In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, Dr. Matthew Hurford, President and CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health at UPMC, discusses how UPMC is advancing mental health support across staff, providers, and communities. He highlights practical steps to move from awareness to action and addresses pressing challenges like youth mental health and social isolation.

In this episode of the Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast, Lukas Voss speaks with Whitney Eubanks, VP of Product Management at PointClickCare, about the sharp decline in Star Ratings across major health plans and what it means for the future of value-based care. Whitney unpacks the financial, operational, and patient care implications of slipping scores—and shares how real-time data and smarter care coordination can help plans close gaps, meet critical benchmarks, and regain their edge. Tune in for a candid conversation on what it really takes to reverse the trend and boost plan performance in a competitive landscape.

Sponsored by PointClickCare.

In this episode, Dr. Romilla Batra, SVP and Chief Medical Officer at Premera Blue Cross, discusses how she’s rethinking clinical strategy to align with the quintuple aim, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance equity. She also shares insights on empowering providers, removing barriers to care, and partnering with communities for better health outcomes.

In this episode, we explore how data analytics and clinical expertise can transform kidney health management for health plans. Joining the conversation is Joe Vattamattam, Founder and President of Healthmap Solutions, who shares insights on why tackling chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) is crucial. Tune in to learn how Healthmap leverages technology, clinical support, and innovative strategies to improve outcomes for patients and providers.

This episode is sponsored by Healthmap Solutions.

In this episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, Lukas Voss sits down with Mark Johnson, Senior Vice President at CERIS, to explore how payment integrity can significantly reduce billing errors and financial waste in healthcare. With up to 80% of medical bills estimated to contain mistakes, Mark shares how technology, process modernization, and strategic payer initiatives are making a meaningful impact. Tune in for insights on how payers can improve accuracy, streamline operations, and drive value across the payment lifecycle.

This episode is sponsored by CERIS.

In this episode, Melissa Skottegaard, Chief Communications Officer and Chair of The Cigna Group Foundation, shares how the organization is tackling youth mental health, veteran housing insecurity, and health equity through a data-driven, employee-powered community engagement strategy designed for deeper, more focused impact.

In this episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, Brook and Jocelyne from Verifiable dive into the critical connection between provider network growth, payer collaboration, and the modernization of credentialing systems. They explore how outdated legacy systems hinder patient access and provider onboarding, and share actionable strategies for healthcare leaders to improve compliance, reduce delays, and prepare for upcoming NCQA changes. With real-world examples — including Midi Health's rapid nationwide expansion — this discussion offers a forward-looking roadmap for building more efficient, scalable, and patient-centered networks.

This episode is sponsored by Verifiable.

In this episode, Dr. Ruchi Talwar, Medical Director of Episodes of Care Population Health at Vanderbilt Health, joins Jakob Emerson to discuss how provider-led bundled payment programs are improving outcomes, reducing costs, and delivering value for both employers and patients. She shares insights into Vanderbilt’s innovative “My Health Bundles” and their real-world success in reshaping specialty care.