In this episode, we look to the far horizon, thinking about healthcare's fast-changing future and listening to industry insiders as they spotlight three major catalysts transforming care.

Kate Brown, the leader of Mercer’s Center for Health Innovation, delivers an outlook and overview of virtual first care, its growth, and the diverse array of telehealth and digital solutions entering the market. In the discussion with host Dr. Nina Birnbaum, medical director for Innovation Acceleration at Blue Shield of California, Kate details the unprecedented growth of virtual first care, highlighting how it might evolve in a post-pandemic world and what employers can do to streamline the wave of telehealth and digital solutions. After listening, visit this link to learn more about Mercer’s Center for Health Innovation.

The cost of medications has skyrocketed and pharmacists are still filling prescriptions behind the counter instead of being used for their expertise to help patients at the point of care. In this episode, Dr. Edward Fotsch, CEO and founder of Gemini Health shares his perspectives with Salina Wong, Senior Director of Clinical Pharmacy Programs at Blue Shield of California, on how the industry can crack the code on drug cost savings through price transparency with lower cost alternatives, the critical role pharmacists can play as part of the overall care team, and the need for more competition to help reduce healthcare costs.

In Episode 6, we talk about the prescription drug market and the innovative approaches several companies are using to make inroads in drug affordability, accessibility, and effectiveness.

Gina Guinasso, president at CivicaScript, talks about the exorbitant costs in today’s prescription drugs and how her organization – together with the industry – is leveling the playing field by distributing generic drugs directly to pharmacies. In her conversation with host Andy Chasin, Blue Shield of California’s Vice President of Federal Policy and Advocacy, she discusses the beginnings of CivicaScript, spotlights industry factors that have led to inflated drug costs, and outlines how transparent drug pricing and direct distribution to pharmacies can make drugs like insulin more affordable and accessible to patients across the country. Visit Civicarx.org to learn more about CivicaScript and the company’s mission to provide equitable pharmaceuticals at the lowest sustainable prices to patients.

Sarah Hill, CEO at Healium, offers an inside look at the company’s virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) therapeutics for anxiety and stress. In her discussion with host Vic Tandon, Blue Shield of California’s director of health innovation product strategy, she points to the latest advances in wearable devices, breakthroughs in digital mental health solutions, and how immersive media represents a new and drugless aid for patients coping with stress. Visit tryhealium.com to learn more about Healium and how it combines wearables, neurofeedback, and immersive apps to improve mental fitness.

In Episode 5, we hear from health entrepreneurs, investors, analysts, and doctors about the digital technologies and innovative trends shaping the next generation of healthcare services.

Scott Becker, founder and publisher of Becker’s Hospital Review publications, host of the Private Equity Podcast and partner in the health firm McGuire Woods, and R “Ray” Wang, founder, chairman, and principal analyst of Silicon Valley-based research and advisory firm Constellation Research and host of the weekly Web series, DisrupTV, join host Lisa Davis, Blue Shield of California’s senior vice president and CIO, to talk about health tech and where they see opportunities for digital innovation to impact the health care industry in 2022. The three speak about notable health tech innovations emerging from Silicon Valley and the business strategies allowing the health care industry to increasingly personalize experiences and improve the quality of care. The discussion also focuses on the consumerization and digitization of health care and how the pandemic will continue to accelerate analytics, automation, and Artificial Intelligence in 2022.