Radio Advisory

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

(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.

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.

In 2025, 6% of US adults are taking a GLP-1. But the popularity of weight-loss drugs isn't the only thing changing the obesity care landscape. On Radio Advisory, we've talked about what comprehensive obesity care looks like, the reality of weight bias, and the strain high-cost drugs like GLP-1s are having on employers and plans. But we haven't done an updated scan of the obesity care landscape, until now. To share the state of the Obesity market in 2025, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Gaby Marmolejos and Madeline Vogel to share the latest on bariatric surgery volumes, coverage decisions, patient preferences, drug shortages, compounding, and the new competitive landscape for direct-to-consumer obesity care. Given the pace of change in just a few short years, Rae also invites her guests make predictions about the obesity market two years from now. Links: Ep. 159: Ozempic, Wegovy, and our questions on weight management drugs Ep. 222: It's not just GLP-1s; here's what comprehensive weight management looks like Diabetes and obesity care growth forecast: What you need to know GLP-1 innovation showcase 2025 Nursing Survey Upcoming Webinar: Obesity market trends and forecasts A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In 2025, 6% of US adults are taking a GLP-1. But the popularity of weight-loss drugs isn't the only thing changing the obesity care landscape. On Radio Advisory, we've talked about what comprehensive obesity care looks like, the reality of weight bias, and the strain high-cost drugs like GLP-1s are having on employers and plans. But we haven't done an updated scan of the obesity care landscape, until now. To share the state of the Obesity market in 2025, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Gaby Marmolejos and Madeline Vogel to share the latest on bariatric surgery volumes, coverage decisions, patient preferences, drug shortages, compounding, and the new competitive landscape for direct-to-consumer obesity care. Given the pace of change in just a few short years, Rae also invites her guests make predictions about the obesity market two years from now. Links: Ep. 159: Ozempic, Wegovy, and our questions on weight management drugs Ep. 222: It's not just GLP-1s; here's what comprehensive weight management looks like Diabetes and obesity care growth forecast: What you need to know GLP-1 innovation showcase 2025 Nursing Survey Upcoming Webinar: Obesity market trends and forecasts A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Let's face it: Hospitals and post-acute providers can find themselves at odds. Post-acute is an area of the industry that is often misunderstood and sometimes villainized. But when post-acute care struggles, it directly impacts hospital operations. The industry needs a solution. It starts with understanding that the post-acute space is not a monolith. Because only by understanding how different facilities struggle—and how systems can support or partner with them—can we unlock their potential. That's why this week, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board expert Monica Westhead, and Optum Advisory post-acute care expert Jennifer Skaggs to unpack the post-acute landscape and break down what effective acute-post-acute partnerships looks like. Throughout the discussion, they explore why post-acute facilities are struggling to stay afloat, and why partnering with post-acute facilities is better avenue than building or buying. Links: The Playbook for Hospital/Post-Acute Care Collaboration Optum Advisory partners with hospitals nationwide to improve efficiency and optimize resource utilization to reduce labor expenses. New staffing mandates for SNFs will have broad effects. Here's how to prepare. Post-acute care Landing Page 2025 Nursing Survey A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Let's face it: Hospitals and post-acute providers can find themselves at odds. Post-acute is an area of the industry that is often misunderstood and sometimes villainized. But when post-acute care struggles, it directly impacts hospital operations. The industry needs a solution. It starts with understanding that the post-acute space is not a monolith. Because only by understanding how different facilities struggle—and how systems can support or partner with them—can we unlock their potential. That's why this week, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board expert Monica Westhead, and Optum Advisory post-acute care expert Jennifer Skaggs to unpack the post-acute landscape and break down what effective acute-post-acute partnerships looks like. Throughout the discussion, they explore why post-acute facilities are struggling to stay afloat, and why partnering with post-acute facilities is better avenue than building or buying. Links: The Playbook for Hospital/Post-Acute Care Collaboration Optum Advisory partners with hospitals nationwide to improve efficiency and optimize resource utilization to reduce labor expenses. New staffing mandates for SNFs will have broad effects. Here's how to prepare. Post-acute care Landing Page 2025 Nursing Survey A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Every stakeholder in healthcare is getting squeezed by mounting financial pressures, and health plans are no exception. Higher utilization and rising treatment costs are hitting plans hard. At the same time, plans are facing heightened public scrutiny. It may seem like the wrong time for plans to focus on cost management, but the combination of market and public pressures is exactly why it is so important for plans to get a handle on their clinical costs. If not, they risk passing those costs on to employers or members. The good news is, health plans already have a comprehensive playbook for managing their clinical costs. The bad news is, these strategies don't often take a targeted approach. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Chelsea Needham, Morghen Philippi, and Rhea Jain to unpack how plans should think about tailoring their approach to cost management, how leaders can deploy their tools with greater precision, and why plans' actions in this space will impact healthcare stakeholders across the board. Stay tuned to the end of the episode, where co-host Abby Burns provides an update on the recent layoffs and restructuring of HHS, and the near and long-term impacts of the shakeup. 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: 5 care navigation strategies to help employers cut healthcare costs 3 strategies for sustainable health plan growth Health plan utilization management Learn more about the key features and benefits of Optum Integrity One™, and how it can transform your revenue cycle Q&A with iRhythm Technologies: The importance of arrhythmia detection A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Every stakeholder in healthcare is getting squeezed by mounting financial pressures, and health plans are no exception. Higher utilization and rising treatment costs are hitting plans hard. At the same time, plans are facing heightened public scrutiny. It may seem like the wrong time for plans to focus on cost management, but the combination of market and public pressures is exactly why it is so important for plans to get a handle on their clinical costs. If not, they risk passing those costs on to employers or members. The good news is, health plans already have a comprehensive playbook for managing their clinical costs. The bad news is, these strategies don't often take a targeted approach. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Chelsea Needham, Morghen Philippi, and Rhea Jain to unpack how plans should think about tailoring their approach to cost management, how leaders can deploy their tools with greater precision, and why plans' actions in this space will impact healthcare stakeholders across the board. Stay tuned to the end of the episode, where co-host Abby Burns provides an update on the recent layoffs and restructuring of HHS, and the near and long-term impacts of the shakeup. 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: 5 care navigation strategies to help employers cut healthcare costs 3 strategies for sustainable health plan growth Health plan utilization management Learn more about the key features and benefits of Optum Integrity One™, and how it can transform your revenue cycle Q&A with iRhythm Technologies: The importance of arrhythmia detection A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

