The ACO Show: Recent Episodes
Aledade
Jonas Goldstein, Senior Vice President of Transformation at Aledade, and Annette DuBard, MD, Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy, join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss Aledade’s participation in the CMS ACCESS model through a new program called Aledade Access which aims to improve patient outcomes by proactively engaging patients in controlling their hypertension. Jonas explains how Aledade Access will use AI-driven technologies to deliver evidence-based insights to primary care physicians within their current workflows, keeping them at the center of patient care. Dr. DuBard shares that she’s most excited about the opportunity to expand support for patients between visits, all while strengthening the relationship between primary care physicians and their patients.
Michael Chernew, PhD, professor of healthcare policy at Harvard Medical School, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and its role in the Medicare program, including Medicare Advantage (MA) and the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). Dr. Chernew, who served as MedPAC chair from 2020-2026, shares how MedPAC provides evidence-based recommendations to Congress on payment policies, access and quality of care in Medicare. They examine Medicare solvency, cost-effectiveness concerns in both MA and MSSP, as well as larger challenges to improving the healthcare system for patients and physicians.
Halle Tecco, author of the book “Massively Better Healthcare: The Innovator's Guide to Tackling Healthcare's Biggest Challenges,” joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh on the podcast to discuss ways to improve the healthcare system through innovation. Tecco shares that a very important focus is on alignment, not only between margin and mission, but in figuring out how to engage patients with new technologies. Tecco also explores how patients, physicians and other key stakeholders can all be involved in innovation and change in the healthcare system.
Jacob Shiff, chief AI and technology officer at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Innovation Center (CMMI), joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to dive deeper into the Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions (ACCESS) Model. The model focuses on improving patient outcomes while encouraging clinicians to utilize technology-enabled solutions to deliver personalized, preventive care to those with chronic conditions, like hypertension and diabetes. Shiff shares that the goal is to give primary care physicians more support, while offering patients affordable and convenient care options. With continuous advancements with artificial intelligence (AI) and technology, Shiff hopes the ACCESS model will allow clinicians to use these advances to better engage with patients to improve outcomes.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has extended the ACCESS application deadline to May 15: https://www.cms.gov/priorities/innovation/innovation-models/access
Learn more about Aledade’s participation in ACCESS: https://aledade.com/newsroom/aledade-news/aledade-joins-cms-access-model
Brad Briner, North Carolina state treasurer, and Alex Mullineaux, Aledade regional market president, join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the state health plan’s new preferred provider strategy. The goal of this approach is to improve patient health outcomes and reduce costs by connecting patients with clinicians that have a proven record of high-quality, cost-effective care. Treasurer Briner and Alex share how this strategy came about, the benefits for patients and how North Carolina hopes to scale the plan in the future. In phase one, the state health plan approved partnerships with three networks to support this initiative, including Aledade.
Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the recent decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to move several vaccines (including rotavirus, influenza and COVID-19) from a universal recommendation to shared clinical decision-making. While shared clinical decision making has always been an option for physicians and patients, Offit provides practical tips for clinicians navigating these conversations, advising physicians to be empathetic to patient fears, but also to be passionate in explaining the severe risks of vaccine-preventable diseases.
Amelia Knopp and her father, Ryan Knopp, MD, from Stone Creek Family Physicians in Manhattan, Kansas, join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss Amelia’s experience with the health care system following a shocking leukemia diagnosis. They share how this diagnosis set Amelia and their family on a journey that they describe as “health care at its best.” Amelia emphasizes the importance of trust in the physician-patient relationship, and how advocating for patients and providing clear communication helps build a better patient experience. Ryan notes how his daughter’s experience underscores the importance of value-based care in ensuring that physicians are invested in the relationship with their patients and providing high-quality, accountable care.
Catherine Olexa-Meadors, head of growth and partnerships at Town Hall Ventures, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the recently announced ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), also known as the CMS Innovation Center. They explain the new payment system, which includes outcome-aligned payments tied to demonstrating improved patient outcomes, and how advances in technology, specifically in digital patient engagement, could help this model succeed. They also explore challenges, including the delay in the announcement of payment rates and the concern that patients not in an accountable care organization (ACO) may not have someone monitoring the total cost of care.
Watch the full episode on YouTube
Listen to Episode 193: Breaking down CMMI's new strategy with Abe Sutton, director of CMMI, and Farzad Mostashari, MD
Shawn Martin, executive vice president and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss challenges with the future of primary care, particularly independent primary care practices. Martin believes that value-based care has helped sustain rural health care practices and that the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) will serve as the foundation for value-based care moving forward. Martin stresses the benefits of partnering with support organizations, like accountable care organizations (ACOs), in succeeding in value-based care and outlines opportunities for the AAFP to partner with ACOs to support physician independence, provide value-based care training and advocate for rural health care funding.
Margaret E. O’Kane, CEO, president and founder of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), joins Joshua Israel, MD and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss how the organization has helped transform quality measurement in the American health care system. Over the past 35 years, O'Kane and the NCQA have developed quality measurement standards for clinicians while striving to minimize the administrative workload that comes with an expanding array of quality metrics. O’Kane advocates for a future where quality measures are better integrated into health care technology systems, emphasizing that systemic changes are crucial for improving quality, rather than solely focusing on individual physicians.
Watch the full video episode
Join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh, along with Brittney Anderson, MD, family physician and podcaster (“Physicians Hanging a Shingle”) and Dan Bowles, general manager of practice health at Aledade, to discuss Anderson’s journey to owning her own private practice, and how she supports other physicians seeking independence. Both Anderson and Bowles believe value-based care is crucial for independent primary care practices, and that greater exposure to independent practice models is essential to provide physicians with more employment options. As Bowles explains, this is the driving force behind Aledade’s effort to support physicians looking for information and a path to their own independent practice.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Join Josh Israel, MD and Sean Cavanaugh in their video debut as they discuss the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) results for 2024 released by CMS with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, MD They explore how Aledade Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs) earned more than $1 billion in total savings and continue to improve performance year over year, including substantially reducing hospitalizations. We also sit down with Sandeep Mann, MD, primary care physician and Aledade partner since 2015, to explore how his practice has thrived in value-based care.
Watch the full episode
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Abe Sutton, director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), sits down with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, M.D., and Sean Cavanaugh to unpack the new strategic framework for CMMI models. Sutton explores CMMI’s focus on three pillars: promoting evidence-based prevention, improving patient access to their health data and driving choice and competition in health care markets. He discusses the recently announced WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction) Model, which aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI) in reviewing prior-authorization requests to prevent harmful or unnecessary services. He also talks about the Ambulatory Specialty Model (ASM), which would reward specialists for improving health outcomes in Medicare patients with lower back pain or heart failure and CMS efforts to improve risk adjustment through permanent programs and testing new ideas on a smaller scale through the Innovation Center.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Join Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh for part two of their most recent road trip visiting primary care practices from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. First, they visited Dr. Arvinder Bir and Dr. Seema Bir, Aledade partners in California, to discuss how Aledade has helped enable their practice to reduce patient hospitalizations and remain independent. Next, they visited Varesh Chaurasia, CEO of HealthyU Clinics, and Dr. Lauren Havard, CMO, in Phoenix, Arizona to discuss what they are looking for in an accountable care organization (ACO) partner, emphasizing hands-on experience in local markets. Finally, they met with Dr. Salil Trehan in Amarillo, Texas, whose practice has previously partnered with multiple ACO enablers, to gain insights into what sets great ACO partners apart.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, M.D., and Mat Kendall, president, join Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss their recent road trip to primary care practices from Los Angeles to Washington D.C. They examine how conversations around accountable care organizations (ACOs) with primary care physicians have evolved over the past 11 years — from basic definitions to in-depth discussions about the economic impact for practices. They also challenge common reasons physicians don’t want to join ACOs, including increased workload, delays in initial payments and distrust in a health care environment that is constantly changing. Join us to learn why Aledade stands out in this ever-evolving landscape.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Dr. Caroline Fife and Dr. Christopher Apostol join us to explore the rising cost of skin substitutes in wound care, which Aledade data suggests is a tenfold increase in the last three years. Dr. Fife explains that rising costs are due to an increase in both cost of the product and increased usage and she addresses the real concerns such as the way many skin substitutes are exempt from FDA review, offer rebates or discounts to clinicians and how some Medicare payment models incentivize the use of more expensive treatments. Dr. Apostol also notes how wound care has evolved through the lens of primary care, including an increase in specialist utilization and mobile wound care teams.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Dr. Amelia Bond and Dr. Dhruv Khullar join us to discuss the long-term savings of accountable care organizations (ACOs) in the Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP). Their recent study in JAMA found that ACOs generate increasing savings over time, with physician-led ACOs demonstrating more significant savings. Learn about their study’s methodology, policy implications for The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and where Dr. Bond and Dr. Khullar will focus their research next.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Natalie Davis, CEO of United States of Care, joins us to talk about the challenges of discussing value-based care with patients and policymakers. Through extensive research with over 30,000 individuals, Davis shares that the term "value-based care" often evokes negative connotations of low-quality care. When presented with the benefits of value-based care without using the term itself, people were most interested in spending more time with their doctors and receiving personalized, quality care. Join us to learn more about effectively communicating with patients and policymakers about value-based care.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
A majority of those with behavioral health challenges lack access to high-quality care. Gabe Diop, co-founder of Rula, a behavioral health physician group, joins the ACO Show to discuss how Rula is making behavioral health care more accessible by partnering with primary care practices to connect patients with the care they need. Dr. Samantha Cotler, family medicine physician in Wall, N.J., explains how her partnership with Rula has improved patient outcomes and made it easier to connect patients with in-network physicians.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom.
