We just launched a powerful new episode of the More Health, Less healthcare podcast—and trust us, you don’t want to miss this one! Peter Boland takes us deep into the world of nonprofit healthcare to reveal the surprising contradictions that shape the system, using Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina as a live case study.

If you’ve ever wondered why “nonprofit” doesn’t necessarily mean “mission accomplished,” this conversation will challenge your assumptions and spark new ideas about what true impact looks like in community health.

What You’ll Learn: The 5 Essential Keys

• The Nonprofit Paradox Explained – Discover why nonprofit health plans, even with noble intentions, often remain tied to a model that benefits more from illness than wellness.
• What Blue Cross North Carolina Is Doing Right – Explore inspiring real-world initiatives, from multimillion-dollar investments in housing and primary care to long-term commitments through foundation work.
• How Nonprofit Plans Could Level Up – Hear bold strategies for building lasting change, like integrating social health services directly into benefits rather than treating them as side projects.
• Bringing Community Voices Into the Boardroom – Learn how health organizations can shift power by including local voices in decision-making—and even offering board seats to those most affected by poor health.
• What Real Accountability Could Look Like – Understand what happens when executive incentives and public reporting align with tangible community health outcomes.

Fun Fact of the Episode 🥳

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina invested $10 million over ten years to help communities tackle the root causes of poor health—empowering residents to define what improvement truly means for them. That’s not just philanthropy; it’s community-driven innovation in action!

We're excited to share the latest episode of "More Health, Less Healthcare," where Peter Boland dives deep into the powerful (and complicated!) story of how Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota turned tobacco lawsuit money into community transformation. This one really asks the big question: Are health insurers doing enough to change the game, or is it just a smarter form of PR?

5 Keys You'll Learn in This Episode

1. The Historic Lawsuit Rewind

• Learn how Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota used a $241 million tobacco settlement to launch the Center for Prevention and make a real impact in communities.

1. What Real Systems Change Looks Like

• See how moving beyond one-off projects toward policy, systems, and environmental change isn’t just about “good optics,” but about changing the rules of the game itself.

1. How a Health Plan Can Target Equity

• Find out what “targeted universalism” means—and how it drives focused investments in the communities hit hardest by health inequities.

1. If It’s All Enough

• Join Speaker A in the debate: Is this deep, structural-impact work, or are there limits when a health plan is still rooted in an extractive profit model?

1. What the Next Chapter of Health Equity Could Be

• Get a glimpse of how benefit design (think premiums, co-pays, and real access) could become the make-or-break frontier for true equity.

Fun Fact from the Episode

Did you know tobacco prevention in Minnesota isn’t just about banning ads or funding quitlines? The Center for Prevention even backed a huge youth campaign called "Behind the Haze" and worked to make bikes a core part of daily transportation for everyone—not just weekend warriors. That’s systems change in action!

We’ve just dropped a brand new episode you won’t want to miss: “More Health, Less Healthcare: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Part 2.” Hosted by Peter Boland, this episode dives deep into what happens after a health plan truly listens to its community—and why good intentions alone might not bend the cost curve for everyday families.

🌟 Here are 5 keys you’ll learn in this episode:

1. The Power of Real Listening: Why Blue Cross MA sat down with factory workers, teachers, union stewards, and more—and what they discovered that actuarial tables miss.

2. Beyond “Business as Usual”: How Dr. Tom Hawkins is using data (and heart) to pinpoint and close health gaps, and why insurance data just isn’t enough.

3. Equity vs. Cost: The surprising truth about why plan premiums keep rising even as equity programs get stronger—and what needs to change for both to win.

4. Partnerships that Work: How cross-sector collaboration (health plans, employers, hospitals, civic groups, community members) could transform the whole equation.

5. The Moral (and Financial) Equation: Why doing the right thing for the right reason isn’t enough if the price isn’t right, and how to realign dollars and ethics for true impact.

🎉 Fun Fact from the Episode:

Did you know the community voices—teachers holding off on prescriptions, single moms managing on the edge, and union stewards juggling bills—aren’t just “data points”? Peter Boland reveals they’re the “focus group” shaping the Health Care Handbook! Their lived experiences are at the heart of real health solutions.

We’re excited to share a brand new episode of "More Health, Less Healthcare" with you! This week, host Peter Boland sits down with two incredible voices from the SIREN group: Andy Quiñones-Rivera and Danielle Hessler Jones. If you care about what makes social care truly effective (it’s more than just paperwork), this episode is a must-listen.

