The Gist Healthcare Podcast

Lowering the Medicare eligibility age to 60 is getting a surprising amount of support from centrist Democrats. Many employers are encouraging employees to get vaccinated but stopping short of mandates. And Colorado is offering to pay hospitals to close free-standing emergency rooms. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

JPMorgan launches its own health business unit. Chiquita Brooks-LaSure is confirmed as the head of CMS. And Google partners with Nashville-based HCA Healthcare to develop algorithms using millions of patient records. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic is causing women to leave the workforce at higher rates than men, leading some to call this economic downturn the 'shecession'. Dr. Neelum Aggarwal, a cognitive neurologist at Rush University Medical Center and the Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the American Medical Women's Association discusses how this pullback is impacting female physicians. This episode was originally published in January 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Two former competitors, a rural North Dakota critical access hospital and community health center, joined forces to rationalize care and better serve their community. We explore this unique collaboration and whether it can be replicated in other underserved communities. This episode was originally published in March 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Co-founder and CEO of DispatchHealth Dr. Mark Prather discusses how the Denver-based company is expanding from its roots in on-demand urgent care home visits to provide home-based services across the full continuum of care, including hospital-level care through a new partnership with Humana. This episode was originally published in February 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bremerton, Washington-based Peninsula Community Health Services is working with church and other community leaders to connect with individuals who are hesitant to get the shot. This episode was originally published in March 2021. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nevada lawmakers are debating a public option-style health plan. Google unveils another AI tool, this time for skin conditions. And now that patients have more access to their medical records as part of new federal rules, doctors are navigating how to handle it. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over a standard course of treatment, cancer patients often spend hundreds of dollars, if not more than a thousand, on parking. Amid structural changes within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, two top female scientists are leaving the agency. Advocates push for COVID survivor registries modeled after registries created after 9/11. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

States and retailers are navigating the new mask guidance, leading to a patchwork of rules. The Department of Health and Human Services is asking the Supreme Court to keep the site-neutral payment policy in place. And two hospital giants make a big investment in hospital-at-home care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gist healthcare co-founders Chas Roades and Dr. Lisa Bielamowicz talk about recent investment activity in primary care startups, which are trying to revamp the traditional practice model by putting consumers at the center. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC now says fully vaccinated people don't need masks in most places. Missouri Governor withdraws plans to expand Medicaid. The COVID crisis inspired a ton of research but exposed flaws in the evidence pipeline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Five lucky vaccinated Ohio adults stand to win a million dollars. A cyberattack is still crippling San Diego-based Scripps Health more than a week later. And as we approach the end of the public health emergency physicians, insurers and telehealth companies are pushing lawmakers to take permanent steps to expand telehealth flexibilities. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Close to one million people have bought health insurance during the special enrollment period. Hospitals and physicians are awaiting the last disbursement of relief dollars. And drugmakers are testing a medication for obesity. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FDA expands the emergency use of the Pfizer and BioNTech vaccine for adolescents. Walmart buys telehealth company MeMD. And Cigna sees preventive care return to pre-pandemic levels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Concert Health CEO Spencer Hutchins discusses how the San Diego-based behavioral health medical group works in tandem with primary care providers to treat patients with behavioral health needs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US is supporting the effort to waive patent protections for COVID vaccines. Almost all hospitals are still doing unnecessary procedures according to a Lown Institute study. And the story of a mental health hack in Finland should serve as a warning as the popularity of virtual mental apps grows. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The next step in the vaccine rollout is the hardest, convincing vaccine-hesitant people to get shots. Hospitals inTexas are concerned about the Medicaid funding showdown. And The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine joins calls to reinvest in primary care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden wants 70 percent of American adults to get at least one vaccine dose by July 4. CVS Health is continuing to expand its care delivery business. And regulators are starting to fleshing out the details of the surprise billing protections. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s doubt that the US will reach herd immunity, because of vaccine hesitancy and more contagious variants. Insurers were more profitable in 2020 despite paying for COVID-19 testing and treatment. And companies are overwhelmed by all the digital health options Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Virginia-based Privia Health, one of a growing number of high-profile “physician enablement” firms that helps practices improve operations and transition to value-based care delivery, held its initial public offering this week. CEO Shawn Morris discusses how the company plans to grow. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

New York is planning to fully reopen on July 1. The FDA announced a ban on menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars. And employers say it’s time the government helps control healthcare costs. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden's American Families Plan doesn’t include drug pricing legislation, a priority of many Congressional Democrats. CMS is proposing an inpatient rate bump for hospitals next year. And the American Medical Association calls for states to stop banning gender-affirming care for transgender kids. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Colorado lawmakers are bringing back a public option proposal. In West Virginia, young adults can get a COVID vaccine and a savings bond. And a new study in mice provides evidence that an old drug might help people heal from surgeries without a scar. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The US is sharing millions of AstraZeneca vaccine doses with other countries. Private equity firms are rolling up veterinary practices in the United Kingdom. And Accolade announces plans to acquire telehealth company PlushCare. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sean Lane, CEO of healthcare software company Olive, discusses how the company uses artificial intelligence to automate repetitive processes for hospital systems. The technology has been deployed in more than 600 hospitals across the country. This episode is a rerun and was initially published in November. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A CDC committee will decide whether to resume the Johnson & Johnson vaccine rollout. A KFF and Washington Post poll finds 3 in 10 healthcare workers are considering leaving the profession because of the pandemic. And Democrats plan to add more healthcare provisions to the upcoming infrastructure bill. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The country has administered 200 million shots but in some places, demand is falling. Insurer Oscar Health launched its tech platform, called +Oscar, for payers and providers. And UVA Health says it will drop a long backlog of lawsuits against patients. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some businesses are requiring proof of covid vaccinations, but government issued paper cards are easy to fake. A small number of drugs account for a large part of Medicare’s spending. And the Biden Administration is considering lowering the nicotine level in cigarettes. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

