Pop Health Podcast

Specialty care has long been one of the harder pieces of accountable care to operationalize. In this episode, Coral’s Joy Chen speaks with Theresa Dreyer, CEO of the Health Care Transformation Task Force, about what CMS’s Long-term Enhanced ACO Design, or LEAD, Model could mean for ACOs and specialty groups. They discuss why specialty engagement has been challenging across payer lines, how LEAD cr...

In this episode of Bright Spots, Coral’s Kate Freeman speaks with Beth Blaise, MPA, Director of State Programs at Truentity Health, about how Truentity’s ANCHOR model is working to expand access to care in rural and underserved communities. The conversation explores how community pharmacies, connected health infrastructure, and coordinated care models can help address persistent gaps in chronic di...

As accountable care models continue to evolve, organizations are increasingly being asked to engage specialists in more meaningful and coordinated ways. In this episode, Coral Health Advisor’s Joy Chen sits down with Aisha Pittman, Senior Vice President of Government Affairs at NAACOS; Dr. Erin Hurlburt, Chief Medical Officer of Population Health Services at Lumeris; and Dr. Gene Quinn, Chief Exec...

In this episode of The Pop Health Podcast, Brian Lobley, CEO of tango, sits down with Coral Founder Meg Koepke to discuss how post-acute care is evolving and why the home is becoming the preferred setting for recovery after hospitalization. Brian shares how tango is aligning payers and home health providers through value-based approaches that prioritize faster access to care, better outcomes, and...

In this episode of the Pop Health Podcast, Coral's Maria Alexander and Joy Chen welcome Meredith Yinger, Model Lead for the Innovation Center’s LEAD (Long-term Enhanced ACO Design) Model and Emily Bezold, Senior Advisor to the Center’s ACO portfolio. Together, they explore more about the mission and vision for LEAD, how the model came to fruition, the Center’s rationale for key design feature...

In this episode of the Pop Health Podcast, Coral's Trevor Abeyta is joined by Araceli Santistevan, Payment Reform Unit Supervisor at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, and Andy Wilson, Managing Director for Analytics at Third Horizon Strategies. Together they discuss Colorado Medicaid’s APM 2 primary care capitation model, exploring what has worked, key challenges su...

In this episode, Melissa Cohen, Founder of Coral Health Advisors, is joined by Maria Alexander, EVP & Partner, and Joy Chen, Director, to unpack CMMI’s newest accountable care model — LEAD (Long-term Enhanced ACO Design). Together, they explore how LEAD builds on MSSP and ACO REACH, what’s actually new (and what’s familiar), and how ACOs should start thinking about readiness, risk, and strateg...

As 2025 comes to a close, CMS signals are becoming clearer across rural health, specialty care, chronic care, prevention, and accountable care. In this end-of-year episode, Coral Founder Meg Koepke is joined by Maria Alexander, Kate Freeman, and Trevor Abeyta to unpack what the latest federal models reveal about where policy and accountability are heading in 2026 and beyond. They discuss what RHTP...

The Rural Health Transformation Program represents a $50 billion investment in the future of rural health care. In this episode, Coral Directors Kate Freeman and Trevor Abeyta are joined by Caitlin Westerson, Senior Director for State Policy and Advocacy at United States of Care, to explore what this program means for states, providers, and communities. Together, they unpack the opportunities and...

GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have quickly moved from niche treatments to the center of high-stakes conversations across payers about cost, access, and coverage. In this episode, Coral Partner Alison Falb talks with Laura Rudder Huff, Vice President at Gallagher Research & Insights, about how the rise of GLP-1s is shaping employer benefit strategies, equity considerations, and poli...

In this episode, Coral’s Founder Meg Koepke talks with Alison Falb about her journey from CMS to FDA to Coral. We explore current policy trends and challenges in Life Sciences –what they mean for organizations navigating drug pricing reforms, coverage, and access challenges. 

In this episode, Coral’s Kate Freeman and Trevor Abeyta talk with Megan Burns and Carol Sakala about CMS’s Transforming Maternal Health (TMaH) model, lessons from value-based maternity care, and strategies states can use to improve maternal health outcomes.

