Podnosis

Dermatology may not be a specialty traditionally associated with high costs, but that is changing, in part because of the rise of new biologic drugs. Specialty medications are rapidly driving up dermatology spending, with some estimates showing utilization growing more than 30% year over year, a pace that rivals other high-cost therapeutic areas. Could strong health outcomes be achieved with a les...

Dual-eligible members are often described as the most complex population in health care, and many health plans continue to struggle with how best to support them. In this sponsored episode of Podnosis, Darin Buxbaum, co-founder and CEO of Wider Circle, joins host Chris Hayden to discuss why traditional engagement and enrollment models frequently miss the mark. Buxbaum explains how a lack of trust,...

The buzz around artificial intelligence in healthcare hasn’t waned, and for major companies to keep up, they must invest in key applications. For the biggest firms, that translates to hundreds of use cases in practice and testing. At Elevance Health, that work is grounded in a key mantra: keep the member at the center.  In this episode of "Podnosis," Senior Writer Paige Minemyer sat dow...

Colorectal cancer rates are rising rapidly among young people worldwide. Experts expect it to become the leading cause of cancer death among people ages 20 to 49 by 2030. Younger patients are also more likely to be diagnosed at later stages. In 2019, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute launched its Young-Onset Colorectal Cancer Center. The center is pioneering a specialized model of care to address and s...

With all the talk about generative AI over the past few years, the conversation in healthcare has largely shifted away from less flashy use cases, such as automating administrative tasks. But doing the basics well remains key to minimizing missed appointments, delayed treatments and lost revenue.  PocketHealth automates nonclinical workflows for providers, from image release and scheduling to...

On January 1, CMS launched its latest alternative payment model: TEAM, the Transforming Episode Accountability Model. The mandatory program requires hundreds of acute care hospitals to participate in episode-based payments for five common, high-cost surgeries. TEAM's goal is central to value-based care: improve quality while reducing Medicare spending. But the model has faced industry resistance....

Employers are in a tough spot. Healthcare costs are rising, while insurance plan options may seem overwhelming or inadequate. The need for real value has never been more apparent. What if there were a way to optimize an existing provider network for quality? Garner Health helps employers address these pain points. By finding the best-performing doctors in a given network and incentivizing members...

Since the Trump administration took office in January, healthcare policy has been moving quickly, with changes touching Medicaid funding, ACA subsidies, hospital finances and the federal government’s approach to health technology. This week on "Podnosis," we’re bringing you a recording from a live roundtable at the Fierce Health Payer Summit on Dec. 4, where members of the Fierce Healt...

Each year, Fierce Healthcare’s Women of Influence special report asks a simple question: Who is actually reshaping healthcare from the inside? This year brought a record number of nominations and a list that reflects how broad that influence has become, across health systems, payers, tech, policy and advocacy. In this episode, Fierce Healthcare's Heather Landi and Paige Minemyer talk about w...

It’s been a buzzy few years for prescription digital therapeutics, marked by bankruptcies, reimbursement policy changes and AI advancements.  At their best, DTx solutions can offer a more personalized, convenient and cost-effective care experience. But barriers to adoption remain. What are they, and what’s being done about them? Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya explores thes...

Conduent is leaning into artificial intelligence to help clients navigate budget constraints, improve service quality and streamline operations, according to Mandy Huckaby, vice president and general manager of customer experience management. Speaking on Fierce Healthcare’s Podnosis podcast, Huckaby said the company is focused on helping clients “do more with less” by integrating...

With the longest government shutdown in U.S. history as a backdrop, for-profit providers and payers detailed the continued regulatory uncertainty and pressures on their businesses in the third quarter.  In this episode of "Podnosis," Editor Dave Muoio and Senior Writer Paige Minemyer break down the key trends for the third quarter, including how insurers shed light on strategic priorities, th...

In a recent episode of Podnosis , Dr. Jerilyn Morrissey, chief medical officer at CorroHealth, called for a strategic overhaul in how hospitals approach clinical documentation and payer denials. “Documentation has become the battlefield where clinical, financial and payer priorities collide,” Morrissey said. Tracing the evolution of medical records from ancient Egypt to modern electron...

