Inside Healthcare from Fulcrum Strategies

What will healthcare look like in 2026—and how will it impact physicians and patients? This episode reveals the strategies insurance giants and policymakers are deploying, and what it means for your practice and community. Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, changes to the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, and why the payers are going to push on provider gr...

In this episode of Inside Healthcare, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon delve into the complexities of healthcare costs and insurance denials. They discuss the financial incentives that drive insurance companies to deny claims and Ron's recent appearance on ‪CBS Sunday Morning‬ . Listen : Matthew and Ron talk to Dr. Dan Hurley about his cancer diagnosis and subsequent insurance denials Watch : Why...

On this episode of Inside Healthcare, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss the Affordable Care Act subsidies that were at the heart of the record long government shutdown. What do they do? Who are they for? And is it really “free” healthcare? All questions Ron and Matthew answer. Plus they take a look at a reform plan from Oscar Health CEO Mark Bertolini. LIVE stock prices: Oscar Health - $OSC...

Join Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley as they break down the latest in healthcare costs during the ongoing government shutdown. In this episode, they explore four GOP-backed compromise solutions and what they mean for consumers, while analyzing why fully insured plan premiums are projected to rise by 11%. Stay informed on healthcare trends, policy updates, and practical insights for navigating ris...

The US Senate could not agree on a budget and as a result, the government has entered a partial shutdown. We’ll talk about what healthcare spending will continue and what problems may arise at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Plus: What are those Affordable Care Act subsidies that Democrats are so concerned about? Listen wherever you get your podcast or watch us on Substack and YouT...

Fulcrum Strategies President and CEO Ron Howrigon breaks down the problems with the "Make America Healthy Again" (or MAHA) movement. It's not that the goals and sentiment aren't good; it's that the process is extremely flawed. Listen wherever you get your podcast or watch us on Substack and YouTube . Learn more about what Fulcrum Strategies can do for your practice at FSDOC.com. This is a public e...

Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley are back with healthcare analysis and discussion on Inside Healthcare from Fulcrum Strategies. In this episode, Ron and Matthew discuss claims by current Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. that there are no impending cuts to Medicaid and what physicians are really facing as a result of the Big Beautiful Bill. They also discuss the sudden cha...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon discuss the life of the late Dr. Dan Hurley with his wife Dr. Traci Hurley, his sister Christine, and his brother Tom. They shared memories of his life and why he fought so hard for transparency in our healthcare system. Matthew and Ron spoke to Dr. Hurley last year on the FLATLINING Podcast after he was...

On the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies this week, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley a recent PBS News report on the shortage of pediatric physicians.  Is the mainstream media finally seeing what patients have been experiencing for years?  How do we ensure that we will have enough doctors to take care of us in the future? --- Articles mentioned in this program: The causes and consequences...

On the  FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies  this week, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss what sort of healthcare platforms Vice President Kamala Harris could advocate as the new Democratic nominee.  They also discuss a recent interview Ron gave with New York Magazine on automatic insurance denials.   -- Further reading: Where Kamala Harris Stands on Key Healthcare Issues - Medpage T...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon discuss how the Supreme Court overturning Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. could affect healthcare down the road.  There is a possiblity that it could dictate how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services detirmine Medicare reimbursement, whether or not the Food and...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon have a conversation with universal healthcare advocate Wendell Potter.  They discuss Wendell's decision to get out of the insurance business and become an advocate for affordable healthcare for all Americans. Wendell Potter was a VP level executive at Cigna before he left in 2008.  He now advocates fo...

Next week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon talk to former Cigna executive Wendell Potter about the feasibility of universal healthcare in the United States. --- Listen to the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies wherever you listen to podcasts and have every episode delivered to your email by subscribing at www. FLATLINING.net. Follow Matthe...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon have a conversation with Gus Geraci, MD about the challenges of reforming healthcare. Dr. Gaspere Geraci has more than thirty-five years of clinical, process, and quality improvement experience.  He has worked as a physician, recruiting physicians and working with insurance companies.  You can find mo...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon discuss several healthcare-related news items and how they affect patients and providers.  They discuss for-profit HMO’s being banned from participating in Minnesota Medicaid products.  They also discuss the economic impact and future of insurance coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Wegovy an...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley sit down with Lou Tharp to discuss patient-centered healthcare and patient advocacy.   Lou Tharp is the co-founder and executive director of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on improving the quality of life for those living with chronic diseases such as arthriti...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley take a look back at the last 20 years of Fulcrum Strategies.  They discuss why Ron left his employment with the payers and began working with physicians and what has changed in the last twenty years.  They also take a look at what might change in the future. Listen to the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum S...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley break down testimony from the Congressional hearings about the Change Healthcare cyber attack.  On May 1, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty was in the hot seat as senators and representatives grilled him on the impact to patients and providers.  Ron and Matthew break it down in a way that is easy to und...

On today’s episode of the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, President and CEO Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley talk to John Scagnelli, MD, about multiple sclerosis.  This disease has no known cause and no known cure, but there have been some incredible advancements in treatment over the past few decades. Dr. Scagnelli specializes in Multiple Sclerosis and Adult Neurology at Raleigh Neuro...

Next week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, President and CEO Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley are joined by John Scagnelli, MD of Raleigh Neurology.  They will be discussing multiple sclerosis, a devastating disease with no known cause and no known cure.  But there is hope.  Recent research has created new advancements in treatment.  You won’t want to miss this episode of the FLA...

On today’s episode of the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, President and CEO Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss some of the most pressing topics affecting physicians and their patients.   In this episode, they discuss: •    UnitedHealth Group admits they paid the ransom for the Change Healthcare cyber attack •    The Justice Department sets up an online portal for people to report...

This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew and Ron discuss the news that UnitedHealth Group posted a $1.4 billion loss in quarter 1 of 2024 following the Change Healthcare cyber attack.  They talk about whether or not providers should care about news such as this. Then, they discuss a new law going into effect in California that ups the minimum wage for healthcare workers...

Today on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley take a look at some of the latest healthcare news.  First, they discuss changes to the Medicare Advantage rates published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; they explain why insurers are saying out of pocket expenses will go up for seniors.  Ron and Matthew also discuss Home Depot’s decision t...

Today on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon have a conversation with Matthew Stephens, MD, a board certified radiologists at Radiology of Indiana. Dr. Stevens, Matthew, and Ron discuss the exciting topic of artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly AI's influence in radiology.  They discuss what some of the pitfalls are of using the new techn...

In this episode of the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss Congress’ late fix to eliminate part of the cut to Medicare physician fee schedule.  They also discuss a recent report about a whistleblower case that alleges major accountable care organization Aledade engaged in serious Medicare fraud. -- Follow Matthew on X and LinkedIn . Follow Ron on Li...