Radio Advisory

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with a leader well-versed in bold transformation: Paul Markovich. After more than a decade as President and CEO of Blue Shield of California, Paul now leads Ascendiun—a new nonprofit parent company that includes Blue Shield of California, its clinical services firm Altais, and the newly launched health services business, Stellarus. Together, they explore the mounting pressures facing health plans and the bold bets Paul has made in pursuit of a powerful mission: to eagerly create a healthcare system that is worthy of friends and family—and sustainably affordable. Upholding that mission while navigating constant disruption is no easy feat. In this episode, you’ll learn: How organizations can drive radical change without losing public trust What action steps leaders can take today, from getting their digital house to restructuring their pharmacy models What it takes to prioritize, scale, and sustain bold moves across a complex organization We’re here to help: Ascendiun Blue Shield of California is ditching its PBM. Here's our take. Radio Advisory's Leadership playlist Understand your customer: Health plans Home - 2025 Advisory Board Virtual Summit Series There are two events remaining in the 2025 Advisory Board Summit Series. Click here to learn more and secure your spot. Advisory Board Fellowship A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Healthcare executives are closely watching legislative activity in Congress—anticipating shifts in government-funded insurance, new economic headwinds, and regulatory changes. And while change is certainly coming, what remains uncertain is how these forces will shape market dynamics and organizational finances. To help hospitals and health systems prepare, Advisory Board’s quantitative experts developed an impact estimator to size the financial impact of Congress’s ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’. This week, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Sebastian Beckmann, Deeksha Aleti, and Vidal Seegobin to share the scenario planning tool and explore the range of potential outcomes—from moderate disruption to catastrophic margin impact. Together, they explain how leaders can predict the total impact on their organizations, break down how specific policies will shift their finances (and when), and offer actionable strategies leaders can take today to mitigate risk and plan effectively. We’re here to help: Ep. 255: Is healthcare really recession-proof? Ep. 244: What’s happened in Washington (so far) and what policy changes we’re bracing for Healthcare policy updates 4 ways to improve site-of-care transitions for sickle cell patients How VCU built an ‘inescapable’ Adult Sickle Cell Medical Home to improve inpatient to outpatient transitions of care 4 keys to success in the New England Sickle Cell Institute’s outpatient program for adult sickle cell patients Get in touch to learn more about Advisory Board's Policy Scenario Impact Calculator and other tools A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