Florida is among the  fastest-growing  states in the U.S. Demand for healthcare is also growing. Predicting community needs can help organizations be better prepared to serve patients.   To understand what health systems in Florida are thinking about when it comes to architecture and design, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks to Michael Compton, director of healthcare...

The hype around artificial intelligence in healthcare has yet to fizzle out. The technology offers a significant opportunity for healthcare organizations to reduce complexity and inefficiencies in the system. However, there are plenty of risks to navigate, too.  In this episode of "Podnosis," Senior Writer Paige Minemyer sits down with Sandeep Dadlani, CEO of Optum Insight and former chief te...

In this sponsored episode of Podnosis , host Chris Hayden speaks with Dr. Jigar Patel, Chief Medical and Product Officer at Claritev, about one of healthcare’s biggest financial blind spots—revenue leakage. Dr. Patel explains why hospitals often lose up to 15–25 cents of every revenue dollar through inefficiencies, under-optimized contracts, and fragmented data systems. He shares...

There is a newer wave of middlemen in the self-insured market: alternative funding programs.  The for-profit vendors claim to help employers save money on expensive specialty medications by obtaining them for free or at a steep discount through alternative sources. While they may sound promising, some healthcare experts describe them as sneaky, harmful to patients and in a gray zone ethically...

Amid a breakneck pace of regulatory changes under the Trump administration, healthcare stakeholders are scrambling to keep up. Experts are sharing learnings and doing their best to understand how the policies of today affect the sector. Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya chats with two executives with a front-row seat to those conversations: Maria Ghazal, CEO of the Healthcare Leadership Counc...

Millions of Americans are affected by cancer each year. For many , hair loss is among the most distressing side effects of chemotherapy treatment, causing some to put off or refuse chemo. A revolutionary technology exists: scalp cooling, which involves wearing a cold cap during treatment to restrict blood vessels and reduce how much chemo reaches the hair follicles. Rossalynn Ripper, a breast canc...

Payment integrity is top of mind as insurers face growing pressure to eliminate fraud, waste and abuse. Successful programs require investment in technology and expertise to analyze trends and identify abnormalities. The team at Optum Insight works closely with insurers across the healthcare system to examine this data In this episode of "Podnosis," Fierce Healthcare senior writer Paige Minemyer s...

The Democratic Women’s Caucus, a coalition of 96 lawmakers, advocates for women’s economic prosperity, healthcare access and safety. In this week’s episode of "Podnosis," Fierce Healthcare staff writer Emma Beavins speaks with Rep. Teresa Leger Fernández of New Mexico and Rep. Kelly Morrison of Minnesota about their policy agenda, including the impact of Medicaid cuts, the...

Lawmakers are turning up the heat on pharmacy benefit managers, with more than 1,500 bills introduced this year targeting drug costs, utilization rules and pharmacy networks. In the latest episode of Podnosis , Wes Hill, senior director at RxBenefits, said rising drug prices and pressure from constituents are driving the surge. While federal movement has been limited, states are advancing legislat...

Medication nonadherence is not new, but it remains a persistent, complex problem. Adherence rates hover near 50% —roughly the same as two decades ago—as companies explore new ways to engage patients and help them stick to treatment regimens. AdhereHealth combines technology with care navigators to identify at-risk patients and help them consistently access their prescriptions. In this...

What are the main challenges hospitals face today? And how can they begin to get their arms around them while centering patients in their decision making?  In this episode of "Podnosis," Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks to Janina Beilner, SVP of healthcare at Siemens, about how the company helps hospitals use technology in a thoughtful way to improve their infrastructure, operati...

Hope, when applied with purpose and action, can be a powerful force for driving change in healthcare. That’s the philosophy of Eugene Woods, CEO of Advocate Health and a 2025 Fierce 50 honoree, who joins Ayla Ellison, Editor-in-Chief of Fierce Life Sciences & Healthcare, to share how he puts “Applied Hope” into practice. Woods explains how this approach combines optimism with...