The U.S. faces a significant shortage of primary care physicians, particularly in rural and under-resourced communities. Join Eli Greenspan, policy advisor at Foley Hoag LLP, and Dan Bowles, general manager of Practice Health Solutions at Aledade, to highlight the role that international medical graduates play in addressing this shortage. They explain the complex process that international medical graduates must complete to practice in the U.S., and how the physician shortage is connected to immigration policy. This includes the Conrad 30 Waiver Program, which incentivizes graduates to practice in under-resourced areas. While this program is valuable, it’s also limited in scope, so our guests explore additional legislative efforts to improve and expand these programs.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom.
Aledade CEO, Dr. Farzad Mostashari, and best-selling author Geoffrey Moore explore how the concepts in Moore’s influential book, “Crossing the Chasm” can be applied to accelerate adoption of value-based care. In order to move to mainstream adoption, it’s crucial to focus on the niche market of “pragmatists in pain” who have an urgent need that the current system isn’t solving. Our co-host Sean Cavanaugh, chief policy officer at Aledade, points out that oftentimes in the traditional fee-for-service model, the pragmatists in pain are independent primary care clinicians. Moore and Dr. Mostashari also share insights and recommendations for the new administration from their recent article, including focusing on primary care, defining the competition and paving the way for simplifiers who can help clinicians navigate the complexities of value-based care. Using this framework, the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) could accelerate expansion of value-based care to the majority of the nation’s primary care clinicians as well as their patients.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom.
Join us this episode as our guests from Aledade, Dennis Liubyvyi, Director of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Research, and Jette Henderson, Staff AI Researcher, explain the world of AI and machine learning and its potentially transformative impact on health care. Dennis shares how AI models at Aledade are reshaping patient care by analyzing vast amounts of patient data to predict critical health events such as kidney disease progression and congestive heart failure. The goal is to provide more timely, targeted interventions to patients who need them most. Jette also notes the challenges that exist in these predictive models, particularly regarding biases within data sets, which can lead to inaccurate predictions and how Aledade is developing tools to help identify and mitigate these biases.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Dr. Sameer Sheth, President and Co-Founder of Chamber Cardio, joins Josh and Sean to discuss the opportunities and challenges for specialists, particularly cardiologists, in transitioning to value-based care. Dr. Sheth notes that cardiologists have traditionally been slower to adopt value-based care because of a lack of financial incentives, but an increasing drive to remain independent is pushing more cardiologists towards value-based models. Dr. Sheth shares how he and Chamber Cardio are working to create a network of cardiologists, health plans, and tools to better incentivize their transition to value-based care.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Join Melanie Phelps, Senior Advocacy Advisor for Health System Transformation at the American Heart Association (AHA), to discuss her recent research which explores the impact of ACO-driven value-based care from the patient and caregiver perspectives. Melanie explores the overwhelmingly positive results of the study, which found that patients and their caregivers experienced better care, better support, and better patient outcomes as a result of their clinicians’ participation in an ACO. Dr. Julie Prosedda, Family Medicine Physician in Wilmington, DE and a participant in the AHA study, joins us to explore the reasoning behind these benefits of value-based care for patients, which is largely due to better relationships with their primary care physicians, as well as access to timely support and resources from an expanded care team. This more wholistic, patient-centered value-based care leads to enhanced patient engagement and a more trusting clinician-patient relationship. While it’s clear that patients should be demanding broader access to value-based care, Melanie and Dr. Prosedda also explore the challenges of expansion, including increasing educational opportunities and more alignment among payment models.
Learn more about the American Heart Association’s research: Understanding Patient, Family Caregiver and Health Care Team Member ACO Experiences
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Value-based care is a team effort, and nurses play a crucial role in coordinating care to achieve better and more efficient patient outcomes. Jacqueline Nikpour, Assistant Professor at the Emory University School of Nursing, and Kathy Samhammer, LPN at Cedar Ridge Family Medicine, join us to discuss the role of nurses in primary care, and how practices can maximize nurses’ contributions in the shift towards value-based care. Kathy’s role includes managing chronic conditions and preventing hospital readmissions, and she discusses the importance of ongoing, personalized communication with patients, especially after ER visits. This approach has led to better patient engagement and satisfaction, which is crucial for improving health outcomes. As Kathy demonstrates, expanding the role of nurses in value-based care is critical, but Jacqueline also notes the challenges in this expansion, including payment and recognition of nurses’ value. By addressing these challenges and better integrating nurses in patient care teams, we can ensure better care coordination and a more patient-centered health care system.
Read Jacqueline’s article in Health Affairs: To Improve Outcomes Under CMS’ ‘Making Care Primary’, Focus On Registered Nurses
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Comprehensive Advance Care Planning (CACP) supports individuals in understanding and sharing their values and goals for medical care at the end of life. Kerri Petrin, Vice President and Head of Operations at Aledade Plus, joins us to explore how the CACP program allows patients and their loved ones to have guided, personalized conversations with clinical facilitators and generate legal documents so that patients and their care teams can make health care decisions that align with the patients’ values. We are also joined by Marissa McNichols, who shares insights into her role as a CACP facilitator, especially the importance of having open-ended conversations that include family members, allowing everyone the opportunity to ask questions and make decisions outside of a crisis moment. Tune in to learn more about how CACP is transforming end-of-life care planning, ensuring alignment with patient values and reducing unwanted, unnecessary care.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
Graduates of the Aledade FIRST Program, Dr. Boone Marois and Dr. Breanna Heard-Pinho, reflect on their experiences in the program and how it helped prepare them to practice value-based medicine. Dr. Heard-Pinho, Family Medicine Physician in Vicksburg, Mississippi, shares how Aledade FIRST taught valuable practice management skills, as well as held in-depth discussions of value-based care not taught in traditional residency programs. While Dr. Marois, Family Medicine Physician in Asheville, North Carolina, reflects on the importance of taking a preventative approach with each patient. Listen as they share unexpected joys and challenges of practicing value-based care in their communities.
Connect with us at acoshow@aledade.com or visit the Aledade Newsroom
In this episode, Sean Cavanaugh and Josh Israel discuss the complexities of caring for patients who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. They are joined first by Melanie Bella, whose prior roles include former Director of Indiana Medicaid, Director of the CMS Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office and EVP at Cityblock, and are then joined by Aledade’s Mohamed Arif, and Lahila Pitts. They explore the unique challenges these patients face, including fragmented care and high social needs. They also highlight how value-based care and data-driven solutions are improving outcomes for this underserved group. Tune in for insights into better care coordination for dual-eligible beneficiaries.
Casey Korba, Director of Policy at Aledade, walks us through regulations that were announced along with the 2025 CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including updates to the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Casey and our host Sean Cavanaugh, who is the former Director of the Center for Medicare, explain policy changes that will support value-based care, including changes to payments for some preventive care services and a new health equity benchmarking adjustment. While there is bipartisan support for CMS’s goal of moving towards value-based care, they also explore ongoing challenges like the rebasing process and benchmarking standards.
In this episode, we sit down with Traci Spence, the Chief Operating Officer of Blue Ridge Community Health Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Traci shares her experience managing a health center during a catastrophic hurricane that left the region without power, water, or infrastructure. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Traci and her team found creative solutions to continue serving their community in the midst of chaos. This conversation highlights themes of improvisation, community, and resilience when the healthcare system is pushed to its limits.
Join Dr. Judy Zerzen-Thul as she explains how the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (HCP LAN) brings together clinicians, health systems, and payers in a partnership aimed at transitioning from fee-for-service to value-based care models. Dr. Zerzen-Thul is the Chief Medical Officer at Washington State Health Care Authority, and Co-Chair of the LAN Executive Forum. She discusses how value-based care is progressing across different sectors, including common barriers like data exchange and aligning payment methodologies. She also discusses the upcoming HCP LAN summit on November 14th, where stakeholders including payers, purchasers, and patients will gather to address challenges in moving towards value-based care.
Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network
In this episode of the Aledade ACO Show, hosts Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh speak with Brenda Fore from the East Asheville Family Health Care Clinic and Ashley Austin from Aledade about the impact of Hurricane Helene on their community. They share firsthand accounts of the challenges faced when clinics lost power and water, and how healthcare providers adapted to continue serving patients amidst the chaos. Discover the power of improvisation and community support in times of disaster.
In this episode of the ACO Show, host Sean Cavanaugh and Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, sit down with Dr. Ayanna Bennett, Director of DC Health. They dive into the multifaceted role of public health, discussing everything from community health initiatives to tackling local challenges like pest control. Dr. Bennett shares her journey from private practice to public health leadership and emphasizes the importance of health equity, data, and community connection in improving health outcomes. Listen in as we unpack the vital work being done at DC Health and explore how understanding the stories behind the numbers, leads to meaningful change in healthcare.
