The Strategy Catalyst Dispatch

CFOs and COOs are navigating one of the most turbulent years in recent memory since 2020. From historic Medicaid cuts to escalating battles with payers, health system leaders are bracing for financial, political, and reputational pressures that demand new strategies. In this episode of The Dispatch , we unpack the key themes from The Health Management Academy's 2025 CFO and COO forums: The fa...

As the Trump administration continues its tariff agenda, health systems are grappling with a new wave of disruption, spanning medical goods, supplies, capital infrastructure, and the pharmaceutical pipeline. In this episode of The Dispatch, hear from Jerome Pagani, Executive Director of Strategy Catalyst, who breaks down what this means for health systems, along with supply chain and procurement e...

This episode covers the Trump administration's rollout of reciprocal tariffs on 60 trading partners, followed by a 90-day pause after market turmoil, with health systems anticipating significant supply cost increases despite pharmaceuticals being initially exempted. The episode also discusses insights from a health strategy leadership forum, CMS's 5.1% Medicare Advantage rate increase fo...

Health systems are increasingly turning to virtual second opinions (VSOs) as a strategic lever to extend global reach, differentiate in competitive markets, and unlock long-term value. In this episode of The Strategy Catalyst Dispatch, we speak with Jarrett Fowler, Senior Director of Strategic and International Initiatives at NCHL and leader of USCIPP, a consortium supporting over 60 U.S. hospital...

This episode covers the merger between hospital-at-home operators Dispatch Health and Medically Home, which combines health system and payer-oriented products but raises questions about the combined company's loyalties and financial sustainability. The episode also discusses Stanford Health's partnership with midwife provider ULA to expand into Connecticut, private equity consolidation i...

This episode covers insights from the Strategy Catalyst Summit (Feb 2025), covering direct-to-employer healthcare partnerships, Washington policy shifts under Trump, cybersecurity threats, and urgent care strategies for improving payer mix. The episode also discusses Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly's direct-to-consumer GLP-1 delivery platforms, conservative estimates of $1.1 trillion in Medicaid i...

This episode covers the hospital-at-home market through interviews with leaders from Mass General Brigham, Mayo Clinic, Advocate Health, and Mount Sinai, highlighting how programs are diversifying revenue beyond Medicare and finding strategic value despite not reaching financial breakeven. The episode also covers Walgreens' potential private equity deal with Sycamore Partners, Teladoc's...

This episode covers breaking news about NIH's steep cuts to indirect cost rates for universities and medical centers, potentially creating $100+ million shortfalls for major research institutions, though a federal court has temporarily blocked the cuts nationwide. The episode also discusses Trump's 46 executive orders affecting healthcare through immigration enforcement at hospitals, vis...

This episode covers key insights from the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, where non-profit health systems focused on operational efficiency, strategic growth in pediatrics and outpatient care, and AI investments, while enhanced security reflected the impact of the UnitedHealthcare CEO shooting. The episode also discusses rising bankruptcies among PE-owned healthcare companies, semaglutide being...

This episode covers insights from the 2024 Fall CFO Forum, where 41 health system CFOs discussed priorities now closely aligned with strategy leaders, including workforce strengthening, care delivery efficiencies, and improved access, along with debates over hard versus soft ROI measurements for AI deployments. The episode also covers Amazon One Medical facing a wrongful death lawsuit that could i...

This episode covers breaking news about Walgreens reportedly in talks to sell itself to private equity firm Sycamore Partners, which could provide needed cash but also create financial pressures leading to potential bankruptcy. The episode also discusses the Biden administration's proposed rule expanding Medicare and Medicaid coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs to 7.4 million additional bene...

Chief Physician Executives (CPEs) are uniquely positioned to bridge clinical care and strategic goals. In our latest Heard Around the C-Suite episode, we highlight insights from The Health Management Academy’s Fall 2024 CPE Forum, where CPEs shared their approaches to technology adoption, innovative workforce models, cybersecurity, and leadership development. This episode brings strategy executive...

This episode covers the CSO Forum in Phoenix, where health system executives discussed revenue diversification and capital constraints, with key insights on prioritizing strategic initiatives and segmented care models. The episode also covers Forward's sudden shutdown despite raising $100 million due to its unsustainable $149 monthly subscription model, and the DOJ's lawsuit blocking Uni...

In today’s rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, health system CEOs have dozens of priorities on their plate—often simultaneously. While strategy leaders often work closely with their own CEOs, we wanted to bring you in the room to hear what CEOs from around the country are talking about and how they are grappling with their top priorities. Our inaugural audio episode of Heard Around the C-Suite...

This episode covers breaking news about Republican gains in recent elections potentially giving the GOP unified federal government control, which could impact healthcare policy on site-neutral payments, ACA reform, and public health initiatives. The episode also discusses Elevance Health's $2.7 billion acquisition of home health company CareBridge, the Sanford Health and Marshfield Clinic mer...

This episode features an interview with Cone Health CSO Chris Cornue about the system's decision to join Risant Health, driven by their long-term shift into value-based care and their pluralistic physician model that gained buy-in from both employed and affiliated providers across 14 specialties. The episode also covers resumed merger talks between Humana and Cigna that could create the secon...