It feels like only yesterday that workforce challenges were the biggest problem facing the healthcare industry. While COVID-19-related staffing shortages may have declined, an inefficient workforce can still threaten health system operations and finances. Often, systems turn to staffing ratios or benchmarks to determine whether they need more cuts or more hires. However, systems need more than staffing ratios to make sure they have the right headcount and the right expertise in place to safely and effectively care for patients. The question is: if workforce benchmarks aren't enough, then what is? To answer that question, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board nursing expert Ali Knight to unpack the state of the workforce five years after the peak of COVID-19. Later, Rae brings on Optum Advisory workforce management experts Sherilynn Quist and Anne Schmidt to break down their work in the field, addressing what they call the “blocking and tackling” of workforce efficiency within a hospital. Links: Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services [Webinar, May 18] Broaden your definition of the nursing care team Insights from Advisory Board's 2024 workforce benchmarks [Roundtable, Aug. 18-19] How to thrive in an evolving nursing landscape Ep. 205: Live from ViVE 2024: Four leaders on how technology is redefining clinical work Ep. 207: Nurses Week 2024: Build care teams, not assembly lines 2025 Advisory Board Summit - Carlsbad, CA Advisory Board Fellowship Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

It feels like only yesterday that workforce challenges were the biggest problem facing the healthcare industry. While COVID-19-related staffing shortages may have declined, an inefficient workforce can still threaten health system operations and finances. Often, systems turn to staffing ratios or benchmarks to determine whether they need more cuts or more hires. However, systems need more than staffing ratios to make sure they have the right headcount and the right expertise in place to safely and effectively care for patients. The question is: if workforce benchmarks aren't enough, then what is? To answer that question, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board nursing expert Ali Knight to unpack the state of the workforce five years after the peak of COVID-19. Later, Rae brings on Optum Advisory workforce management experts Sherilynn Quist and Anne Schmidt to break down their work in the field, addressing what they call the “blocking and tackling” of workforce efficiency within a hospital. Links: Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services [Webinar, May 18] Broaden your definition of the nursing care team Insights from Advisory Board's 2024 workforce benchmarks [Roundtable, Aug. 18-19] How to thrive in an evolving nursing landscape Ep. 205: Live from ViVE 2024: Four leaders on how technology is redefining clinical work Ep. 207: Nurses Week 2024: Build care teams, not assembly lines 2025 Advisory Board Summit - Carlsbad, CA Advisory Board Fellowship Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In the first two months of the Trump administration, the political and regulatory environment have shifted considerably. Since the inauguration, we've fielded dozens of questions about the slew of executive orders, cuts to research funding, HHS layoffs, tariffs, and an unstable economic outlook. All of that is coupled with the potential for major payment cuts to government-funded healthcare and rising scrutiny over public health and the healthcare industry writ large. The sheer pace of change leaves many healthcare leaders wondering where they need to focus their attention and energy. This week, we're here to clarify some of the chaos and help leaders focus their efforts on what is most pressing and most actionable. To do that, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson to break down the operating conditions as the second Trump term takes shape. We're here to help: If there are specific policy areas or issues that you want to hear more about, or you are interested in talking to our research team (or getting access to our working documents), let us know by leaving us a voice message or emailing us. Links: Ep. 230: Elections results are in: What healthcare leaders need to know How could Trump's new tariffs impact healthcare? Thousands laid off at HHS: What you need to know RFK Jr. wants to change how Medicare pays doctors Health policy roundup: The latest on measles, abortion, and gender-affirming care Health policy roundup: Trump signs executive order on price transparency Learn more about the origins of Ozempic Learn more about the Advisory Board Summit in Carlsbad, CA. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

