How Mass General Brigham is Innovating around Equitable Access

  Katherine Gergen Barnett, MD, Vice Chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center (BMC) and Cheryl Harding, patient and community advocate, join Eric to share how Boston Medical Center is utilizing storytelling to build trust and connection between the hospital and its community partners. Katherine and Cheryl discuss the impact medical mistrusts has on health outcomes and health disparities.   They also tell how th "Storytelling to Build Medical Trust" project was born out of the desire of BMC to improve the health and well-being of Black and brown community members. The project puts a face to the statistics and allow community members to explain why they lack trust in the overall healthcare system. Hear how this unique project has brought the medical and local communities together and how empathy and trust can help advance health equity and narrow health disparities. About Katherine Katherine Gergen Barnett, MD, is a family medicine physician and the Vice Chair of Primary Care Innovation and Transformation in the Department of Family Medicine at Boston Medical Center (BMC). Dr. Gergen Barnett is also a clinical associate professor at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Her primary clinical interests are behavioral health, preventive medicine, nutrition, trauma-informed care, gender-affirming care, women’s health, reproductive care, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and group medical care. Dr. Gergen Barnett’s research focuses on innovative models of care to address chronic medical conditions and physician burnout and engaging community partners in creating feasible solutions to increase health and wellness and to address medical distrust in traditionally marginalized communities. Dr. Gergen Barnett is involved in local and state health policy addressing health inequities and national policy addressing primary care delivery and is a regular contributor to The Boston Globe, Boston Public Radio, and various television outlets.   About Cheryl The founder of a Boston nonprofit, From Roots to Wings, Cheryl continues to be a strong voice for the underserved and underrepresented to ensure that everyone gets access to information, services and opportunities.    About the Project “Storytelling to Build Medical Trust” focuses on highlighting the experience and wisdom of community members, who shared in video interviews their negative interactions with the healthcare system in the hope that the healthcare industry would finally listen. The project is jointly led by Boston Medical Center, Everyday Boston, and the B.L.A.C Project, in partnership with Transformational Prison Project, We Got Us, and EmVision Productions. The project was funded by Boston University Clinical and Translational Science Institute and MA-CEAL. Learn more at https://www.storiesformedicaltrust.org.   About Boston Medical Center Boston Medical Center is a non-profit 514-bed academic medical center and safety-net hospital in the South End neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. As part of the Boston Medical Center Health System, the hospital provides primary and specialty care to residents of the Greater Boston area. Boston Medical Center is a founding partner of the Boston Medical Center Health System, which is focused on creating a coordinated, equitable, value-based continuum of care to deliver world-class care to patients and health plan members. Find out more at www.bmc.org.  

Elevance Health, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina, and the Business Group on Health and Socially Determined discuss how plans can provide a more holistic and effective healthcare journey for members by gaining insight into all barriers to caring for your members, including social risks such as food insecurities, housing instabilities, financial strain, health literacy challenges, and lack of transportation.   Our expert panel explores the value of quantifying the impact of social risks and shares strategies and actions that health plans can take to improve health outcomes, reduce health disparities, decrease costs, and track measurable results.  Link to report on Elevance's Whole Health Index (WHI) mentioned during show: https://catalyst.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/CAT.23.0015 Guests: Shantanu Agrawal, MD, MPhil, Chief Health Officer, Elevance Health April Richardson, MD, Vice President, Clinical Services, Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina Ellen Kelsay, President & CEO, Business Group on Health Trenor Williams, MD, CEO & Co-Founder, Socially Determined   https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/events/innovative-strategies-for-health-plans-to-mitigate-social-risk/ This episode is sponsored by Socially Determined Socially Determined provides social risk data, analytics, and expertise to healthcare organizations seeking to understand how Social Determinants of Health and social risk factors impact the communities they serve. Our analytics platform, SocialScape, provides actionable insights into community-level SDOH risk exposure and individual-level social risk factors, and their impact on health care utilization, cost, outcomes, and equity.

