Healthcare Strategies

Rural and small healthcare entities face the same cyber threats as the nation's largest health systems, but often lack the tools to combat them in the same way. From funding scarcity to workforce shortages, rural healthcare organizations must balance the need for an effective cybersecurity program with ongoing operational constraints. How can rural healthcare providers manage risk while understaffed and underfunded? Featuring: Jim Roeder, vice president of IT at Lakewood Health System In this episode, we'll cover The unique cybersecurity challenges that small and rural healthcare providers face compared to their larger counterparts How the cybersecurity workforce shortage has impacted rural entities' ability to attract and retain cyber talent What types of government and community support would help rural healthcare organizations improve their cybersecurity programs and more! References Understaffed, underfunded: Health IT security for small, rural providers Rural healthcare cybersecurity aid grows, but challenges persist To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site. To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

Revenue cycle management is rife with data issues and automatable processes--making it ripe for AI implementation. How can providers use AI tools to reduce their revenue cycle management workload?   Featuring: Jacqueline LaPointe, executive editor, lead editor on Rev Cycle Management, Xtelligent Anuja Vaidya, senior editor on Virtual Healthcare, Xtelligent   In today’s episode, we’ll cover… The significance of AI in revenue cycle management (RCM) Key applications of AI in RCM including eligibility verification and prior authorizations Future prospects with generative and agentic AI  and more! References: RPA to Gen AI: How AI in revenue cycle management is evolving The state of revenue cycle management software R1 secures investment for agentic AI in revenue cycle management To learn more about revenue cycle management, check out Revenue Cycle Management. To watch the video version our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

As virtual nursing programs transform healthcare delivery, discover how this digital revolution is leveraging technology and human expertise to address widespread staffing shortages while enhancing both the patient and provider experience. Explore how hospitals and health systems are currently using virtual nurses, the successes they have already had and how the trend will evolve in the next five to ten years.  Featuring: Jacqueline LaPointe, executive editor at Xtelligent Healthcare  Anuja Vaidya, senior editor, Virtual Healthcare at Xtelligent Healthcare  In today's episode, we'll cover:  Virtual nursing implementation and core components of a program Nursing workforce benefits and care coordination strategies Opportunities to improve patient satisfaction and clinician experience  References  What is virtual nursing, and why is it on the rise?  Exploring health systems' virtual nursing staffing strategies  74% of hospital leaders say virtual nursing will become integral to acute care  What to do and not do when deploying virtual nursing programs  To learn more about virtual nursing, check out our site, Virtual Healthcare.  To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 

FDA’s removal of GLP-1 drugs from the shortage list ends supplemental compounding, shifting patient access back to branded semaglutide and tirzepatide. Featuring: Sara Heath, executive editor, Xtelligent Healthcare Alivia Kaylor, senior editor of Pharma Life Sciences, Xtelligent Healthcare In today’s episode, we’ll cover… The end of GLP-1 compounding creates a significant access barrier for millions of patients seeking weight management solutions Financial inequity deepens as patients transition from affordable compounded options to expensive branded medications Future innovation in oral GLP-1 formulations offers hope but remains constrained by long-term patent protections and more! References: Anticipating the healthcare reach of GLP-1 receptor agonists Are compounded GLP-1 drugs safe? FDA winds down GLP-1 compounding policies To learn more about GLP-1s, check out our Pharma Life Sciences and Patient Engagement sites. To watch the video clips of our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

Street medicine is taking off in cities nationwide as part of the industry's effort to address a rampant housing insecurity crisis and boost population health. Driven by mobile medical units outfitted to look more like primary care offices, these street medicine teams are moving unhoused individuals to better health and preparing them for stable, supportive housing. But street medicine programs aren't successful just because of the clinicians and their supped-up sprinter vans. Rather, it's the peer navigators or community health workers to make these community-based interventions what they are. Learn more about how California-based Healthcare in Action providers and peer navigators work to support better street medicine. Featuring: Benjamin Kaska, PA, vice president of development and partnerships, Healthcare in Action Eric Berrera, lead peer navigator, Healthcare in Action In this episode, we'll cover Why street medicine is so important for supporting unhoused individuals The importance of supporting clinical efforts with peer navigators How street medicine providers partner best with peer navigators and community stakeholders and more! References Mobile health clinics bring care to California's unhoused Tips for Designing Community Health Worker Training Programs To learn more about community-based care and population health, visit our Patient Engagement site. To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 

