Focus on Public Health Policy: Recent Episodes
ReachMD
Health policy matters stand to make impacts nationally and globally, from health insurance mandates to antibiotic stewardship protocols to drug and device clearances and recalls. ReachMD assembles key decision makers, policy experts and healthcare analysts for discussions of vital issues in healthcare policy.
Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD
Guest: Matt Hornbeck
Schools are scrambling to figure out education during the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt Hornbeck, Principal of the top-rated Hampstead Hill Academy—a Pre-k-8 public school in southeast Baltimore city—says instruction is only part of the challenge: technology gaps, trying to reach vulnerable students, and the trauma of a sudden separation from friends and teachers are unprecedented issues to address. Hornbeck talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how Hampstead Hill is trying to take care of its school community and how they’re preparing for the next period of uncertainty.
Published May 5, 2020
Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD
Guest: Caitlin Rivers, PhD, MPH
Much of our world was suddenly postponed, canceled, or shuttered in the last month or so. There’s now an opportunity to be more thoughtful about reopening. There are risks either way: wait too long and there are consequences for health, safety, and the economy. Open too soon, and viral transmission may ramp up and out of control.
Dr. Caitlin Rivers of the Center for Health Security is coauthor of a recent report geared towards governors considering how to reopen non-essential businesses. She talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about the basic principles behind deciding when to reopen bars, gyms, salons, and other nonessential businesses.
Published April 22, 2020
Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD
Guest: Preeti N. Malani MD
Colleges and universities are already starting to think about what it would take to reopen for the fall semester. But bringing back students, faculty, and staff—and welcoming the class of 2024—will require a complete rethinking of campus life. Dr. Preeti Malani, Chief Health Officer of the University of Michigan, talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about how she’s considering the health and safety of 50,000 students plus faculty and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Published April 20, 2020
Host: Joshua Sharfstein, MD
Guest: Lainie Rutkow, PhD, JD
There have been varying responses to COVID-19 carried out across local, state, and federal governments in the US. But what powers does the government have at various levels in a pandemic and how does the law work when an enemy like COVID-19 “does not respect jurisdictional boundaries?” Law expert and Hopkins professor Dr. Lainie Rutkow talks to Dr. Josh Sharfstein about a range of legal issues, including what happens if states start suing each other.
Published April 8, 2020
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
In the absence of a vaccine or antivirals against COVID-19, controlling its transmission through social distancing has been an essential strategy. And to prove it, a team from the University of Western Australia conducted research using a simulation city which implemented social distancing versus a city without it. Dr. Matt Birnholz summarizes this study's staggering findings.
Published April 1, 2020
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Asim A. Shah, MD
Healthcare reform has become a leading debate in the media, with supporters of single payer systems touting projections of quality improvements and cost savings alongside other benefits. But what are some of the drawbacks of a one-size-fits-all? That’s the question psychiatrist Dr. Asim Shah addressed in a recent op-ed article from the Houston Chronicle he co-authored.
Host: Mario R. Nacinovich, Jr., MSc
Guest: Jodi L. Liu
Terms like single-payer, universal coverage, and Medicare for All often land at the center of political discussions andat times, get used interchangeably. But as Dr. Jodi Liu, Professor and Associate Policy Researcher at the Pardee RAND Graduate School, explains, these terms can carry different meanings, expectations, and projected impacts on healthcare systems.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: David Himmelstein, MD
The subject of single-payer healthcare is at the forefront of practically every political discussion and debate. Providing unique perspectives on its strengths and setbacks is nationally-renowned advocate Dr. David Himmelstein.
Host: Mario R. Nacinovich, Jr., MSc
Guest: Michael Sparer, JD, PhD
How do we define single-payer healthcare at the national and state levels, respectively, and is either model even realistic for large scale implementation? Dr. Maichael Sparer, Professor and Chair in the Department of Health Policy and Management at the Mailman School of Public Health, joins Mario Nacinovich to shed light on this topic.
Host: Mario R. Nacinovich, Jr., MSc
Guest: Liz Hamel
How has public opinion on the idea of a national single-payer healthcare model changed since the late 1990s? Liz Hamel, Vice President and Director of Public Opinion and Survey Research at the Kaiser Family Foundation is here to answer that exact question, as well as reveal the factors, like political party identification and word choice, that affect outlooks toward this type of healthcare model.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Kenneth Thorpe, PhD
In today’s polarized political climate, the road toward greater healthcare access, delivery, and cost coverage is still highly uncertain. So to help shed light on some of the merits and challenges of a single-payer model, Dr. Matt Birnholz sits down with Dr. Kenneth Thorpe, the Robert W. Woodruff Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Policy and Management in the Rollins School of Public Health of Emory University.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Kathleen Blake, MD, MPH
Guest: Mandy Cohen, MD, MPH
Guest: Sheila Savageau
Guest: Michael Seres
How do you define value-based care? That’s the question being asked of some of the most influential stakeholders in healthcare, and to find out their answer, Dr. Matt Birnholz sits down with a few of them, including the AMA’s Vice President of Healthcare Quality Dr. Kathleen Blake, General Motors' U.S. Health Leader Sheila Savageau, North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services Dr. Mandy Cohen, and Michael Seres, the CEO of 11Health.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Barbara Levy, MD
Guest: Peter A. Hollmann, MD
In response to physicians’ feedback, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services proposed some big changes to the documentation guidelines for office visits. But is there still room for improvement?
Co-chairs of the American Medical Association’s CPT/RUC Workgroup on Evaluation and Management Services Dr. Peter Hollmann and Dr. Barbara Levy join Dr. Matt Birnholz to discuss the Workgroup’s effort to further simplify the work of the healthcare provider and improve the health of patients nationwide.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Barbara A. McAneny, MD
There were a lot of changes made to the 2019 Medicare payment policies. Here to review what these updates mean—and what’s being done in response to them—is Dr. Barbara McAneny, President of the AMA.
Host: Jennifer Caudle, DO
Guest: Mark Friedberg, MD
With the use of alternative payment models (APMs) on the rise, the American Medical Association and the RAND Corporation joined forces to investigate the impact of APMs on physicians across the country. So what exactly did the study uncover? Diving into the study’s findings with Dr. Jennifer Caudle is Dr. Mark Friedberg, senior physician policy researcher at RAND and director of its Boston office.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Koryn Rubin
Some big changes are taking effect in one of the performance categories under MIPS. The cost category is now affecting your MIPS score differently, and here to make sure you don’t fall behind is Koryn Rubin, Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at the American Medical Association.