In this episode of the ACO Show, hosts Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh recount their summer road trip, along with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, part 2, visiting primary care practices across America. From camping in Moab to meeting health care leaders in places like Glenwood Springs, CO and St. George, UT they explore the diversity of value-based care primary care delivery. The episode highlights how communities, large and small, benefit from strong primary care systems and previews exciting episodes for the season ahead.
In this season premiere of the ACO Show, hosts Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh recount their summer road trip, along with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, visiting primary care practices across America. From camping in Moab to meeting health care leaders in places like Mexico, Missouri, and Salina, Kansas, they explore the diversity of value-based primary care delivery. The episode highlights how communities, large and small, benefit from strong primary care systems and previews exciting episodes for the season ahead.
Join Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh in the season finale of the ACO Show, recorded live at Aledade’s North Carolina Value Summit. They engage with three primary care physicians—Dr. Wayne Haga, Dr. Mark McNeill, and Dr. Art Apolinario—about their success in value-based care and how they are using their increased revenue to improve patient care.
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO of Aledade, is joined by Dr. Mark McClellan and Bob Kocher to reflect on the past decade of health care reform, and the early days of Aledade and accountable care organizations (ACOs). Dr. McClellan, director of the Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy at Duke University, discusses the evolution of legislative policy, sharing how bipartisan efforts led to the integration of shared savings models into health care policy and Bob Kocher, chairman of the board of Aledade, shares his thoughts on Aledade’s journey and future direction, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a patient-centered approach, and perseverance in navigating the evolving health care landscape.
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
In this episode, Sean Cavanaugh and Dr. Josh Israel sat down with Travis Broome, Alledade’s SVP of Policy and Economics, to understand CMS’ new ACO Flex Model. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in the future of healthcare policy, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the ACO Flex Model's potential to transform care delivery. Travis explains how this new model can drive innovation in healthcare by addressing cash flow challenges and offering upfront payments. We discuss the potential benefits for primary care practices, the importance of integrating care management services, and the broader impact on Medicare's goals.
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
From understanding the fundamentals to exploring new innovations and challenges, join us as Dr. Efrem Castillo, Senior Vice President for Medicare Advantage at Aledade, shares his experience with Medicare Advantage. Dr. Castillo explains the nuances for both patients and providers, including benefits beyond traditional Medicare, network limitations, utilization management, and the STARS program. Dr. Castillo also explores the recent growth in MA and new innovations, while emphasizing that interventions should prioritize improved patient outcomes.
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
From navigating insurance barriers to addressing the stigma, this episode dives into timeless issues surrounding obesity treatment, as well as the promise and challenges of new medications like Ozempic. Josh and Sean are joined by Dr. Darrin Menard, a family practice physician in Scott, Louisiana, who shares insights from his personal experience with weight loss alongside his professional expertise. While new drugs offer significant weight loss potential, Dr. Menard underscores the crucial role of behavioral changes, long-term adherence, and nonjudgemental patient care in achieving lasting results.
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
Dr. Lonnie Robinson from Regional Family Medicine in Mountain Home, Arkansas explains the challenges surrounding prior authorization faced by both practices and insurance providers, and how this inspired him to become involved in state health policy advocacy. Hear how Dr. Robinson, drawing inspiration from Texas’ “gold card” approach, worked with Aledade’s policy committee and state legislators to pass similar legislation in Arkansas to reduce administrative workloads.
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
Join our hosts along with Dr. Farzad Mostashari on this episode as they dive into CMS's update on the Medicare value-based care strategy. From discussing alignment and growth to equity in healthcare, they provide insights and suggestions for the future of accountable care.
Read the update here: Update On The Medicare Value-Based Care Strategy: Alignment, Growth, Equity
Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to acoshow@aledade.com
Explore the dynamic landscape of healthcare and technology with hosts Josh and Sean on the ACO Show. Guests Rosemary Weldon and Ritwik Tewari, from Aledade, share their expertise as they discuss the challenges and innovations shaping the industry, including the advancements in technology that help improve patient care.
Join us for a story tracing the origins and evolution of Community Health Center, Inc. Mark Masselli, president and CEO of Community Health Center, Inc. in Middletown, CT, alongside Charles Barber, Writer-in-Residence at Wesleyan University, guide listeners through the enthralling narrative depicted in Barber's book, "Peace & Health." Explore the beginnings of the Health Center amidst the backdrop of social upheaval, legislative reforms, and grassroots advocacy, illuminating the transformative power of community-driven health care initiatives. Uncover the pivotal moments and visionary leadership that propelled the center from modest beginnings to a beacon of excellence in health care provision. And learn about the recent partnership with Aledade, exemplifying a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and equitable care delivery.
To learn more about the story behind Community Health Center, Inc. and Barber's book "Peace & Health," visit peaceandhealth.com.
Dive into Aaron McKethan's journey from policy nerd to healthcare innovator at Aledade Plus, improving patient care and reducing costs.
Explore the impact and solutions of the Change healthcare cyber crisis with expert analysis and firsthand accounts.
Dive into the world of community health centers and value-based care with Tracy Causey, CEO of Capital Area Health Network in Virginia and Kevin Van Dyke, executive director of Aledade in Virginia. Hear their experience navigating multiple value-based contracts and integrating behavioral health services with primary care. Learn how more accessible patient health data and dynamic support has helped improve preventive care.
Sean and Josh are joined by Dr. Maureen Padden, a family and obesity medicine doctor from Pensacola, Florida, and Dr. Christopher Nunes from Spyglass Primary Care in Melbourne, Florida to discuss how value-based contracts have improved their relationships with Florida Blue, their patients, and their staff. They delve into the benefits and challenges of being independent physicians, the crucial role the Aledade app plays in providing accessible data, and the importance of staff retention on quality patient care.
Sean and Josh are joined by Rachel Lively, Vice President of Community Health Center Operations at Valley Health, to discuss her experience providing substance use treatments to patients in West Virginia. Rachel shares challenges and successes involving decreasing stigma around substance use disorders, the evolution of treatment methods, and the critical role that CHCs can play in providing individualized care to patients on the path to recovery.
Explore the transformative power of ACOs with Nick Phillis from Florida, revealing positive impacts on patient care and healthcare delivery.
Explore tangible initiatives for health equity with Tamara Thomas, VP of Equity and Inclusion at Aledade
Josh and Brian are joined by Wes Edwards, Chief Financial Officer of Med First Primary & Urgent Care in North Carolina. Wes discusses his clinic’s success with value-based care, the financial sustainability of value-based care models, and the crucial link between exceptional patient care and financial outcomes. Plus, a special farewell as Brian says goodbye to the ACO Show.
In this episode we sit down with Leigh Efird, Director of Pharmacy at Aledade, to dive into the world of value-based care from the pharmacy perspective. She shares the ways she interacts with patients to help them better understand their health and how managing medications can impact that.
Josh and Brian are joined by Dr. Christine Meyer and Casey Korba to discuss Hill Day and how to advocate for value-based care to legislators.
Josh and Brian are joined by Aledade’s Chief Financial Officer, John Doyle. They discuss the economic incentives associated with delivering primary care on the front lines and why health care professionals need to be able to talk openly about the financial forces in the system.
Josh and Brian are joined by Blake Madden, writer, editor and founder of the newsletter Hospitalogy, focused on analyzing health care’s financing, policy changes and more. They discussed some of the positive shifts he sees in the health care system and how he’s making sense of those changes for his subscribers.
Season 5 of The ACO Show kicks off with Josh and Brian joined by Travis Broome, Aledade’s Senior Vice President for Policy and Economics to discuss the 2022 Medicare Shared Savings Program (MSSP) results. As the largest and most successful value-based care program in American history, the results of this program tell us a lot about the progress of value-based care, and what that means for patients and primary care professionals around the country.
Josh and Brian are joined by Lightspeed Venture Partners investor, Galym Imanbayev, MD, to discuss Aledade’s Series F funding round. They delve into what led to this latest round of funding, the transparency throughout the process and how these funds are going to ensure that primary care practices and health centers are receiving the resources they need to thrive in value-based care.
Josh and Brian are joined by Kevin O’Leary and Ryan Russell, co-founders of Health Tech Nerds, a trusted resource in health care helping their members learn, network, build, and grow to maximize our collective impact on the health care system. They drill down on the various value-based care models, how they work, and what they mean for patients, doctors and clinicians.
Josh and Brian are joined by Al Kushner, author of “Virtual Medicare: 10 Costly Mistakes You Can't Afford to Make.” They delve into the active role patients play in enrolling in Medicare, and the high - and often unknown - costs of delay.
In this episode, Josh and Brian hand over the mic to Aledade’s Chief Policy Officer, Sean Cavanaugh, a former Director of Medicare and senior leader at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI) as he talks with the two current leaders of his former offices. Sean is joined by Meena Seshamani, M.D., Ph.D., Deputy Administrator and Director for the Center for Medicare, and Elizabeth Fowler, Ph.D., J.D., Deputy Administrator and Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI). Directors Seshamani and Fowler discuss how they view their centers and how they’re united by one common strategic vision.
Josh and Brian are joined by Sachin Gangupantula FACHE, MBA, MS, Director of Operations at Valley Diabetes & Obesity, an Aledade member practice in Modesto, California. They discussed the benefits of value-based care and joining an ACO despite challenges in the health care marketplace, including new tools and data so they can provide even better care for their patients.
