A top podcast for healthcare leaders, with over two million downloads, Radio Advisory is your weekly download on how to untangle the industry's most pressing challenges to help leaders like you make the best business decisions for your organization. From unpacking major trends in care delivery—like site-of-care shifts and the rise of high-cost drugs—to demystifying stakeholder dynamics, to shining a spotlight on priorities that may get overlooked, we're here to help. Our hosts and seasoned researchers talk with industry experts to equip you with knowledge to confront today's unanswered questions in healthcare. New episodes drop every Tuesday. | www.advisory.com
In this episode, Abby Burns welcomes back Megan Zweig, CEO of Rock Health Advisory, to answer audience questions submitted during Advisory Board's Research Summit in Carlsbad, California. Together, they explore how health systems are engaging with the explosion in consumer-generated data, the role of medtech and pharma in AI-enabled innovation, and why AI enablement may be able to unlock personalized care for a wider range of patients. We’re here to help: Episode | 304: Boom, bust, or bubble? Rock Health weighs in on digital health funding in 2026 Playlist | Radio Advisory Tech and AI playlist Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Research | AI in healthcare: Evaluating promising use cases Research | Truly personalized care is possible. Here's how to make it a reality. Rock Health H1 2026 funding and market overview: Durable roots, shifting routes | Rock Health Want to see a live recording of Radio Advisory? Register for an Advisory Board summit and get the insights your organization needs to navigate uncertainty and build lasting resilience. Advisory Board members: Action requested! Help shape Advisory Board’s next research agenda by taking our quick survey — share your priorities and challenges to ensure our research reflects what matters most to healthcare leaders like you. Nearly 70% of adults ages 65 and over skipped the latest COVID vaccine. Learn how health systems can treat vaccine uncertainty as a routine care gap — not patient resistance — by reading Advisory Board’s expert insight . A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Oncology is simultaneously one of healthcare's greatest success stories and one of its biggest financial challenges. Cancer care continues to benefit from breakthroughs in precision medicine and early detection, even as oncology spending is projected to approach $200 billion by 2029. At the same time, cancer programs are facing rising patient volumes, growing demand for advanced therapies, and mounting pressure to improve access and affordability. In this episode, hosts Abby Burns and Chloe Bakst welcome oncology expert Gaby Marmolejos to break down the trends shaping cancer care in 2026 and beyond. Together, they explore improvements in community-based access to advanced therapies, the promise of multi-cancer early detection testing, and the reimbursement challenges threatening program sustainability. We’re here to help: Playbook | Cell and gene therapy programs: How to launch, optimize, and deliver CGTs sustainably Roundtable referenced | Advisory Board Oncology Roundtable: Trends and tech you can’t ignore Webinar | The top 4 trends in oncology today Report | Prioritizing equity in cancer treatment: Emerging ideas Episode | 270: Service line snapshot: What every health leader needs to know Episode | Ep. 209: Predicting what oncology will look like in 2030 Help shape Advisory Board’s next research agenda by taking our quick survey — share your priorities and challenges to ensure our research reflects what matters most to healthcare leaders like you. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Value-based care is entering its accountability era. Participation in value-based arrangements continues to grow, even as financial pressures weigh down on both providers and payers. But CMMI is setting a clear tone about what it expects from stakeholders moving forward: results. Host Abby Burns sits down with Advisory Board experts Clare Wirth, Payton Grimes, and Rhea Jain to explore what’s changed — and what hasn’t — in value-based care. From Medicare Advantage turbulence to the push for specialist engagement and greater downside risk, the group breaks down what leaders need to know about how the value-based care landscape is evolving. We’re here to help: Expert Insight | VBC in 2026: What was, what’s now, and what’s next Ready-to-Use Resource | Your guide to CMMI’s 25+ innovation models Case Study | Astera and Vantris are disrupting oncology with condition-based bundles Case Study | HOPCo’s total cost of care approach to VBC in MSK care Case Study referenced | How Optum Health defines and upholds value in specialty care Episode | Ep. 243: What’s now and what’s next in value-based care Playlist | Value-Based Care Roundtable | HOME - Advisory Board VBC Roundtable: How to deliver the next era of VBC Help shape Advisory Board’s next research agenda by taking our quick survey — share your priorities and challenges to ensure our research reflects what matters most to healthcare leaders like you. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