The FDA has made strides in improving transparency and data access, and has implemented tools to allow the pharmaceutical industry and the public to transform raw data into usable information. One of these tools is called the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Public Dashboard. In this episode, the architects of the FAERS Public Dashboard – Deputy Director of the Regulatory Science Staff Suranjan De, and Acting Team Lead in Regulatory Science Information Sanjay Sahoo—both of CDER’s Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology, highlight their work with this new online tool.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Carol Vargo, MHS
Amid all the changes to quality reporting under MIPS, many hospital-based physicians are unsure about what effects, if any, there will be to their employment and compensation. Luckily, there are experts to help break down everything from performance-based changes to compensation accuracy, and providing a how-to guide for navigating the Quality Payment Program in the hospital setting is Carol Vargo, Director of Physician Practice Sustainability at the AMA.
Looking to the future of healthcare, Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Rasu Shrestha on the two things that are needed to truly transform the system: design thinking and a culture of innovation.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Even though more and more physicians are becoming aware of the option to participate in the Quality Payment Program as a virtual group, many still may not have all the details needed to decide whether this is right for them—or how they can even go about joining one. To help clarify the confusion, Dr. Matt Birnholz is joined by Ashley McGlone, Washington Counsel for the AMA.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Alternative Payment Models, or APMs, were introduced as a way to reduce costs and improve patient care, but physicians have been slow to adopt this model. To address this issue, Dr. Matt Birnholz connects with Harold Miller, President and CEO of the Center for Healthcare Quality and Payment Reform, who provides the details that physicians need to know regarding APMs and why Physician-Focused Payment Models could be the solution.
Host: Shira Johnson, MD
Guest: Laura Hoffman
Guest: Matt Reid
If you’re planning on participating in the Quality Payment Program in 2019, you may be wondering what you can—and should—be doing now to prepare for upgrading your electronic health records, or how this update could affect your computers and networks. If so, you’re not alone.
To help guide you through this process, Dr. Shira Johnson is joined by two AMA staff—Senior Health IT Consultant Matt Reid and Assistant Director of Federal Affairs Laura Hoffman—who answer these and other FAQs.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Koryn Rubin
With more and more physicians wondering what the new individual and group reporting measures mean for them and their practice, Dr. Matt Birnholz sat down with Koryn Rubin, Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at the American Medical Association, to break down these options.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning that the medicine lamotrigine (Lamictal) for seizures and bipolar disorder can cause a rare but very serious reaction that excessively activates the body’s infection-fighting immune system. This can cause severe inflammation throughout the body and lead to hospitalization and death, especially if the reaction is not diagnosed and treated quickly.
A link to the full communication detailing specific information for health care professionals and a list of FDA-approved GBCAs can be found at www.fda.gov/Drugs/DrugSafety
Released 4/25/2018
Host: Kathy King, RDN
With over 720,000 beef producers in the United States, the cattle industry has a huge economic impact on our society. However, many patients have questions regarding beef production and safety.
Dr. Sarah Place, Senior Director of Sustainable Beef Production Research at the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, joins Dr. Kathy King in discussing the balancing act of economic, environmental, and social awareness inside the industry.
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
Guest: Katherine Baicker
In early 2008, Oregon opened a waiting list lottery for a limited number of spots in its Medicaid program. From the 90,000 people who signed up, the state drew approximately 30,000 names of people who were allowed to apply to its Medicaid program. The results of this lottery have been studied over subsequent years, allowing researchers the ability to analyze the effect of expanding access to public health insurance on health care use and patient outcomes.
Host Dr. Maurice Pickard talks with Katherine Baicker, Dean and the Emmett Dedmon Professor at the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. She is one of the leaders of the Oregon Health Insurance Experiment, which investigated the effects of the Oregon Medicaid lottery. They discuss some of the conclusions from this study, including how a person’s increased exposure to health care through insurance coverage appears to produce significant, multifaceted, and nuanced benefits to one's health.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
Revolutionary advances in medical knowledge have caused doctors to become so focused on their narrow fields of expertise that they often overlook the simplest fact of all: their patients are suffering.
Dr. John Russell welcomes Dr. Thomas Lee, Chief Medical Officer at Press Ganey and author of An Epidemic of Empathy in Healthcare: How to Deliver Compassionate, Connected Patient Care That Creates a Competitive Advantage. Their discussion focuses on the growing divide between world-class medical treatment and compassionate care, and why the two are not mutually exclusive.
Many listeners may be familiar with the FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System or FAERS. Data in FAERS supports the FDA's post-marketing safety surveillance program for drug products and therapeutic biologic products. Recently, CDER's Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology created and released a tool that makes FAERS data easier to query and retrieve. This new interactive dashboard is designed to expand access of FAERS data to the general public.
Dr. Janet Woodcock, Director of the FDA Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, discusses the advantages of the tool as well as its limitations.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Matthew Fiedler
The future of the Affordable Care Act is uncertain. While there has been much talk about repeal and replace, legislative efforts to carry through with this initiative have failed to gain any bipartisan support and have since fallen short of passing.
Host Dr. Matt Birnholz sits down with Matthew Fiedler to discuss the latest issues involved in health care reform. Mr. Fiedler is a Fellow with the Center for Health Policy at the Brookings' Institution’s Economic Studies Program. Prior to joining Brookings, Fiedler served as Chief Economist of the Council of Economic Advisers, where he oversaw the Council's work on health care policy, including the ACA’s health insurance reforms, Medicaid expansion, and provider payment reform efforts.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
A recent survey of one thousand practicing physicians in the US, conducted by KPMG and the American Medical Association, is shedding new light on knowledge gaps in preparing for MACRA and the Quality Payment Program, and what can be done to address those gaps moving forward.
Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Larry Kocot, Principal at KPMG and National Leader of the Center for Healthcare Regulatory Insight. Ross White, Manager for KPMG’s Center for Healthcare Regulatory Insight, and Carol Vargo, Director of Physician Practice Sustainability in the AMA Physician Satisfaction and Practice Sustainability Strategic Initiative Group about the results of this survey.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
This discussion is dedicated to helping clinicians understand the “Pick Your Pace” option for Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) participation.How should physicians navigate these new reporting options to avoid any payment penalties, and what are the most effective first steps?