Episode Sneak Peek: What You’ll Learn

We packed this episode with actionable insights—here are 5 keys you’ll take away:

1. The True Mission of SIREN
2. SIREN stands for Social Intervention Research Evaluation Network—get the inside scoop on how they’re reshaping the way we think about social determinants of health.
3. It’s Not Just the Data—It’s the Interaction
4. Andy Quiñones-Rivera shares why the way social needs screenings are conducted can be as important—sometimes more important—than what’s actually asked.
5. Patient Experience: More Than a Number
6. Diving into real patient interviews, you’ll hear what makes social care a positive or negative experience, and why just checking a box isn’t enough.
7. Racism and Stigma in Social Care
8. The team bravely discusses how issues of race and stigma shape patient trust and engagement, with powerful patient quotes to bring these realities to life.
9. New Tools for Real Change
10. Danielle Hessler Jones unveils a new patient experience measure—designed not just to count how many screenings happen, but to help improve the quality of care across the board.

Fun Fact from the Episode!

Even when patients received material help (like a referral or resource), many said the feeling of the interaction—whether they were listened to, respected, and approached with cultural sensitivity—sometimes mattered even more than the help itself!

Listen & Be Inspired

This conversation is a reminder: social care is not about ticking boxes, but about making real, human connections that have the power to heal and build trust. Whether you’re a healthcare pro, patient, or just passionate about health equity, you’ll come away with practical ideas on how to make a difference.

Your Turn!

Ready to dive deeper? 🎧 Check out the episode and explore the full slide deck available in our show notes for even more insight. After listening, reply to this email and let us know your biggest takeaway—or tell us how YOU think we can improve social care!

Dr. Andy Quiñones-Rivera is an emergency medicine physician and the Medical Director of Acute Care Outcomes at Alameda Health System. Their work is focused on health care quality, population health, and social determinants of health. Dr. Quiñones-Rivera earned their medical degree from the UCSF School of Medicine (UCSF PRIME-US) and completed their emergency medicine residency at the Los Angeles County–University of Southern California Medical Center.

Dr. Hessler Jones is co-Director of the Social Interventions Research and Evaluation Network (SIREN) and a Professor and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Family and Community Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research focuses on social care delivery in the health care sector; including understanding the impact and implementation of programs aimed at screening and addressing social risks alongside programs that seek to adjust care to fit an individual’s social context. As a health psychologist Dr. Hessler Jones also brings experience in health behaviors and engagement and intersections with mental health.

We’re excited to announce the release of Part 2 of our conversation with Jason Gale on the More Health, Less Healthcare podcast! This episode is packed with honest insights, global perspectives, and a healthy dose of optimism for tackling the chronic aftermath of COVID-19 and future pandemics.

Introduction

In this episode, Peter Boland welcomes back Jason Gale, a Bloomberg News journalist with decades of experience in pandemic preparedness. Together, they dive into the controversial and often overlooked realities of Long COVID, chronic illness, and how we can build better systems (and trust!) for the future.

5 Keys You’ll Learn:

1. Who’s Been Seen—and Who’s Been Invisible: Discover how essential workers, nursing home residents, and communities with health inequalities were disproportionately impacted, and why chronic illness still flies under the radar.

2. Why Chronic Conditions Remain in the Shadows: Learn the surprising reasons chronic care doesn’t get the funding, media, or public interest it deserves—even as it grows.

3. The Importance of Trust in Public Health: See how fractured trust in institutions and science became a major roadblock, and explore inspiring examples from Denmark and grassroots messengers.

4. Lessons from Around the World: What did other countries do right? Understand Jason’s take on countries like South Korea, Denmark, and Vietnam, and why separating politics from science matters.

5. What’s Next? Preparing for Future Pandemics: Hear Jason’s candid thoughts on why another pandemic is inevitable—and what actionable steps we can take to respond smarter, measure chronic impacts, and build unified, consistent public health funding.

Fun Fact from the Episode

Did you know the trusted messenger for health information might be your hair salon—not your clinic? Peter Boland and Jason Gale discuss how trust can be found in unexpected places, and how grassroots communication makes all the difference!

We’re excited to share our latest episode from More Health, Less Healthcare , and this is one you don’t want to miss. We had the absolute pleasure of hosting the award-winning journalist and senior Bloomberg News editor, Jason Gale, who’s here to talk about his new book, “After COVID: Health Impacts That Last Generations.”