In the first two months of the Trump administration, the political and regulatory environment have shifted considerably. Since the inauguration, we've fielded dozens of questions about the slew of executive orders, cuts to research funding, HHS layoffs, tariffs, and an unstable economic outlook. All of that is coupled with the potential for major payment cuts to government-funded healthcare and rising scrutiny over public health and the healthcare industry writ large. The sheer pace of change leaves many healthcare leaders wondering where they need to focus their attention and energy. This week, we're here to clarify some of the chaos and help leaders focus their efforts on what is most pressing and most actionable. To do that, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson to break down the operating conditions as the second Trump term takes shape. We're here to help: If there are specific policy areas or issues that you want to hear more about, or you are interested in talking to our research team (or getting access to our working documents), let us know by leaving us a voice message or emailing us. Links: Ep. 230: Elections results are in: What healthcare leaders need to know How could Trump's new tariffs impact healthcare? Thousands laid off at HHS: What you need to know RFK Jr. wants to change how Medicare pays doctors Health policy roundup: The latest on measles, abortion, and gender-affirming care Health policy roundup: Trump signs executive order on price transparency Learn more about the origins of Ozempic Learn more about the Advisory Board Summit in Carlsbad, CA. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

There is a lot happening in federal policy that may affect healthcare payment transformation and care delivery. But we've said it before: healthcare leaders can't afford to focus on fighting near-term fires at the expense of driving long-term success and sustainability. Amidst the uncertainty, it's more important than ever to push forward conversations about how we can structurally evolve our systems to align incentives to patient health. So, in this episode, we're talking about value-based care. Host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board expert Clare Wirth and Optum Advisory expert Erik Johnson to unpack the state of VBC in early 2025, and where they see it going next. They debate whether bundles can truly be considered “value-based care,” how specialty care will fit into the future VBC landscape, and which payer lines of business they have their eyes on. Links: VBC in 2025: What's now and what's next Inside Advocate Health's VBC approach that saved $136M How UNC Health made VBC sustainable in an academic health system The obstacles between health systems and VBC success Ep. 201: Value series: What does health system VBC adoption actually look like? Ep. 231: Big deal, little deal, or no deal? A 2024 health policy retrospective Value-based care landing page Enjoying this episode? Discover how Optum Advisory experts can help you design a VBC strategy to drive sustainable growth and profitability for your organization. Connect with one of our experts today. Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

There is a lot happening in federal policy that may affect healthcare payment transformation and care delivery. But we've said it before: healthcare leaders can't afford to focus on fighting near-term fires at the expense of driving long-term success and sustainability. Amidst the uncertainty, it's more important than ever to push forward conversations about how we can structurally evolve our systems to align incentives to patient health. So, in this episode, we're talking about value-based care. Host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board expert Clare Wirth and Optum Advisory expert Erik Johnson to unpack the state of VBC in early 2025, and where they see it going next. They debate whether bundles can truly be considered “value-based care,” how specialty care will fit into the future VBC landscape, and which payer lines of business they have their eyes on. Links: VBC in 2025: What's now and what's next Inside Advocate Health's VBC approach that saved $136M How UNC Health made VBC sustainable in an academic health system The obstacles between health systems and VBC success Ep. 201: Value series: What does health system VBC adoption actually look like? Ep. 231: Big deal, little deal, or no deal? A 2024 health policy retrospective Value-based care landing page Optum Advisory can help you design a VBC strategy that drives sustainable growth and profitability. Get in touch Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Partnerships between health systems and life sciences play a critical role in giving patients access to the best data, therapies, and technologies available in the market. However, these partnerships can be less fulfilling if both sides don't align on purpose and expectations. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board expert Fanta Cherif to break down the current state of health system and life sciences partnerships, share the spectrum of collaboration options, and the strategic middle ground that is often overlooked, but can serve as a lifeline in today's challenging economic landscape. 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: Ep. 151: Making vendor-provider partnerships work Ep. 183: John Muir Health and Optum reflect on what makes their partnership work How to bridge the communication gap in vendor-provider partnerships Metrics that matter: How different stakeholders define value in healthcare Join Advisory Board experts for these upcoming philanthropy webinars: March 20, 2025 (1-2 p.m. ET/10-11 a.m. PT): What the future of health system growth means for philanthropy leaders Register here: What the future of health system growth means for philanthropy leaders April 1, 2025 (1-2 p.m. ET/10-11 a.m. PT): How market data can transform your philanthropy strategy Register here: Using market data to inform your philanthropy strategy A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Partnerships between health systems and life sciences play a critical role in giving patients access to the best data, therapies, and technologies available in the market. However, these partnerships can be less fulfilling if both sides don't align on purpose and expectations. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board expert Fanta Cherif to break down the current state of health system and life sciences partnerships, share the spectrum of collaboration options, and the strategic middle ground that is often overlooked, but can serve as a lifeline in today's challenging economic landscape. 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: Ep. 151: Making vendor-provider partnerships work Ep. 183: John Muir Health and Optum reflect on what makes their partnership work How to bridge the communication gap in vendor-provider partnerships Metrics that matter: How different stakeholders define value in healthcare Join Advisory Board experts for these upcoming philanthropy webinars: March 20, 2025 (1-2 p.m. ET/10-11 a.m. PT): What the future of health system growth means for philanthropy leaders Register here: What the future of health system growth means for philanthropy leaders April 1, 2025 (1-2 p.m. ET/10-11 a.m. PT): How market data can transform your philanthropy strategy Register here: Using market data to inform your philanthropy strategy A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