Host Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Dr. Kate Goodrich, Director of the Center for Clinical Standards and Quality under the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Dr. Goodrich also serves as CMS's Chief Medical Officer.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: James Capretta
On this episode of Voices From American Medicine, Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with James Capretta, a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, studying health care, entitlement, and US budgetary policy, as well as global trends in aging, health, and retirement programs. They discuss the future for American health care policy, and where health care professionals and the general public alike will go from here.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
Guest: H. Gilbert Welch, MD, MPH
The central problem with health care, according to physician and author Dr. H. Gilbert Welch, is that too much of it has too little value.
Host Dr. John Russell chats with Dr. Welch about his book Less Medicine, More Health: 7 Assumptions that Drive Too Much Medical Care and the issues of the American healthcare system today. They talk about how the American public has been sold the idea that seeking medical care is one of the most important steps to maintaining wellness. Dr. Welch argues that more medical care is not, in fact, well correlated with good health; by contrast, the opposite may be true.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Host Dr. Brian McDonough chats with Dr. John Barrasso, US Senator from Wyoming and former orthopedic surgeon, about the current state of health care policy as seen from the senate floor.
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Host Brian McDonough talks with Dr. Joel Nitzkin, preventive medicine physician and senior fellow in tobacco policy for the R Street Institute. The two discuss their respective priorities for reducing tobacco-attributable illnesses and death.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Chip Kahn, CEO of the Federation of American Hospitals which represents over a thousand of the nation's owner-operated hospitals. The long time health industry strategist speculates on changes to health coverage for millions of Americans under the GOP health reform bill, and what it might mean for the hospital industry and health care in this country.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
The new Quality Payment Program, QPP, created by Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act, or MACRA, has generated questions from the physician community regarding how to participate, and what that participation will mean for benefiting practices. On this episode, we’ll investigate physician-focused alternative payment models, or APMs, and their emerging role in this new Quality Payment Program. Host Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes Sandy Marks, Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at the American Medical Association to discuss APMs.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Paul Gionfriddo, CEO of Mental Health America, the nation's oldest organization dedicated to advancing access to mental services for all Americans. He discusses the need to change the nation's response to mental illness from a public safety to a public health approach.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Keith Boone, "Interoperability Guru" at GE Healthcare. Mr. Boone discusses his work developing standards for health information technology as a board member at HL7 International, and how HL7's new FHIR standards, as well as growth of Accountable Care Organizations, will accelerate the pace of interoperability in health care.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Katherine Hayes, Director of Health Policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, which has issued a report to Congress urging them to move slowly on repeal of safety net programs supported by the ACA. She warns that states and vulnerable populations will suffer consequences under repeal of support for CHIP as well as federal matching grants for the Medicaid expansion.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Allan Coukell, Sr. Director for Health Programs at the Pew Charitable Trusts, where he oversees the FDA, drug and medical device safety and the opioid crisis. He discusses suggested changes to the FDA made by the Trump Administration, and how best to promote reforms at the US Food and Drug Administration to better respond to 21st century advances in research and discovery.
In this session of Beyond the Data carrying forward ideas discussed at CDC's Public Health Grand Rounds, Dr. Phoebe Thorpe and Dr. Larry Garber expand on the reasons for medication non-adherence by patients, and priority considerations for helping reduce this risk.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Qualified Clinical Data Registries, or QCDRs, are keys to Medicare’s new payment system in that they collect clinical data for the purpose of patient and disease tracking. But what do we need to know about QCDRs, where to find them, the requirements for successful reporting and why they are so important for clinical practices? Host Dr. Matt Birnholz welcomes a panel of QCDR experts from the AMA. Dr. Kathleen Blake, Vice-President, and Lance Mueller, Manager, both serve as part of the AMA group that works on payment reform and healthcare quality. Koryn Rubin serves as Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at the AMA.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
Three out of four people addicted to heroin probably started on a prescription opioid, according to the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In the United States alone, 16,000 people die each year as a result of prescription opioid overdose. But perhaps the most frightening aspect of the prescription drug epidemic is that it’s built on well-meaning doctors treating patients with real problems.
Host Dr. John Russell chats with Dr. Anna Lembke, Chief of Addiction Medicine and an Assistant Professor at Stanford University School of Medicine. Dr. Lembke is the author of Drug Dealer, MD: How Doctors Were Duped, Patients Got Hooked, and Why It’s So Hard to Stop, exploring how the prescription drug epidemic is a symptom of a faltering health care system, the solution for which lies in rethinking how health care is delivered.
This week, Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter talk with President Donald Trump's nominee for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Dr. David Shulkin. Dr. Shulkin talks about the challenges he has faced coming from the private sector, the important role of the VA health care system, and ways that other issues such as housing play into health care access and delivery.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with health policy expert Timothy Jost, Emeritus Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University School of Law, and frequent contributor to Health Affairs. Professor Jost examines the respective gains made and challenges faced in health insurance coverage and access to care under the Affordable Care Act, and his views on potential losses to millions of Americans with repeal and replacement of the ACA.
This week hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with renowned neuroscientist Dr. Adam Gazzaley, Director of the Neuroscience Imaging Center and Gazzaley Lab at UC San Francisco. Dr. Gazzaley discusses his closed loop system designed to improve brain function through personalized game design and feedback, which are already undergoing FDA clinical trials for therapeutic interventions for a number of brain disorders including ADHD, aging brain, PTSD and addiction.
Host: John J. Russell, MD
What if Americans put aside their differences and worked together to fix America's broken healthcare system? What changes need to be made in order to make health care both accessible and affordable without compromising excellent quality of care standards for patients? These and other crucial questions form premise behind the book We CAN Fix Healthcare: The Future is NOW.
Host Dr. John Russell sits down with Dr. Stephen Klasko, President and CEO of Jefferson University and Jefferson Health and author of We CAN Fix Healthcare: The Future is NOW.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Michael Leavitt, an advisor to President-elect Donald Trump's transition team and former secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush. They discuss anticipated changes in health policy under the new administration including the future of the Affordable Care Act, the role of community health centers, and the need for bipartisan cooperation.
Ms. Koryn Rubin provides an overview of the reporting options under the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), specifically related to the quality performance category. After listening to this podcast, physicians should obtain a basic understanding between reporting as an individual or reporting as a group practice under MIPS. Ms. Rubin is Assistant Director of Federal Affairs at AMA.
Program requirements are subject to change. The links below are intended to assist with MIPS preparation and are informational only.
