Unexpected Strategies That Are Closing Gaps in Medicare & Medicaid
Release Date: 04/01/2025
Inside Select Health’s Winning Strategy to Improve Rural Access, Provider Engagement & Health Equity
Bright Spots in Healthcare
In this insightful episode, Kim Barrus, AVP of Quality and Accreditation at Select Health, shares three compelling case studies showcasing how her team is improving care access, streamlining provider engagement, and addressing health disparities across four states. Kim walks us through: A groundbreaking hybrid clinic model in rural Nevada, created in partnership with the city of Wells and Intermountain Health, to bring primary, urgent, and behavioral care to medically underserved communities. The development of Select Health’s Quality Provider Plus Program, which...
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Advancing Specialty Care in Medicare Advantage: Physician led, AI-Enabled
Bright Spots in Healthcare
In this episode of Bright Spots in Healthcare, host Eric Glazer explores how leading healthcare organizations are transforming specialty care in Medicare Advantage through physician leadership and AI innovation. Hear from Julia McDowell (Highmark Health), Chuck Palermo (HAP), Dr. Mary O’Connor (Vori Health), and Dr. Krystal Revai (Health Alliance) as they share pragmatic strategies for improving care quality, enhancing member engagement, reducing administrative burden, and delivering meaningful clinical outcomes. Discover how AI is being used to streamline prior authorization, enable...
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Banner Health, HealthTeam Advantage & MedWatchers Share Medicare Part D Strategies
Bright Spots in Healthcare
In this standout episode, three healthcare leaders unpack how they're transforming regulatory pressure into real-world impact. Melissa Skelton Duke (Banner Health), Dina Homer (HealthTeam Advantage), and Bita Farrokhroo (MedWatchers) share practical strategies for driving medication adherence, optimizing Part D performance, and bridging digital and cultural gaps to better serve diverse member populations. Learn how Banner is reframing adherence through member empathy, how HealthTeam Advantage aligns every employee to Stars performance, and how MedWatchers is consolidating fragmented workflows...
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How Network Health Transforms Provider Relationships and Member Experience
Bright Spots in Healthcare
In this engaging session, Eric Glazer sits down with Jessica Vander Zanden, VP of Operations at Network Health, a Wisconsin-based plan known for its top-tier CMS ratings and commitment to exceptional provider and member experiences. Jessica shares two standout strategies driving the organization’s success: a unique approach to treating providers as valued customers and transforming their call center into a powerful engine for improving CAHPS and Star Ratings. Discover how Network Health redefines healthcare engagement through operational excellence, provider partnership, and member-centric...
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A Masterclass in Storytelling with Craig Wortmann, CEO, Sales Engine
Bright Spots in Healthcare
The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. Steve Jobs believed this, and it's never been more accurate, especially in healthcare. Renowned storytelling expert Craig Wortmann—Professor at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management and CEO of Sales Engine joins Eric Glazer to discuss one of the most underutilized leadership tools in healthcare: storytelling. During the episode, Craig shares a practical framework—Collect, Categorize, Construct, Convey—to help healthcare leaders use storytelling to drive action, inspire change, and connect more deeply with teams and...
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Bright Spots in Healthcare: The New Physician Playbook – AI Workflows & Value-Based Care in Action
Bright Spots in Healthcare
Visionary healthcare leaders from The Permanente Medical Group, UC Davis Health, UNC Health, Summit Medical Group and Navina joined Eric Glazer to explore how artificial intelligence transforms clinical workflows and enables better value-based care. Discover how AI-driven chart prep, ambient scribe technology, and risk models streamline provider workflows, improve patient outcomes, and reduce clinician burnout. From overcoming implementation roadblocks to building cross-functional frameworks that promote trust and equity, this episode is packed with strategic insights and real-world success...
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Engaging Complex & Hard-to-Reach Medicare Members Amidst CMS Uncertainty
Bright Spots in Healthcare
As CMS regulations shift, how can you continue to impact complex members? Join us as we explore innovative approaches to member engagement that drive better health outcomes and reduce costs. In this episode, we will hear how plans are leveraging social support, in-home care, and tailored services to reach vulnerable members. Don’t miss this timely conversation: hear how you can be reaching the unreachable and personalizing Medicare engagement in a shifting CMS landscape. Panelists: Sheila Yahyazadeh, Chief External Operations Officer, CareFirst Community Health Plan Maryland Eve...