After years of uncertainty, many healthcare executives say they’ve experienced more change in the past five years than in their entire careers. Policy shifts, evolving patient expectations, and rapid advances in AI are all colliding at once — forcing leaders to rethink how they operate and where they invest. But here’s the surprising part: the overwhelming sentiment isn’t panic. It’s clarity. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with Advisory Board researchers Morghen Philippi and Marisa Nives to share what they’re hearing from months of research conversations with leaders across the ecosystem. Together, they offer a grounded look at how peers, partners, and competitors are thinking right now — where leaders are aligned, where they’re making different bets, and what they’re prioritizing next. We’re here to help: Episode | Ep. 303: The hard truths behind the fight for commercial volumes Episode | Ep. 232: The rise of ICHRAs: Why some employers are turning to the individual market Playlist | Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Report | 12 things CEOs need to know in 2026 Report | Survey insights: The 5 trends redefining health system strategy in 2026 Tool | Check out Advisory Board’s Market Scenario Planner and other Advisory Board analytics and data tools to inform your strategy for growth, cost control and more. Ready-to-Use Slides | Market outlook for individual and small group health insurance Webinar | How to embrace a proactive (not reactive) approach to change Q&A with a clinical pharmacist: Reimagining diabetes care A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Digital health funding is heating up—but where are the dollars going? And what does it mean for health systems’ digital health strategies? In this live episode, recorded at Advisory Board’s Research Summit, host Abby Burns sits down with Megan Zweig, President and CEO of Rock Health Advisory, for an update on what’s going on in the world of digital health funding. Together, they unpack what investment activity looks like and explore questions around what constitutes an investable thesis in 2026, how health systems are—or could be—engaging in the startup ecosystem, and what it takes to be a good incubation partner. We’re here to help: Episode | 298: Battle of the bots? Separating AI hype from value in revenue cycle Episode | 254: Stop searching for the “perfect” AI product and do this instead Playlist | Radio Advisory Tech and AI playlist Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Research | AI in healthcare: Evaluating promising use cases Rock Health Want to see a live recording of Radio Advisory? Register for an Advisory Board summit and get the insights your organization needs to navigate uncertainty and build lasting resilience. The role of pharmacists in cardiometabolic care A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
As health systems anticipate greater downward pressures on margins in the months and years to come, they’re homing their growth strategies accordingly. As we’ve been saying in our research the past couple of years, “sustainability” is now the name of the game. Here’s the conundrum: our research also shows that 90% of systems are betting on the same growth plays as their competition. And more and more, those bets converge on a common goal: win more commercial volumes. In this episode, host Abby Burns sits down with Advisory Board experts Shay Pratt and Emily Heuser to unpack the three main avenues health systems are exploring to win commercial volumes: ambulatory care, service lines, and direct-to-employer contracting. For each, they explore a “hard truth” and corresponding mindset shift leaders must face as they weigh what it will take to generate margin-accretive growth. We’re here to help: Ambulatory research | Ambulatory care Market trends research | Market trends and growth strategy Service line research | Service lines and specialty care Episode | 290: How data savvy strategic planners will define the next era of health system growth Playlist | Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Tool | Check out Advisory Board’s Market Scenario Planner and other Advisory Board analytics and data tools to inform your strategy for growth, cost control and more. Learn more about Advisory Board’s 2026 summit series. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