Josh and Brian are joined by Allison Sesso, the President and CEO of RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit established to reduce medical debt for low-income individuals across the country. They discussed the dark truths behind why medical debt leads so many people to forgo medical care, how RIP Medical Debt uses an innovative approach to fight these trends and how Aledade’s recent donation helped abolish nearly $95 million in medical debt for more than 100,000 patients.
Josh and Brian are joined by Lee Fleisher, MD, Chief Medical Officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality. They discuss a recent publication, “Aligning Quality Measures at CMS” in the New England Journal of Medicine which Dr. Fleisher co-authored, and the art and science behind the selection of health care quality measures.
Josh and Brian are joined by Doug Jacobs, MD, MPH, Chief Transformation Officer in the Center for Medicare at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), and Michelle Schreiber, Deputy Director for the Centers for Clinical Standards and Quality at CMS, and Director of the Quality Measurement & Value-Based Incentives Group at CMS. In the first part of this quality-focused series, they discuss the work they are doing to align quality measures across CMS and improve the system to benefit both clinicians and patients.
Josh and Brian are joined by Phuong Phillips, Chief Legal Officer at Aledade, where they discuss her personal journey, what drew her to Aledade and how corporate legal teams and leadership interact.
For this episode, Josh and Brian hand the helm to Aledade CEO and Co-Founder, Farzad Mostashari, MD, and Bryan Roberts, partner at Venrock and lead of Venrock’s investment in Aledade. They give a behind-the-scenes look into the conversations that go on between CEOs, board members and investors regarding the challenges of running companies and how to create long-term solutions.Learn more about Bryan's "Roberts' Rules of Life (& Venture Capital)" here.
Josh and Brian talk with Dr. Mitch Edmondson, the lead physician for the Aledade FIRST program, and Dr. Caleena Longworth, a 2nd-year resident at St. Mark’s Hospital in Salt Lake City who’s participating in Aledade FIRST about this new program introducing medical residents to the benefits of physician-led value-based care.
Josh and Brian are joined by Aledade’s Chief Financial Officer, John Doyle. John provides a brief recap on the recent J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, how Aledade’s alignment as a company drew him in, and the many factors companies take into consideration before going public.
Josh and Brian are joined by Aledade’s CEO and co-founder, Dr. Farzad Mostashari, and Amy Simmerman, a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, to discuss the idea of a public benefit corporation - what it is and what it means, why Aledade has decided to become one, and what this means for the health care industry as a whole.
Value-based care is often more focused on adults, especially the elderly who have the most burden of illness and, on average, the highest health care costs. Josh is joined by Dr. Karin McLelland, a pediatrician in North Carolina, and Carissa Praytor, Manager of Medicaid Performance at Aledade, to discuss how Aledade’s pediatric ACO in North Carolina was able to enable more primary care and reduce costs for this often-overlooked population of our nation’s youngest patients.
Josh and Brian are joined by Dr. Sarah Mullins, co-owner of Stoney Batter Family Medicine in Wilmington, Delaware, and Senior Regional Medical Director at Aledade, to discuss the role of care management programs in value-based care, how to build and sustain them, and the value they provide to patients and practices.
Josh and Brian are joined by Mike Stanzione, Aledade’s Director of Medicare Advantage Network Performance, to discuss the state of Medicare Advantage (MA), its rapid growth, regulatory evolution, and how the Aledade model of care applies to MA.
Josh and Brian are joined by Dr. Asaf Bitton, executive director of Ariadne Labs, and Associate Professor of Medicine and Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. They discuss the need to move to value-based care and change the payment structure. They also reflect on the historical underfunding and undervaluing of primary care.
Josh and Brian are joined by Dan Bowles, Aledade’s Chief Growth Officer, to discuss the state of the value-based care landscape and how to distinguish the various models fellow travelers are implementing in the space.
Josh and Brian are joined by Dr. Mandy Cohen, CEO of Aledade Care Solutions, to discuss the importance of the trust she and her team built with communities in North Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic and how that parallels building trust with physicians and management organizations in the value-based care movement. They also talk about how Aledade Care Solutions has evolved as a direct-to-patient arm of Aledade’s portfolio with the goal of adding additional resources to improve patient outcomes.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Bijan Salhizadeh (@bijans), Managing Director at NaviMed Capital, to discuss the current state of healthcare stocks and factors that affect IPO valuation for companies hoping to go public.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Chelsea Graves, Aledade’s Director of Medicaid Performance, to discuss factors that affect healthcare access and outcomes for vulnerable populations. Chelsea also shares the secrets behind the success of Aledade’s recent collaboration with the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi (CHCAMS) to serve the Medicaid population and improve their access to primary care.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Chelsea Graves, Aledade’s Director of Medicaid Performance, to discuss factors that affect healthcare access and outcomes for vulnerable populations. Chelsea also shares the secrets behind the success of Aledade’s recent collaboration with the Community Health Center Association of Mississippi (CHCAMS) to serve the Medicaid population and improve their access to primary care.
Season 4 of the ACO show kicks off with the return of Travis Broome @Travis_Broome and Ahmed Haque @aehaque on 2021 results in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, why more primary care lowers the total cost of taking care of patients, and some changes coming to the MSSP program for 2023.
Season 4 of the ACO show kicks off with the return of Travis Broome @Travis_Broome and Ahmed Haque @aehaque on 2021 results in the Medicare Shared Savings Program, why more primary care lowers the total cost of taking care of patients, and some changes coming to the MSSP program for 2023.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Miranda Morris, Aledade’s Market President for Arkansas and Dr. Shawn Purifoy, Regional Medical Director at Aledade and independent physician, to discuss how value-based care networks like ACOs grow.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Dr. Andy Ryan - Professor of Health Management and Policy at the University of Michigan, Director of the University’s Center for Evaluating Health Reform who takes us through a recent paper looking at the evidence on value-based care among commercial health insurance contracts.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Dr. Jonathan Lilly, physician, and Nancee Barnett, practice manager, from Dunbar Medical Associates (www.dmawv.com) in West Virginia, to discuss their approach to team-based care and why it’s important for the success of a practice.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Dan Bowles, Aledade’s Chief Growth Officer, to discuss his career at Aledade, the changes that the value-based care movement has seen through the years, and why signing up for an ACO today can help set primary care organizations up for success for the upcoming performance year.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Mat Kendall (@matkendall), President of Aledade, and Kristy McGlothin (@kristymcglothin), Program Manager, to learn about Project Solo, Aledade’s initiative to support the unique needs of small private practices. They also speak with Dr. Pedro Ylisastigui (www.primarycareim.com), an internal medicine primary care provider in Lehigh Acres, Florida, about being independent and what it’s like to switch ACOs.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Nick Kinkaid, Aledade’s Chief Product Officer who takes us through his career path from Tesla to Google to his current role, and he explains what is “Product” and how it applies at a company like Aledade.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Dr. Alok Gupta, a solo practitioner at Arjun Medical Center in Virginia alokguptamd.com, who shares the trials and triumphs of being a physician throughout the pandemic, how Delegate Danica Roem (@pwcdanica) advocated for vaccines at local physician offices, how Dr. Gupta's practice stepped up for the community and how they are preparing for what comes next.
Brian (@chiglinsky) is joined by Aledade’s Policy Dream Team: Sean Cavanaugh (@dc_cavanaugh), Chief Policy and Chief Commercial Officer, Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), Senior Vice President for Policy and Economics, and Casey Korba (@casey_korba), Director of Policy, as they share an overview of Healthcare Value Week and CMS’ changes to Direct Contracting, now known as ACO Reach.
Welcome to the ACO Show. Today, Josh is joined by Chrissy Farr, a former tech journalist and now Principal Investor at OMERS Ventures, and Dr. Jonathan Slotkin, Chief Medical Officer at Contigo Health. Our guests share their skepticism of value-based care and how to engage high-cost medical specialists in outcomes-based arrangements.
Josh (@DrJIsrael), Emily Maxon, and Dr. Stephen Bekanich and Steve Wardle from @iris_healthcare discuss advance care planning and why it is such an important part of healthcare.
Josh (@DrJIsrael), Brian (@chiglinsky) and Bijan (@bijans) discuss healthcare investing, including the difference between venture capital and private equity, some of the challenges of company mergers and when a venture-backed company should try to become a publicly traded stock.
Co-host Brian (@chiglinsky) is joined by Dr. Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD), CEO and co-founder of Aledade, and Dr. Richard Gilfillan, former Deputy Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Director of the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation from 2010 to 2013, for a special episode of The ACO Show. They discuss the future of Medicare and Dr. Gilfillan’s recent co-authored, two-part piece in Health Affairs, “Medicare Advantage, Direct Contracting, And The Medicare ‘Money Machine’.”
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) discuss the value of Medicaid now and in the future with Chelsea Graves Aledade’s Director of Medicaid Network, and Mohamed Arif, Aledade’s Director of Medicaid Strategy.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Kisha (@kdavis) discuss the Medicare Innovation Center’s white paper on their vision for health equity over the next 10 years.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome) Sean Cavanaugh (@dc_cavanaugh), and Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD). Together, they delve into the five strategic objectives (available below) released in CMMI’s recent white paper on their vision for the next 10 years.
