The Heart of Healthcare with Halle Tecco

US healthcare has more unproductive labor and more unstructured data than any other industry, making it both vulnerable to disruption from generative AI and especially unprepared for it.That's the provocative thesis of Eric Larsen, president of TowerBrook Advisors. In this episode, he joins host Steve Kraus to explain why generative AI is unlike any other technology we've seen—and why the $4.9 trillion healthcare sector is uniquely exposed.We cover:

Over 160 million Americans are served by Optum, yet many still don't fully understand what it actually does—or why it matters.Dr. Patrick Conway, newly appointed CEO of Optum and former head of CMS Innovation Center and Blue Cross NC, joins Steve for a wide-ranging discussion on the state of healthcare delivery, affordability, and the potential of value-based care at a national scale. With experience spanning the frontlines of medicine to top government and corporate leadership, Conway breaks down how Optum aims to improve care while controlling costs—and why he continues to practice as a pediatric hospitalist on weekends.We cover:

Women make 80% of healthcare decisions and outspend men two to one on care—yet when it comes to designing, funding, and scaling health tech, they're still treated like a niche.In this episode, we break down the broken flywheel holding women's health innovation back including fewer growth-stage investments, limited exits, and a system not built to serve women as the primary users of care. I'm joined by Carolyn Witte, co-founder of Tia, and Katie Drasser, CEO of Rock Health, to talk about what needs to change—and how we get there.We cover:

In this month's Digital Health Download, Steve and Halle unpack the headlines shaping healthcare, policy, and technology—with an eye toward where things may be heading next. From shifting political support for Medicaid and the ACA to state-level action on PBMs, they explore the unexpected ways the system is evolving.We cover:

The average American family spends over $24,000 a year on healthcare, and costs continue to rise faster than inflation. Why can't we create a healthcare system that delivers more value for less money?In this conversation with Ann Somers Hogg, Director of Healthcare Research at the Clayton Christensen Institute, we explore the concept of "Zero Inflation Healthcare" and uncover why traditional health insurance models continue to drive costs up. Ann breaks down why many InsureTech startups initially struggled to disrupt incumbents and how a new approach to business model innovation could finally tame runaway healthcare costs.We cover:

Each year, 2 million Americans are diagnosed with cancer and face a fragmented, overwhelming healthcare system with minimal guidance between doctor visits, even as they make life-altering decisions.In this episode, we talk with Robin Shah, Founder & CEO of Thyme Care, who has devoted his 17-year career to improving oncology care and is now building a virtual support system that has already helped over 50,000 cancer patients nationwide.We cover:

Health insurance has a Net Promoter Score of around 0-10 industry-wide, one of the lowest ratings of any industry. This is exactly why the founders of Oscar Health, with no background in healthcare and a distaste for the industry, started the company in 2012. Since then, Oscar has grown to 1.7 million members, gone public, and achieved profitability—all while receiving an NPS significantly higher than the industry average.In this episode, we talk with Mario Schlosser, co-founder and CTO of Oscar Health, about building a tech-first health insurance company in an industry notorious for poor customer experiences.We cover:

In this month's Digital Health Download, Steve, Halle, and Michael take a deliberately optimistic look at key headlines in healthcare technology. From the impressive impact of AI scribing tools on physician satisfaction to encouraging survival rates among digital health unicorns from the ZIRP-era, the hosts highlights bright spots in an often challenging industry.We cover:

Venture capital in healthcare has evolved from "the trailer park of venture investing" to a fundamental core tenant of the ecosystem, reflecting a quarter-century transformation of the entire industry.In this episode, we sit down with Mohamad Makhzoumi, co-CEO of NEA, who shares his 25-year journey from unpaid intern to leader of one of the largest healthcare investment funds, offering his insights into the evolution of healthcare startups and VC.We cover:

One in four Americans relies on Medicaid, yet the program faces billions in federal funding cuts.In this episode, we speak with Dr. Rajaie Batniji, co-founder and CEO of Waymark, about delivering tech-enabled community care to Medicaid patients.We discuss what cuts to Medicaid could mean, the impact of "value veneers", and how predictive algorithms can overcome bias in healthcare delivery. Dr. Batniji also shares his personal connection to healthcare equity and his motivation for serving vulnerable populations despite investor skepticism about Medicaid-focused businesses.We cover:

In 2020, telemedicine company Teladoc acquired remote patient monitoring company Livongo for a record $18.5 billion, creating a $38 billion entity. Today, the combined company is worth less than a tenth of that.Rebecca Mitchell, who spent years as a product leader at both companies, reveals how this landmark healthcare deal fell short of expectations despite strong underlying products, and what we can learn from it.We also get her insights on the need for physician innovators, and how she came to co-found Scrub Capital.We cover:

Startup capital accelerator and venture capital firm Y Combinator has a long history of backing healthcare startups, with a particular focus on technical founders tackling difficult problems. In this episode, YC partners Jared Friedman and Ankit Gupta share their insights on healthcare investment, the transformative potential of AI, and why they believe young, tactical founders will continue to disrupt the healthcare industry despite its challenges.We cover:

In this monthly healthcare news roundup, Halle and Steve break down the biggest healthcare headlines this month.We cover:

From law school to leading one of healthcare's most successful value-based care companies, Oak Street Health co-founder Mike Pykos shares the story of building, scaling, and ultimately selling his company to CVS for $11 billion.He reveals the challenges of scaling a new care model, the importance of focusing on outcomes over financials, and what it takes to transform American healthcare.We cover:

Full-body MRIs are a controversial and expensive screening tool that some believe could revolutionize early cancer detection, while others worry they create unnecessary anxiety and waste medical resources.In this episode, we dive deep into this debate with Emi Gal, founder & CEO of Ezra, who is using AI to make full-body MRI screening faster, more accessible, and more accurate.We cover:

From fast food drive-throughs to Netflix autoplay, many of America's favorite products are designed to maximize profits at the expense of our health. But Thomas Goetz, co-founder of Building H, believes there's a better way. In this episode about corporate responsibility and public health, the former WIRED editor explains why changing company behavior may be easier than changing consumer habits – and how a new health accountability index could help transform America.We cover:

2025 has started with sobering reminders of healthcare's challenges, while also showcasing technology's potential to save lives. Join us for this week's episode as we analyze recent headlines:

From selling deceased patients' body parts to denying cancer treatment over upfront payments, the Lown Institute's annual Shkreli Awards spotlight the most egregious examples of profiteering and dysfunction in American healthcare. Dr. Vikas Saini, President of the Lown Institute, walks us through 2024's (dis)honorees and what they reveal about the state of our healthcare system.We cover:

In this bonus episode, Bessemer Venture Partners' Healthcare and Life Sciences team shares the top industry developments they anticipate in the year to come.We cover:⚖️ The future of Obamacare under Trump

"Healthcare attracts a lot of good people, but it also attracts a lot of morally unscrupulous people who consistently demonstrate their willingness to do horribly unethical stuff to make a lot of money."Join us for many mic-drop moments with recording artist-turned-healthcare-investor D.A. Wallach, who tells it like it is—but in a nice way only someone who grew up in the Midwest can.From questioning the "doctor" honorific to calling large health systems "the root of evil," D.A. challenges healthcare's sacred cows and offers a provocative vision for the future.We cover:

As thousands of healthcare leaders descend on San Francisco for the annual JPM Healthcare Conference, Steve and Michael break down January's biggest stories in digital health. From unprecedented bipartisan scrutiny of PBMs to surprising patient satisfaction data and the industry's first major M&A deal of the year, 2025 is already shaping up to be transformative for healthcare.We cover:

Five-time Midas List investor Annie Lamont has seen every healthcare cycle since the genomics revolution. Now, as co-founder of Oak HC/FT and early investor in category-defining companies like One Medical, Athena Health, and Devoted Health, she believes 2025 could mark the return of animal spirits to healthcare investing. In this forward-looking conversation, Annie shares why AI might finally deliver on technology's promise to transform American healthcare, even as she warns entrepreneurs to watch out for the "revenge of the incumbents."We cover:

From the return of "historic norms" in funding to the rise of AI and strategic pharma partnerships, 2024 was quite the year for digital health. Rock Health Advisory CEO Megan Zweig joins us on this episode to unpack a year defined by resilience, consolidation, and the 'revenge of the Goliaths.' We look at the funding data, reveal how the industry's unicorns survived their valuation hangovers, and share why 2024 might be remembered as healthcare's boiling point.We cover:

After building and selling Meebo, Seth Sternberg wanted his next venture to transform lives at scale. A decade later, Honor has become the world's largest home care network, delivering care to 35,000 US homes daily. In this candid conversation, Sternberg reveals how AI saved the company from near collapse in 2015 and why treating caregivers like true professionals creates better outcomes for everyone.We cover:

"There's been a degree of toxic positivity in US healthcare," says Dr. Sachin Jain, CEO of SCAN Health Plan. In this episode about healthcare's need for radical change, Dr. Jain challenges industry orthodoxy and calls for a leadership revolution. From Medicare Advantage turbulence to the failures of healthcare consolidation, he offers an insider's view of what needs to change.We cover:

Twenty years before value-based care became a healthcare buzzword, Rushika Fernandopulle was told he had to choose: be a doctor or join "the dark side" of business. Instead, he chose both – building Iora Health from a bootstrapped startup into a billion-dollar healthcare company. In this candid conversation, Fernandopulle reveals the unconventional journey that helped transform American healthcare, from midnight meetings in Las Vegas speakeasies to breaking every rule in the traditional medical playbook.We cover:

It's in our water, our food, and so many other products we use on a daily basis, from non-stick pans to popcorn bags. And it's making us really sick.More and more scientists are becoming concerned that PFAS chemicals, also known as “forever chemicals,” are impacting human health. Evidence is growing that links these everyday exposures, particularly to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (or EDCs), are linked to cancer, infertility, birth defects, asthma, allergies, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and more.In this episode, we talk to one of the world's leading environmental health scientists and advocates about the impact of forever chemicals and what we can do about it. Arlene Blum is the founder and executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute. This is a replay from 2022.We cover:

What's the boldest company in healthcare? In our last Digital Health Download of the year, Halle and Steve stumble over the answer to this question and break down the latest healthcare headlines and what they mean for our sector.We cover:

Technology is transforming genetic testing and bringing hope to families facing rare diseases. In this episode, GeneDx (Nasdaq: WGS) CEO Katherine Stuhlin sits down with Steve Kraus to share how AI is being used to crack life's most complex code and speed up diagnosis from years to days.We cover:

Despite heart disease being the leading cause of death in the United States, cardiovascular care has been an overlooked opportunity in digital health. With 1 in 3 Americans facing cardiovascular disease in their lifetime, how can innovation help turn the tide?In this episode, we explore heart health in the digital age with Dr. Jeff Wessler, cardiologist and founder/CEO of Heartbeat Health, the nation's largest virtual-first cardiovascular company.We cover:⌚If we can trust cardiovascular data from wearable devices (and what doctors call “Apple Heart Syndrome”)

Make America Healthy Again?It's official— Trump was elected as our 47th president and plans to use his second term to "go wild on health." For this special episode, Aneesh Chopra, former U.S. Chief Technology Officer and author of Innovative State: How New Technologies can Transform Government, joins Steve to talk about what we can expect in Trump's second term.We cover:

Keep up with healthcare news in under an hour with our monthly Digital Health Download! We can't believe it's already November. In this episode, we cover the biggest headlines of October:

Doctors are not okay. Nearly half of physicians in the United States experienced burnout in 2023, leading to absenteeism, reduced productivity, turnover, and many leaving the profession altogether. In this episode, we discuss the clinician burnout and mental health crises with two expert guests: Dr. Jessie Gold, the first chief wellness officer for the University of Tennessee System and author of "How Do You Feel? One Doctor's Search for Humanity in Medicine," and Dr. Aparna Atluru, co-founder and chief medical officer of Marvin, a company that provides specialized mental health care for healthcare workers.We cover:

Approximately one in five American children have a mental health condition, with many more at risk for developing one. In this episode, Halle Tecco and Michael Esquivel dive deep into the youth mental health crisis with Naomi Allen, co-founder and CEO of Brightline.We cover:How technology has worsened the youth mental health crisis and how it can help solve itKey drivers of the crisis“Families are comorbid”: Family-centered care approaches in pediatric behavioral healthThe challenge of over-pathologizing vs. providing appropriate careStrategies for parents to manage children's technology useDo you have an idea for the show? Reach out to us at heartofhealthcarepodcast.com. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Bryan Roberts, a partner at Venrock and one of the healthcare industry's most illustrious investors, shares insights from his 25+ year career. We cover:The traits that have contributed to his success in healthcare investingHow to navigate investment cycles and make non-consensus decisionsBryan's early investments in Illumina and Athena HealthThe current state of digital health and value-based careThe potential impact of AI on healthcare efficiency and clinical practiceExits and IPOs in the current marketLessons from Bryan's biggest missesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Ready for your October digital health download? This month, we discuss:Progyny losing business to MavenThe entire 23andMe board resigningParticle Health suing Epic (and Epic clapping back)A plan to erase $4B in medical debt in North CarolinaThe first at-home nasal spray flu vaccineWeight Watchers losing Oprah and its CEO, can they get on the GLP-1 train?Tune in for all the digital health tea

