can AI help reduce this burnout?In this episode of HealthBiz Briefs, Russ Richmond, Founder and CEO of Laudio, discusses how they're easing the burden on medical professionals by improving margins, streamlining workflows, and ultimately enhancing patient care experiences.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT RUSS RICHMONDRuss Richmond, MD, is the CEO and Co-Founder of Laudio, where he also serves as Chairman of the Board. A seasoned physician entrepreneur, Russ has built several digital health companies, including Laudio, Advanced Practice Strategies, Objective Health, Verisk Health, and D2Hawkeye. He has also advised large payers and health systems during his time with McKinsey & Company.In addition to leading Laudio, Russ serves on the investment committee of the Mass General Brigham AI Fund. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Michigan, earned his MD from the University of Cincinnati, and holds a BS in Biology from the University of Michigan. 🎙️⚕️ ABOUT LAUDIOLaudio was founded with a deep respect for frontline healthcare workers and a mission to address their challenges. The co-founders developed the first platform designed specifically to empower frontline leaders, improving team engagement and retention. Laudio has grown rapidly and now supports thousands of leaders across nearly 20 health systems.The platform bridges the gap between executive goals and frontline actions, streamlining key workflows and offering AI-based recommendations to reduce administrative burdens. This enables leaders to focus on meaningful team engagement, resulting in more satisfied employees, improved patient care, and better business outcomes.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterFOLLOW CARETALKSpotifyApple PodcastsSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textA lot can be learned by monitoring individual customer service calls, analyzing patient experience, and optimizing call performance, but a systemic and scalable approach has always seemed out of reach.But new AI technologies are flipping the script on this age-old roadblock.In this episode of CareTalk, David E. Williams and John Driscoll are joined by Amy Brown, CEO of Authenticx, to explore how AI can improve patient experiences, efficiently gather and analyze data from call centers, and what the future of AI in healthcare holds.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS(0:23) Sponsorship(1:58) Taking on Patient Experiences in Healthcare(3:54) How Has the Patient Experience Evolved After COVID?(6:06) Why Aren't We in the Golden Age of Patient Experience?(9:28) What Is the Eddy Effect?(12:33) How to Improve Customer Service in Healthcare?(14:08) Improving Prescription Renewal Processes(16:38) Structuring Solutions for Patient Experiences(20:52) Technology's Role in Improving Patient Experiences(24:24) Why Was Amy Brown Skeptical of AI?(25:24) How Can Call Centers Operate Differently with AI?(28:23) Getting at the Ground Truth of Patient Needs 🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. 🎙️⚕️ ABOUT AMY BROWNAmy Brown, the founder and CEO of Authenticx, has built a distinguished career in healthcare, advocating for underserved populations, leading teams to expand coverage, and mastering corporate operations. Drawing on two decades of experience across healthcare and insurance sectors, she founded Authenticx in 2018 to address the missed opportunities in utilizing customer interaction data. Authenticx provides healthcare organizations with a unified source of conversational data, bringing the authentic voice of the patient into the boardroom to drive growth, profitability, and improved healthcare outcomes.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT AUTHENTICXAuthenticx was established to revolutionize how healthcare organizations listen on a large scale. By harnessing the power of AI, Authenticx transforms everyday conversations into actionable insights, aiming to uncover transformative opportunities within the healthcare sector.With over 100 years of collective leadership experience in pharmaceutical, payer, and healthcare organizations, the team at Authenticx understands the challenges and opportunities that clients encounter, having navigated similar landscapes themselves. This deep industry knowledge drives their commitment to delivering solutions that truly address the needs of their clients and enhance healthcare outcomes.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubsSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textValue-based care often focuses on primary care rather than specialties.But can and should that change?Especially when it comes to cardiology.In this HealthBiz Brief, George Aloth, CEO of Chamber, explains how they are enabling cardiology teams to excel in a value-based system by ensuring providers are rewarded for delivering the right care at the right time.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. 🎙️⚕️ ABOUT GEORGE ALOTHGeorge is a seasoned healthcare operations and business executive with over 15 years of experience. He has held roles including Group President at Somatus, a leader in value-based kidney care, President & CEO of a BCBS health plan, and COO at a Medicaid/Medicare payer. Additionally, he serves on the Board of Directors at George Washington University Hospital.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT CHAMBER Chamber empowers cardiology practices to thrive in a value-based care environment by ensuring they are compensated for delivering the right care at the right time. Their technology facilitates comprehensive patient care and opens up new revenue streams.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textBlind spots in our thinking and decision-making are an inevitable part of the human experience. But what does this mean in the context of medicine?In this episode of CareTalk, David E. Williams and John Driscoll explore these challenges with guest Dr. Marty Makary, author of Blind Spots, delving into our natural resistance to new ideas, the impact of these tendencies on healthcare, and strategies for addressing blind spots in modern medicine.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS(0:25) Sponsorship(2:01) What got Dr. Makary into Medical Blind Spots?(3:40) The Biggest Blind Spots in Medicine(5:26) Looking Into the Questionable Data Around HRT and Cancer(7:48) Where did Peanut Allergies Come From?(10:08) Do Eggs Cause Heart Attacks?(12:32) Understanding Dietary Cholesterol (13:47) How to Reestablish Trust Between Patients and the Medical Community(16:19) Exploring Historical Blind Spots(18:19) How Human Nature Affects Medical Progress(22:49) What Blind Spots will There be in the Future?(25:00) How Should Patients Approach Blind Spots in Medicine?🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. 