- Drive Accountable Care
- Advance Health Equity
- Support Care Innovations
- Improve access by addressing affordability
- Partner to achieve systemic transformation
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Jennifer Heffernan, Director of Commercial Payer Performance at Aledade (@AledadeACO). They discuss the difference between Medicare, Medicaid and commercial payers and how Aledade works with commercial payers. They also talk about the benefits both patients and commercial payers experience when joining an ACO.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Mike Stanzione, Director of Medicare Advantage @AledadeACO. They discuss the differences between “Traditional” Medicare and Medicare Advantage (including additional benefits offered through Medicare Advantage), some controversies about Medicare Advantage and how Aledade is bringing valued based care to patients in the Medicare Advantage program.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Mandy Cohen (@SecMandyCohen), Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services. They discuss the state of the COVID-19 pandemic in North Carolina, ongoing Medicaid pilots to improve healthcare in the state, and how and why North Carolina continues to be a leader in healthcare innovation.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Samantha Rosenthal, Manager in New Ventures at Aledade, and Jessica Edwards, Senior Market Manager at Aledade. Together, they discuss “Healthy For The Holidays”, an Aledade initiative to remind patients about their practice’s hours during the holiday season and alternative ways to contact them should they need to speak to their provider.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Ahmed Haque (@aehaque), Chief Performance Officer at Aledade, Nadine Robin, Market President of Aledade Louisiana, and Dr. Gregory Riggs of Lafayette Internal Medicine Clinic in Lafayette, Louisiana. Together, they discuss the incredible savings achieved by Aledade and practices, despite a year of turmoil.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Rahul Rajkumar (@RahulRajkumar11), Chief Operating Officer at Optum Care Solutions. Dr. Rajkumar shared insights on the difference between designing healthcare models and implementing them at different payers and more about his work at Optum Care Solutions to improve the quality and efficiency of healthcare.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by by Dr. Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD), CEO and co-founder of Aledade, Dr. Kisha Davis (@kishadavismd), Aledade’s Vice President of Health Equity, and Dr. Keith Winfrey, the Chief Medical Officer at Noela Community Health in New Orleans. They discuss the importance of controlling hypertension and Aledade's plan to improve blood pressure control and reduce disparities in hypertension control. For more information about hypertension, check out this article: https://www.ajpmonline.org/action/showPdf?pii=S0749-3797%2810%2900207-2
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), the Senior Vice President of Policy and Economics at Aledade. They discuss the challenges in measuring success in the Medicare Shared Savings Program and what it takes to turn a bill on capitol hill into law
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@bchiglinsky) are joined by Daniel Dawes (@DanielEDawes), the Director of the Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He is a professor of health law, policy and management and author. They discuss the long and challenging history of efforts in America to promote equity in health care and why it’s so important to have good data to make meaningful improvements to health inequity
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by Shawn Martin (@rshawnm), the Executive Vice President and CEO of the American Academy of Family Physicians (@aafp). Representing over 137,000 family physicians and medical residents, the AAFP is the largest physician organization dedicated to primary care. They discuss the need for a new payment model that better rewards longitudinal care and the growing interest in family medicine among medical residents.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) is joined by Dr. Wanda Filer (@Drwandafiler), the Chief Medical Officer of Vaxcare (@VaxCare) and a practicing family physician. Vaxcare is a vaccine management solution that helps practices manage vaccine inventory and distribute vaccines. Dr. Filer and Josh discuss some of the challenges that primary care practices experience with vaccine administration, and how Vaxcare can help.
This is the 100th ACO Show episode. Brian (@chiglinsky) and Josh (@DrJIsrael) commemorate the milestone with a discussion of their own backgrounds and journeys to Aledade, and the experience of hosting a podcast. There is also a surprise guest some of you may recognize from previous episodes!
Josh is joined by Dr. Daniel Doyle, a family physician in Scarbro, West Virginia. Josh and Dr. Doyle discuss the health impacts of coal mining, the history of black lung disease and the struggle to get it recognized by the medical community.
Brian (@chiglinsky) is joined by Dr. Todd Sack (@toddsack) the editor for MyGreenDoctor.org and a gastroenterologist in Jacksonville, FL. My Green Doctor helps practices gain environmental sustainability and help their patients improve their environmental impact. Dr. Sack and Brian discuss the benefits of creating a sustainability program, the importance of getting buy-in from different stakeholders in the practice, and why providers in total cost of care models should care about environmental health
Brian (@chiglinsky) and Josh (@DrJIsrael) are joined by Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD), CEO and co-founder of Aledade, and Will Palmisano (@will_palmisano), a product analyst on Aledade's BI team and head of the Climate Change Committee. They talk about Aledade's plans for becoming carbon neutral, why it matters, and how others can make a difference. They also discuss the impacts that climate change has on healthcare and why the US health industry is so carbon intensive.
Josh and Brian are joined by Ron Holder (@ron_holder), COO of the Medical Group Management Association, more commonly known as @MGMA. They discuss the different challenges practices face and how MGMA helps provide solutions and support
Brian and Josh are joined by Dr. Derek Lewis, the CEO, owner and primary care physician at Arkansas Primary Care Clinic located in Little Rock, Arkansas. They discuss the COVID-19 vaccination efforts and success in Dr. Lewis’ community. Dr. Lewis describes the initial skepticism of vaccines in the black and brown community and how he was able to build trust with his patients.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) are joined by 5 guests to discuss Maryland Primary Care Program or MDPCP. They describe the MDPCP program and how it aims to improve patients’ health by investing up-front in specific enhancements to primary practices, including care management, pharmacy services and behavioral health treatment.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Brian (@chiglinsky) speak with four different practices- SAMA Healthcare in El Dorado, AR, Coastal Family Health in Biloxi, MS, The Bacani/McKenney Clinic in Fredonia, KS, and Crouch Family Medicine in Chandler, OK. They talk about different marketing strategies, how these have evolved over the years, and the importance of community involvement for primary care physicians.
Josh and Brian are joined by two guests: Dr. Khush Singh, the Senior Medical Director for Risk and Wellness at Aledade, and by Dr. Lee Church, a Family Practice physician in Hiawassee. They talk about what risk coding is, how it helps predict healthcare spending, why it is important to accurately code and how Aledade is helping our providers do this important work. Dr. Church also describes the major E/M billing changes in 2021.
Josh is joined by two Aledade Medical Directors: Dr. Kim Yu and Dr. Richard Lyn-Cook. They talk about some ways they have been able to cope with difficult times and specifically what medical providers can do to manage during the pandemic.
We welcome Travis Broome (@travis_broome) back on the ACO show, as well as our new co-host, Brian Chiglinsky (@bchiglinsky). They discuss the newest Medicare total cost of care model- Direct Contracting and what practices thinking about venturing into value-based care should consider.
Two primary care doctors, Dr. Joanne Fruth and Dr. Michael Cascarina, join the ACO Show to discuss how they have been able to adapt and innovate during the pandemic. They each talk about what they have been doing to restructure their practices in order to continue caring for their patients throughout this public health emergency such as how they have handled staffing challenges, transitioned to telehealth and set up parking lot Covid testing sites.
Josh is joined by three guests: Gavin White, the Executive Director of Aledade’s California Accountable Care Organizations, and two physicians, Dr. Verma and Dr. O'Grady, who practice in California ACOs. They talk about ACO growth in California and why many California physicians were ready for Value Based Care. They share some of the ways that Aledade has been helpful to them as they reorient towards this new model of health care.
Emma Sandoe (@emma_sandoe), Associate Director of Strategy and Planning for North Carolina Medicaid, and the creator of health policy valentines, joins Josh to talk about all things Medicaid. They discuss Medicaid's role in Substance Use Disorder treatment, impacts of a Biden administration, 1115 waivers, and how Medicaid fits into a system of Value-Based Care.
Dr. Chintan Maru is the founder and executive director of Leapfrog to Value, a health initiative to advance value based care in lower- and middle-income countries. Dr. Maru joins Josh and Joe for a conversation about value-based care in these countries and how Leapfrog to Value works as a technical and strategic partner. He discusses his career in health systems design and how more developed health systems can learn from this work.
Dr. Kraft and Dr. Ward Jones are the CEOs of Salinas Family Health Care Center and East Arkansas Family Health Center, respectively. They join Josh and Joe for the second part of our Community Health Center series. They talk about funding and budgeting for FQHCs, loan forgiveness programs, and the positive involvement these centers have with their communities
Sara Koziel leads Aledade's efforts to partner with Community Health Centers. Sara joins Josh and Joe for a conversation about Community Health Centers, the important role that they play in America’s health care system, and who they serve. She discusses their focus on a complete and integrated approach to health and well-being and explains how they fit in with Aledade’s core mission to offer the benefits of value-based care to as many patients as possible.
Three guests join Josh to discuss attribution: Emily Maxson, Aledade’s Chief Medical Officer; Andrew Chang, Executive Director of the Florida Central ACO; and Purva Hari, the practice administrator of Physicians Medical group in Florida. They discuss how the pandemic has affected ACO attribution, how attribution loss impacts Aledade’s ability to provide coordinated care and strategies to improve attribution in 2020.
Dr. David Harrison is the Vice President of Clinical Care at Virta Health, a health care start-up that helps patients reverse Type 2 diabetes without medication. Dr. Harrison joins Josh and Joe for a conversation about the evidence supporting Virta’s treatment model, and how he views the relationship between telehealth and value-based care during the pandemic and beyond.