In this episode, we sit down with one of the most influential figures in government today: Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan. As the youngest FTC chair to ever be appointed, during her tenure the FTC has pushed to ban non-compete agreements, filed lawsuits against healthcare companies engaging in anti-competitive practices, and strengthened the Health Breach Notification Rule (HBNR) to protect sensitive health data.We cover:- The FTC's role in healthcare and how it compares to other sectors- The impact of consolidation and vertical integration in the healthcare industry- The agency's efforts to combat rising drug prices, including the recent actions against major PBMs- The controversial "Orange Book" patent challenges and their implications for drug innovation- The nationwide ban on non-compete agreements and its potential effects on doctors- Chair Khan's vision for the future of competition law and its application to healthcareSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With the election around the corner, Halle and Steve welcome Dan Diamond back on the show to talk about how the election will impact healthcare (and how healthcare impacts voting). Dan is a national health reporter for the Washington Post, focused on accountability, federal agencies, and public health.We cover:Trump's concept of a plan and if he would really repeal the ACAHarris abandoning Medicare-for-allHow reproductive health remains a contentious voting topicMedicaid redetermination leading to millions losing coverageBipartisian issues like Medicare Advantage, drug pricing, and mental health coverageSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy have transformed best practices for weight loss care and created an opportunity for digital health innovation. In this episode, Steve Kraus sits down with Evan Richardson, founder and CEO of Form Health, to discuss GLP-1s and the virtual medical weight loss care landscape.We cover:- How Form Health differentiates itself in the competitive weight care market- The impact of GLP-1 medications and the challenges of drug shortages- The role of compounding pharmacies and potential regulatory changes- The importance of holistic care and patient adherence for sustainable weight loss- Obesity treatment innovation and the future of healthcare- Advice for aspiring healthcare entrepreneurs from his experiences at Castlight Health and Included HealthSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Halle Tecco sits down with John Mackey, founder and former CEO of Whole Foods Market. Mackey discusses his new venture, Love.Life, that aims to do for healthcare what Whole Foods did for grocery shopping.We cover:His vision for rethinking the healthcare experienceWhat he learned about healthcare running a self-insured employerHow Whole Foods gamified employee healthHis views on healthcare regulation and personal responsibilityWhy he doesn't believe in market researchHis advice for entrepreneurs taking on venture capitalist fundingAre you enjoying the show? Subscribe, and help us by leaving us a review!See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Your September Digital Health Download is here! This month, Steve and Halle discuss:TEFCAHow employers are getting sued for mismanaging health plansWhy virtual care is way up in rural AmericaThe TruePill / LetsGetChecked mergerJ&J taking aim at hospital drug-discount programsWhat happens to compounding startups now that the end of drug shortages is in sightTune in for all the digital health tea