Host: Patrice L Basanta-Henry, MD, MHSc, FACOG
Prescription drugs are often essential to the management of both acute and chronic pain. However, misuse, abuse and additions to these products, especially opioids, have become a worldwide epidemic. Since 1999, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids have almost quadrupled in the United States.
Host Dr. Patrice Basanta-Henry talks with psychiatrist and addiction medicine specialist Dr. Nzinga Harrison, CMO of Anka Behavioral Health Inc., about the physician's role in the face of this opioid epidemic.
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
While modern medicine produces miracles, it also delivers care that is too often unsafe, unreliable, unsatisfying, and impossibly expensive. For the past few decades, technology has been touted as the cure for all of healthcare’s ills.
But medicine stubbornly resisted computerization – until now. Over the past five years, thanks largely to billions of dollars in federal incentives, healthcare has finally gone digital.
Yet once clinicians started using computers to actually deliver care, it dawned on them that something was deeply wrong. Why were doctors no longer making eye contact with their patients? How could one of America’s leading hospitals give a teenager a 39-fold overdose of a common antibiotic, despite a state-of-the-art computerized prescribing system? How could a recruiting ad for physicians tout the absence of an electronic medical record as a major selling point?
Logically enough, we’ve pinned the problems on clunky software, flawed implementations, absurd regulations, and bad karma. It was all of those things, but it was also something far more complicated. And far more interesting . . .
Written with a rare combination of compelling stories and hard-hitting analysis by one of the nation’s most thoughtful physicians, The Digital Doctor examines healthcare at the dawn …
EHRs have made a significant impact in the practice of medicine across the country. While many improvements in the usability, flexibility, and interoperability of EHRs are needed, the use of an EHR can still be beneficial for many physicians. Matt Reid, MS provides you with information about the importance of electronic health records (EHRs) to participation in MACRA. Mr. Reid is a Senior Health Care IT Consultant at the AMA.
You can find more information about certified EHRs at the Office of the National Coordinator's Certified Health IT Product List.
Under MACRA, most physicians will participate in a value-based payment program known as MIPS, which stands for Merit-based Incentive Payment System. Beginning with the 2019 physician fee schedule, MIPS will replace the Physician Quality Reporting System, Value-Based Modifier, and Meaningful Use of electronic health records programs. Ms. Laura Hoffman, Assistant Director in the Department of Federal Affairs at AMA, provides an overview of the Clinical Practice Improvement Activities, or CPIA, category, including how the activities may be reported and scored by CMS.
Please click here for a full list of CMS' proposed CPIAs
Update as of September 2017: CMS shortened the category name to “improvement activities”. The content provided here is otherwise still accurate and up-to-date.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Robin Zon, MD, FACP
Value-based, patient-centered care has become the destination for all branches of medicine, and is the philosophy driving modern payment reform initiatives like MACRA. But the unique care delivery needs in each specialty challenge the notion that one payment model can serve everyone. And nowhere has this become more relevant than in the field of oncology.
Dr. Matt Birnholz joins Dr. Robin Zon, practicing oncologist and vice president and senior partner at Michiana Hematology-Oncology in South Bend, Indiana. Dr. Zon serves as Chair-Elect of ASCO's Government Relations Committee was Past Chair of the Clinical Practice Committee, which alongside other stakeholders at ASCO developed a Patient-Centered Oncology Payment (PCOP) model. Recently, Dr. Zon presented this information at the recent AMA House of Delegates meeting in June. She speaks to the phases of this model, how it can function as a defined APM under MACRA, and its demonstrated positive impacts on oncology care pathways.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
Guest: Lawrence Kosinski, MD
The advancement of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) has catapulted Alternative Payment Models into the spotlight for identifying new value-based approaches to care. But questions persist as to the roles that specialists can and should play in the design and implementation of APMs, how these models will cut healthcare costs, and which administrative partnerships are needed to make them successful.
Dr. Lawrence Kosinski, a practicing gastroenterologist with The Illinois Gastroenterology Group, is pioneering one such APM that applies an innovative method for tracking patients between clinic visits. The model, called SonarMD, for which Dr. Kosinski is founder and Chief Medical Officer, provides a web-based platform that pings patients beyond practice settings to help get ahead of issues before they become emergencies.
Host: Matt Birnholz, MD
From the floors of the Villanovans in Healthcare event at Villanova University, Dr. Matt Birnholz speaks with Jermaine Bromell, Founder and CEO of Better Health Network, a startup dedicated to providing health support services for underserved communities in partnership with faith-based organizations. The two discuss ways for companies and non-profits to better address health disparities in larger communities through direct support and targeted referral services.
Host: Frank Russomano
Interest in health policies related to drug pricing has spiked in recent times. While remarkable research discoveries have positively escalated the pharmaceutical industry with release of more novel drugs, the question on how drugs should be priced is continually resurfacing. How are high drug costs justified when they become financially inaccessible to many patients, and what measures are being put in place to address these access gaps?
Host Frank Russomano welcomes Andrew Rosenberg J.D. of the CME Coalition and Thomas Sullivan, President of Rockpointe Corporation and editor of Policy and Medicine, to discuss recent developments in drug pricing.
Host Frank Russomano welcomes Andrew Rosenberg J.D. of the CME Coalition and Thomas Sullivan, President of Rockpointe Corporation and editor of Policy and Medicine. - See more at: https://reachmd.com/programs/voices-from-american-medicine/all-things-educational-panel-discusses-independent-cme-sunshine-act-reporting/7901/#sthash.CkKA6uPe.dpuf
Host: Brian P. McDonough, MD, FAAFP
Dr. Brian McDonough welcomes Dr. Atul Grover, MD, PhD, Chief Public Policy Officer for the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) to discuss the looming physician shortage in the US and what needs to be done now to positively impact that shortage ten years down the road.
This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Henry J. Aaron, the Bruce and Virginia MacLaury Senior Fellow in the Economic Studies program at the Brookings Institution. He analyzes the case before the Supreme Court, King versus Burwell, which challenges the legality of the tax subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, and the potential impact of the High Court's decision.
Host: Alicia A. Sutton
The Patient Centered Medical Home. What is it? How do practices become PCMH-recognized? And how do PCMH models change the way medical education is crafted and delivered to clinicians? Host Alicia Sutton welcomes guests Jennifer D'alessandro and Scott Weber to explore these and other questions. Ms. D'alessandro is Assistant Director of Education at the National Committee for Quality Assurance, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. Mr. Weber is CEO of MED-IQ, a leading provider of continuing medical education.