In this episode, Melissa Cohen is joined by Coral Health Advisors’ Alison Falb and Joy Chen to break down key updates for ACOs in the CY 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Proposed Rule and explore the new mandatory Ambulatory Specialty Model. 

In this episode, Partner and EVP with Coral Maria Alexander talks with Dr. Michael Zaplin and David Taback of Inpatient Physician Management Services (iPMGMT) – a hospitalist and SNFist network – about how they partner with ACOs and risk-bearing entities to improve patient outcomes and experience and manage total cost of care.  

CMS rolled out major updates to the ACO REACH Model for Performance Year 2026, with new policies affecting benchmarks, risk scores, and quality incentives. Joining us is guest expert Noah Champagne from Milliman, who will share insights on the key reforms and what they mean for the field. We break down what’s changing, why it matters, and what it could mean for ACOs and the future of value-based c...

In this special episode, Coral’s Meg Koepke and Melissa Cohen break down the newly released CMS Innovation Center strategy, exploring what we heard and what it could mean for the future of health care transformation.  CMS Innovation Center Strategy to Make America Healthy Again  

In this episode, Coral’s Director, Kate Freeman sits down with Hope Glassberg and Shira Hollander to unpack the challenges, promising prospects, and public policy that could support caregivers.  Recognizing and Supporting Informal Caregivers: A Key to a More Sustainable Health System   Decipher Health website   Tripp Hollander website   Caregiving Health Engagement Scale   "Hospital at Home&q...

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily Brower, President and CEO of the National Association of ACOs, and Mara McDermott, CEO of Accountable for Health, for a deep dive into the current state of value-based care. Emily and Mara reflect on recent policy developments, emerging trends, and the challenges their members face in advancing accountable care. They also share where they’re seeing alignment,...

In this episode, we explore the new Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM) with Rob Mechanic and Jennifer Perloff from the Institute for Accountable Care. They discuss the model’s implications for value-based care, the Institute’s analysis, and the tools available to support its adoption.  Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM)   Mandatory Medicare Bundled Payment and the Futur...

In our first episode of the new year, we explore what ACOs can anticipate in 2025. Featuring insights from Milliman experts Noah Champagne and Cory Gusland, we cover changes to the ACO REACH financial methodology and considerations for ACOs considering a move from REACH to MSSP.   Seeking a Partner for Accountable Care  Building Resilient, High-Performing Networks of Care   PY2025 ACO REACH RTA ta...

The Pop Health Podcast talks final Physician Fee Schedule Rule, what to watch for in new MA policy, and more as the cast out 2024 and look forward to 2025. Key Takeaways from the CY2025 Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule — Coral Health Advisors CMS Fact Sheet: Contract Year 2026 Policy and Technical Changes to the Medicare Advantage Program, Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Program, Medicare Cost...

The Pop Health Podcast meets with Vinay Aggarwal and Aditya Thaduri from AvvaCare about their solution and support for dementia care after a brief discussion of what to expect when you’re expecting the final PFS rule. Notes: GUIDE Model fact sheet: Guiding an Improved Dementia Experience (GUIDE) Model Overview Factsheet (cms.gov)   Alzheimer’s Association Evidence Based Dementia Care: Health Syste...

The Population Health Podcast talks with Jeff Davis from McDermott+ about the recent mandatory models, the future of MACRA, the need for PTAC reform and more. Notes: Subscribe to Regs & Eggs here: https://www.mcdermottplus.com/blog/regs-eggs/ Learn more about Jeff: https://www.mcdermottplus.com/professionals/jeffrey-davis/ Check out McDermottPlus: https://www.mcdermottplus.com/

Maria Alexander from the Population Health Podcast talks with Aisha Pittman, of NAACOS and the Alliance for Value Based Patient Care, about current congressional interest in Medicare physician payment, quality reporting and incentives, and accountable care.  For more on the Alliance for VBC: https://valuebasedcare.org/ To read the NAACOS Senate Finance Response visit: https://www.naacos.com/wp-con...

The Pop Health Podcast sits down with Renee Hungerford and Scott Dillingham to discuss the partnership between Community Action of Orleans and Genesee and Continual Care Solutions to build a comprehensive data ecosystem for CBOs and the implications for this moment in health care with the growing use 1115 waivers to establish and support social networks of care. Additional information on today’s g...