Transitions of care—moving patients from one care site to another—continue to be a major challenge in healthcare. Nearly 1 in 5 Medicare patients discharged from a hospital—approximately 2.6 million seniors—are readmitted within 30 days, at a cost of more than $26 billion every year, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Salman Ali, CEO and co-founder of Kouper, saw opportunities to take a tech-based approach to care transitions, using generative AI to ensure patients don’t fall through the cracks after hospital discharge. As executive-in-residence at venture capital group General Catalyst, Stephen Klasko, M.D., has a front-row seat to the latest innovations in AI. And as former CEO of Jefferson Health in Philadelphia, Klasko understands the value of using technology to tackle operational pain points at health systems. In this episode of “Podnosis,” Ali and Klasko dig into Kouper’s approach to improving care transitions and why they see AI at a true inflection point. They talk about how hospitals can deploy AI without adding to staff burden and why trust matters more than technology in winning over health system leaders. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Kouper is tackling transitions of care armed with $10M from General Catalyst, 25Madison and CVS' venture arm Ohio attorney general approves sale of Summa Health to General Catalyst's HATCo, with some conditions Commure raises $200M in growth financing from General Catalyst See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
25:22
--------
25:22
Uncertainty clouds finances for payers and providers in Q2
The first half of 2025 was decidedly mixed for many publicly traded healthcare companies, and they’re facing murky waters in the back half of the year amid policy and cost upheaval. In this episode of "Podnosis," Fierce Healthcare Associate Editor Dave Muoio and Senior Writer Paige Minemyer break down the topline takeaways from another round of corporate earnings calls, including a look at executive commentary on the “big, beautiful” policy environment. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Elevated Medicare Advantage, ACA marketplace costs sting insurers in mixed Q2 HCA Healthcare raises 2025 guidance on strong Q2, says Medicaid changes should be 'manageable' UnitedHealthcare to exit certain Medicare Advantage markets as costs balloon, impacting 600K enrollees Community Health Systems attributes Q2 volume stumble to low consumer confidence, immigration fears Oscar Health misses estimates in Q2, plans layoffs and inks Hy-Vee-branded ICHRA plan Aetna turnaround is a 'top priority' at CVS Health, CEO says, as Wall Street buoyed by insurance unit's rebound With buyouts looming, Humana improves outlook as revenue beats estimates in Q2 Cost pressures limit Molina Healthcare during Q2 earnings as stock dips Ardent Health has no qualms about losing exchange volumes, execs say Cigna's solid Q2 results boosted by Evernorth revenue growth, limited exposure to elevated medical costs Universal Health Services addresses behavioral volume slip by targeting outpatient, downplays Medicaid cuts Elevance Health CEO Gail Boudreaux says company taking 'concrete steps' to address cost pressures Tenet Healthcare raises 2025 outlook on Q2 overperformance; concerns linger over ACA subsidies, slowed admissions Centene slashes 2025 guidance as it navigates ACA marketplace headwinds 'Humming on all cylinders': Alignment Healthcare CEO inks profit milestone, eyes growth See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
28:06
--------
28:06
The case for trauma-informed care
Research shows that women impacted by domestic abuse are significantly more likely to experience chronic health conditions. Survivors often live with untreated pain, anxiety and fear—and many never disclose their experiences to a healthcare provider. At Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital in Chicago, a new pilot program is rethinking how care teams engage survivors of gender-based violence. The initiative aims to improve how clinicians identify, respond to, and connect patients with trauma-informed care and critical resources. Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks to Mariá Wilburn, a certified crisis counselor and manager of the Pathways Program at Endeavor Health, about the unique approach and why it’s important. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Some sexual assault survivors face huge hospital bills if they seek emergency care Half of women skip or delay care due to 'triple threat' of factors, report finds Unique generational mental health needs highlight demand for personalized care, survey finds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
29:12
--------
29:12
Direct contracting, real savings? Northwell thinks so
As healthcare costs continue to climb, employers are searching for new ways to support their workforce while managing spend. One potential solution: direct contracting, where employers partner directly with care providers instead of going through traditional insurers. In this episode of "Podnosis," senior writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya chats with Nick Stefanizzi, CEO of Northwell Direct, the direct-to-employer arm of Northwell Health. He explains how the organization partners with employers through Northwell’s broad provider network, why even competitors are joining the effort and what he sees as the future of employer-sponsored healthcare. To learn more about the topics in this episode: Employers embracing direct contracting and bypassing insurers: survey Industry Voices—Healthcare disruption is here and employers are driving it Buyers of digital health plan to up their investment next year, survey finds See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
23:01
--------
23:01
The case for proactive kidney care
Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects more than 35 million Americans, and up to 9 in 10 adults with the condition don’t know they have it. Often called a “silent killer,” CKD is typically diagnosed in later stages, when treatment becomes more complex and costly. In this episode, Fierce Healthcare Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya speaks with Carney Taylor, M.D., associate chief medical officer at Interwell Health, about why CKD is ripe for value-based care, how early interventions can improve outcomes, and what it takes to shift kidney care upstream. To learn more about the topics in this episode: CMMI to cut participation in payment models, estimates $750M in savings Humana finds value-based care leads to fewer hospital admissions for kidney patients Humana cuts 13-state kidney disease management deal with Interwell Health Interwell Health finalizes $2.4B kidney care merger to combine tech, value-based care capabilities See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Podnosis: the pulse of the healthcare industry. Every week, journalists from Fierce Healthcare dive into some of the industry’s biggest trends. We talk to the experts about what’s important now so you can prep for the future. Hear about all things healthcare, from physician practices to hospital chains and insurance giants—and those that mix all three—plus the tech they use, disruptors looking to compete and people moving the sector forward. Follow Podnosis on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon or wherever you get your podcasts.
Ireland