Host: William Anderson, PharmD, MBA
Guest: Christopher Stanley, MD, MBA
How can we align incentives among all healthcare stakeholders to encourage high-quality care, better outcomes and lower overall healthcare costs, ultimately leading to a more efficient healthcare system? How does health information technology provide the infrastructure for measuring outcomes, to provide the necessary data to create incentives for best practices? Dr. Christopher Stanley, senior medical director UnitedHealthcare of Colorado, underscores the idea that aligning incentives extends far beyond pay for performance or value, and is about matching goals among patients, providers and payers. How can economic or quality of care incentives work together to improve patient outcomes? Dr. Stanley discusses some pilot programs to better align incentives, including the patient-centered medical home model. Dr. William Anderson hosts.
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Guest: Richard Scheffler
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD
We have heard much about all of the problems facing American medicine today— the growing numbers of the uninsured, lack of physicians, and inefficient systems, to name a few. Dr. Richard Scheffler, professor of health economics and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and chair of healthcare markets and consumer welfare, endowed by the office of the attorney general for the state of California, offers a template for improving the overall efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the health care system. He joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt for a discussion on how to fix our broken healthcare system.
Guest: Richard Scheffler
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD
Can we quantify the physician shortage? What is the projection for primary care needs in the future as the population ages? Dr. Richard Scheffler,professor of health economics and public policy at the University of California, Berkeley, and chair in healthcare markets and consumer welfare, endowed by the office of the attorney general for the state of California, goes against the conventional wisdom that we are suffering from a shortage of doctors. He discusses his views of the healthcare crisis with host Dr. Leslie Lundt.
Guest: Jay Berkelhamer, MD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Vaccines are one of our greatest public health successes, yet the nation's vaccine financing and delivery system is failing. The number of new vaccines advised for our young patients has nearly doubled in the last 5 years, just as the cost to fully immunize a child has increased substantially. Is our system broken beyond repair, or is relief in sight? Dr. Jay Berkelhamer, senior vice president and chief academic officer at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, and past president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, joins host Dr. Jennifer Shu to talk about the pressing need for improvements in the mechanisms through which we pay and provide funding for vaccines.
Guest: W. David Hardy, MD
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
Dr. David Hardy, director of infectious disease at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, emphasizes that we already have methods for prevention of the HIV epidemic, especially among gay men and African-Americans. He tells host Dr. Maurice Pickard that, if implemented, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's new recommendation for testing, that does away with exceptionism, would go a long way towards diagnosing the 25 percent of cases in the United States that are not identified.
Guest: W. David Hardy, MD
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
A new test to differentiate recent from older HIV infections may help experts more accurately track prevention programs. Host Dr. Maurice Pickard is joined by Dr. David Hardy, director of infectious disease at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Dr. Hardy talks about new statistics from the CDC indicating significant increase in the diagnosis of HIV and AIDS in young men and African-Americans.
Guest: Matthew Golden, MD, MPH
Host: Cathleen Margolin, PhD
Guest: James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LL.M.
The CDC has suggested that expedited partner therapy for those with certain conditions such as sexually transmitted diseases is recommended. However, the act of providing medications or prescriptions without an exam or established relationship causes legal and professional concerns among physicians. What is the current legal situation for physicians providing expedited partner therapy? Join Dr. Cathleen Margolin as she talks with attorney James Hodge of the Center for Law and the Public’s Health / Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr. Matthew Golden, associate professor of medicine at University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Golden is also director of the STD Control Program for Public Health in Seattle and King Counties in Washington.
Guest: Matthew Golden, MD, MPH
Host: Cathleen Margolin, PhD
Guest: James G. Hodge, Jr., JD, LL.M.
For many years the treatment of those infected with sexually transmitted diseases has included recommendations for including the notification and treatment of partners. Lately medical researchers and legal minds are studying how patient’s partners are accessed and treated by the medical system. They are proposing more effective methods for disease prevention and control. Join Dr. Cathleen Margolin as she talks with attorney James Hodge of the Center for Law and the Public’s Health / Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Dr. Matthew Golden, associate professor of medicine at University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Golden is also director of the STD Control Program for Public Health in Seattle and King Counties in Washington.
Guest: John Jernigan, MD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Life-threatening Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections occur most frequently in healthcare settings among patients with weakened immune systems. What do clinicians need to know about preventing MRSA in hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis centers and other healthcare facilities? Dr. John Jernigan, chief of the interventions and evaluation section in the division of healthcare quality promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), delves into the debate over universal screening for MRSA, as well as contact precautions and decolonization regimens, with host Dr. Jennifer Shu.
Guest: John Jernigan, MD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is responsible for eight percent of all hospital-acquired infections in the United States, leading to upwards of 20,000 deaths per year. Several states have passed legislation mandating screening of hospital patients for MRSA. How effective are these screening programs? Dr. John Jernigan, chief of the interventions and evaluation section in the division of healthcare quality promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), talks with host Dr. Jennifer Shu about the CDC's role in controlling MRSA infections in healthcare settings.
Guest: James Webster, MD
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
Often, healthcare workers are unaware of the particular needs, expectations, and belief systems of minority groups. Dr. James Webster, professor of medicine at Northwestern University's Feinberg School of Medicine and president of the Chicago Board of Health, and host Dr. Maurice Pickard discuss the ways that gaps in understanding can adversely affect medical outcomes.
Guest: B. Rick Mayes, PhD
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD
Pediatric attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a controversial diagnosis and everybody has an opinion on medications like Ritalin. Dr. Rick Mayes, associate professor of public policy at the University of Richmond's department of political science and a faculty research fellow at the Petris Center on Healthcare Markets and Consumer Welfare at University of California, Berkeley, reminds us that this ongoing dialogue doesn't really reflect the scientific validity of ADHD and its treatment, but rather gives us a window into what happens when science is translated into public policy, rules and even the law. Dr. Leslie Lundt hosts.
Guest: B. Rick Mayes, PhD
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) holds the distinction of being the most extensively studied pediatric psychiatric disorder and one of the most controversial. Does the response from the public and from healthcare institutions impact our diagnosis and treatment of patients with ADHD? Dr. Rick Mayes, associate professor of public policy in the department of political science at the University of Richmond in Virginia, and a faculty research fellow at the Petris Center on Healthcare Markets and Consumer Welfare at the University of California, Berkeley, joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss how one community has improved care for their children with ADHD.