When experts warn that the economy could be headed for a recession, people working across different corners of the economy get nervous. People working in healthcare, maybe less so. That’s because of a longstanding idea that healthcare is impervious to recession. Okay, maybe that’s overstating it. Healthcare is less susceptible than other industries. But did this notion hold up during the pandemic? During the Great Recession? More importantly, will it hold up now? This week on Radio Advisory, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board Research Vice Presidents Shay Pratt and Vidal Seegobin to debate the question: Is healthcare really recession-proof? We are not economists, we are healthcare experts. So throughout the conversation, they reflect on how past dislocations affected the healthcare industry, and what leaders can—and can’t—learn from these events to help them interpret the current turbulence. Plus, stay tuned to the end of the episode for a policy update on the ripple effects of Secretary Kennedy’s recent shakeup of the CDC’s vaccine advisory committee. We’re here to help: Listen: Ep. 244: What’s happened in Washington (so far) and what policy changes we’re bracing for Read: Healthcare policy updates Read: How the Great Recession impacted inpatient utilization Read: Could a recession be good for healthcare? Some economists think so. Additional resources related to the Advisory Committee on Immunization practices: Meet the new members of CDC's vaccine advisory panel Understanding the ACIP and How Vaccine Recommendations are Made in the US 4 ways to improve site-of-care transitions for sickle cell patients How VCU built an 'inescapable' Adult Sickle Cell Medical Home to improve inpatient to outpatient transitions of care 4 keys to success in the New England Sickle Cell Institute's outpatient program for adult sickle cell patients Health policy playlist Modeling Reemergence of Vaccine-Eliminated Infectious Diseases Under Declining Vaccination in the US | Infectious Diseases | JAMA | JAMA Network A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Artificial intelligence (AI) continues to generate excitement across healthcare, promising to reduce clinician burnout, fuel innovation, and ease financial pressures. But despite the hype, AI is far from a “plug-and-play” solution—and simply investing in AI won’t guarantee success. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods is joined by Advisory Board AI expert Ty Aderhold to explore what it really takes to see value from AI in healthcare. Together, they unpack: The current reality of AI’s return on investment The hidden risks—like bias, hallucinations, and uneven adoption—that leaders must manage Why leaders should resist the urge to merely copy others How to build the internal capabilities and governance needed for sustainable, high-impact AI adoption Instead of chasing the latest tech trend, leaders should take a problem-first approach—investing in the right governance, expertise, and evaluation to ensure AI solutions are aligned with their organization’s needs. Links: Ep. 220: Why AI in healthcare is more than just ChatGPT Upcoming webinar: AI in healthcare: Use cases, emerging risks, opportunities, and more Healthcare in 2025, part 2: How AI is shaping care team roles 3 paradigm shifts in healthcare: Cheat sheet series Radio Advisory Tech & AI playlist Survey insights: What to know about the clinician workforce today A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Stay tuned to the end of the episode for a policy update on the bill containing Medicaid cuts that is making its way through Congress, and the recent MAHA Commission Report. If you were to ask any healthcare leader what the top challenges in our industry are, it’s a fair bet that “improving patient access to care” would be on the list. There have been so many investments made in the industry to improve access—especially since the Covid-19 pandemic. With this level of investment, we should be moving the needle. But the data shows that access is not getting better, and in some cases, it’s getting worse. This week, Advisory Board physician and medical group expert Mahaya Walker joins host Abby Burns to unpack why, and what medical groups can do about it. They break down Advisory Board research findings around how a narrow focus on improving appointment availability may actually be hurting efforts to improve access, and how medical groups can move the needle on access by putting clinicians closer to the center of their access strategies. Links: Provider availability: A new way to measure access for medical groups Top 3 opportunities to save provider time on administrative tasks Ambulatory access: How to make sustainable progress How to reduce in-basket overload by 34%, in 4 steps 4 ways to improve site-of-care transitions for sickle cell patients How VCU built an ‘inescapable’ Adult Sickle Cell Medical Home to improve inpatient to outpatient transitions of care 4 keys to success in the New England Sickle Cell Institute’s outpatient program for adult sickle cell patients A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In this special live episode from the 2025 Advisory Board Summit, Ardent Health Services President & CEO Marty Bonick and Chief Digital and Transformation Officer Anika Gardenhire recount the harrowing story of a ransomware attack that brought their 30-hospital system to a standstill on Thanksgiving Day 2023. Cyberattacks on healthcare systems are becoming more frequent, more sophisticated, and more devastating. Just 60 days into her role, Anika led the charge to contain the breach, extract the threat, and recover operations in a record-setting 12 days. From ransom messages appearing on medical devices to disconnecting their entire system from the internet, this episode explores what it takes to lead through crisis, act decisively, and build true cyber resilience. This candid conversation underscores why leaders must embrace transparency even when sharing worst-case scenarios. Because learning from difficult moments is how health leaders build stronger, more resilient systems. Links: Ardent Health Cybersecurity in healthcare Paint a picture of a cyber-resilient organization Cybersecurity in healthcare demands resiliency, not reactivity Advisory Board Summits Radio Advisory’s Tech and AI playlist A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