Allison Bryant, MD, MPH, Associate Chief Health Equity Officer, Mass General Brigham (MGB), joins Eric to discuss how the health system ensures its innovations are accessible to everyone, particularly those from marginalized communities. Allison elaborates on MGB's unique approach, viewing its mission as providing healthcare and as a catalyst for improving equity of outcomes for patients and the communities it serves.   Topics covered include: Community health Bridging the digital divide Equity in maternal health United Against Racism (MGB’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion statement)   About Allison In her role at MGB, Allison works to eliminate longstanding inequities in patient care and outcomes. She is a maternal-fetal medicine subspecialist, an associate professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at Harvard Medical School and is the Frederic D. Frigoletto, MD Endowed Chair in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Massachusetts General Hospital. She received degrees in biology, public health and medicine from Harvard University, where she also completed residency training in obstetrics and gynecology and fellowships in maternal/fetal medicine and the Commonwealth Fund/Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy. She previously served as the vice chair for quality, equity and safety for the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Mass General.   About Mass General Brigham Mass General Brigham is an integrated academic health care system, uniting great minds to solve the hardest problems in medicine for our communities and the world. Mass General Brigham connects a full continuum of care across a system of academic medical centers, community and specialty hospitals, a health insurance plan, physician networks, community health centers, home care, and long-term care services. Mass General Brigham is a nonprofit organization committed to patient care, research, teaching, and service to the community. In addition, Mass General Brigham is one of the nation’s leading biomedical research organizations with several Harvard Medical School teaching hospitals. Mass General Brigham https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/   United Against Racism: https://www.massgeneralbrigham.org/en/about/diversity-equity-and-inclusion/united-against-racism

Esteemed leaders from CVS Health, Florida Blue, Highmark, and Vori Health delved into the impact of health equity on chronic care. They not only shared strategies and solutions to enhance healthcare accessibility but also shed light on specific programs they have successfully implemented to bridge the health equity gap in chronic disease prevention and treatment.    Guests: Joneigh S. Khaldun, MD, MPH, FACEP, Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer, CVS Health Kelli Tice, MD, Vice President, Medical Affairs & Chief Health Equity Officer, Florida Blue Nebeyou Abebe, Senior Vice President, Social Determinants of Health, Highmark Health Mary O'Connor, MD, Co-Founder & Chief Medical Officer, Vori Health   https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/events/navigating-the-intersection-of-health-equity-and-chronic-care/   Links to programs mentioned during the episode Advancing Health Equity | CVS Health: https://www.cvshealth.com/impact/health-equity.html CVS Health launches Community Equity Alliance to improve health outcomes in underserved communities: https://www.cvshealth.com/news/health-equity/cvs-health-launches-community-equity-alliance-to-improve-health-outcomes.html Spoken Rx - Prescription Reader | CVS Pharmacy: https://www.cvs.com/content/pharmacy/spoken-rx Highmark Community Support Platform: https://highmark.findhelp.com/       This episode is sponsored by our partner, Vori Health Vori Health is a specialty medical practice delivering a virtual-first musculoskeletal (MSK) solution to help members get back to their lives faster. As the only nationwide MSK practice with doctor-led care teams, Vori Health is the most convenient way to access appropriate care for back, neck, and joint pain without bouncing around the healthcare system. Whether members need a diagnosis, non-opioid prescription, personalized physical therapy, or health coaching, they can turn to Vori Health for evidence-based care and effective end-to-end support. This holistic model reduces unnecessary surgeries, enables faster recoveries, and lowers MSK spend with up to a 4:1 ROI. For more information, visit www.vorihealth.com.  

Dan Fishbein, President of Sun Life U.S., joins Eric to discuss Sun Life’s commitment to supporting holistic care for mental health and how it leverages digital technology to enhance the overall delivery of mental health and caregiver support to all clients.    The conversation also touches on how Sun Life is helping patients navigate a challenging healthcare system. It’s using data and analytics to identify trends and unmet needs and AI to summarize health records quickly to improve health outcomes.   In addition, Dan elaborates on Sun Life’s redefined role as a healthcare benefits provider and its collaborations with various healthcare organizations to help promote health and well-being.  About Dan As president of Sun Life U.S., Dan has transformed the company into a leader in health-related benefits and services that connect to the broader healthcare ecosystem to help people access the care and coverage they need.   Since joining Sun Life in 2014, Dan has overseen several successful acquisitions that have grown the company and its capabilities, including DentaQuest (2022), PinnacleCare (2021), Maxwell Health (2018), and Assurant Employee Benefits (2016). Since 2014 Sun Life U.S. has grown three-fold to $8 billion in revenues, offering more than 50 million Americans group benefits and services through employers, partners and government programs. It serves a block of in-force individual life insurance policyholders.    Before Sun Life, he served as Aetna’s President, Specialty Businesses and held several other senior leadership positions during his 16-year tenure. He previously served in leadership posts at New York Life and MassMutual.   Dan earned a bachelor’s degree and a Doctor of Medicine from Boston University. He is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society and Maine Medical Association. Dan is also a past chair and active board member of Spurwink Services in Portland, Maine, and serves in an advisory capacity on the board of Collective Health, an insurtech start-up based in San Francisco.   About Sun Life Sun Life is a leading financial services company that helps clients achieve lifetime financial security and live healthier lives. Sun Life has operations in a number of markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia and Bermuda.  

  Leaders from Ballad Health, Baystate Health, Stony Brook Medicine and Purple Lab share how health systems can take a more sophisticated and consumer-focused approach to attracting new patients.    Our expert panel leads a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of seeing patients as healthcare consumers and understanding how they make decisions, what motivates them, and how, where, and why they engage with the broader healthcare system.    You will discover innovative patient acquisition strategies and best practices you can implement in your organization to break through the market clutter, differentiate your health system’s offerings and create a message that resonates with customers.   Themes covered: Consumer Centricity & The Patient Journey Personalized, Data-Driven Marketing Health Equity   Guests: Ebrahim Barkoudah, MD, MPH, MBA, System Chief of Hospital Medicine and Regional Chief Medical Officer/Regional Quality Officer, Baystate Health Timothy Brown, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer, Stony Brook Medicine Molly Luton, Chief Marketing and Communications Officer, Ballad Health Ted Sweetser, Vice President, Strategy, Healthcare, Purple Labs   Bios: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/events/how-top-hospital-systems-are-capturing-new-patients/ We are proud to have Purple Lab as the sponsor of this event. Their support is Instrumental in bringing you this insightful discussion. PurpleLab is a health tech company that puts valuable healthcare insights in customers' hands, enabling the healthcare industry to drive better outcomes through access to real-world data. https://purplelab.com/  

Leaders from Independence Blue Cross, Oscar Health and TytoCare explore how health plans can leverage various solutions effectively to optimize pricing structures; exploring technology adoption, cost-effectiveness, and market competitiveness. Our panel of industry experts will share successful strategies and real-world examples you can implement in your organization.   Topics covered include: Matching benefits with member personas Evolving virtual care beyond video Various innovations in product design  Bringing price transparency to ACA and Medicare Advantage products How to penetrate new, highly competitive markets   Guests: Jonathan Stump, Vice President, Product Services, Independence Blue Cross Bill Bradley, Vice President, Insurance Product Development, Oscar Health Meni Shikhman, Vice President, TytoCare   Bios: https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/events/differentiating-your-product-in-the-healthcare-insurance-marketplace/   This episode is sponsored by TytoCare TytoCare is a virtual healthcare company that enables leading health plans and providers to deliver remote healthcare to the whole family through its Home Smart Clinic. Combining a cutting-edge, easy-to-use, FDA-cleared device with AI-powered guidance and diagnostic support, the Home Smart Clinic enables the whole family to conduct remote physical exams with a doctor, replicating in-clinic exams for immediate answers from home. TytoCare drives utilization rates that are five times higher than traditional telehealth services, reduces the total cost of care by an average of five percent, diverts ED visits by an average of 10.8%; and has a high average NPS of 83. The Home Smart Clinic includes Tyto Engagement Labs™, a proven framework of engagement journeys designed for successfully deploying and adopting the solution. To complete its offering, TytoCare also provides the Pro Smart Clinic, for professional settings outside the home to serve rural clinics, schools, workplaces, and more. TytoCare serves over 220 major health systems and plans in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East. For more information, visit us at tytocare.com.