Guest: Devon Herrick, PhD
Host: Bruce Japsen
The drug bill for consumers continues to grow, but there are things they can do about it and doctors have ways of helping their patients in this regard. Dr. Devon Herrick, senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis, tells host Bruce Japsen about the latest developments doctors and their patients should be aware of when it comes to paying for their prescriptions, including how to be a smart shopper.
Guest: Devon Herrick, PhD
Host: Bruce Japsen
Telemedicine has been slow in moving toward acceptance, but a new study shows this concept is on the verge of taking off, as insurers and employers begin to take notice. Dr. Devon Herrick, senior fellow at the National Center for Policy Analysis in Dallas, tells host Bruce Japsen about the status of reimbursements for doctors wanting to do more telemedicine consultations and the general promise of this technology for doctors and their patients.
Guest: Aaron Carroll, MD
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
As a physician, will you be better off under a John McCain or a Barack Obama health plan? How about as a patient? Join host Dr. Bill Rutenberg and his guest Dr. Aaron Carroll, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine as they examine what's in store for us and our patients. Dr. Carroll shares with us his ideas for a better and more affordable healthcare system.
Guest: Aaron Carroll, MD
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
Who controls our professional lives? The policymakers do, of course. Join host Dr. Bill Rutenberg and his guest Dr. Aaron Carroll, associate professor of pediatrics and director of the Center for Health Policy and Professionalism Research at the Indiana University School of Medicine as they explore how healthcare policy is made. Dr. Carroll will discuss his work on the physician-pharmaceutical industry relationships and how doctors really feel about national health care.
Guest: Jeffrey Hageman, MHS
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Once thought to be a problem mainly in healthcare settings, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections are becoming increasingly common in the community. How can MRSA spread through the environment, and how can this spread be prevented? Jeffrey Hageman, an epidemiologist in the division of healthcare quality promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and a subject matter expert on MRSA infections, details the special considerations for managing MRSA in public settings, such as schools and athletic facilities. Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.
Guest: Jeffrey Hageman, MHS
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections have made news, closed schools and sometimes confused the public. How serious of a problem is MRSA in the community at large? How can we provide reliable and accurate information about MRSA to our patients? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National MRSA Education Initiative is a new resource that can arm physicians with answers. Jeffrey Hageman, an epidemiologist in the division of healthcare quality promotion at CDC and a subject matter expert on MRSA infections, joins host Dr. Jennifer Shu to share more about this countrywide program.
Guest: Jordan Berlin, MD
Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD
Cancer researchers used to work in silos and would not share information until it was accepted for publication. Multi-disciplinary, intra-institution and inter-institution research teams are challenging the status quo. Is this a good thing, and what are the challenges? Join host Dr. Bruce Bloom as he discusses these critical issues with Dr. Jordan Berlin, associate professor of medicine and clinical director of gastrointestinal oncology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Guest: Jordan Berlin, MD
Host: Bruce Bloom, DDS, JD
According to the American Society of Clinical Oncology, the United States is in the midst of the longest sustained period of flat federal funding for cancer research. In what ways does this lapse in financial support hinder our ability to find cures and save the lives of patients suffering from any of a range of illnesses? How does it impact the livelihood of our researchers? Host Dr. Bruce Bloom discusses these critical issues with Dr. Jordan Berlin, associate professor of medicine and clinical director of gastrointestinal oncology at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine.
Guest: William Jiranek, MD
Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD
Many countries around the world maintain a national joint registry, which collects evidence of successful trends in joint implantation, and provides opportunities to find areas for improvement in the procedures, devices and techniques we use. In the absence of a national system, as is the case in the United States, state-level programs may help us gather data. What are the keys to building a statewide joint registry? Dr. William Jiranek, associate professor of orthopaedics and chief of the adult reconstruction section of orthopaedic surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, currently leads a campaign across the state of Virginia to create a statewide joint registry. He joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill to share his perspective on his efforts in Virginia and the larger national issues at play.
Guest: William Jiranek, MD
Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD
Routine joint replacements are more common in the United States than in any other country. With each case, patient follow-up brings us evidence to measure the success of the surgery and to measure against other techniques and devices used for similar procedures. Are we collecting this data to the best of our ability? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill welcomes Dr. William Jiranek, associate professor of orthopaedics and chief of the adult reconstruction section of orthopaedic surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, to speak about the value of a national joint registry, as seen in other nations, including Sweden, Britain, Norway and Australia, which have adopted this concept. How do the overseas databases impact our approach to these surgeries? In the absence of nationwide data collection in the United States, how can we improve our outcomes?
Guest: William Jiranek, MD
Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD
One of your patients undergoes routine hip replacement surgery. Months later, you learn that they are now suffering with significant pain that appears to be secondary to the procedure. What's next for this patient? Is there a bona fide mechanism through which we can report both positive and negative procedural outcomes? Dr. William Jiranek, associate professor of orthopaedics and chief of the adult reconstruction section of orthopaedic surgery at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, outlines our need for a comprehensive joint registry to track surgical outcomes. Dr. Mark Nolan Hill hosts.
Guest: Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD
Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD
The Chicago metropolitan area is home to five adult heart transplant centers, equal to Philadelphia for the most in one city in the United States. Some say this figure is a tribute to the determination of Chicago's hospitals to collectively become a national leader in heart transplantation. Others believe this is a serious strategic gaffe. What are the key policy questions at hand? Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine, talks with host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill about the process of developing a transplant facility at a medical institution.
Guest: Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD
Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD
Heart transplants are among the most complex procedures in medicine. Without performing transplants on a consistent basis, it is argued that transplant teams may not be able to maintain the utmost level of precision requisite for care. In cities like Chicago, which has five transplant centers, are there factors preventing one or more of these hospitals from achieving the highest standard of care? Is there an efficient way to remedy the prospective dilemma for Chicago and other urban centers in a similar situation? Host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill considers the potential value of redundancy among these programs, and whether there is an ideal number of transplant centers for a major metropolitan area, with Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, professor of surgery and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine.
Guest: Anthony S. Fauci, MD
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health discusses the sentiments and mood after the XVII International Conference on AIDS at Mexico City. He emphasizes the need for societies and individuals to implement effective and multifaceted treatment and preventive programs, advance human rights, and invest in AIDS and health care systems. Can therapies that are already at our disposal help stop this pandemic? Hosted by Dr. Maurice Pickard.
