Disruptive Dialogue with Chuck Melendi

In Part 1 of this series, Doug Griesenauer and I laid out the problem: 42% of American households are financially struggling right now, not because they aren't working, but because the federal poverty level — a formula built on 1955 grocery data — still determines who qualifies for help in 2026. Now in Part 2, we get into what we actually do about it. Doug returns to walk through the things th...

Did you know that the federal poverty level was built on grocery price data from 1955 — and has never been updated to reflect how we live in America today? In this episode, Chuck sits down with Doug Griesenauer, VP of Community Impact at United Way Suncoast in central Florida, to unpack one of the most overlooked crises in our country: the gap between who our safety net programs offer to help and...

One in three Americans carries medical debt — and most of them have health insurance. In this episode, Chuck talks with Eva Marie Stahl of Undue Medical Debt about why insurance isn't protecting patients the way it should, what to do when the bills pile up, and how one nonprofit organization has abolished over $25 billion in medical debt for more than 14 million people . Eva brings more than t...

Private insurance companies are increasingly moving into veterans' healthcare and, according to health policy expert Dr. Rachel Madley, the consequences could reshape one of America’s most successful public healthcaresystems. In this week’s episode, Chuck welcomes Dr. Madley to talk about about the growing privatization of the VA through the Veterans Community Care Program and the VA Mission A...

The system controlling prescription drug pricing was designed to save money. Instead, it's costing employers billions. In this episode, Chuck sits down with Ryan Rice, CEO of Prism Health Group and former senior executive at Express Scripts and Navitas Health, for one of the most frank conversationsabout Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) you'll hear. Ryan’s firm has delivered over $1 billio...

Millions of seniors miss their Medigap window without knowing it. Healthcare veteran Chuck Melendi reveals what the insurance industry won't tell you — and what needs to change. What to Expect Every year, Americans turn 65 and unknowingly walk past one of the most important decisions in their healthcare future — the Medigap open enrollment window. Unlike Medicare Advantage, which has annual enroll...

What happens when Wall Street takes over your medical care? A routine childbirth used to cost $14,000. At the same hospital, after a private equity buyout? $40,000. Nothing about the care changed. Only the ownership did. In this episode, Chuck Melendi and Dr. Shawn Baca expose how private equity firms, insurance giants, and hospital consolidation have quietly taken over American healthcare —and wh...

How do different insurance plans impact what your doctor can do for you? Why does it feel SO hard? In this episode, Chuck sits down with Florida rheumatologist Dr Shawn Baca (http://www.rasf.com/shawn-baca-md-facr.html) with a front-line perspective on how insurance companies affect patient care, which plans are easiest to navigate, and why specialists are so frustrated. Dr. Baca shares insights f...

Healthcare one of the few growing sectors of the American workforce — yet we can’t find enough providers. Why? In this eye-opening conversation, Chuck sits down with Meredith Hirsh , host of Working Healthcare with Meredith Hirsh , and CEO and Vice President of the Hirsh Center for Arthritis & Sports Medicine . Her practice has 58 employees — but only 7 providers. It takes 11 just to support b...

For once, the healthcare headlines weren’t all bad. Today,  Chuck steps away from his usual format to break down the healthcare news from early February 2026 (last week!) —and why several developments may actually benefit patients . Drawing on 35 years inside the healthcare industry, Chuck explains what has changed, what it signals, and why these moments matter way beyond this news cycle. In this...

Behind every doctor visit is a complex financial system most patients never see—and it’s pushing physicians to the brink. In this eye-opening episode, Chuck sits down with OlgaKhabinskay, Director of Operations at WCH Service Bureau, to uncover the hidden reality of medical billing, insurance denials, AI-driven downcoding, and why doctors are leaving private practice . With more than 23 years of e...

How can hospitals break the law for years, while patients still pay the price? In this episode of Disruptive Dialogue, healthcare insider Chuck Melendi exposes the TRUTH behind the 2021 Hospital Price Transparency Rule and why it’s been basically ignored over the past 5 years. Despite thousands of hospitals being out of compliance, ONLY 27 have been fined in four years. Chuck breaks down how weak...

The Takeaway U.S. healthcare isn’t failing because reform is impossible—it’s failing because profits are prioritized over patients. With bipartisan support growing and successful state-level models already in place, meaningful reform is closer than most people realize. In This Episode In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with Wendell Potter , former health insurance executive turned leading heal...