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Executive Brief: Stealing the Playbook from Michael Lewis
Bright Spots in Healthcare
Welcome to the debut episode of Executive Briefs—a new short-form series from Bright Spots in Healthcare designed to deliver fast, actionable insights for healthcare leaders. In under 10 minutes, host Eric Glazer shares 10 powerful storytelling takeaways from bestselling author Michael Lewis (Moneyball, The Big Short, The Blind Side) from his keynote address at League Connect 2025. Whether you're a health plan executive, provider leader, or innovator in digital health, these tips will help you better engage your team, inspire change, and drive results. Takeaways 00:50 – Why Michael Lewis...
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Unexpected Strategies That Are Closing Gaps in Medicare & Medicaid
Bright Spots in Healthcare
Traditional approaches to closing care gaps in Medicare Advantage often fail to reach the members who need it most. This episode goes beyond conventional strategies to explore how innovative, remote, and community-driven solutions are transforming chronic care management—particularly for cardiometabolic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Learn how health plans are leveraging proactive outreach, virtual engagement, and data-driven interventions to improve HEDIS scores, boost Star Ratings, and drive better long-term outcomes. Through real-world case studies and expert...
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How Alphabet is Applying AI in Healthcare with Verily’s Dr. Erich Huang
Bright Spots in Healthcare
What if AI could guide every patient through their healthcare journey—nudging them toward better choices, anticipating their needs, and adapting in real time? We talk a lot about engagement in healthcare, but too often, the digital tools we use fail to improve outcomes. AI and data-driven personalization hold incredible promise, yet many health plans and providers still struggle with low participation rates. Dr. Erich Huang, Associate Chief Clinical Officer for Informatics and Technology at Verily, an Alphabet company leading the charge in precision health, joins Eric to discuss what’s...
info_outlineTraditional approaches to closing care gaps in Medicare Advantage often fail to reach the members who need it most. This episode goes beyond conventional strategies to explore how innovative, remote, and community-driven solutions are transforming chronic care management—particularly for cardiometabolic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, and heart disease. Learn how health plans are leveraging proactive outreach, virtual engagement, and data-driven interventions to improve HEDIS scores, boost Star Ratings, and drive better long-term outcomes. Through real-world case studies and expert insights, we’ll uncover scalable, cost-effective approaches that enhance care access, reduce avoidable hospitalizations, and deliver measurable impact for both members and plans.
Panelists:
Michael Harris, CEO, HealPros
Tejaswita Karve, Ph.D. - Healthcare Quality and Innovation Leader, Stars Leader, Mass General Brigham Health Plan
Mike Rapach, SVP Government Programs, President & CEO, CareFirst Community Health Plan Maryland
Daniel Weaver, SVP Stars and Quality, Zing Health
Bios: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/podcast-episodes/
This episode is sponsored by HealPros:
HealPros helps health plans find and address missed care opportunities in member’s homes, at events in their communities, and remotely. Our team specializes in helping polychronic members access the care they need, from anywhere. HealPros’ Care Access Pros completed over 70,000 in-home visits in 2024 and is committed to engaging even more members in 2025 - including those that are hard-to-reach – as we work towards our vision of transforming millions of live each year. Our Care Connection Specialists make over 4,000,000 calls to members each year. With a sophisticated logistics operation, national footprint, and national network of providers, HealPros is available to work in all 50 states and the US Virgin Islands. For more information, visit www.healpros.com.
Bright Spots in Healthcare is produced by Bright Spots Ventures
Bright Spots Ventures brings healthcare leaders together to share working solutions or "bright spots" to common challenges. We build valuable and meaningful relationships through our Bright Spots in Healthcare podcast, webinar series, leadership councils, customized peer events, and sales and go-to-market consulting. We believe that finding a bright spot and cloning it is the most effective strategy to improve healthcare in our lifetime.
Visit our website at www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com