Guest: Anthony S. Fauci, MD
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases at the National Institutes of Health speaks about the daunting challenges 25 years after the discovery of HIV as the pandemic continues to rage worldwide. In particular he describes the factors that have not made it possible to develop a vaccine despite our success in the past with this intervention in other viral illnesses. Hosted by Dr. Maurice Pickard.
Guest: M. Harvey Brenner, PhD
Host: Mary Leuchars, MD
As countries around the world feel the effects of America's major economic swoon, we recognize that the state of healthcare delivery is not immune to widespread financial woes. Several pertinent questions come to mind: how are public health policies affected? Are physician prescribing behaviors influenced? Do we see radical changes in accident- or disease-related mortality rates? Dr. Harvey Brenner, professor of public health at the University of North Texas School of Public Health, shares insights with host Dr. Mary Leuchars about the impact of economic stress on public health.
Guest: Diana Mason, RN, PhD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Guest: Charlene Richardson, RN
Every day, nurses are relating on a personal level with their patients. Undoubtedly, it can be a rewarding interaction, but when patients and their visitors are unhappy, nurses bear the brunt of the anger. Sometimes, this anger even turns to violence. What administrative resources can help you protect nurses and other healthcare workers, and are these resources accessible both at big hospitals and at small clinic institutions? Are there substantive and ongoing legislative efforts, on each level of government, to protect our safety? Dr. Diana Mason, a registered nurse and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Nursing, and Charlene Richardson, a registered nurse and an advocate for workplace safety, answer these questions and many more in their conversation with host Dr. Jennifer Shu.
Guest: Diana Mason, RN, PhD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Guest: Charlene Richardson, RN
Workplace violence against nurses occurs at an unacceptable rate in healthcare settings. Research and personal experience tells us that too many stories of violence go untold. How can individuals and healthcare facilities address and prevent workplace violence against nurses? Dr. Diana Mason, a registered nurse and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Nursing, and Charlene Richardson, a registered nurse and an advocate for workplace safety, share valuable insight into personal prevention and safety measures that will help mitigate these concerns. Dr. Jennifer Shu hosts.
Guest: Diana Mason, RN, PhD
Host: Jennifer Shu, MD, FAAP
Guest: Charlene Richardson, RN
Workplace violence in healthcare settings is a significant yet often underreported public health problem. Patients are most likely to commit these crimes. Nurses and mental health professionals are most commonly the victims. Within the workplace, where does violence occur most frequently? What are the key risk factors we can look for in working to put a stop to it? Host Dr. Jennifer Shu welcomes Dr. Diana Mason, a registered nurse and editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Nursing, and Charlene Richardson, a registered nurse and an advocate for workplace safety, for an important discussion about key aspects of the ongoing struggle to ensure the security and well-being of our nurses in healthcare venues.
Guest: Mark Herrmann, JD
Host: Larry Kaskel, MD
Guest Mark Herrmann tells us what it means when a prescription drug or medical device is described as "off-label". Mr. Herrmann also explains that a physician can legally prescribe any drug for any purpose and that his exposure for malpractice liability is based upon whether he met the legal "standard of care", not whether he complied with the drug or device's approved use as authorized by the FDA.
Guest: Mark Herrmann, JD
Host: Larry Kaskel, MD
Mark Herrmann, a partner at the internationally recognized law firm of Jones Day and a defense attorney for drug and device companies in product liability cases, discusses the legal concept of preemption. How does this doctrine protect drug and device manufacturers from tort litigation? Mr. Herrmann explains the preemption issue which is to be decided in a Supreme Court case later this year. He also outlines the public policy cited by supporters and detractors in this conversation with host Dr. Larry Kaskel.
Guest: Toni Mills
Host: Bruce Japsen
A term doctors and patients will increasingly hear about as a way to improve patient care and perhaps rein in costs, the medical home is gaining momentum, whether it receives mention within your local healthcare system or out on the presidential campaign trail with Senators Barack Obama and John McCain. Toni Mills, executive director of the Office of Clinical Affairs for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, explains how the group's member health plans are making efforts to encourage the medical home and to better the doctor-patient relationship. Bruce Japsen hosts.
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
Guest: Bertha Madras, PhD
Designed to engage the medical profession to screen patients for alcohol and drug abuse, SBIRT is a public health approach to early intervention and treatment for individuals at risk for developing these disorders. Dr. Bertha Madras, Deputy Director of Demand Reduction in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy joins host Dr. Bill Rutenberg to explain SBIRT: Screening, brief intervention, and referral to treatment. Is the program effective? How can a physician implement SBIRT into an already packed patient visit? Can a physician be reimbursed for the screening? Join us to find out.
Guest: Julie Salamon
Host: Leslie P. Lundt, MD
We know graft-versus-host disease is a common complication in transplant patients. How can this also be happening at an institutional level? Julie Salamon's recent book, Hospital-Man, Woman, Birth, Death, Infinity Plus Red Tape, Bad Behavior, Money, God and Diversity on Steroids, offers a glimpse of her year-long journey through Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, New York. Ms. Salamon joins host Dr. Leslie Lundt to discuss the complex cross-cultural implications of 21st century American medicine.
Guest: Thomas Saving, PhD
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
Give patients and providers incentives to manage costs. Teach patients to shop for healthcare and think twice before choosing unnecessary healthcare services. Incentivize patients to better manage their disease. These are some of the keys to funding our health care system according to our guest, Dr. Thomas Saving, director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University, trustee of the social security and Medicare trust fund and author of the book, The Diagnosis and Treatment of Medicare. Join us to learn how economic policy can help fund healthcare. Hear also Dr. Saving's health care policy suggestions for the next administration.
Guest: Thomas Saving, PhD
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
In 75 years ½ of GDP of this country will be in healthcare if we continue to pay the way we are now says our guest Dr. Thomas Saving, director of the Private Enterprise Research Center at Texas A&M University. Dr. Saving speaks with host Dr. Bill Rutenberg about alternative sources of healthcare funding. They discuss taxes, health savings accounts and individuals paying for their own healthcare. The current payment system does not provide rewards for efficiency.