CMS continues to pull on the levers it has at its disposal to rein in national healthcare spend, including rulemaking around Medicare Advantage. In April, CMS announced the final rate for MA plans for CY2027, after a controversial proposed rule generated animated pushback — and a fair bit of panic — among payers. In this episode, host Abby Burns speaks with Alex Balmes, Vice President of Actuarial Services at Optum, to unpack what did — and didn’t — end up in the final rate announcement, and what that signals for the future of the Medicare Advantage program. Together, they explore the components of the final rate that are most important for payers and providers to pay attention to, respectively, and why. Also in the 2027 final announcement, but not discussed in this episode: four measures are being added or updated in Star ratings calculations (Colorectal Cancer Screening; Care for Older Adults – Functional Status Assessment; Concurrent Use of Opioids and Benzodiazepines (COB); Polypharmacy: Use of Multiple Anticholinergic Medications in Older Adults (Poly-ACH)) and three are being removed (Care for Older Adults – Pain Assessment, Medication Reconciliation Post-Discharge, Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Program Completion Rate for Comprehensive Medication Review (CMR)) We’re here to help: Read the 2027 CMS Announcement | 2027 | CMS Episode | 286: A Medicare Advantage reset — and what comes next Ready-to-Use Slides | Medicare Advantage market outlook Stay informed | Healthcare policy updates Tool | Policy Scenario Impact Calculator Connect with an Optum Advisory expert | Optum Learn more about Advisory Board’s 2026 summit series. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Maternity care touches nearly every corner of the U.S. health system. About 25% of all hospitalizations involve a mother or newborn, and maternity spending accounts for roughly 0.8% of U.S. GDP — making it one of the most economically significant service lines in health care. Against that backdrop, a little noticed decision to unbundle maternity billing codes represents a generational shift in how pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum care are paid for. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Rae Woods sits down with Neel Shah, MD, Chief Medical Officer at Maven Clinic, to break down what the new maternity billing codes mean for providers, health plans, and patients. Together, they explore why the old bundle broke down, how unbundling could reshape care delivery, and what health leaders should be doing now as 2027 approaches. We’re here to help: Read Neel’s article | The great unbundling - by Neel Shah, MD - The Preprint Episode | Ep. 261: Maven Clinic on how holistic women's health is the key to reducing cost and engaging employees Quick guide | Guide to today's top women's healthcare trends Learn more about Advisory Board’s 2026 summit series. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Health care leaders are navigating one of the most volatile policy environments in decades. The next major reform fight hasn’t arrived yet — but in its place, a steady wave of rulemaking, regulatory shifts, and enforcement actions is driving real change. Policies are evolving faster, reversing more often, and creating a level of uncertainty that makes even the most seasoned strategists question what to act on, what to wait out, and what to ignore. This moment of policy whiplash isn’t theoretical — it’s reshaping care delivery models, workforce strategy, and long term investment decisions across the industry. In this live episode, recorded at Advisory Board’s Washington, D.C. Summit on May 4, 2026, host Rae Woods sits down with Julie Rovner — chief Washington correspondent at KFF Health News and host of the What the Health? podcast — to make sense of this “in between” moment of health policy. Drawing on four decades of reporting across multiple administrations and reform cycles, Julie helps leaders separate meaningful signals from noise, understand where real policy power sits today, and anticipate what could define the next era of health reform. We’re here to help: Playlist | Radio Advisory Health Policy playlist Expert Insight | How policy changes will impact your bottom line Tool | Policy Scenario Impact Calculator Want to see a live recording of Radio Advisory? Register for an Advisory Board summit and get the insights your organization needs to navigate uncertainty and build lasting resilience. What the Health? From KFF Health News Archives - KFF Health News 4 ways health systems are reducing EVS costs while improving performance A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