In this first part of our two-part series, Peter Boland and Jason Gale dive deep into the generational consequences of COVID, exploring how the story isn’t just about the acute crisis, but the long tail — Long COVID and its ripple effects on health systems and everyday lives.

Here are 5 key takeaways you’ll learn from this episode:

1. Long COVID is a Global Challenge: No country has truly “solved” the Long COVID problem. Most health systems, from the US to Australia, are struggling to provide coordinated, effective care (Peter Boland, Jackie Lapin, and Jason Gale agree—patients are often left being their own care quarterbacks!).

2. The Data We Don’t See: While dashboards during the pandemic tracked deaths and hospitalizations, we’re behind on tracking long-term disability, organ damage, and chronic symptoms — the “hidden pandemic” that continues for millions (Peter Boland).

3. Mental Health & Misunderstanding: Long COVID has significant behavioral and psychiatric impacts. Many patients are wrongly told “it’s all in your head”—even though the data says otherwise!

4. Staggering Numbers: Recent CDC estimates suggest about 7% of US adults (that’s around 18-19 million people!) may be living with Long COVID. And that number can fluctuate as definitions of Long COVID evolve.

5. Vaccines Help, But Aren’t a Cure-All: Vaccination reduces the risk of developing Long COVID, but it’s not a silver bullet. Preventing infection remains crucial, and even vaccinated folks can experience persistent symptoms.

Fun Fact from the Episode:

Did you know some of the most insightful research about COVID’s lingering effects comes from the US Veterans Affairs Health System? Jason Gale mentions how scientists like Ziyad Al-Ali are digging through VA databases to uncover links between COVID and chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular problems—sometimes even years after infection!

We just dropped a fresh episode you won’t want to miss! This week, Peter Boland spotlights the groundbreaking work at Boston Medical Center (BMC)—a national leader in social care and health equity. If you think hospitals are just about prescriptions and checkups, think again! BMC is rewriting the playbook for what community healthcare can be.

Here’s what you’ll discover in this episode:

• Food as Medicine: Learn how a simple food pantry sparked a full-fledged movement—BMC now distributes over a million pounds of healthy food each year and even grows fresh produce on its rooftop farm.
• Whole-Family Care: See how real health care means supporting the entire family, from free cooking classes for moms like Martha to programs that boost kids’ health and well-being.
• Connecting Social Needs to Medical Care: Explore how the Thrive Screener helps patients get assistance with housing, food, and even legal aid—right from their clinic visit.
• Empowering Clinicians & Leaders: Get practical takeaways for doctors and health leaders on how to make equity an everyday practice, not just a mission statement.
• Transforming Communities: Discover how hospitals can work hand-in-hand with local neighborhoods to create affordable housing, good jobs, and lasting change—not just patch up problems in the ER.
• 
  

Fun Fact:

BMC’s first “food program” was literally a few cans of vegetables tucked in a doctor’s desk drawer. Fast-forward a few years, and they now run a 2,700-square-foot rooftop farm and the nation’s first hospital teaching kitchen. Talk about a major “grow up” story!

Would you like me to adapt this version for a social media caption or podcast show notes format next?

We’re excited to announce the release of our newest episode, hosted by Peter Boland, where we explore Hawaii’s statewide initiative for equity and wellness. This isn't just another case study—it’s a deep dive into the challenges, traditions, and community values that shape the future of Hawaii and offer lessons for us all. So grab your headphones or settle in with your favorite tropical drink—this is an episode worth savoring!

Key Takeaways From This Episode:

• The Power of Transparency, Trust & Collaboration: Discover why these pillars are vital for achieving equity and building mutual accountability across Hawaii's diverse communities.
• Cultural Competency in Healthcare: Learn how respecting cultural traditions builds trust and leads to better outcomes in health institutions.
• Community-Driven Change: See how local leaders and anchor institutions can accelerate big changes across islands—and how partnership is the real secret sauce.
• The Deep Connection Between Water and Community: Find out why the question “Who owns water?” is key to Hawaii’s sustainability—and how water conservation could shape the islands’ future.
• Equity as a Way of Life: Hear how Hawaiian culture weaves equity, stewardship, and compassion into daily life, making health and prosperity truly sustainable.
• 
  

Fun Fact:

Did you know Hawaii is ranked #1 nationally for access to care and quality of health—but still faces major health challenges? The state’s unique history guaranteed full healthcare coverage when it joined the US, boosting its scores