In this episode, meet Kelsie Brandt, Chief Clinical Officer at Nest, as she discusses the launch of Nest Origin, a new comprehensive prenatal, postpartum, and infant care program for Medicaid families. Kelsie explains her background in pediatric nursing and the critical role caregivers play in child and infant health. The conversation delves into the challenges Medicaid mothers face, the structure and benefits of the Nest Origin program, and its potential to significantly improve maternal and infant healthcare outcomes. Learn how this initiative, supported by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation and evaluated by UPenn, aims to create a positive shift in healthcare for vulnerable mothers and families.

In this special report episode recorded on February 11th, the Health Tech Nerds team dives into the key takeaways from Humana's recent earnings call. The discussion covers Humana's 25% growth in their individual Medicare Advantage book. Despite their stock trading down, the team finds reasons for optimism, particularly around retention rates and profitable plan sales. They also explore larger industry implications, including the impact of CMS's 2027 rate notice and the future strategies of Humana in relation to other Medicare Advantage plans. Key points include Humana's approach to retention, profitability challenges, and the potential ripple effects on regional and smaller insurance plans. Tune in for an in-depth analysis of Humana's current standing and future trajectory in the healthcare market.

In this insightful episode, we sit down with Anurati Mathur, co-founder and CEO of a Sempre Health, which is focused on improving medication affordability. The main focus of the discussion is on the complex landscape of medication affordability and how his company addresses it by creating a two-sided marketplace between pharmaceutical manufacturers and health plans. The CEO explains the company's innovative approach to distributing existing funds more effectively and aligning the interests of various stakeholders, including manufacturers, payers, PBMs, and patients. He also touches on the underutilization of financial assistance budgets, the model's expansion into different payer types, and the positive outcomes they've achieved in medication adherence and patient satisfaction. Tune in for a comprehensive look at how technology and innovative business models can transform healthcare affordability.

In this episode, we delve into major developments in the healthcare industry, including the recent bankruptcy of Carbon Health and its ambitious goals, the evolving landscape of AI in primary care, and funding trends. We also discuss primary care access challenges, recent earnings reports from major companies like Molina, Centene, and DaVita, and the outlook for PACE models and vertically integrated healthcare systems. Join us for a comprehensive analysis of the shifts and trends impacting the healthcare sector.

In this episode, Kevin and Martin discuss significant developments in the healthcare sector, focusing on recent changes to Medicare Advantage announced by CMS, which resulted in a $100 billion overnight loss in market cap for publicly traded insurers. They delve into the nuances of effective growth rates, risk adjustment changes, and their potential long-term impact on the industry. They also cover three notable M&A deals in the startup space – Sword Health acquiring Kaia, Spring Health acquiring Alma, and Premise Health acquiring Crossover Health. Lastly, they highlight key takeaways from recent earnings calls for UnitedHealth Group, ance, and HCA, noting the varied performance and strategies in navigating the current healthcare landscape.

Dr. Rebekah Gee and Rebecca Kavoussi, founders of Nest, discuss their innovative approach to healthcare for Medicaid populations, emphasizing an in-home, family-centered model. They share their experiences and strategies for addressing social determinants of health, improving accessibility, and harnessing the power of data to enhance healthcare outcomes. The discussion covers Nest's business model, operational challenges, geographical expansions, and future plans to scale their impactful care model. Key highlights include operational efficiencies, radical accessibility, and the potential long-term benefits for families and communities.

In this episode, the hosts are joined by Tim and Dr. Malick, the CEO and CMO of Hopscotch Primary Care, a company dedicated to transforming rural primary care through innovative models and technology. They discuss the unique challenges faced by rural healthcare providers, such as access issues, worse payer mixes, and workforce shortages. The conversation highlights Hopscotch's high-touch, high-tech model, which includes strategies like virtual specialty consults and AI implementations to improve patient outcomes and ease provider burdens. They also delve into the Rural Health Transformation Program and the importance of thoughtful investments to create sustainable health solutions. In the discussion, Dr. Malick and Tim emphasize the significance of appropriate compensation models for healthcare providers and the potential benefits of expanded scope of practice for nurse practitioners and physician assistants. The episode concludes with information on how listeners can follow Hopscotch Primary Care's journey.

In this episode, Kevin and Adam discuss a new pilot program in Utah that uses AI to process prescription refills for a specific set of medications without human intervention. They delve into the details provided by a recent Politico article, explain the problem of medication noncompliance, and discuss how AI can improve accessibility to medication renewals, particularly in rural areas. The conversation covers the metrics for success, patient and provider acceptance, and the potential for expanding the program. They also touch on regulatory issues, the strategic importance of this pilot for their business, and the challenges of securing malpractice insurance for AI-based medical decisions.