Episodes

March 17, 2025

Doulas and Value-Based Maternity Care: Driving Cost Reduction and Improved Outcomes

This conversation explores the historical context of childbirth, the current state of maternal mortality in the U.S., and the emerging role of doulas in modern maternity care. It highlights the paradox of high maternal mortal...

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Jan. 28, 2025

Uncovering the Hidden Influencers of Our Health System

The podcast delves into the complexities and challenges of the American healthcare system, arguing that it often prioritizes profit over patient care. Through the lens of investigative journalism from More Perfect Union, the ...

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Jan. 3, 2025

2025 Opportunities in Healthcare: Navigating the Perfect Storm

The health insurance industry is confronting a convergence of rising healthcare costs, increased patient demand, and heightened legislative scrutiny as we approach 2025. Medicare Advantage plans, once highly profitable, are now under significant pressure due to these factors. Major insurers like Humana and UnitedHealth are experiencing challenges that may redefine managed care. However, this period of disruption presents opportunities for healthcare providers and entrepreneurs to innovate and a…

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Dec. 3, 2024

EXPOSED: The MultiPlan Healthcare Cartel Costing Providers and Patients Billions

In this episode of the VBCA Podcast, host Alex Yarijanian delves into the complex issue of hidden healthcare fees, surprise billing, and the alleged antitrust activities surrounding out-of-network reimbursements. The discussion centers on MultiPlan, a third-party repricing company accused of collaborating with major insurers—such as UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Aetna—to suppress out-of-network payments, adversely affecting patients, providers, and employers.

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Nov. 13, 2024

Startup Pitfalls and Healthcare Horror Stories: Introduction to Value-Based Care

In this episode of the VBCA Podcast, host Alex Yarijanian delves into the challenges faced by healthcare startups in the value-based care (VBC) sector, emphasizing the critical importance of robust patient acquisition strategies. The discussion highlights how many startups, despite ambitious goals to enhance patient outcomes and reduce costs, struggle to meet volume requirements and maintain contracts due to inadequate patient engagement approaches.

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Nov. 1, 2024

Understanding the Mental Health Parity Act: A Guide for Providers (From Payer Executives)

In this episode of the VBCA Podcast, host Alex Yarijanian and guest Dr. Chris Esguerra delve into the complexities of mental health parity, emphasizing the necessity for behavioral health services to receive the same level of care and coverage as physical health services. They discuss the challenges providers face when navigating insurance plans and the barriers to accessing equitable care for patients.

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Feb. 12, 2023

Changing Demographics & Value-Based Care

This episode is also available as a blog post: https://healthcare-wiki.com/2022/03/12/changing-demographics-value-based-care/

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March 8, 2022

Paying for Biopsychosocial Care

The system used to pay for health care today does not encourage the integration of health care and social care, nor can it adequately adapt to the trending shift toward value-based payments for care — paying for better qualit...

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Aug. 3, 2021

Telehealth Landscape Overview 50 States + DC

No two states are alike in how telehealth is defined and regulated. While there are some similarities in language, perhaps indicating states may have utilized existing verbiage from other states, noticeable differences exist....

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June 23, 2021

Florida Market Telehealth Rule & Controlled Substances

During the 2019 legislative session, Florida passed Chapter 2019-137, Laws of Florida , which establishes standards of practice for telehealth services, including patient evaluations, record-keeping, and controlled substances...

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June 5, 2021

How to Talk to Health Plans for Mental Health Coverage.

California Governor Gavin Newsom on September 25 signed Senate Bill 855, Health coverage: mental health or substance use disorders, into law. The law increases health and disability insurers' coverage obligations for mental h...

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