Dr. Gordon Chen (@DrGordonChen) is the chief medical officer at ChenMed, a family-owned, health care company organization working to bring superior health care to seniors with a full risk model. Dr. Chen joins Josh (@DRJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) for a conversation about the history and evolution of ChenMed and how they strive to bring to provide seniors with coordinated and patient-centered care. He describes his role as Chief Medical Officer and explains why being both financially and clinically responsible for their patients made it easier for them to provide all necessary care during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sophia Tripoli (@SophiaTripoli) is the Director of Healthcare Innovations at Families USA a national non-partisan, non-profit voice for healthcare consumers (@FamiliesUSA). Sophia joins Josh to share how Families USA is working to realign incentives to make healthcare more consumer-centered. They discuss different healthcare payment models and levers of change to lower costs and improve health outcomes.
Essence Revels, Aledade’s Training Manager, and Patric Holly (@healthITmrholly), Aledade’s Electronic Health Record Optimization Coordinator, are guest hosts for this special episode of The ACO Show. They have a conversation about recent events in the news from their perspective as Black professionals. They also discuss the challenges that Black Americans experience in the health care system and the formation of Aledade's social injustice working group.
Megan Slaga, Director of Pharmacy at Aledade, returns to the pod this week to talk with Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) about staying on top of patients' prescriptions during COVID-19. They discuss new and existing barriers to access, and how Aledade uses different data sources to alert providers about potential non-adherence. She emphasizes the importance of being proactive, particularly now during the pandemic.
Jessica Gladden, Aledade’s Vice President of People, Strategies and Operations, joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to talk about how Aledade builds a culture where employees feel supported and appreciated. She shares her thoughts on the importance of maintaining company connectivity and community, promoting mission-driven work, and meaningfully promoting diversity and inclusion.
Aledade’s Director of Transitions of Care, Dr. Kim Hodge, joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) to talk about Transitional Care Management (TCM) visits and the challenge of providing consistent care to patients as they move through different levels of care in a health system. She covers how to conduct an effective TCM visit and what Aledade is doing to encourage and support this work for vulnerable patient populations and how use telehealth to do this work during the time of COVID-19.
Dr. Kisha Davis (@kishadavismd) is a family physician and a Regional Medical Director at Aledade. She joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss her experience as a Black doctor, confronting implicit bias in medicine, and responding to this moment. Dr. Emily Maxson is Aledade’s Chief Medical Officer. In the second part of the episode, she talks about how relying solely on data can perpetuate racial disparities in care and what Aledade is doing to address algorithmic bias. To hear more from Dr. Davis, check out her podcast called “The Sisters Will See You Now,” which she co-hosts with her sister who is also a family physician.
Dr. Darrin Menard is the physician owner of Scott Family Physicians, an independent primary care practice in Scott, Louisiana. Dr. Menard joins Josh (@ DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to share some of the challenges of being an independent primary care physician and what it has been like to be a part of an Accountable Care Organization. They discuss two-sided risk contracts and how and why the Louisiana 2016 ACO decided to take on downside risk.
Dr. Alisahah Cole @AlisahahMD is the Chief Community Impact Officer at Atrium Health (formally known as Carolinas HealthCare System), an integrated healthcare system based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to talk about how health systems can help tackle Social Determinants of Health including; food insecurity, housing and financial stability, and how providers should work to understand and address their patients’ needs outside of what has been traditionally defined as health care.
On this special episode of the ACO Show, Aledade's CEO Dr. Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD) speaks with Tom Banning, CEO of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. They discuss critical issues in primary care including value based care and the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic. They talk about what needs to happen to preserve independent primary care practices and ensure they are financially stable and able to provide critical services during this public health crisis.
Dr. Jen Aloff (@Jen_Aloff), a family practitioner at Midland Family Physicians in Michigan, joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) to talk about her practices’ journey from “checkbox medicine” to true value-based care and her decision to join an ACO. She also discusses how Aledade’s data platform, known as the “Aledade App” helps her proactively identify patients who will benefit from preventive health care, rather than just waiting for them to come in for care after they’ve gotten sick.
Stephanie Gallup, Senior Director of Implementation at Aledade, sits down with Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss how she sets primary care practices up to succeed in value-based care. Not only does her team introduce practices to new technology and data tools, but they also help them navigate a major culture change. Tune in to hear Stephanie talk about what makes Aledade stand out among health tech companies.
Dr. Amol Navathe (@AmolNavathe), physician and health economist, speaks with Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) on the ACO Show. Dr. Navathe serves as the Co-Director of the Healthcare Transformation Institute at the University of Pennsylvania, a commissioner of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the cofounder of Embedded Healthcare. He explains the role that behavioral economics can play in improving health care outcomes and lowering costs. They also discuss how the COVID-19 outbreak may motivate the U.S. health system to make permanent improvements.
Sanjay Doddamani (@DrDoddamani) is the Chief physician executive and Chief Operating Officer for Southwestern Health Resources, a clinically integrated network of over 5,000 academic, community, and independent primary care and specialty physicians in the Dallas area. He joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) to talk about the evolution of different financial models of health care during his career and how value-based care has helped prepare us for some of the challenges of Coronavirus
Emily Barson (@ebarson) is the Executive Director of United States of Care (@USofCare),a non-partisan organization working to ensure that every American has access to high-quality, affordable health care. She speaks with Josh (@DrJIsrael) about how COVID-19 has exposed the gaps in our health care system and why expanding access to care is more critical than ever. She explains that the nation may not be as politically divided as it seems when it comes to health care, and why we can look towards the future with a sense of optimism.
Ahmed Haque (@aehaque), Aledade’s SVP of Network Performance & Strategy, returns to the show to talk to Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) about what ACO performance means in relation to quality, utilization and cost. Ahmed covers how value-based contracts enable the best health outcomes for patients and sustainable revenue for physicians, and the impact of COVID-19 on Aledade’s goals and its potential to improve the way care is delivered going forward.
Dr. Mark Martindale, a primary care physician at Saline Med-Peds in Benton, Arkansas, talks with Josh (@DrIsrael) about how he changed his clinic to adapt to COVID-19. From setting up telemedicine and drive-through visits to keeping himself and his staff healthy, Dr. Martindale shares tips for how other practices can implement these changes.
On this episode of the ACO Show, we meet Mike Morgan (@mwmorgan), CEO of Updox, a telehealth platform. He joins Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to talk about how Updox enables patients to connect with their health care providers by video and text messaging, and why this has become critically important during the COVID-19 epidemic. Aledade has just partnered with Updox to provide over 500+ partner physicians and their patients access to a telehealth platform.
Dr. Josh Lowentritt (@LowentrittMd), CEO of Louisiana Physicians speaks with Josh (@DrIsrael) about the toll COVID-19 cases are taking on New Orleans and the effects on providers’ safety, financial stability and personal well-being. It’s “as if the H1N1 flu outbreak came in on the Katrina recovery but there’s no Tamiflu. It’s a disaster with no treatment.”
Dr. Daren Anderson is the Director of ConferMED, a program that provides specialist consultations to primary care providers. He is also Director of the Weitzman Institute, an innovation center dedicated to improving primary care for underserved populations and the VP and Chief Quality Officer of Community Health Center, Inc. Dr. Anderson speaks with Josh (@DrJIsrael) about how these programs support care at community health centers, particularly during the COVID-19 epidemic.
On today’s episode, Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) speaks with Dr. Randy Walker and Angie Walker of the Walker Family Clinic in De Queen, Arkansas. They describe how they were able to expand staffing and operating hours at their independent primary care clinic to enable more patients to receive the care they need—and how this has prepared them for the COVID-19 outbreak they are facing right now. They also discuss how they were able to step in and serve their community’s health needs when the only critical access hospital in the area suddenly shut down. To learn more about the Walker Clinic, please visit their website or Facebook page.
Travis Broome @Travis_Broome, Vice President of Policy at Aledade, discusses some of the steps CMS has taken to make care safer and more accessible for Medicare patients during the COVID-19 outbreak, including allowing widespread use of telehealth by medical providers, and how this has the potential to improve the way health care is delivered for years to come.
Sean Cavanaugh (@dc_cavanaugh), former Director of the Center for Medicare at CMS, joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) to provide an ACO policy update. He discusses an important new CMS rule that requires hospitals to notify physicians when their patients have been hospitalized and he explains why ACOs can still succeed financially and continue to provide necessary primary care services during the COVID-19 outbreak.
On this special episode of The ACO Show, Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD), CEO of Aledade, joins Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) and Josh (@DrJIsrael) to talk about the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Mostashari brings his experience in epidemic surveillance to talk about what we can all do to slow the spread of coronavirus and what Aledade is doing to help primary care practices on the front lines care for their patients during this crisis.
Emily Brower is the Senior Vice President of Clinical Integration and Physician Services at Trinity Health in Michigan, a health system that includes both accountable care organizations and hospitals. In this week’s episode of the ACO Show, she spoke with Joe and Josh about how clinically integrated networks can enter into ACO contracts and engage in preventive health initiatives, and how a hospital-based system balances its commitment to reducing health care costs and maintaining a sustainable business model.