In Part 1 of this two-part conversation, Disruptive Dialogue host Chuck Melendi sits down with Wendell Potter , former health insurance executive turned advocate and whistleblower, to examine how U.S. healthcare really works—and why it so often fails the people it was created to serve. Both Chuck and Wendell spent decades in senior healthcare leadership roles before leaving corporate careers to ex...

Today, Chuck is honored to introduce a couple who define devotion as they overcome insurmountable odds. Join us to experience daily life for Tracy Otto —Paralympic archer, disability advocate, and survivor of a horrific domestic violence assault —and her partner Ricky Riessle , her full-time caregiver, fellow survivor, and co-parent to their nine-month-old daughter, Rylee . Together, they join us...

Welcome back, disruptors! This week, Chuck sits down with consultant Dr. Seth Glickman , former Chief Medical Officer at Intermountain Health and Chief Health Officer for Blue Shield of California, to expose the hidden incentives and moral conflicts behind U.S. healthcare finance. Dr. Glickman shares what it’s like to lead inside major hospital and insurance organizations, why he ultimately walked...

This week, host Chuck Melendi sits down with Val Barschaw, author of the new book Surviving the Hospital: Six Secrets Every Patient Should Know and longtime patient advocate. Drawing from her husband’s decade-long journey to a heart transplant and more than 25 years of post-transplant care, Val reveals practical, life-saving strategies for anyone navigating a hospital stay. Her message is simple b...

Host Chuck Melendi talks with Chet Pietras and Ethel Owen about Medicare and Medicare Advantage coverage and how to make confident choices during open enrollment. They unpack the key differences between Medicare Advantage and Traditional Medicare , offering practical advice for seniorsand healthcare professionals alike. They share insights on plan costs, provider networks, and how to make smart, c...

Choosing health insurance doesn’t have to be overwhelming - but it can be! In this episode, Chuck is joined by health insurance advisor Chet Pietras , who brings 40+ years of experience helping individuals and families make smartcoverage decisions. Together, they cover: Open enrollment for 2026 (Nov 1 – Dec 15, 2025) The biggest mistakes people make when choosing a plan Key differences between HMO...

How do you cut through the complexity of U.S. private health insurance? In this episode of Disruptive Dialogue , Chuck shares actionable strategies to help you make faster and smarter choices, lower your costs, and take full advantage of the benefits you already pay for. Learn: Key timelines for open enrollment and when insurers release plan details Which preventive services are 100% covered at no...

In this episode of Disruptive Dialogue , Chuck continues hisHealthcare 101 series on private insurance. Healthcare literacy matters in our complicated system, and learning the basics makes all of us better consumers. Listen in! After recapping the basics of premiums, deductibles, and copays from the last episode, he dives into the barriers that keep patients from accessing the care they need—and h...

Welcome to Season 2 of Disruptive Dialogue – Healthcare 101 Healthcare literacy matters now more than ever. With open enrollment right around the corner, and insurance premiums on the rise, this season is your essential guide to becoming a smarter, more confident healthcare consumer. In this episode, Chuck breaks down the confusing world of health insurance—from skyrocketing premiums to enrollment...

Why are so many doctors leaving private practice? Why does it take so long to get an appointment? In the final episode of Season 1, Chuck Melendi is joined by Dr. Andrew Weinstein, President-Elect (2027) of the American Academy of Dermatology, to share how Medicare cuts—and the outdated Physician Fee Schedule—are quietly breaking the healthcare system at its heart . Dr. Weinstein explains how this...

In today’s episode, Chuck takes you through some of the biggest healthcare headlines shaking the nation. From shocking lawsuits to tragic losses, Chuck reveals how powerful insurance companies and PBMs are being held accountable –and how much more needs to be done to reign them in. Highlights include: ·      The FTC’s damning report on pharmacy benefitmanagers ·      BlackRock suing UnitedHealth—f...

An honest, intergenerational conversation about anxiety, parenting, and growing up in a world shaped by 24/7 news and screens. In this deeply personal episode, Chuck Melendi is joined by his 27 year old daughter Crosby for a revealing dialogue about mental health. They unpack Crosby’s journey with anxiety and depression—from early teenage struggles to breakthroughs in therapy—to explore how parent...