Rethinking Prior Authorization Through Technology and Alignment with Chris Gay of Evry Health

In this episode, Chris Gay, CEO and Co-Founder of Evry Health, joins Jakob Emerson to discuss how technology, scale, and business model alignment can dramatically reduce prior authorization friction. He shares why Evry Health’s approach delivers faster decisions, lower denial rates, and a better patient and provider experience, and what the industry needs to change next.

In this episode, Xiaofei Zhou, MD - Associate Program Director, Neurosurgery, Section Chief of Neurosurgery, Southwest General Hospital, Director of Endoscopic Spine Surgery, discusses how surgical innovation should be guided by patient outcomes and real data, not just flashy trends. They also explore the early role of AI in spine surgery, plus the financial forces shaping care including insurance, spine coding, bundled models and the need for broader systems and medical training education. 

In this episode, Shelly Schorer, FHFMA, MBA, California CFO at CommonSpirit Health, joins the podcast to discuss the close connection between high-quality care and strong financial performance. She shares how health systems are navigating economic pressures, shifting more care to the ambulatory setting, modernizing the revenue cycle, and adopting new technologies—while continuing to expand patient access and support sustainable growth.

In this episode, Nathaniel Beers, CEO of Blythedale Children’s Hospital, joins the podcast to discuss caring for children with complex disabilities and the importance of meeting patients where they are. He shares how partnerships with school systems help improve quality of life, why bringing patients home is a critical goal, and how healthcare teams can support children in doing what matters most—being kids.

In this episode, Holly McCormack, Chief Executive Officer of Cottage Hospital, discusses how a bold investment in the workforce helped stabilize staffing, reduce reliance on contract labor, and strengthen care delivery. She also shares her priorities for financial stewardship, rural access to care, and service line focus as the organization looks ahead to 2026.

In this episode, Raymond Hino, CEO of Southern Coos Hospital & Health Center, shares strategies for expanding access to care, improving clinical services, and building a clinically integrated network of rural hospitals in Oregon. He also discusses initiatives like opening a new retail pharmacy, enhancing surgical capabilities, and supporting senior mental health programs.

In this episode, Clay Ashdown, CFO at Intermountain Health, joins the podcast to discuss navigating financial leadership during times of uncertainty. He shares how AI and emerging technologies are helping streamline processes—particularly within the revenue cycle—and reflects on how the CFO role has evolved to prioritize adaptability, innovation, and strategic resilience.

In this episode, Dan Hackner, MD, Chief Clinical and Academic Officer, Southcoast Health, joins the podcast to discuss the role of concurrent data in improving clinical decision-making. He addresses gaps in educating and supporting caregivers, how health systems can anticipate the future affordability of care, and why deeply understanding community needs is essential to driving meaningful innovation in healthcare.

In this episode, Dr. Aaron Chamberlain, orthopedic surgeon and Senior Medical Director for the Musculoskeletal Clinical Program at Intermountain Health, discusses the evolution of shoulder surgery and how the Intact subscapularis sparing technique is reshaping anatomic shoulder arthroplasty and patient recovery.This episode is sponsored by DePuy Synthes.

In this episode, Robert Chestnut, SVP and CFO at LMH Health, joins the podcast to discuss how health systems are preparing for market shifts heading into 2026. He shares perspectives on embracing change, addressing workforce skill shortages through internal training programs, and diversifying talent to build a more resilient and adaptable organization.