The first 100 days of the second Trump presidency were marked by new, wide-ranging tariffs and executive orders along with workforce cuts and leadership changes. What are the immediate and long-term impacts of these shifts? And how has the healthcare industry responded?   Featuring: Alivia Kaylor, senior editor for Pharma Life Sciences at Xtelligent Jacqueline LaPointe, executive editor of Editorial at Xtelligent   In today’s episode, we’ll cover… Tariffs and their impact on drug supply chain The impact of deregulation and workforce cuts on wasteful healthcare spending Understanding the role of executive orders in healthcare policy and more!   To learn more about these topics, check out techtarget.com/healthcarepayers and techtarget.com/pharmalifesciences. To watch clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. References: Trump to expand, enforce healthcare price transparency How Trump's pharma tariffs disrupt drug supply chains Trump administration policies could create headwinds across healthcare: Fitch

Fortra, the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC), and Microsoft's Digital Crimes Unit teamed up to combat abuse of Cobalt Strike, a legitimate adversary simulation tool that cyberthreat actors have taken a liking to. The collaborative efforts resulted in an 80% reduction in unauthorized copies of Cobalt Strike observed in the wild. What does this success story say about the value of industry collaboration in healthcare cybersecurity?  Featuring: Bob Erdman, associate vice president, research and development at Fortra  In this episode, we'll cover  The threat that abuse of legitimate security tools by cyberthreat actors poses on healthcare organizations  Joint efforts by Fortra, Microsoft, and Health-ISAC to crack down on Cobalt Strike abuse in the wild  The value of industry-wide collaboration in making healthcare more secure  and more!  References  Cobalt Strike abuse drops 80% following takedown campaign   Microsoft, Fortra, Health-ISAC Crack Down On Cobalt Strike Abuse  To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site.  To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 

The Connecticut Poison Control Center receives on average a hundred calls a day and operates 24/7. To handle such an immense workload, the Center relies on one tool to sustain and improve its emergency response: the state's health information exchange (HIE), Connie. How does this HIE help the Center save lives? Listen to find out! Featuring: Suzanne Doyon, MD, medical director of the Connecticut Poison Control Center at UConn Health In today's episode, we will cover:  What drove the Connecticut Poison Control Center to integrate the state's health information exchange How the tool has impacted efficiency and even staff morale The potential that other agencies have/could actualize by leveraging the health information exchange ...and more! References:  Definition: What is a Health Information Exchange? More on Connie: Once an underdog, Connecticut’s HIE network gains traction Health information exchange barriers hamper telehealth adoption To learn more about value-based care, check out our site Healthtech Analytics.   To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. 

The healthcare industry has been shifting from fee-for-service to value-based care and payment for decades now with not much to show for it as a whole. How can employers and other healthcare purchasers achieve value amid soaring costs and worsening disease burden?   Featuring: Shawn Gremminger, president and CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions  In today's episode, we will cover:  Why the current definition and implementation of value-based care in healthcare isn't working effectively, and a major rethinking is needed to create a truly value-driven system.  The core challenges employers face in achieving value-based care, especially around data access, price transparency and practical strategies.  Strategies for achieving higher quality, affordable care, such as narrow network design, increased pricing data access and direct contracting.  References:  Health Care Payment Learning & Action Network;s APM Measurement effort  What the Transparency in Coverage rule means for healthcare price transparency  How to accelerate value-based care despite looming healthcare crisis  To learn more about value-based care, check out our site Healthcare Payers.   To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   

Despite decades of advancements in reproductive health, male contraception methods remain limited to condoms or vasectomies. This leaves few options for those seeking alternatives and leaves women shouldering the physical and hormonal burdens of birth control. Today, with 85% of men aged 18–45 actively seeking new family planning solutions, the demand for a long-acting, reversible alternative is greater than ever.    As male contraception advances in the wake of the Dobbs decision reversal, this episode examines market prospects, regulatory hurdles, and the future of reproductive options for men.    Featuring: Darlene Walley, Chief Executive Officer, NEXT Life Sciences     In this episode, we will cover…  The growing demand for male contraception in the wake of shifting reproductive rights policies.  How Vasalgel technology works and why it's a reversible alternative to vasectomies.  The regulatory approval pathway for Plan A as a medical device.  The economic and public health impact of expanded contraceptive options for men.  The role of strategic partnerships with organizations like Planned Parenthood and the Male Contraceptive Initiative in advancing male birth control.    To stay up to date on the latest developments in male contraception, check out our Pharma Life Sciences sites.     To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.    References:  U.S. men's interest in new male contraceptives  A reversible alternative to vasectomies  Pipeline of male contraceptives     

The Change Healthcare cyberattack had widespread, unprecedented impacts across the healthcare sector in February 2024 and beyond. What has the sector learned since, and are providers better equipped to handle a similar incident today? Featuring: Errol Weiss, chief security officer at the Health Information Sharing and Analysis Center (Health-ISAC) In this episode, we'll cover Systemic security challenges that the Change Healthcare cyberattack exposed Lessons learned in the year since the Change Healthcare cyberattack, and how the sector has improved its cybersecurity efforts Ongoing cybersecurity risks to the healthcare supply chain and more! References Health-ISAC's 2025 Health Sector Cyber Threat Landscape Report American Hospital Association and Health-ISAC Joint Threat Bulletin: Russian Ransomware Gangs Disrupt Patient Care Understanding the impact of the Change Healthcare cyberattack on providers 10 largest healthcare data breaches of 2024 HPH Cybersecurity Performance Goals To learn more about healthcare cybersecurity, check out our Healthtech Security site. To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.  

The public outcry against health insurers intensified after the shooting of a UnitedHealthcare CEO. What trends are driving Americans' dissatisfaction with payers and can payers recover the public's trust? Featuring: Jacqueline LaPointe, executive editor at Xtelligent Healthcare In today’s episode, we’ll cover… Trends in claim denials The driving factors behind payers' denials The role of artificial intelligence in claims management, for better and for worse... and more!   To learn more about claims management, check out our Rev Cycle Management and Healthcare Payers sites! To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   References Breaking down claim denial rates by healthcare payer KFF: Consumer Survey Highlights Problems with Denied Health Insurance Claims Trend Alert: Private Payers Retain Profits by Refusing or Delaying Legitimate Medical Claims

Social determinants of health (SDOH) play a critical role in health outcomes, but standardized SDOH data collection is lacking. How is NCQA driving standardization through national SDOH quality measures?   Featuring: Rachel Harrington, PhD, AVP of health equity sciences, NCQA Adrianna Nava, PhD, MPA, applied research scientist, NCQA   In today’s episode, we’ll cover… Updates to NCQA’s SDOH quality measures Current SDOH data collection challenges The role policy plays in driving SDOH data standardization... and more!   To learn more about SDOH data collection, check out our Health IT and EHR site and our Patient Engagement site. To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   References Charting new territory: the early lessons in integrating social determinant of health (SDOH) measures into practice How Regenstrief and HL7 are driving SDOH data standards Advocating for SDOH data standards to support health equity   

AI has officially transcended buzzword status, with healthcare continuously diving deeper into its uses and applications. But as technology continues to proliferate healthcare, experts eye questions about the effects on patient experience and the industry's overall push for more patient-centered care. In this episode, we explore those questions and discuss how healthcare can embrace AI as a leading clinical decision support tool without losing site of its patient-centered goals.   Featuring: Prashila Dullabh, vice president and senior fellow in Health Sciences at NORC at the University of Chicago   In today's episode, we'll cover… The risks of omitting patient-centricity from healthcare's AI conversations The research going into deploying AI with a patient-centered lens How patients might feel about use of AI in healthcare …and more! To learn more about patient-centered care and healthcare's embrace of AI, check out our Xtelligent sites: Patient Engagement, Healthtech Analytics and Health IT. To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   References: Enhancing Patient Engagement through Shared Decision-Making  What Are the Top Challenges of Clinical Decision Support Tools?

Sexual orientation and gender identity (SOGI) data is key for improving health outcomes among sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients. How can healthcare organizations effectively navigate challenges -- like bias and discrimination -- to improve SOGI data collection? Featuring: Carey Candrian, PhD, associate professor of medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and a 2024 Health and Aging Policy Fellow In today's episode, we'll cover: The implications of missing SOGI data on care delivery and quality The challenges health systems face that prevent them from routinely collecting SOGI data Strategies to improve SOGI data collection and health equity for LGBTQIA+ patients And more! To learn more about AI in healthcare, check out our site, Healthtech Analytics. To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @Healthcare Strategies. References SOGI Data Missing in Over 60% of Adult EHR Records, Study Finds University of Colorado: CU Researcher Issues a Call for More Data to Improve Care for LGBTQ Patients

2025 promises to be an interesting year in healthcare with many possibilities, challenges and unknowns. A few of our editorial staff members got together to discuss the trends we will be watching in the new year, from telehealth flexibilities to artificial intelligence guardrails, and from employers' cost-cutting efforts to the future of reproductive health. Featuring: Shania Kennedy, assistant editor of Healthtech Analytics at Xtelligent Veronica Salib, associate editor of Pharma Life Sciences at Xtelligent Healthcare Anuja Vaidya, senior editor of Virtual Healthcare and special events lead at Xtelligent Healthcare Kelsey Waddill, multimedia manager and managing editor of Healthcare Payers at Xtelligent Healthcare In today’s episode, we’ll cover… The focal points of GLP-1 research in the coming year GLP-1 coverage expectations AI trends in 2025 Telehealth market shifts Reproductive healthcare evolution since the overturn of Roe v. Wade ...and more! To learn more about 2025 healthcare industry predictions, check out our Xtelligent sites: Healthtech Analytics, Healthcare Payers, Pharma Life Sciences, and Virtual Healthcare. To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   Thank you to Dr. Sanjula Jain, Melissa Knuth, and Dr. Stephanie Page who spoke with us earlier in the season and whose insights we included in this episode. References GLP-1 general impact overview CDC unintended pregnancy data Vasectomy data from the University of Florida Health Planned Parenthood data on vasectomy reversals HR managers see value in GLP-1 coverage Employer coverage rates of GLP-1s for weight loss Exploring generative AI in healthcare Introducing the role of Chief Analytics Officer Telehealth volumes data from Trilliant Health Leveraging RPM at home for cancer care Vendor uses wearables to assess impact of GLP-1s on Parkinson's disease    

As the reproductive health landscape continues to evolve, access to contraception and prescriptions for contraception are increasingly critical tools for preventing unplanned pregnancies. In some states, pharmacists at retail pharmacies can play a critical role in contraceptive access by providing counseling and prescriptions for some birth control methods. Featuring: Dr. Mollie Scott, a pharmacist, the regional associate dean of the University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and Chair of the Department of Pharmacotherapy at Mountain Area Health Education Center. In today’s episode, we’ll cover The role pharmacists play in prescribing and medication management Policies and regulations for pharmacists’ prescribing The benefits and drawbacks of pharmacists prescribing contraception Advocacy tips for pharmacists hoping to change contraception prescribing laws in their state And more! To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   Note: The Healthcare Strategies team will be on break for 12/30/24, but make sure to tune in for our first episode of the new year (publishing 1/6/25) where we cover major trends for 2025!   Resources: Clinical Pharmacists Are a Major Contributor to Quality Patient Care   Understanding the widespread impacts of pharmacy deserts   Limited Access to Female Contraceptives: A Public Health Crisis   Assessing the Expected Impacts of OTC Hormonal Birth Control Pills

The future of telehealth policy remains uncertain, with pandemic-era regulatory flexibilities set to expire by the end of the year, barring Congressional action. What is holding Congress back from extending or solidifying these flexibilities, and will those concerns influence telehealth legislation in 2025? Featuring: Darryl Roberts, Vice President of Health Informatics at RELI Group In today's episode, we'll cover… The impact of telehealth flexibilities on healthcare delivery and patient outcomes   Possible reasons why Congress has yet to act despite bipartisan support for telehealth access Key pieces of legislation to watch for in 2025 References: Spending Bill to Extend Telehealth, Hospital-at-Home Waivers for 2 Years   HHS: How the End of the PHE Will Impact Telehealth Flexibilities   What the NJ Lawsuit Adds to Out-of-State Telehealth, Licensure Debates   What the House subcommittee hearing tells us about telehealth’s future To learn more about telehealth policy, check out our site, Xtelligent Virtual Healthcare. To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.

GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide 1) medications are revolutionizing weight loss and diabetes care, but behind the hype lies a growing web of regulatory gaps, telehealth expansion and online pharmacy risks. This episode unpacks the opportunities -- and dangers -- shaping the future of these life-changing drugs.   Featuring: Scott Roth, Chief Executive Officer, LegitScript Gerard Olsen, Director of Research, LegitScript   In today’s episode, we'll cover… The skyrocketing demand for GLP-1 medications and their influence on weight loss trends, including a 26% drop in bariatric surgeries How telehealth and online pharmacies are reshaping access to GLP-1 drugs -- and the risks posed by rogue sellers and counterfeit products The critical need for stronger regulatory enforcement and LegitScript's role in ensuring safety and transparency in the online healthcare market   To learn more about GLP-1 medications from all angles, check out our Pharma Life Sciences, Patient Engagement and Healthcare Payers sites.   To watch video clips from the conversation, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies.   References: Metabolic bariatric surgery in the GLP-1 era   Risks of online semaglutide without prescription   FDA updates on GLP-1 compounding policies  

Staffing shortages and rising operational costs are daunting challenges for community health centers, which are vital for serving underserved populations. How can the right technology investments help community health centers overcome these obstacles? Featuring: Abby Sears, president and CEO of OCHIN Jeff Lowrance, CEO of OSIS In today’s episode, we’ll cover… The top operational challenges community health centers face How health IT innovation can transform healthcare delivery in underserved communities The value of collaboration for tackling workforce shortages and more! To learn more about health IT, check out Health IT and EHR site. To watch video clips from our podcast, subscribe to our YouTube channel, @HealthcareStrategies. References: Finances stymie patient data sharing, interoperability at FQHCs   Community health center access up by 1 million patients   Community Health Centers’ Progress and Challenges in Meeting Patients’ Essential Primary Care Needs