Dr. Alan Story is a family physician practicing in Newton, North Carolina. In this week’s episode, he describes how his clinic, Newton Family Physicians has evolved over time to embrace a data-driven, population health approach to primary care. He also explains how Aledade helps independent providers like himself succeed under the ACO model by investing in their patients’ health, harnessing the power of collaboration, and making technology work for them.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) speak to Connie Altman, an implementation and training expert at Aledade. Drawing upon her background in practice management, billing and coding, she shares great advice on how primary care practices can provide the best patient experience and how team care can be the best care.
Chris Haeni discusses how he protects data as the Chief Information Security Officer at Aledade. Join us to hear how to avoid the biggest health data security threats, from phishing to spoofing to hacking, and the risks of carelessness and improper data sharing within an organization.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) speak to Dr. Danny Butler (@DannyB1984), a primary care physician from Paducah, Kentucky in the Aledade Kentucky ACO. Combining data and his dedication to his patients, Dr. Butler shares his experience of how an Accountable Care Organization has been good for the health of his patients and the success of his practice. He discusses why he joined an ACO and the important role that his staff has played in helping his practice excel at population health.
Edo Banach (@EdoBanach) is the President and CEO of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. On this week’s episode, he explains Medicare's hospice benefit, the difference between hospice and palliative care, and how accountable care organizations can better coordinate with these services.
Geoff Huggins (@GeoffHuggins) is the Director of NES Digital Service (NDS) in Scotland. NDS was established by the Scottish Government in 2018 to standardize electronic health records across the country to improve health outcomes. Geoff shares some of the lessons he has learned along the way about engaging citizens, clinicians, and government organizations in health care transformation.
All Accountable Care Organizations have a patient representative on their board of managers. John Sickler, a retired businessman, serves as the patient representative on the board of managers for the Freedom ACO, an Aledade ACO in suburban Philadelphia. He joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss his role on the board and how he helps the ACO promote evidence-based medicine and patient-centered care.
Professor George Crooks (@CrooksGeorge) is the CEO of the Digital Health and Care Institute, Scotland’s national innovation center for digital health care. On this week’s episode, he shares his vision of integrating Scotland’s fragmented health data platforms in order to enable health care providers to deliver higher quality care and empower individuals to take charge of their own health data. He describes the challenges he faces as he spearheads a major transformation of the health care system, some of which are unique to the UK, and others which will resonate with those of us living across the pond.
Jim Manzi is co-founder of Foundry.ai, a technology studio that creates artificial intelligence software companies, and is a member of Aledade’s board. He joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to help us understand how machine learning, scientific methodology and experimentation can be used to help guide corporate business decisions.
Annalyn Whitt (@ALWhitt) is a Practice Transformation Specialist in the Aledade Mississippi ACO. In this week’s episode, she describes the origins and evolution of “Home for the Holidays,” a successful home-grown initiative that helps keep patients with preventable illnesses out of the emergency room and the hospital during the holiday season.
On this episode of the ACO Show, Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) spoke to Melissa Dunford (@MelissaDunford6) and Kristy McGlothin (@kristymcglothin), two of Aledade's Practice Transformation Specialists (PTS). As the Aledade team members who spend the most time out in the field with our partner primary care practices, they each share their unique experiences helping practices understand and adapt to a new model of health care.
Brady Richards started out as a junior engineer working on electronic health records 18 years ago, and today he serves as the Chief Technology Officer at Aledade, leading a growing team of engineers across the U.S. He joined the ACO Show to share what he has learned from a career of developing technologies that help physicians manage multiple aspects of their practices and why he continues to find health care data so engaging.
Dr. Juan Duran and Lucia Zegarra joined the ACO Show this week during Hispanic Heritage Month to share their experiences working in the U.S. health care system. Juan is a third-year resident in pediatric neurology at Columbia University, and Lucia is the Director of Community Health Programs at Community Health and Empowerment through Education and Research (CHEER). They discussed the unique barriers to care that many Hispanic and Latinx individuals face as they navigate our complex health system. They also share some ways physicians can better serve the Hispanic community, and, as Lucia put it, “to not only care for them but to care about them."
Howard Dean (@GovHowardDean), former Governor of Vermont, joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) for this week’s episode. As a physician, governor, presidential candidate, and Chair of the Democratic National Committee, he has been at the forefront of many of the health care debates of the past 30 years. On this episode, he shares his thoughts on universal health care coverage, medical marijuana, and the future of American health care.
Elisabeth Rosenthal (@RosenthalHealth) kicks off Season 2 of The ACO Show with Josh Israel (@DrJIsrael) and Joe Shonkwiler (@JoeShonkwiler). She points out some of the bigger flaws in our health care system and discusses what physicians and private companies can do to bring more humanity back to the practice of medicine. Dr. Rosenthal is the Editor-in-Chief of Kaiser Health News and the author of the bestselling book “An American Sickness: How Healthcare Became Big Business and How You Can Take It Back.” She covered health care and environmental issues for the New York Times for 22 years. She is a graduate of Stanford University and Harvard Medical School and practiced emergency medicine in New York City before transitioning to journalism. Kaiser Health News is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente Health Plans.
Dan Bowles (@DBowles1607), SVP of Growth & Network Operations at Aledade, joins Josh (@DrIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) on the The ACO Show Season 1 Finale to discuss network expansion of Accountable Care Organizations through partnerships with independent physician practices. Aledade sets the framework to help these practices participate in value-based care and sustain independence in the long run.
Two weeks ago, several primary care physicians traveled from their communities to Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. They spent an entire day meeting with policymakers and helping them understand what it's like to be in a physician-led ACO. On this episode, Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD), CEO of Aledade, and Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), Vice President of Policy at Aledade, sit down with Dr. Karl Schwabe from Pennsylvania and Dr. Richard Card from Virginia to learn more about their first experience on Capitol Hill and to discuss how policy decisions get made — decisions that affect every healthcare provider in the US.
Josh (@DrIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) had the opportunity to speak with Erica Ashe, a Resident Assistant at the University of Michigan in hematology and oncology, and Dr. Phil Rogers (@PhilRodgersMD), a Family Physician at the University of Michigan, working in their Comprehensive Gender Services program. Erica is one of Dr. Rogers' patients and has been through the transgender process herself. As a transgender male-to-female patient of color, she brings an incredible story to share with Aledade.
Dr. Karen L. Smith (@KLSmithMD) is a national leader in primary care and was named the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) Family Physician of the Year in 2017. She is also an independent primary care physician and the medical director of Aledade’s North Carolina ACO. Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) speaks with Dr. Smith about what the Declaration of Independence can teach us about the current state of American healthcare and why she is optimistic about the future of primary care.
Allison Brennan is the Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at the National Association of Accountable Care Organizations (NAACOs), a nonprofit organization focused on fostering the growth of the ACO model. On this week’s podcast, she sits down with Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss how to improve ACO policy in order to ensure the sustainability of the model and advance population health.
To celebrate Aledade’s 5th birthday, Dr. Mark McClellan, joins Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD), Josh (@DrIsrael), and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss the past and present and Accountable Care Organizations. Dr. McClellan is a former commissioner for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, former administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and played key roles in the creation of ACOs.
Nick Bartz, Vice President of Business Intelligence at Aledade, joins the ACO Show this week with Josh (@DrIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler). The Business Intelligence team at Aledade helps guide the vision, design and development of a suite of managerial tools to that will support Aledade’s 30+ value-based care contracts across 24 states. Our rapidly expanding national network includes more than 4,000 primary care providers and 500,000 patients, with $3.6B in annual medical spending under management. His team helps guide our decisions with analytics as the source of truth.
Rachel Roubein (@rachel_roubein) is a healthcare reporter for POLITICO Pro where she focuses on doctors and hospitals. She previously covered healthcare for The Hill and National Journal. Rachel joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss the ongoing political debate about the direction of the American healthcare system and trends in the politics and policy impacting healthcare providers across the country. You can also follow Rachel’s contributions to POLITICO’s daily healthcare policy-focused newsletter Pulse.
Charlie Colligan joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) on this week's episode to discuss his journey to becoming Chief Financial Officer of Aledade and the complexities of financing a company that enables accountable care organizations to provide better patient care. Charlie has leveraged his unique background in government programs and technology to set Aledade and its partner practices on the path towards financial success.
Dr. Lowentritt (@LowentrittMd) joins Dr. Josh Israel (@DrIsrael) this week to discuss what it's like being a specialist in a rescue ACO at Internal Medicine Specialists.
On this week’s podcast, Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) welcome Sean Cavanaugh (@dc_cavanaugh) and Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome) back to the show to discuss the recent announcement of several primary care-focused initiatives: Primary Care First & Direct Contracting. Sean, Aledade’s Chief Administration Officer, and Travis, Aledade’s Vice President of Policy, share how these programs will impact primary care providers and ACOs across the country. They also provide their expert insight on what this announcement says about the ongoing trend toward value-based care and the essential role primary care providers play in that transformation.
Megan Slaga, Aledade's Director of Pharmacy, discusses high-value medication initiatives in accountable care organizations with Josh (@DrIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler). She explains why Part D (prescription drug spending) isn't considered part of regular Medicare/Medicaid spend in ACOs and shares her insights on finding high-value alternative medications and promoting medication adherence.
