Paul Offit, MD, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the recent decision by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to move several vaccines (including rotavirus, influenza and COVID-19) from a universal recommendation to shared clinical decision-making. While shared clinical decision making has always been an option for physicians and patients, Offit provides practical tips for clinicians navigating these conversations, advising physicians to be empathetic to patient fears, but also to be passionate in explaining the severe risks of vaccine-preventable diseases.

Amelia Knopp and her father, Ryan Knopp, MD, from Stone Creek Family Physicians in Manhattan, Kansas, join Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss Amelia’s experience with the health care system following a shocking leukemia diagnosis. They share how this diagnosis set Amelia and their family on a journey that they describe as “health care at its best.” Amelia emphasizes the importance of trust in the physician-patient relationship, and how advocating for patients and providing clear communication helps build a better patient experience. Ryan notes how his daughter’s experience underscores the importance of value-based care in ensuring that physicians are invested in the relationship with their patients and providing high-quality, accountable care.

Catherine Olexa-Meadors, head of growth and partnerships at Town Hall Ventures, joins Josh Israel, MD, and Sean Cavanaugh to discuss the recently announced ACCESS (Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions) Model from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation (CMMI), also known as the CMS Innovation Center. They explain the new payment system, which includes outcome-aligned payments tied to demonstrating improved patient outcomes, and how advances in technology, specifically in digital patient engagement, could help this model succeed. They also explore challenges, including the delay in the announcement of payment rates and the concern that patients not in an accountable care organization (ACO) may not have someone monitoring the total cost of care.

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Listen to Episode 193: Breaking down CMMI's new strategy with Abe Sutton, director of CMMI, and Farzad Mostashari, MD