🎙️⚕️ ABOUT DR. MARTY MAKARYDr. Marty Makary, a bestselling author and healthcare expert at Johns Hopkins University, is renowned for his work in improving healthcare systems and transparency. His latest book, The Price We Pay, earned him the 2020 Business Book of the Year Award and has been hailed by Steve Forbes as essential reading. As a leader in public health research, Dr. Makary focuses on redesigning healthcare to enhance reliability and coordination, especially for vulnerable populations. He is also the chief of Islet Transplant Surgery at Johns Hopkins, has received the Nobility in Science Award, and is a member of the National Academy of Medicine. With over 250 peer-reviewed articles and extensive teaching experience, Dr. Makary's academic background includes degrees from Bucknell, Thomas Jefferson, and Harvard, along with surgical residency at Georgetown and specialty training at Johns Hopkins.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterFOLLOW CARETALKSpotifyApple PodcastsSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textDespite ongoing attention and investment, significant disparities persist in the U.S. healthcare system.A clear example of these disparities can be seen within the legacy of racial discrimination present in healthcare for Black communities.In this episode of CareTalk, David E. Williams meets with Caretha Coleman, board chairman of the Black Directors Health Equity Agenda, to discuss the state of healthcare in the Black community, how disparities and racial biases are costing lives, and the efforts of leaders like her to drive change, equity, and progress.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS:(0:26) Sponsorship(2:07) Understanding the key health issues facing Black Americans(3:07) Looking at a legacy of racial disparities(6:19) How health issues disproportionally affect the Black community(8:52) The rates of infant and maternal mortality within the Black community(11:49) Are racial disparities recognized in healthcare?(14:26) Improving results with better minority care(16:25) Shorting the good from the bad in race-based algorisms(20:20) The Role of the Black Directors' Health Equity Agenda(24:44) How her career and life experiences have driven Caretha Coleman(26:44) What is driving the push-back against DEI and what can be done about it🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT CARETHA COLEMANCaretha Coleman is a seasoned board director, C-suite executive, adviser, executive coach, and community advocate with over 40 years of experience in the technology industry. Starting her career at Hewlett Packard, she worked with startups and early-stage ventures, specializing in organizational strategy and executive coaching. She played a key role as Chief Human Resources Officer at Software Publishing Corporation and later served as CAO at Interval Research, overseeing finance, HR, and facilities.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT BLACK DIRECTORS HEALTH EQUITY AGENDAThe Black Directors Health Equity Agenda (BDHEA) envisions a society where race and poverty no longer determine health or life outcomes. Despite years of efforts, disparities in Black communities persist, and BDHEA aims to eliminate them through trusted leadership and data-driven action. GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterFOLLOW CARETALKSpotifyApple PodcastsSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textSmall medical practices are competing and often losing to the giants of the healthcare industry. But what if AI could give them an edge?In this HealthBiz Brief, Weave CEO Brett White discusses how they are innovating how practitioners use AI to attract, engage, and retain customers while competitively driving business growth.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. 🎙️⚕️ ABOUT BRETT WHITEBrett White is the CEO of Weave and has been on its board of directors since July 2020. He previously served as Weave's President and COO. White has been the Chief Financial Officer at Mindbody, Inc. since July 2013 and was its COO from 2016 to 2020. Additionally, he has been a member of the Dean Advisory Council and an Entrepreneur in Residence at the Orfalea College of Business, California Polytechnic State University, since April 2018. He holds a B.A. in Business Economics with honors and an Accounting emphasis from the University of California, Santa Barbara.🎙️⚕️ ABOUT WEAVEWeave is the leading all-in-one customer experience software platform designed for small and medium-sized healthcare businesses. It revolutionizes how practitioners attract, engage, and retain customers to drive business growth. By integrating payments, texting, scheduling, reminders, reviews, phones, and more into a single, user-friendly platform, Weave enhances efficiency and boosts revenue. Recognized for its achievements and work culture, Weave has been named a leader in Patient Engagement, Optometry, Dental Practice Management, and Patient Relationship Management by G2 in the past year.GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterFOLLOW CARETALKSpotifyApple PodcastsSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.

Send us a textChances are you've been hit with a medical bill far more expensive than you expected.If so, you're not alone.In this episode of CareTalk, David E. Williams and John Driscoll dive into the complex, confusing, and often painful world of medical billing, discussing how you can protect yourself from unethical and erroneous charges.This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at https://betterhelp.com/caretalk and get on your way to being your best self.As a BetterHelp affiliate, we may receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided.TOPICS:(0:24) Sponsorship(1:26) Why You Never Know How Much Your Medical Bill Will Cost(2:29) How Complex Healthcare Systems Confuse Billing(3:16) Why You Should Contest Your Bill(5:45) Can Extroverts Demand Lower Medical Costs?(8:11) Examining Itemized Billing(9:06) How the Biden Administration is Fighting for Medical Cost Transparency(10:00) Can you Plan for Medical Expenses?(11:55) Understanding Medical Bill Payment Plans(13:47) Doctors, Insurance, and Your Role in Medical Billing🎙️⚕️ABOUT CARETALKCareTalk is a weekly podcast that provides an incisive, no B.S. view of the US healthcare industry. Join co-hosts John Driscoll (President U.S. Healthcare and EVP, Walgreens Boots Alliance) and David Williams (President, Health Business Group) as they debate the latest in US healthcare news, business and policy. GET IN TOUCHBecome a CareTalk sponsorGuest appearance requestsVisit us on the webSubscribe to the CareTalk NewsletterShop official CareTalk merchFOLLOW CARETALKSpotifyApple PodcastsSupport the show⚙️CareTalk: Healthcare. Unfiltered. is produced by Grippi Media Digital Marketing Consulting.