In this episode, Dr. Jon Cohen, CEO of Talkspace, discusses his unconventional journey from vascular surgeon to leading a publicly traded digital health company.We cover:The glass ceiling for physicians, and why people wrongly think physicians can't run businessesHis run for Lieutenant Governor of New York, and why more physicians should get involved with politicsThe role of online therapy in making mental healthcare more accessible and affordableHow Talkspace is leveraging AI to detect suicide risk, support therapists, and enhance patient careThe challenges and opportunities of running a public company, especially one that went public via SPACHis insights on the future of healthcare and the importance of physician leadership in driving changeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Christine Lemke, co-founder and CEO of Evidation Health, shares how her personal struggles with chronic pain fueled her mission to transform how we measure and improve health outcomes. She shares the company's evolution and innovative approach to generating real-world evidence (RWE) using a global research platform serving millions of people.We cover:- The power of real-world data and understanding health outside the clinic- Lessons from pivots: Evidation's journey to its current focus- How they recruit diverse participants, prioritize consent, and even compensate individuals- Accelerating research and making it more representative of the populations drugs will actually serve- Where the company's unique data platform goes next, and how it could change healthcareSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Halle speaks with Dave Chase, co-founder and CEO of Health Rosetta, who is on a mission to end the 30-year heist of stolen income from the working middle class. He's working to popularize a new parallel economy: community-owned health plans (COHPs). Dave explains how these plans aim to transform healthcare from a driver of debt and bankruptcy to a driver of well-being and wealth.We cover:- The structure and benefits of community-owned health plans (COHPs)- How these plans can reduce healthcare costs while improving care quality- The role of primary care, including direct primary care models, in reshaping healthcare delivery- Challenges with the current employer-based health insurance system- Recent legal developments pushing for change in employer-sponsored health plansDave shares insights on how community-owned health plans can address issues like misaligned incentives, inefficient spending, and poor health outcomes. He also discusses the potential for these models to redirect healthcare savings into community investments, ultimately improving social determinants of health.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we answer listener questions about the current state of the market and share insights for healthcare founders raising VC funding. We also announce the merging of this show with Closing Time Podcast, and welcome our new co-host Michael Esquivel! Michael is an angel investor, a startup lawyer at Fenwick, and a Lecturer at Stanford Law School - we're excited to have him join the show!We cover:The slow recovery of the IPO market and the prevalence of private M&A dealsRealistic revenue targets and deal sizes for Series A rounds in the current marketThe importance of having a platform play rather than a point solutionNegotiation strategies for founders to protect their interests while attracting investorsBalancing time between recruiting, fundraising, and running the business as a founderSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We had lots to cover in this month's Digital Health Download, from a $99 AI companion to if we think PBMs will ever be dismantled.We discuss:- A WSJ report on Medicare Advantage insurers pocketing billions for diseases that were never treated or falsely coded- The FTC's interim report on pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and their impact on drug accessibility and affordability- Vermont's successful accountable care organization (ACO) program, which led to significant savings and improved care- The launch of "Friend," an AI-powered wearable device designed to combat loneliness and isolation- Post-Theranos progress made by companies working on less painful blood tests- A hospital's new venture into the entertainment industrySee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Steve Kraus interviews Andy Slavitt, General Partner at Town Hall Ventures and former CMS and UnitedHealth Group executive. We look back on his career-long mission to fix American healthcare's biggest challenges, encompassing roles in insurance, government, healthcare startups, and venture capital.We cover:- The high-stakes mission to rescue Healthcare.gov and implement the Affordable Care Act- His unexpected transition from entrepreneur to executive at UnitedHealth Group- His tenure as the head of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)- The promise and hurdles of value-based care- Why healthcare is slow to adopt technological innovations- Navigating healthcare policy across changing political landscapesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Halle Tecco talks to Vinod Khosla— visionary venture capitalist, tech entrepreneur, and healthcare investor. Vinod shares his vision for using AI to enable a hundred touchpoints every hundred days with a patient. We discuss making healthcare more accessible, enabling personalized care, and what he worries could go wrong.We cover:Revisiting his 2012 prediction that AI could replace 80% of what doctors do and moreHow AI will enable computers to learn and adapt to humans, not the other way aroundThe potential for AI to replicate expertise, reduce misdiagnosis, and guide patients to the most effective treatmentsHow changing billing codes is key to AI adoption in healthcareReal-world examples of AI in action, from mental health intake interviews to cardiac MRI analysisThe importance of guardrails and being vigilant about unintended consequences as AI advances rapidlyAdvice for healthcare founders on solving hard problems in healthcareShow notes:Vinod's 2012 article “Do We Need Doctors Or Algorithms?”: https://techcrunch.com/2012/01/10/doctors-or-algorithms/Vinod's recent TED Talk: 12 predictions for the future of technology https://www.ted.com/talks/vinod_khosla_12_predictions_for_the_future_of_technologyWSJ article mentioned: https://www.wsj.com/health/healthcare/medicare-health-insurance-diagnosis-payments-b4d99a5dFollow Vinod on X.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Marketing and communications play a critical role in securing investment and driving product and service adoption in digital health. In this special two-part episode, Steve Kraus explores the art of storytelling in healthcare with two industry experts: Chrissy Farr, a veteran digital health journalist turned venture capitalist and advisor, and Kate Cronin, Chief Brand Officer at Moderna. They discuss:-What makes for a great story in digital health-The importance of including setbacks and challenges in company narratives-The undervaluing of marketing and communications roles-Strong digital health brands such as Livongo, PillPack, and Bobbie-Chief Brand Officers vs. Chief Marketing Officers-Lessons learned from rapidly scaling Moderna's brand during the COVID-19 pandemic-The importance of internal communicationsSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Celebrating three years of The Heart of Healthcare, Halle and Steve dive into the latest news and trends in digital health for July 2024.July highlights include:A new Peterson Institute report on digital treatment outcomes for musculoskeletal conditionsThe FDA's guidance on improving diversity in clinical trial enrollmentThe economic impact and legal battles surrounding GLP-1 drugs for obesityWalgreens' pullback from healthcare services and concerns about the sustainability of the current pharmacy modelA Washington state study on utilizing pharmacists to treat minor illnessesThe U.S. Surgeon General's advisory on social media's effects on youth mental healthShow notes:Mural Health effort to increase diversity in clinical trialsThe U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory: Social Media and Youth Mental Health