On September 27, 2024, Ballad Health was forced to evacuate Unicoi Hospital in rural Tennessee due to a freak flash flood caused by Hurricane Helene. After two failed rescue attempts, an aerial operation managed to successfully airlift all 70 people who were trapped on the rooftop of the small community hospital. In an era where extreme climate events are increasingly common, more healthcare leaders are being forced to reckon with the reality of leading through natural disasters. This week, Lisa Carter, President of Ballad Health's Southern Region, joins Radio Advisory to recount the events of that day, reflect on how they tested her leadership, and underscore why we can't rely on our “old normal” when it comes to disaster preparedness. Links: Homepage | Ballad Health Healthcare and climate change: Why sustainability is a strategic imperative Ep. 219: The business case for going green Ep. 164: Boston Medical Center's path to sustainability (and how they're funding it) Ep. 161: Unwavering purpose, the creation of Ballad Health 3 ways to engage and motivate your team in uncertain times Learn how the Advisory Board Fellowship can equip leaders to lead in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. In this episode we featured audio clips from CBS News, ABC News, and NPR. You can find the full segments here: New wildfires erupt in Southern California Historic winter storm across the Deep South - YouTube Hospitals face months of IV fluid shortages after Helene damages N.C. factory : NPR A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

On September 27, 2024, Ballad Health was forced to evacuate Unicoi Hospital in rural Tennessee due to a freak flash flood caused by Hurricane Helene. After two failed rescue attempts, an aerial operation managed to successfully airlift all 70 people who were trapped on the rooftop of the small community hospital. In an era where extreme climate events are increasingly common, more healthcare leaders are being forced to reckon with the reality of leading through natural disasters. This week, Lisa Carter, President of Ballad Health's Southern Region, joins Radio Advisory to recount the events of that day, reflect on how they tested her leadership, and underscore why we can't rely on our “old normal” when it comes to disaster preparedness. Links: Homepage | Ballad Health Healthcare and climate change: Why sustainability is a strategic imperative Ep. 219: The business case for going green Ep. 164: Boston Medical Center's path to sustainability (and how they're funding it) Ep. 161: Unwavering purpose, the creation of Ballad Health 3 ways to engage and motivate your team in uncertain times Learn how the Advisory Board Fellowship can equip leaders to lead in an increasingly volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous world. In this episode we featured audio clips from CBS News, ABC News, and NPR. You can find the full segments here: New wildfires erupt in Southern California Historic winter storm across the Deep South - YouTube Hospitals face months of IV fluid shortages after Helene damages N.C. factory : NPR A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

We've said it before on Radio Advisory: hospital volumes are back. But leaders know this isn't necessarily a sigh of relief. With a lot of hospitals at—or even over—capacity, hospital leaders need to find ways to improve patient throughput and reduce length of stay. And trust me, they've been trying. The question is, why is it so hard to address capacity and length of stay, and what can leaders do about it in 2025? This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods is joined by Advisory Board expert Isis Monteiro. Isis shares what she learned from her “world tour” of talking with 45 healthcare leaders from nine countries to understand how they're tackling capacity challenges. Throughout the conversation, they break down three root causes of high hospital length of stay and highlight examples of how organizations are overcoming them. Links: Ep. 225: Patients are back – so why aren't hospital margins? Ep. 221: How will health system growth look different in 2025 and beyond? Provider operations Interested in learning more about our length-of-stay reduction research? Join us live at an Advisory Board Summit and attend a dedicated session on how your organization can address foundational capacity, throughput, and length-of-stay challenges. Check out Advisory Board's Hospital Benchmark Generator tool to see how your hospital's length-of-stay stacks up and pinpoint improvement opportunities for improvement to remain competitive. Insights from the 2026 CMS Advance Notice A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

We've said it before on Radio Advisory: hospital volumes are back. But leaders know this isn't necessarily a sigh of relief. With a lot of hospitals at—or even over—capacity, hospital leaders need to find ways to improve patient throughput and reduce length of stay. And trust me, they've been trying. The question is, why is it so hard to address capacity and length of stay, and what can leaders do about it in 2025? This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods is joined by Advisory Board expert Isis Monteiro. Isis shares what she learned from her “world tour” of talking with 45 healthcare leaders from nine countries to understand how they're tackling capacity challenges. Throughout the conversation, they break down three root causes of high hospital length of stay and highlight examples of how organizations are overcoming them. Links: Ep. 225: Patients are back – so why aren't hospital margins? Ep. 221: How will health system growth look different in 2025 and beyond? Provider operations Interested in learning more about our length-of-stay reduction research? Join us live at an Advisory Board Summit and attend a dedicated session on how your organization can address foundational capacity, throughput, and length-of-stay challenges. Check out Advisory Board's Hospital Benchmark Generator tool to see how your hospital's length-of-stay stacks up and pinpoint improvement opportunities for improvement to remain competitive. Insights from the 2026 CMS Advance Notice A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