All adults are eligible for COVID vaccinations. The federal government rescinds the Medicaid waiver for Texas that covers uncompensated care. And insurers are launching virtual first primary care plans with low premiums. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Medically Home CEO Rami Karjian and oncology division president Patty Brown discuss how the hospital-at-home trailblazer is now treating cancer patients at home. As the popularity of “care anywhere” grows in the wake of the pandemic, disruptors are expanding the breadth of conditions that can be treated at home. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC is studying some reports of breakthrough covid infections among fully vaccinated Americans. UnitedHealth Group’s growth is being led by its rapidly expanding Optum division. And beyond COVID relief bills Democrats haven’t yet fully revealed their health agenda. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A CDC panel decides to continue the pause on the Johnson and Johnson vaccine while it gathers more information about the rare cases of blood clots. President Biden signs a bill delaying the Medicare sequester cuts. And a health system is locked in a legal battle with a travel nurse staffing firm. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal health agencies are calling states to pause the Johnson and Johnson vaccine rollout. Another startup health insurer Bright Health snaps up a telehealth company. And for the second year in a row insurers are on track to return a lot of money to beneficiaries. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The CDC declares racism is a serious public health threat. Pfizer asks the FDA to clear its COVID vaccine for kids 12 and older. And Microsoft is acquiring speech recognition company Nuance Communications. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first part of our conversation with healthcare futurists Jeff Goldsmith and Ian Morrison, they said it’s time to reconsider the social impact of hospital systems because of the vital role they played during the pandemic. In this episode, Ian and Jeff discuss how large health systems should be leveraged as the country rebuilds its public health infrastructure. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A quarter of American adults are fully vaccinated, but public health experts are concerned an increase in cases could lead to another surge. Missouri lawmakers are refusing to fund the state's Medicaid expansion. And a bunch of companies in the physician practice space are planning to go public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

More than half a million people signed up for health insurance during the special enrollment period. The American College of Physicians is recommending providers prescribe shorter courses of antibiotics. And 60 percent of frontline workers say their mental health suffered during the pandemic according to a new Kaiser Family Foundation and Washington Post poll. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

President Biden moves up the deadline for states to open vaccinations to all adults to April 19. Investors poured a record-breaking $6.7 billion into the digital health sector last quarter. And while nursing homes struggle to keep patients and health systems invest in-home care. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hospitals and nursing homes debate whether to require COVID vaccinations for employees. An anesthesia group is taking UnitedHealthcare to court. And more than 40 Oregon insurers and providers pledge to move away from fee-for-service payment. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Healthcare futurists Jeff Goldsmith and Ian Morrison say it’s time to reconsider hospital systems' social impact. In a recent Health Affairs editorial, the two write health system scale has been essential to procuring personal protective gear, expanding bed capacity, and quickly standing up telemedicine solutions. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pfizer says its covid vaccine is 100 percent effective in kids over 12. The federal incentives weren’t enough for Wyoming to expand Medicaid. And some shake-ups at Walmart Health lead to questions about its healthcare strategy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The FTC challenges its first vertical healthcare merger in years. President Biden’s American Jobs Plan includes large investments in home health. And some small businesses hard hit by the pandemic are struggling to afford health coverage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Health officials warn of a fourth COVID surge. Tensions between therapists and a virtual mental health app play out in Reno, NV. And more expensive outpatient care is driving spending growth in Massachusetts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr. Deborah Birx tells CNN a more aggressive COVID response could have saved hundreds of thousands of lives. Regulators are looking into UnitedHealth Group’s acquisition of Change Healthcare. And the JAMA’s editor-in-chief is on leave after a controversial podcast episode about racism in medicine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kristen McGovern, a partner at healthcare consulting firm Sirona Strategies, discusses the next evolution of value-based payment: Medicare’s Direct Contracting model. The first group of participating organizations starts the demonstration this week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Price transparency in New Hampshire didn’t lead consumers to get cheaper care, according to a Health Affairs study. Uber is expanding its pharmacy delivery business. And hospitals are struggling to balance patient care, staffing shortages, and higher expenses amid the pandemic. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The pandemic is accelerating medical schools' shift to virtual dissections. Epidemiologists say scaling up testing is the key to controlling the pandemic in the long term. And lawmakers agree on a plan to delay Medicare payment cuts. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Federal officials say AstraZeneca released outdated information about its COVID vaccine trial. The Biden Administration is extending the special enrollment period through August. And some covid patients are doing smell therapy to recover the sense. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With so many seniors vaccinated the CDC reports, the percentage of Americans 65 and older going to hospitals for COVID-19 is lower than 26 to 45-year-old adults. The American Hospital Association is pushing for antitrust scrutiny of UnitedHealth Group's acquisition of Change Healthcare. And in Maryland, there’s legislation to prevent hospitals from taking some patients to court over unpaid bills. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Gist Healthcare co-founders Lisa Bielamowicz and Chas Roades discuss how strategies around scale in healthcare have evolved over the course of the pandemic—and how payers and disruptors are doubling down on virtual and home-based care as they shift toward vertical integration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.