Kody Kinsley, Secretary of North Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services, joins Eric to discuss how his state is improving the lives of families and children by expanding Medicaid and improving the mental health system.    Secretary Kinsley shares strategies for improving behavioral healthcare access and benefit design for North Carolina’s Medicaid and Medicare members, including peer support programs, mental health crisis lines, and data systems to track the availability of beds and individuals in need.    The conversation also explores the importance of improving healthcare infrastructure through Medicaid, focusing on preventative measures and addressing social determinants of health.    About Secretary Kinsley Kody Kinsley serves as North Carolina’s Secretary of Health & Human Services, overseeing a department with over 18,000 staff and a $38 billion budget.   With experience centered on health policy and operations, Kinsley worked on digital healthcare transformation, national education, and labor policies and served as the COO and CFO of the U.S. Treasury.   Secretary Kinsley’s three priorities for the department include Investing in behavioral health and resilience, improving child and family well-being, and building a solid and inclusive workforce. Under his leadership, North Carolina expanded Medicaid and received the most significant investment to bolster the mental health system in over a decade. Kinsley grew up in Wilmington, earning his bachelor’s degree from Brevard College and his master’s in Public Policy from the University of California at Berkeley.   

Leaders from Humana, Blue Cross, and Blue Shield of Rhode Island delve into the dynamic landscape of specialty value-based care, sharing valuable insights and actionable strategies for navigating its complexities.    Show Guests: Alexander Ding, MD, MS, MBA, Associate Vice President for Physician Strategy and Medical Affairs, Humana  Nick Lefeber, Senior Vice President, Value-Based Care, Contracting, Data & Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island Rachel Winokur, Chief Executive Officer, TailorCare   https://www.brightspotsinhealthcare.com/events/the-evolution-of-specialty-value-based-care/   This episode is sponsored by TailorCare   TailorCare is a risk-based care navigation program that provides deeply personal support to patients living with joint, back, and muscle pain. By combining a careful assessment of patients’ symptoms, health history, preferences and goals with predictive data and the latest evidence-based guidelines, TailorCare helps patients choose —and navigate—the most effective treatment pathway for them, every step of the way.  

Melissa Newton Smith, Founder of Newton Smith, and Keslie Crichton, Chief Sales Officer of BeneLynk, join Eric to discuss the introduction of the CMS Health Equity Index, which will replace the reward factor within the Medicare Advantage Star Rating program measurement. The Health Equity Index will be a seismic change for Medicare Advantage plans and impact revenue associated with Star Ratings. Melissa and Keslie share success stories from plans preparing for the change.  Links "Associations Between Annual Medicare Part D Low-Income Subsidy Loss and Prescription Drug Spending and Use": https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama-health-forum/fullarticle/2814604 Book Links   $2.00 a Day: Living on Almost Nothing in America:  https://www.amazon.com/2-00-Day-audiobook/dp/B012E8RDS2/ref=sr_1_1?crid=29MW28TUOFAG0&keywords=%242+a+day&qid=1708126201&s=books&sprefix=2+a+day%2Cstripbooks%2C125&sr=1-1   Because I Said I Would: https://store.becauseisaidiwould.org/store/thebook/?_gl=1*qfwy3p*_ga*OTY3NTIzNTYzLjE3MDgxMjYyNDc.*_ga_9YFXHXM1VK*MTcwODEyNjI0Ny4xLjAuMTcwODEyNjI1NC41My4wLjA.    The Ethical Case Manager: https://www.amazon.com/dp/194388918X/ref=cm_sw_r_apin_dp_GVBYY6XZGAK9RK9VRHE8   About Melissa Melissa is the founder of Newton Smith. She brings over 25 years of experience in Star Ratings, strategy, sales, and marketing for health plans, providers, pharmacy benefit managers, and industry vendors. Most recently, she served as Chief Consulting Officer at Healthmine. Melissa is a well-known healthcare strategist with proven success developing enterprise-wide solutions to improve Star Ratings, quality performance, health outcomes, and the member experience.  About Keslie Keslie has worked in managed care for over 25 years, focusing on SDoH solutions that improve members' lives and provide a return on investment for our clients. Keslie drives enterprise growth and innovative partnerships to improve outreach strategies and health outcomes for our client’s members.  Keslie works closely with BeneLynk’s product team to offer differentiated services and capabilities to maintain its market leader position.    This episode is sponsored by BeneLynk BeneLynk is a national provider of Social Care solutions for Medicare Advantage and Managed Medicaid health plans. They serve plans and their members by creating a human-to-human connection and providing the assistance a member needs to get the benefits they deserve.