On this week’s podcast, Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) sit down with several guests who participated in the National Association of ACOs (NAACOs) conference, which was held in Baltimore from April 24 to 26. Annette DuBard (@AnnetteDuBard), Vice President of Clinical Strategy, recaps the panel she participated in, speaking about quality measures and how they can contribute towards the goals of accountable care. Nick Bartz (@NickBartz), Vice President of Business Intelligence, also served as a panelist and shares his learnings about how ACOs can best leverage data to drive outcomes. Finally, Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), Vice President of Policy, gives a rundown of the newest primary care payment models that CMMI just announced at the end of April.
At Aledade, Practice Transformation Specialists (PTS) work closely with providers to support them as they transition to value-based care. Heidi Aubertin (@HeidiAubertin), a Senior PTS of the Freedom ACO in Philadelphia, comes to the show to talk to Josh (@DrJIsrael) about what she does on a daily basis to improve the workflow of her practices, encouraging small tweaks that reap large benefits. She shares her thoughts on communicating effectively with practices, building strong relationships, and leading by serving.
Matt Weimer (@mattweimer) is the Vice President of Health Services and Chief Medical Officer at Valley Health Systems, a large federally qualified health center (FQHC) in West Virginia that provides comprehensive care to patients without regard for their ability to pay. Dr. Weimer shares what it means for an FQHC to be part of an ACO, and why being in an ACO has recharged him personally. He has seen Valley Health physicians respond enthusiastically to the idea of providing higher quality care to patients, reducing provider burnout, and creating a more sustainable healthcare system.
As part of National Healthcare Decisions Day, Dr. Tom McCarrick, Chief Medical Officer at the Vanguard Medical Group in New Jersey, sits down with Josh (@DrJIsrael) to discuss advance care planning — an important way to ensure that patient’s wishes are respected when critical healthcare decisions need to be made. From Dr. McCarrick’s experience, Annual Wellness Visits are a great way for primary care providers to start having more of these important conversations with patients. #NHDD #convoproject
Julie Sunderland, Co-Founder and Managing Director of Biomatics Capital and a member of Aledade’s Board of Directors, joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) to discuss her background, what attracted her to invest in this tech-enabled health care company, the role that private equity can play as a force for change, and how she thinks about a company’s culture, people and ideas when considering whether to invest.
Dr. Lelin Chao (@Dr_Lelin) joins the show to talk about the importance of addressing mental health and substance abuse disorders in primary care. Lelin and Josh (@DrJIsrael) discuss the behavioral health integration some innovative approaches to this challenge. Lelin is an Aledade Medical Director and the co-founder of Health Alliance Associates, a housing-first, advanced primary care practice that provides substance use disorder, behavioral health counseling and primary care to patients struggling with medical illness, addiction, and homelessness.
Kim Lynch(@kllynch7), Senior Vice President of Adoption & Practice Success, joins the show to talk about how Aledade continues to reinvent itself and solve new problems. Kim takes us on a deep dive of the Net Promoter Score, and how Aledade strives to provide delight to its partner providers. As one of the first employees of the company, Kim reflects on what it takes to “build the plane while flying it."
A new study published in the American Journal of Managed Care shows that Medicare Annual Wellness Visits (AWVs) can increase healthcare quality and reduce healthcare costs. Josh (@DrJIsrael) sits down with two of the authors of this paper, Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD) and Jen King, to talk about the challenges and importance of doing studies like these, and how AWVs can be used to build primary care relationships and serve as a key component of ACO strategy.
Catherine Olexa, (@MsOlexa), joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) for a conversation about the importance of reaching out to patients who are at their most vulnerable during episodes of acute care and as well as those who have just been discharged from the hospital or those nearing the end of life. She shares the journey that led her to Aledade and to value-based care with the primary care physician at the center. Catherine continues to find innovative ways to help doctors care for their sickest patients through better data, better workflows, and better partnerships.
Dr. Sophia McIntyre, Chief Medical Officer of Hudson River HealthCare, Inc., discusses how she was able to implement team-based preventative care in communities of color. She shares how she broke down racial barriers on her path to becoming a doctor with Josh (@DrJIsrael). Dr. McIntyre continued this conversation during the Black History Month Panel Discussion at Aledade.
Nicholas Berault (@AledadeNJB) gives Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) a sneak peek into a day in the life of an Aledade Coordinator. He traces his trajectory from Aledade Fellow to Pennsylvania ACO Coordinator, sharing what it is like to work out in the field, bridging the gap between Aledade and its physicians. Nicholas supports and encourages practices every step of the way, while asking them to change the way they operate in several ways. These changes aren’t easy, but watching practices succeed and thrive makes it all worth it.
Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari (@Farzad_MD) returns to the ACO Show to share his perspective on risk coding and why it’s important for ACOs. Dr. John Torontow (@HCCRisk), Aledade Medical Director, also joins Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss the details of accurate risk coding. John merges his experience as a family physician with his knowledge of population health to coach providers through difficult conversations with their patients that ultimately result in better care.
Ahmed Haque (@aehaque), Aledade’s SVP of Network Performance & Strategy, returns to the show to discuss the strategy behind building and growing an ACO. Ahmed’s experience and expertise have made him a national leader in creating high performing ACOs and he shares his insights with Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler).
Tyler Blanchard (@skibumblanch), Executive Director of Aledade's Delaware Accountable Care Organization (ACO), provides an in depth look into what it takes to manage a successful ACO comprised of high-performing independent providers. Tyler also gives Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) his expert opinion on what makes the First State such fertile ground for fostering new and innovative ideas.
Dr. Annette DuBard (@AnnetteDuBard), Aledade’s VP of clinical strategy, digs into the crucial role of promoting high value specialist referrals when pursuing value-based care. Annette also gives Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) a view into clinical strategy at Aledade and how it informs an emerging tech-enabled, healthcare product offering.
Dr. Shawn Purifoy (@drsp27) is a primary care provider at Malvern Family Medical Clinic in rural Arkansas, and Dr. Lee Fleischer is a primary care provider at PMA Medical Specialists in suburban Philadelphia. Despite practicing in dramatically different parts of the country, Shawn and Lee are in the vanguard of the value-based care revolution and Medical Directors at Aledade (@AledadeACO). They join Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) to discuss how primary care providers are leading the charge that is changing the face of American healthcare.
Dr. Bob Kocher (@bobkocher) is a member of Aledade’s Board of Directors and a Partner at Venrock, where he focuses on healthcare IT and services investments. Additionally, he is a Consulting Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine, Senior Fellow and Advisory Board Member at the Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics at USC, and Guest Scholar at the Brookings Institution Engleberg Center for Health Reform. Bob talks about how he went from clinical medicine to health policy to venture capital and why he was Aledade’s first investor. He even gives Josh (@DrJIsrael ) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) some background on his annual list of healthcare predictions.
Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), VP of Policy at Aledade, returns to The ACO Show to provide some insight on the recent regulatory changes that will impact ACOs and their participating practices.
Dr. Emily Maxson, an internal medicine physician and the senior Vice President at Aledade Inc. for Medical Affairs, delves into all that is value-based care with Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler).
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) interview with Aneesh Chopra (@aneeshchopra) Co-Founder of Hunch Analytics, President of CareJourney; and Former Chief Technology Office of the United States & Virginia Secretary of Technology. He is also the author of Innovative State. Aneesh describes the role of data and analytics in transforming the US healthcare system and what he sees as the key factors that drive success in value-based care. He brings his years of expertise and leadership to a wide-ranging discussion on the history, politics, and technological innovation that impact American healthcare at every level.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) interview Dr. Alex Blum (@alexblum), Aledade Vice President of Strategic Partnerships. Alex details how well crafted partnerships can help drive value-based care and how payers outside of the Medicare world can be key when developing Accountable Care Organizations.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) interview with Rick Velandingham (@rickvHIT) Vice President of Electronic Health Record (EHR) Optimization at Aledade. Rick discusses the role of EHRs in value-based care, and challenges and opportunities presented in current EHR landscape. Rick also sheds light on how a company approaches a national strategy for EHR optimization while working with many different EHRs
Dr. Jen Brull (@mrsbrull) and Dr. Ryan Knopp join the ACO show to share their on-the-ground experience as primary care providers in an Accountable Care Organization, and how cutting edge population health and the use of data to improve patient care is making a difference in the Heartland.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) speak with Aledade VP of Policy and ACO Administration, Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), about the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently proposed regulatory changes. These include changes to the physician fee schedule and the outpatient payment system, and other regulations that will impact Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) interview Mat Kendall (@matkendall), Aledade co-founder and Executive Vice President of Operations. Mat provides the final piece to Aledade’s origin story as well as an unrivaled perspective on how to operationalize a sustainable business model in value-based care.
Josh (@DrJIsrael) and Joe (@JoeShonkwiler) interview with former Regional Operations Manager at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and current VP of Policy and ACO Administration at Aledade, Travis Broome (@Travis_Broome), and former Director in the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT and current SVP of Network Performance and Strategy, Ahmed Haque (@aehaque). Travis and Ahmed not only discuss their roles at Aledade, but they also weigh in on and the concept of “risk” in value-based care and the role it plays in the strategic decision-making of Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs).
Interview with Sean Cavanaugh, Chief Administrative Officer (@dc_cavanaugh) of Aledade, Inc.
Interview with Farzad Mostashari, Co-Founder and CEO of Aledade Inc. (@Farzad_MD) about the origins and challenges of accountable care organizations. Dr. Mostashari is the former Head of the Office of National Coordinator for Health IT.