The cost and quality of care can vary dramatically—even within the same health system. This has real ramifications for patients and clinicians, not to mention system outcomes. But reducing unwarranted variation in clinical care is much easier said than done. In 2019, UNC Health launched a care redesign office to take on the job. They identified 24 sources of variation to target. And their efforts were so successful that five years later, it was time to set their sights on a new list of targets—this time with a partner. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Cyndi Hall, former Executive Director of Care Redesign at UNC Health, and Dr. Larry Marks, Executive Medical Director for Care Redesign, Professor of Radiation Oncology, and Assistant Dean of Organizational Health and Quality at UNC Health and School of Medicine, to break down the last five years of their care design work. They share how they selected which clinical areas to target, stories of what it means when this work is successful, and through it all, underscore the role of true change agents of this work: the clinicians themselves. Note: Cyndi Hall is now Senior Advisor for Healthcare Plus Solutions Group where she is translating her expertise in care variation reduction to help provider organizations improve the clinician onboarding process. Reducing clinical variation is something Advisory Board is actively researching in 2025. If CVR has been on your organization's docket and you have best practices to share, reach out to us at podcasts@advisory.com with the subject line “Sharing our CVR work” to get in touch with our research team. Links: 4 common pitfalls in care standardization — and how to overcome them Care variation reduction metric picklist UNC Health | Changing Lives for the Better Healthcare Leadership Training & Consulting | Healthcare Plus Solutions Obtaining Imaging Cost and Quality Information in Femoroacetabular Impingement: The Patient Experience - PMC Insights from the 2026 CMS Advance Notice How Steindler Orthopedic improved joint replacements with digital surgical technologies A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

The cost and quality of care can vary dramatically—even within the same health system. This has real ramifications for patients and clinicians, not to mention system outcomes. But reducing unwarranted variation in clinical care is much easier said than done. In 2019, UNC Health launched a care redesign office to take on the job. They identified 24 sources of variation to target. And their efforts were so successful that five years later, it was time to set their sights on a new list of targets—this time with a partner. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Cyndi Hall, former Executive Director of Care Redesign at UNC Health, and Dr. Larry Marks, Executive Medical Director for Care Redesign, Professor of Radiation Oncology, and Assistant Dean of Organizational Health and Quality at UNC Health and School of Medicine, to break down the last five years of their care design work. They share how they selected which clinical areas to target, stories of what it means when this work is successful, and through it all, underscore the role of true change agents of this work: the clinicians themselves. Note: Cyndi Hall is now Senior Advisor for Healthcare Plus Solutions Group where she is translating her expertise in care variation reduction to help provider organizations improve the clinician onboarding process. Reducing clinical variation is something Advisory Board is actively researching in 2025. If CVR has been on your organization's docket and you have best practices to share, reach out to us at podcasts@advisory.com with the subject line “Sharing our CVR work” to get in touch with our research team. Links: 4 common pitfalls in care standardization — and how to overcome them Care variation reduction metric picklist UNC Health | Changing Lives for the Better Healthcare Leadership Training & Consulting | Healthcare Plus Solutions Obtaining Imaging Cost and Quality Information in Femoroacetabular Impingement: The Patient Experience - PMC Insights from the 2026 CMS Advance Notice How Steindler Orthopedic improved joint replacements with digital surgical technologies A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

As hospitals face mounting financial pressure in 2025, health systems are reckoning with the fragility of their legacy business models. Ambulatory networks have long been considered an opportunity for growth, but legacy thinking still focuses on how ambulatory sites could drive inpatient volumes. That strategy is no longer working (and perhaps, never did). Savvy health leaders are now asking, how should we be evolving our ambulatory strategy in 2025, and setting ourselves up for 2035? To answer those questions, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Jordan Peterson and Nick Hula to break down why the ambulatory strategy used for the last decade is no longer enough, why ambulatory growth needs to be top of mind for health system strategists 2025, and how leaders can shift their efforts from ambulatory sites to ambulatory capabilities. Links: Ep. 236: What CEOs need to know in 2025 (Part 2) The role of ASCs in health system growth strategy It's time for systems to change how they prioritize and design their ambulatory strategy 4 considerations for creating successful ASC strategies Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

As hospitals face mounting financial pressure in 2025, health systems are reckoning with the fragility of their legacy business models. Ambulatory networks have long been considered an opportunity for growth, but legacy thinking still focuses on how ambulatory sites could drive inpatient volumes. That strategy is no longer working (and perhaps, never did). Savvy health leaders are now asking, how should we be evolving our ambulatory strategy in 2025, and setting ourselves up for 2035? To answer those questions, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board experts Jordan Peterson and Nick Hula to break down why the ambulatory strategy used for the last decade is no longer enough, why ambulatory growth needs to be top of mind for health system strategists 2025, and how leaders can shift their efforts from ambulatory sites to ambulatory capabilities. Links: Ep. 236: What CEOs need to know in 2025 (Part 2) The role of ASCs in health system growth strategy It's time for systems to change how they prioritize and design their ambulatory strategy 4 considerations for creating successful ASC strategies Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Back in December, we discussed why leaders should re-envision their approach to digital change management. But to truly implement digital change, health systems must understand their organization's success (or failure) to date. However, assessing digital progress is not a simple task. While models exist that measure digital maturity in other industries, there is a serious lack of tools to measure progress in the healthcare field—which is why we made our own. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites John League, Advisory Board digital health expert, and K. R. Prabha, Optum's Vice President of Strategy, Growth and Innovation to define what digital maturity for health systems looks like and unpack why so many organizations are stalled at merely “being” digital. Together, they introduce a new tool they've designed to help health systems assess their own digital maturity. For an on-the-ground perspective, Rae invites Dr. David Ingham, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Allina Health, to discuss how Allina Health leveraged this tool to assess their progress and prioritize next steps on their digital journey. Links: Understand the digital maturity of your health system Ep. 233: Your digital strategy needs more than “change management” Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services Allina Health Care & Medical Services In MN & Western WI Get in touch with us [Webinar, 2/19] Imaging market trends in 2025 Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Back in December, we discussed why leaders should re-envision their approach to digital change management. But to truly implement digital change, health systems must understand their organization's success (or failure) to date. However, assessing digital progress is not a simple task. While models exist that measure digital maturity in other industries, there is a serious lack of tools to measure progress in the healthcare field—which is why we made our own. This week, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites John League, Advisory Board digital health expert, and K. R. Prabha, Optum's Vice President of Strategy, Growth and Innovation to define what digital maturity for health systems looks like and unpack why so many organizations are stalled at merely “being” digital. Together, they introduce a new tool they've designed to help health systems assess their own digital maturity. For an on-the-ground perspective, Rae invites Dr. David Ingham, Vice President and Chief Information Officer of Allina Health, to discuss how Allina Health leveraged this tool to assess their progress and prioritize next steps on their digital journey. Links: Understand the digital maturity of your health system Ep. 233: Your digital strategy needs more than “change management” Connect with Optum Advisory to design your digital transformation strategy Allina Health Care & Medical Services In MN & Western WI Get in touch with us [Webinar, 2/19] Imaging market trends in 2025 Advisory Board is a subsidiary of Optum. All Advisory Board research, expert perspectives, and recommendations remain independent. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson rejoin host Abby Burns for part two of our conversation digging into the trends and challenges healthcare leaders need to pay attention to in 2025. Last week, our experts covered evolving power dynamics around network design, drug cost/spend, and cyber threats. This week, the group shifts their attention to unpack what's happening with our core care delivery infrastructure. What is the state of health systems—and what's in store for them? They also tackle the elephant in the room: how should leaders be thinking about the policy landscape as we enter a new administration? Links: Ep. 235: What CEOs need to know in 2025 (Part 1) Ep. 231: Big deal, little deal, or no deal? A 2024 health policy retrospective The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 Optum Advisory: Healthcare consulting services Aortic stenosis is vastly undertreated: Know how to identify and address it A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson rejoin host Abby Burns for part two of our conversation digging into the trends and challenges healthcare leaders need to pay attention to in 2025. Last week, our experts covered evolving power dynamics around network design, drug cost/spend, and cyber threats. This week, the group shifts their attention to unpack what's happening with our core care delivery infrastructure. What is the state of health systems—and what's in store for them? They also tackle the elephant in the room: how should leaders be thinking about the policy landscape as we enter a new administration? Our State of the Industry research team is kicking off their annual research and wants to hear from you to help shape the research! We want to know what your “up at night” issues are, what questions you have, and what your organization is focusing on in order to navigate the waters ahead. Get in touch with the team by emailing podcasts@advisory.com. This episode was recorded on Jan. 8th, 2025. Links: 17 things CEOs need to know in 2025 Ep. 235: What CEOs need to know in 2025 (Part 1) Ep. 231: Big deal, little deal, or no deal? A 2024 health policy retrospective The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 [Webinar, 3/11] Insights from the 2026 CMS Advance Notice Aortic stenosis is vastly undertreated: Know how to identify and address it A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.

While the new year often feels like a time to reset and regroup, 2025 has started off in a sprint. As pressures continue to grow across all sectors of the industry, it's no secret that leaders need to think and act differently in order to succeed in the new year. With so many swirling changes, it can be hard to sort through the most important topics, trends, and perspectives to focus on. That's where Advisory Board—and Radio Advisory—come in. This week's conversation is the first of a two-part series that digs into what healthcare leaders need to have on their radar in 2025. Host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson to break down what Medicare Advantage breakups, untenable drug costs, and evolving cyber threats signal about changing power dynamics across the healthcare industry. Stay tuned for part 2 of the conversation next week, where we'll cover the state of health systems and, of course, what we expect to see in the policy landscape this year. This episode was recorded on Jan. 8th, 2025. Links: The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 The data health system vendors need to know in 2025 4 strategic pivots for 2025 (and beyond) Cybersecurity in healthcare Ep. 227: The changing tide of Medicare Advantage State of the healthcare industry A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.Advisory.com.

While the new year often feels like a time to reset and regroup, 2025 has started off in a sprint. As pressures continue to grow across all sectors of the industry, it's no secret that leaders need to think and act differently in order to succeed in the new year. With so many swirling changes, it can be hard to sort through the most important topics, trends, and perspectives to focus on. That's where Advisory Board—and Radio Advisory—come in. This week's conversation is the first of a two-part series that digs into what healthcare leaders need to have on their radar in 2025. Host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Max Hakanson to break down what Medicare Advantage breakups, untenable drug costs, and evolving cyber threats signal about changing power dynamics across the healthcare industry. Stay tuned for part 2 of the conversation next week, where we'll cover the state of health systems and, of course, what we expect to see in the policy landscape this year. This episode was recorded on Jan. 8th, 2025. Links: 17 things CEOs need to know in 2025 The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 The data health system vendors need to know in 2025 4 strategic pivots for 2025 (and beyond) Cybersecurity in healthcare Ep. 227: The changing tide of Medicare Advantage State of the healthcare industry

2024 was filled with upswings and downswings in the healthcare industry. Whether it was unprecedented cyberattacks, the continued rise of GLP-1 therapies, or the return of hospital volumes, healthcare leaders stayed busy. And things aren't expected to slow down in 2025. To give you a preview of where we may be headed, this week, hosts Rachel (Rae) Woods and Abby Burns invite five Advisory Board experts to break down what their teams will be researching in 2025 and why these topics matter for health leaders. Throughout the episode, our experts preview how health system service lines, value-based care, care variation reduction, artificial intelligence, and specialty pharmacy will change in 2025 and beyond. Links: The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 Get early access to our 2025 executive briefing Service lines and specialty care landing page Value-based care landing page Artificial intelligence landing page Hospital and health system trends landing page 4 common pitfalls in care standardization — and how to overcome them Learn more about Advisory Board Fellowship A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.

2024 was filled with upswings and downswings in the healthcare industry. Whether it was unprecedented cyberattacks, the continued rise of GLP-1 therapies, or the return of hospital volumes, healthcare leaders stayed busy. And things aren't expected to slow down in 2025. To give you a preview of where we may be headed, this week, hosts Rachel (Rae) Woods and Abby Burns invite five Advisory Board experts to break down what their teams will be researching in 2025 and why these topics matter for health leaders. Throughout the episode, our experts preview how health system service lines, value-based care, care variation reduction, artificial intelligence, and specialty pharmacy will change in 2025 and beyond. Links: The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 Service lines and specialty care landing page Value-based care landing page Artificial intelligence landing page Hospital and health system trends landing page 4 common pitfalls in care standardization — and how to overcome them Learn more about Advisory Board Fellowship A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.

A top podcast for healthcare leaders, with over one million downloads, Radio Advisory is your weekly download on how to untangle the industry's most pressing challenges to help leaders like you make the best business decisions for your organization. From unpacking major trends in care delivery—like site-of-care shifts and the rise of high-cost drugs—to demystifying stakeholder dynamics, to shining a spotlight on priorities that may get overlooked, we're here to help. Our hosts and seasoned researchers talk with industry experts to equip you with knowledge to confront today's unanswered questions in healthcare. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

A top podcast for healthcare leaders, with over one million downloads, Radio Advisory is your weekly download on how to untangle the industry's most pressing challenges to help leaders like you make the best business decisions for your organization. From unpacking major trends in care delivery—like site-of-care shifts and the rise of high-cost drugs—to demystifying stakeholder dynamics, to shining a spotlight on priorities that may get overlooked, we're here to help. Our hosts and seasoned researchers talk with industry experts to equip you with knowledge to confront today's unanswered questions in healthcare. New episodes drop every Tuesday.

The healthcare industry talks a lot about “change management,” the idea that through careful stewardship, the process of change can be made a little bit easier. The problem is, it's a lot easier to talk about change than it is to manage it well. This is especially difficult when it comes to digital transformation, a space that is evolving almost too fast to keep up with. So how should leaders be thinking about navigating change in such a complex environment? To answer that question, in the first episode of a two-part series on managing digital change, host Rachel (Rae) Woods invites Advisory Board digital health expert John League, and later, Optum Advisory Vice President of Digital Transformation, Matt Matousek, to break down why the industry might need to shy away from the term “change management”, what it means to manage change well, and give on-the-ground examples of organizations who have had success with digital transformation. Links: John's LinkedIn post Optum Advisory: Healthcare Consulting Services Ep. 214: Is Governance the answer to AI integration? Duke says yes. 4 key issues that will shape the future of digital health The state of the industry: What healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 Get exclusive, early access to Advisory Board's annual “What CEOs need to know” briefing. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.

