The ACO Show

Graduates of the Aledade FIRST Program, Dr. Boone Marois and Dr. Breanna Heard-Pinho, reflect on their experiences in the program and how it helped prepare them to practice value-based medicine. Dr. Heard-Pinho, Family Medicine Physician in Vicksburg, Mississippi, shares how Aledade FIRST taught valuable practice management skills, as well as held in-depth discussions of value-based care not taugh...

In this episode, Sean Cavanaugh and Josh Israel discuss the complexities of caring for patients who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. They are joined first by Melanie Bella, whose prior roles include former Director of Indiana Medicaid, Director of the CMS Medicare-Medicaid Coordination Office and EVP at Cityblock, and are then joined by Aledade’s Mohamed Arif, and Lahila Pitts. They...

Casey Korba, Director of Policy at Aledade, walks us through regulations that were announced along with the 2025 CMS Medicare Physician Fee Schedule, including updates to the Medicare Shared Savings Program. Casey and our host Sean Cavanaugh, who is the former Director of the Center for Medicare, explain policy changes that will support value-based care, including changes to payments for some prev...

In this episode, we sit down with Traci Spence, the Chief Operating Officer of Blue Ridge Community Health Center in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Traci shares her  experience managing a health center during a catastrophic hurricane that left the region without power, water, or infrastructure. Despite these overwhelming challenges, Traci and her team found creative solutions to continue serving...

Join Dr. Judy Zerzen-Thul as she explains how the Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network (HCP LAN) brings together clinicians, health systems, and payers in a partnership aimed at transitioning from fee-for-service to value-based care models. Dr. Zerzen-Thul is the Chief Medical Officer at Washington State Health Care Authority, and Co-Chair of the LAN Executive Forum. She discusses how v...

In this episode of the Aledade ACO Show, hosts Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh speak with Brenda Fore from the East Asheville Family Health Care Clinic and Ashley Austin from Aledade about the impact of Hurricane Helene on their community. They share firsthand accounts of the challenges faced when clinics lost power and water, and how healthcare providers adapted to continue serving patients amidst...

In this episode of the ACO Show, host Sean Cavanaugh and Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, sit down with Dr. Ayanna Bennett, Director of DC Health. They dive into the multifaceted role of public health, discussing everything from community health initiatives to tackling local challenges like pest control. Dr. Bennett shares her journey from private practice to public health leadership and emphasizes...

In this episode of the ACO Show, hosts Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh recount their summer road trip, along with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, part 2, visiting primary care practices across America. From camping in Moab to meeting health care leaders in places like Glenwood Springs, CO and St. George, UT they explore the diversity of value-based care primary care delivery. The episode highlights...

In this season premiere of the ACO Show, hosts Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh recount their summer road trip, along with Aledade CEO Farzad Mostashari, visiting primary care practices across America. From camping in Moab to meeting health care leaders in places like Mexico, Missouri, and Salina, Kansas, they explore the diversity of value-based primary care delivery. The episode highlights how com...

Join Josh Israel and Sean Cavanaugh in the season finale of the ACO Show, recorded live at Aledade’s North Carolina Value Summit. They engage with three primary care physicians—Dr. Wayne Haga, Dr. Mark McNeill, and Dr. Art Apolinario—about their success in value-based care and how they are using their increased revenue to improve patient care. Submit your questions, comments, or episode ideas to a...

Dr. Farzad Mostashari, CEO of Aledade, is joined by Dr. Mark McClellan and Bob Kocher to reflect on the past decade of health care reform, and the early days of Aledade and accountable care organizations (ACOs). Dr. McClellan, director of the Duke Margolis Institute for Health Policy at Duke University, discusses the evolution of legislative policy, sharing how bipartisan efforts led to the integr...

 In this episode, Sean Cavanaugh and Dr. Josh Israel sat down with Travis Broome, Aledade’s SVP of Policy and Economics, to understand CMS’ new ACO Flex Model. Whether you're a healthcare professional or simply interested in the future of healthcare policy, this episode provides a comprehensive look at the ACO Flex Model's potential to transform care delivery. Travis explains how this new model ca...

From understanding the fundamentals to exploring new innovations and challenges, join us as Dr. Efrem Castillo, Senior Vice President for Medicare Advantage at Aledade, shares his experience with Medicare Advantage. Dr. Castillo explains the nuances for both patients and providers, including benefits beyond traditional Medicare, network limitations, utilization management, and the STARS program. D...

From navigating insurance barriers to addressing the stigma, this episode dives into timeless issues surrounding obesity treatment, as well as the promise and challenges of new medications like Ozempic. Josh and Sean are joined by Dr. Darrin Menard, a family practice physician in Scott, Louisiana, who shares insights from his personal experience with weight loss alongside his professional expertis...

Dr. Lonnie Robinson from Regional Family Medicine in Mountain Home, Arkansas explains the challenges surrounding prior authorization faced by both practices and insurance providers, and how this inspired him to become involved in state health policy advocacy. Hear how Dr. Robinson, drawing inspiration from Texas’ “gold card” approach, worked with Aledade’s policy committee and state legislators to...

Join our hosts along with Dr. Farzad Mostashari on this episode as they dive into CMS's update on the Medicare value-based care strategy. From discussing alignment and growth to equity in healthcare, they provide insights and suggestions for the future of accountable care. Read the update here: Update On The Medicare Value-Based Care Strategy: Alignment, Growth, Equity   Submit your questions, com...

Explore the dynamic landscape of healthcare and technology with hosts Josh and Sean on the ACO Show. Guests Rosemary Weldon and Ritwik Tewari, from Aledade, share their expertise as they discuss the challenges and innovations shaping the industry, including the advancements in technology that help improve patient care.

Join us for a story tracing the origins and evolution of Community Health Center, Inc. Mark Masselli, president and CEO of Community Health Center, Inc. in Middletown, CT, alongside Charles Barber, Writer-in-Residence at Wesleyan University, guide listeners through the enthralling narrative depicted in  Barber's book, "Peace & Health." Explore the beginnings of the Health Center amidst the bac...

Dive into Aaron McKethan's journey from policy nerd to healthcare innovator at Aledade Plus, improving patient care and reducing costs.

Explore the impact and solutions of the Change healthcare cyber crisis with expert analysis and firsthand accounts.

Dive into the world of community health centers and value-based care with Tracy Causey, CEO of Capital Area Health Network in Virginia and Kevin Van Dyke, executive director of Aledade in Virginia. Hear their experience navigating multiple value-based contracts and integrating behavioral health services with primary care. Learn how more accessible patient health data and dynamic support has helped...

Sean and Josh are joined by Rachel Lively, Vice President of Community Health Center Operations at Valley Health, to discuss her experience providing substance use treatments to patients in West Virginia. Rachel shares challenges and successes involving decreasing stigma around substance use disorders, the evolution of treatment methods, and the critical role that CHCs can play in providing indivi...

Explore the transformative power of ACOs with Nick Phillis from Florida, revealing positive impacts on patient care and healthcare delivery.

Explore tangible initiatives for health equity with Tamara Thomas, VP of Equity and Inclusion at Aledade

Josh and Brian are joined by Wes Edwards, Chief Financial Officer of Med First Primary & Urgent Care in North Carolina. Wes discusses his clinic’s success with value-based care, the financial sustainability of value-based care models, and the crucial link between exceptional patient care and financial outcomes. Plus, a special farewell as Brian says goodbye to the ACO Show.