5/22 Update: The House early Thursday narrowly passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, a budget bill that includes a number of healthcare provisions that could have a significant impact on Medicaid, Medicare, and the Affordable Care Act. It has been over 100 days since President Donald Trump began his second term. During that time, Radio Advisory has received a steady stream of questions from leaders seeking guidance in an uncertain policy and business environment. With looming funding cuts, the restructure of HHS, the arrival of DOGE and MAHA, and more, leaders are grappling with what to focus on, how to respond, and how to engage productively with the federal government. To help answer these questions, Radio Advisory turned to policy experts from both parties to address your questions, acknowledge your anxieties, and highlight shared opportunities. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods welcomes Liz Fowler, former director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation under the Biden Administration, and Eric Hargan, former Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services during the first Trump term. Together, they discuss how to navigate the shifting policies and priorities of the Trump administration’s second term. Plus, stay tuned to the end of the episode, where co-host Abby Burns discusses the bill proposed by the House Energy and Commerce Committee that would reduce federal Medicaid spending by more than $600 billion over the next ten years. Links: Tracking the Medicaid Provisions in the 2025 Reconciliation Bill | KFF Ep. 244: What’s happened in Washington (so far) and what policy changes we’re bracing for Ep. 230: Elections results are in: What healthcare leaders need to know Thousands laid off at HHS: What you need to know Healthcare policy updates Listen to Radio Advisory’s Health Policy playlist Subscribe to Advisory Board’s Daily Briefing newsletter and get the most important industry news in your inbox – every day. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Believe it or not, 60% of healthcare payments in the US are tied to value. But it’s still surprisingly hard to find examples of health systems that have been doing VBC at scale, successfully, over time. So that’s what Advisory Board researchers set out to do. And across 66 conversations with 44 systems, we found four systems with approaches worth emulating. This week, we’re unpacking the approach at one of those systems: Advocate Health. Host Abby Burns sits down with Don Calcagno, Chief Population Health Officer and President of Advocate’s largest clinically integrated network, Advocate Physician Partners. Don lays out how putting operations at the center has led Advocate to become one of the top-performing systems in Medicare risk models, generate millions of dollars in savings, and, most importantly, improve quality of care. Not to mention, juggle over 100 VBC contracts across 13 accountable care organizations and clinically integrated networks, and carry $1 billion in capitated risk. Links: Read the case study: Inside Advocate Health’s VBC approach that saved $136M VBC self-assessment: Find out where your organization stands 2025 Advisory Board Summit- Carlsbad, CA - join us for the full event, and check out our session featuring another VBC case study Registration is live for our VBC Roundtable in October: HOME - How to deliver the next era of VBC Ep. 243: What’s now and what’s next in value-based care How UNC Health made VBC sustainable in an academic health system Optum Advisory can help you create a VBC strategy for growth and profitability. Connect with an expert. How to succeed in VBC — according to Optum experts VBC success is possible. Here’s how. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

(This episode originally aired on October 22, 2024.) For years, the best word to describe Medicare Advantage (MA) was “untouchable.” Hugely popular among seniors, profitable for health plans—the hybrid public-private payment model grew to the point that it now covers more seniors than traditional Medicare. But in the past few years, the tide has started to change. And if you’ve been paying attention in recent months, you’ll have seen headlines announcing that payers that are scaling back their MA offerings and providers are exiting MA contracts. The MA market has gone from “untouchable” to “volatile.” The question is: why is this happening, and what does it mean for payers, providers, and seniors moving forward? In this episode, hosts Rachel (Rae) Woods and Abby Burns invite health plan experts Max Hakanson and Chelsea Needham to dissect what is going on in MA and how plans and providers are—or should be—navigating the changing tide. Links: Ep. 203: Value series: Is the future of VBC in specialty care? Zing Health & Strive Health say yes. Ep. 149: Senior Care (Part 1): Specialized primary care for an aging population Ep. 150: Senior Care (Part 2): The rapid growth of Medicare Advantage 3 traits health plans want in a provider partner 4 traits providers want in a health plan partner Around the nation: CMS releases Medicare Advantage Star Ratings Q&A: Cardiologist Navin Kapur discusses the future of complex PCI

The federal drug purchasing program known as 340B was created in 1992 to help select provider organizations stretch scarce resources to care for patients. More than three decades later, health systems of all shapes and sizes have come to rely on 340B for their financial sustainability. But the program has come under criticism. And in recent years, it’s been under more scrutiny, with manufacturers, state governments, and federal regulators proposing changes to how it operates. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Gina Lohr and Chloe Bakst to unpack the origin and controversy around 340B. They debate whether 340B has strayed from its intended purpose and break down the proposed changes to the program, how likely they are to go into effect, and what those changes would mean for health systems. Plus, stay tuned to the end of the episode, where co-host Rae Woods discusses the recent healthcare-focused executive order and what it signals for the future of this administration’s drug policy. Let us know what you think about today’s discussion, or share your ideas for future episode topics by leaving us a voice message or emailing us. Links: 340B Drug Pricing Program 340B reimbursement cuts may be looming: What you need to know J&J's 340B rebate model is receiving pushback. Here's why. Congress is weighing spending cuts. How will they impact healthcare? [Relentless Health Value] EP448 (Part 1): 340B: Where It Started, Where It Is Now, and Who Is Really Benefiting From This Massive Program, With Shawn Gremminger [Relentless Health Value] EP448 (Part 2): 340B: Why Employers Should Probably Care About What’s Happening Here, With Shawn Gremminger GLP-1 innovation showcase A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.