Guest: Kristine A. Rapp
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
While relationships are changing between physicians and pharmaceutical companies, doctors still need pharma to provide direction with comparative drug efficacy, among other things. Kristine Rapp, vice president of global ethics and compliance at Hospira, Inc., speaks about the need for continuing medical education and other learning tools to be presented with impartiality and fairness. Dr. Maurice Pickard hosts.
Host: Roy Levit, MD
Guest: Paul Tornambe, MD
Dr. Roy Levit welcomes Dr. Paul Tornambe to The Revealing Retina. Dr. Tornambe is in private practice in the San Diego/La Jolla area, and has written over a dozen peer reviewed papers on vitreo retinal disease. He lectures worldwide and is a Journal Referee for the AJO, Archives of Ophthalmology, Retina, British Journal of Ophthalmology, and the German Journal of Ophthalmology. He is a past president of the American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Tornambe will discuss the fact that because most residents eventually become board certified, the overall certification rate for the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) is not a discriminating educational outcome measure. He will talk about resident performance from program match to certification.
Guest: Sam Nussbaum, MD
Host: Larry Kaskel, MD
While physician ranking systems are in their infancy, a California Healthcare Foundation survey showed upwards trends in the number of patients that are gathering information and selecting physicians based on these systems. How can a subjective, non-clinical ranking system have any legitimacy? The Chief Medical Officer of WellPoint, Dr. Sam Nussbaum, tells host Dr. Larry Kaskel how and where these systems add value both to the physician and to the patient and why they are here to stay. Hearing what a patient has to say about the physician experience may help you find ways to improve.
Guest: Michelle McMurry, MD, PhD
Host: Bruce Japsen
Will our outlook on health care change with the next President's administration? Dr. Michelle McMurry, director of the Health, Biomedical Science, and Society Policy Program at the Aspen Institute, shares questions and answers that the Institute gleaned from Senators John McCain and Barack Obama. Despite the candidates' differences on other issues, there are actually some key similarities. What are they? Find out more with host Bruce Japsen.
Guest: Michelle McMurry, MD, PhD
Host: Bruce Japsen
Beyond cost controls and care for the uninsured, we must address a number of other fundamental issues as part of any long-term fix for our healthcare system. The Aspen Institute Stewardship Project aims to do just that. Dr. Michelle McMurry, director of the Aspen Institute's Health, Biomedical Science, and Society Policy Program, tells host Bruce Japsen about the institute's bipartisan effort to focus the healthcare debate on these fundamental issues.
Guest: George Sheldon, MD
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
The Balanced Budget Act of 1997 limited the number of graduate medical education and residency positions. Is this act responsible for the physician workforce shortage? Dr. George Sheldon, professor of surgery at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine, uses the 'perfect storm' analogy to explain why healthcare workforce shortages continue to grow. Host Dr. Bill Rutenberg explores solutions to workforce shortages with Dr. Sheldon, including mini-medical schools, opening more residency positions, nursing doctorates and more.
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
Guest: William Gahl, MD, PhD
Guest: Stephen Groft, PharmD
Some patients wait years for a definitive diagnosis. Using a combination of scientific resources and medical expertise at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Undiagnosed Diseases Program now provides a place for physicians to refer patients when a diagnosis eludes them. In this segment, host Dr. Maurice Pickard, speaks with Dr. William Gahl, director of the Undiagnosed Diseases Program, and Stephen Groft PharmD, director of the Office of Rare Diseases at the NIH, about program logistics and resources, and the referral process for doctors.
Guest: David Johnson
Host: Maurice Pickard, MD
David Johnson, Managing Director of Citi’s Industry Leading Health Care Group, discusses how America's pride in individualism, faith in the market and a winning tradition may cause us not to address social inequities. We thus practice healthcare management rather than manage health. Join us for an interesting interview hosted by Maurice Pickard.
Guest: Leah Binder
Host: Bruce Japsen
Consumers are inundated with information about healthcare, whether they peruse the Internet or learn about it on television in their homes. Are some educational materials more effective in providing patients the information they seek? Leah Binder, chief executive officer of the Leapfrog Group, tells host Bruce Japsen about the information sources toward which you should guide your patients.
Guest: Geoffrey Joyce, PhD
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
In a fascinating conversation with Senior Medical Economist of the Rand Corporation, Geoffrey Joyce PhD, host Dr. Bill Rutenberg learns how economists value healthcare. How much is a year of life worth? What is the “Standard Gamble?” What are the differences in health care rationing between the United States and other countries? As the conversation continues they discuss the effectiveness of pharmacy benefit managers and Medicare Part D in managing healthcare costs.
Guest: Samantha Collier, MD
Host: Bruce Japsen
Having difficulty getting people on board for the quality improvement movement? Dr. Samantha Collier, the chief medical officer of HealthGrades, one of the nation’s largest independent healthcare ratings companies, tells host Bruce Japsen about how doctors and others need to get behind the rating movement before it's too late.
Guest: Tangerine Brigham
Host: Michael Greenberg, MD
Is healthcare for the working poor possible? Can a major American city afford it? Tangerine Brigham, deputy director of health with the San Francisco Department of Public Health, and director of the Healthy San Francisco program, says that it is. Host Dr. Michael Greenberg discusses the program as a preventative care medical home with Ms. Brigham, addressing its accomplishments, critics, and potential as a model for other localities.
Guest: Francois deBrantes
Host: Bill Rutenberg, MD
Many health plans have devised rating systems for physicians and some monetarily reward physicians based on performance. What are the criteria that make the physician rating systems as transparent and fair as possible? Which health plan providers are using the most accurate measures to evaluate physician quality? Where do these systems fail? Join host Dr. Bill Rutenberg to explore the issue of physician evaluation methodologies with our guest Francois deBrantes, CEO of Bridges To Excellence, a national not-for-profit designing programs to recognize physicians for quality care.
Guest: James King, MD
Host: Bruce Japsen
Family physicians are at the forefront of organized medicine's push to get their patients and U.S. consumers a medical home. But Dr. James King, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians tells the Chicago Tribune's Bruce Japsen about financial and legislative roadblocks to achieving this goal of a medical home that could not only provide better patient care but save the health-care system money and increase access.
Guest: Joel Ginsberg, JD, MBA
Host: Michael Greenberg, MD
The Gay and Lesbian Medical Association (GLMA) strives to ensure that quality health care is provided without discrimination. GLMA Executive Director Joel Ginsberg talks about their advocacy and education efforts, while offering insight into medical concerns of particular import to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals.