Travis Morgan, President and CFO of DecisionRx touts medication optimization as the way to improve outcomes and reduce costs. In this episode, Travis shares his journey from an entrepreneurial upbringing to making waves in the life sciences and healthcare technology sectors. Learn how his experiences in public accounting and as a precision medicine company co-founder have shaped his unique approach to tackling one of the healthcare industry's most costly issues: ineffective medications.

Hear how DecisionRx is leveraging pharmacogenomics and data science to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare expenses. Travis explains the impact of pharmacist-led interventions , and how the value-based care model, combined with genetic analysis, can guides clinical decision to prevent medication failures. Get insights into the commercial success of this approach, particularly within risk-bearing entities like ACOs and Medicare Advantage plans.

Learn about the power of innovative medication optimization, eliminating the usual friction associated with third-party reimbursement. Travis discusses the company's scale-up effort, with over 230,000 lives under contract through accountable care organizations and substantial financial backing from the Carlyle Group.

Finally, hear why Travis recommends "Endurance: The Biography of Ernest Shackleton," as an essential read for any aspiring leader.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Curious about the forces driving healthcare pricing and access? Join us for an enlightening conversation with Sarah Emond, President and CEO of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER). Sarah's upbringing in a family passionate about policy and social justice laid the foundation for her impactful career in health policy. We explore her educational journey from Smith College to Brandeis University’s Heller School, and how her professional experiences in clinical research and biopharmaceutical consulting shaped her path to ICER.

Unravel the complex world of health technology assessment (HTA) in the US as Sarah breaks down the challenges and opportunities within a fragmented healthcare system. ICER's pivotal role in evaluating new medical technologies is discussed in depth, including its interactions with international agencies like the UK's NICE. Sarah sheds light on ICER's evolution from a small initiative within Mass General Hospital to a powerful voice in global HTA practices, emphasizing the importance of fair pricing, patient access, and sustainable innovation funding.

Equity in healthcare takes center stage as Sarah introduces ICER’s updated value assessment framework. Learn about new tools like the clinical trial diversity rating and the Health Improvement Distribution Index (HIDI) designed to promote representation of diverse populations in clinical trials. We also tackle the high costs and value-based pricing of innovative treatments, including gene and cell therapies, and the necessity of evolving payment systems to ensure continuous innovation. Tune in to gain a comprehensive understanding of the pressing challenges and future directions in healthcare pricing, equity, and access.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Eileen McAnenny, the driving force behind the Employer Coalition on Health in Massachusetts shares her journey from a typical Irish Catholic home in Somerville (before it was fashionable) to a leader in healthcare policy and cost management.

Discover how her roots and influential figures like Tip O'Neill and the Kennedys shaped her passion for public service, leading to a law career and roles at the Bank of New England, the Joint Committee on Taxation, and beyond. Eileen's insights on employer engagement in healthcare costs and her work with the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation illuminate the challenges and opportunities in controlling this major business expense.

As healthcare costs in Massachusetts continue to balloon, smaller businesses are feeling the pinch more than ever.

This episode delves into the complexities of managing healthcare costs, especially in a state where large healthcare employers wield significant political influence. We explore the role of employer coalitions in bringing balance to the conversation, representing the needs of those tasked with purchasing healthcare, and striving for sustainability against the backdrop of inflation and workforce shortages. Eileen's experience at Fidelity and her focus on employer-related policy issues provide a compelling narrative on the interplay between businesses and healthcare providers.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Explore the professional journey of BK Nyak, the innovative leader behind Spikewell, whose advancements are revolutionizing hospital IT solutions. In this conversation, we examine BK's progression from his early days in India to becoming an influential entrepreneur who is reshaping healthcare technology.

He discusses the significant impact of his upbringing, his educational achievements at IIT, the University of Virginia, and MIT's Sloan School, and the key moments that shifted his focus from academia to pioneering entrepreneurship. BK's story highlights the importance of curiosity and adaptability in navigating career paths and leveraging early patents and grants as a foundation for success.

This episode also explores Spikewell's mission to customize IT systems for hospitals, utilizing AI to enhance efficiency and adaptability. BK explains how his company's solutions address clinician burnout and improve clinical decision support and financial operations—essential elements in the rapidly changing healthcare industry.

We analyze the critical roles of mobile platforms, cloud computing, and AI, and how a strong emphasis on customer needs informs tech partnerships with healthcare facilities. Discussing the transformative impact of these technologies, particularly in response to challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic, BK's commitment to innovation and the future of healthcare technology is evident.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

In this episode, Dr. Tamir Aldad, founder and CEO of Mindful Care, joins me to discuss strategies for addressing the challenges in mental health accessibility and costs. Dr. Aldad brings a unique blend of medical insight and business expertise, advocating for and implementing a model that integrates social impact with economic viability. He shares a tragic experience from his residency that exposed significant shortcomings in our mental healthcare system, which motivated the creation of Mindful Care.

Our discussion delves into the current issues faced by mental health providers, such as complex insurance reimbursement processes and the issue of patient selectivity due to high demand. We discuss the impact of social media and the role of virtual and hybrid care.

We discuss Mindful Care's success to date, plans for expansion, and how input from referral partners and community feedback is crucial in reaching underserved populations.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Menthol cigarettes, the FTC's attempts to boost competition in healthcare, the mental health of Jewish college students, and the TikTok ban. What do they all have in common?

Not much, except that they were all in the news this week and I chose to discuss them on a rare solo episode.

Don't like what you hear? Don't worry, I'll be back next week with a fresh guest.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) leader Lora Pellegrini got interested in policy and politics at a young age. She had the opportunity to work with luminaries like Ted Kennedy and John Kerry early in her career, as she rose to prominence in healthcare policy.

Our discussion focuses on critical issues such as pharmaceutical pricing and hospital efficiency in Massachusetts. We explore the regulatory challenges in drug pricing and the necessity for hospital systems to innovate and enhance performance. Lora provides expert analysis on the impact of major players like Steward Healthcare and Optum in the Massachusetts healthcare sector.

She also shares the historical perspective on healthcare reform in Massachusetts, and issues a call for employers to re-engage in support of affordability as they did back in the days of RomneyCare.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.

Ironically, patient care coordination itself is often uncoordinated. It's spread across multiple providers and administrators, causing frustration for care teams and patients.

Lumeon founder and CEO Robbie Hughes has developed an approach that makes the care journey more reliable rather than settling for the current craziness, where patients are expected to be satisfied as long as they get some time with a doctor.

One of the really interesting elements of this interview was the discussion of whether we should be willing to trade off some efficacy for reliability. For example, if we had a treatment path that was 80 percent as good but could be followed by 100 percent of the patients, would that be better than striving for the perfect solution that only 1 percent can attain?

From a population health perspective, the 80/100 calculus is probably correct, but most of us want to be in that 1 percent. I've certainly had that experience myself of navigating the system with help from well-placed insiders plus my own knowledge of how things work.

Robbie is an avid reader who recommends The Experience Machine, Chip Wars, and Ultra-Processed People.

Host David E. Williams is president of healthcare strategy consulting firm Health Business Group. Produced by Dafna Williams.