Employers have been saying for years that they can't absorb any more cost growth for health insurance; health plans feel like they've squeezed about as much juice as possible out of traditional cost mitigation levers. Both are looking for creative alternatives to curb rising health costs. Enter ICHRAs. Usually, when we talk about the health insurance landscape, we focus on Medicare, Medicaid, or employer-sponsored insurance. But roughly 21 million people in the US are covered by individual marketplace plans, and in 2020, a new type of plan hit the individual market, moving health insurance from a “defined benefit” to a “defined contribution” in an effort to curb employer health costs. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board health plan expert Morghen Philippi to shed light on what Individual Coverage Health Reimbursement Arrangements, or ICHRAs, actually are, how employers, plans, and providers are responding to their rise, and what leaders need to keep an eye on when it comes to these plans. Note: This episode was recorded prior to the 2024 elections. Given the results, it is unlikely that the enhanced subsidies referenced in this episode will be renewed, which will affect the health of the individual marketplace. If enhanced subsidies expire at the end of 2025, you can expect it to have a direct impact on the individual market and on ICHRA viability, specifically. That said, because of the first Trump administration's role in establishing the ICHRA model, the incoming administration may work to support ICHRA growth. Links: Is the cost of employer-sponsored insurance at a tipping point? Market outlook for individual and small group health insurance Ep. 176: Test, fail, and test again: Morgan Health's approach to employer costs Enhanced subsidies propelled ACA marketplace enrollment. What's next? What health system growth will look like in 2025 Get exclusive, early access to Advisory Board's annual “What CEOs need to know” briefing. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.

Last week on Radio Advisory, we broke down what healthcare leaders need to know for 2025 and beyond following the recent elections. But before we move on from 2024 completely, we have to acknowledge that there's been a lot moving in the policy space this year, and frankly, there have probably been a few important policy areas on your radar that we haven't discussed. That's why this week, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board experts Gina Lohr, Sarah Roller, and Paul Trigonoplos to dive into three major policy areas of the last year: Medicare drug negotiations, changes to physician employment and payment, and an emerging mandatory bundled payment model called TEAM. The experts unpack how these policies are affecting the industry, how the elections outcomes may impact them, and, critically, how much attention leaders should be paying them going forward. In other words, should leaders consider each policy a big deal, a little deal, or no deal? Links: Ep. 230: Elections results are in: What healthcare leaders need to know State-level healthcare ballot measures that passed (and failed) CMS' TEAM payment model is here. How should hospitals prepare? Your guide to CMS' 14 value-based payment models Medicare announces 10 new drug prices following negotiations A federal judge just blocked FTC's noncompete ban The Hospital Benchmark Generator Market Scenario Planner Get exclusive, early access to Advisory Board's annual “What CEOs need to know” briefing. 2 ways labs can embrace innovation to drive revenue and accelerate growth Market Scenario Planner A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.

(Note: This episode was recorded on November 7, 2024) The results of the 2024 elections are in: Donald Trump will be the 47th President of the United States, and we are all but certain to have a Republican trifecta at the federal level. Admittedly, there's a lot we don't know about what healthcare will look like under a second Trump administration—a lot will depend on who is appointed to key leadership positions overseeing federal health agencies and Congressional committees. But while we wait for those appointments, what can we anticipate based on President-elect Trump's first term, campaign, and the Republican platform? This week, hosts Rachel (Rae) Woods and Abby Burns invite Advisory Board experts Natalie Trebes and Ben Palmer to break down the implications of a second Trump term on the healthcare industry. They unpack how power dynamics have shifted since the first administration, and what we're likely to see on issues like the ACA, enhanced subsidies, Medicaid, drug pricing, abortion, and more. Links: What the 2024 elections mean for healthcare The election is over. Here's how to talk to your team today. Ep. 206: 24th Secretary of HHS Alex Azar shares his vision on healthcare transformation State-level healthcare ballot measures that passed (and failed) Why healthcare leaders should look to their state elections more than the national race Join 165,000+ healthcare leaders and get the industry's most important news in your inbox—every day. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.

Conversations around GLP-1s in today's healthcare market are mixed. Some stakeholders are thrilled with their potential, while others are filled with questions and even anxiety about how these powerful and popular drugs will impact their business. Many in the industry have been asking for months: “What can GLP-1s do?” But maybe this is the wrong question. Leaders should be asking “What CAN'T GLP-1s do?” To answer that question, live from HLTH 2024, host Rachel (Rae) Wood invites Rob MacNaughton, CEO of lifestyle intervention and obesity management organization Calibrate, Rita Glaze-Rowe, President at life sciences research organization Real Chemistry, and Dr. Spencer Nadolsky, lipid and obesity specialist and founder to break down the cross-industry perspective on GLP-1s and how the healthcare leaders should be thinking about both the potential and limitations of these novel therapies. In a market that is buzzing around the novel medications, these experts suggest a new focus on comprehensive weight management programs. Links: Treating Obesity At Scale: Real-World Outcomes Using Medication And Intensive Lifestyle Intervention | Calibrate Real Chemistry - AI and Ideas Transforming Healthcare Ep. 222: It's not just GLP-1s; here's what comprehensive weight management looks like Ep. 159: Ozempic, Wegovy, and our questions on weight management drugs How 3 health systems provide comprehensive care for obesity 4 key elements of comprehensive obesity care (and how they look in practice) Join 165,000+ healthcare leaders and get the industry's most important news in your inbox—every day. What the 2024 elections mean for healthcare [Webinar, 10/24] How the 2024 elections could impact the healthcare industry A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on www.advisory.com/RadioAdvisory.