After a decidedly difficult few years in the world of nursing, things have seemingly gotten better — at least, on paper. And that’s reflective of a lot of hard work on the part of nursing leaders. But when we look at how long nurses plan to stay in the profession, we see a different story taking shape. In this episode of Radio Advisory, host Abby Burns is joined by Advisory Board nursing expert Ali Knight and Optum expert Sherilynn Quist. Together, they unpack what today’s workforce data is really telling us and what it misses, the root causes driving nurses’ discontent, and why strengthening the nursing workforce can’t be left to nurse leaders alone. We’re here to help: Episode | 274: The nurse engagement tactic leaders may be missing Expert Insight | Labor costs continue to go up. What does it mean for health systems? Expert Insight | Engage frontline staff to increase margin Webinar | 5 key trends shaping the nursing workforce today Webinar | Inform your workforce decisions with Advisory Board's benchmarks Learn more | Optum Advisory: Sustainable Growth and Margin Consulting 5 strategies to close gaps in bladder cancer care A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Across the industry, leaders are talking about a “battle of the bots”—with payers and providers racing to deploy AI across the revenue cycle. But that narrative may be more hype than reality. In this episode, Rae Woods is joined by Advisory Board experts Isis Monteiro and Elysia Culver to separate fact from fiction. They break down where AI is actually delivering value today—and why it’s showing up as efficiency gains and cost avoidance, not revenue growth. And they make the case for a different approach: stop chasing AI for its own sake, and start focusing on margin protection, operational discipline, and the problems that actually need solving. We’re here to help: Report | Revenue cycle claims denial benchmarks Report | Addressing plan-provider friction: 3 insights from Optum’s Payer-Provider Abrasion survey Case Study | 3 steps to prevent prior authorization denials Learn | AI in healthcare: Evaluating promising use cases Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Playlist | Radio Advisory Tech and AI playlist Learn about Advisory Board's 2026 summits A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
After more than a decade of effort, healthcare still struggles with the same consumer pain points: affordability, access, and trust. Despite investments in price transparency, virtual care, and navigation tools, the patient experience remains fragmented, leaving leaders to wonder whether healthcare consumerism ever truly delivered on its promise. In this episode, host Rae Woods invites Advisory Board experts Devin Airey, Shay Pratt, and Natalie Trebes to take a candid look at why the consumer revolution stalled, what consumerism tactics healthcare leaders need to let go of, and where the industry should double down heading into the next decade. We’re here to help: Report | 6 insights on consumer preferences in healthcare Report | Setting up your ambulatory network for the future Expert Insight | 3 strategies to boost healthcare consumer engagement Expert Insight | 3 trends shaping healthcare in 2026 (and how to respond) Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook playlist Subscribe to The Daily Briefing, a must-read daily newsletter for thousands of healthcare executives across the nation A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
What has price transparency data taught us about healthcare prices? Price transparency laws were originally put in place to make it possible for patients to act like consumers. We’re not there yet. But as federal requirements and enforcement tighten, health plans and providers are sharing more and better data, giving us a clearer picture of the price of care across services, organizations, and markets. In this episode, host Abby Burns sits down with CEO of Revelar Analytics, Maria Nikol, to better understand how and why leaders across the industry should leverage price transparency data to help them navigate mounting financial pressures. Maria shares concrete examples of how organizations are using the data to defend rates, uncover underpayment, and prepare for rate negotiations — while also breaking down common data pitfalls and why interpretation matters. They also discuss recent and proposed policy changes and what they mean for healthcare leaders in 2026 and beyond. We’re here to help: Infographic | Real-time transparency Report | 4 steps for successful risk contracting with payers Expert Insight | 3 ways to make VBC contracting easier Learn more | Revelar Analytics l Price Transparency l Home Page 2026 State of Healthcare Procurement: Cost, Quality, Resilience A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
The U.S. healthcare system is approaching a major inflection point. Nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts are set to take effect in January 2027, driven by new work requirements, more frequent eligibility checks, and tighter limits on state financing. While the policy changes are months away, their consequences are already clear: millions of Americans are at risk of losing coverage, and provider organizations — many operating on margins near zero — will absorb the downstream impact through rising uncompensated care. In this episode, hosts Rae Woods and Abby Burns are joined by former Optum Executive Director of Product and Strategy Sunay Shah to help healthcare leaders move from “scramble” to strategy. Drawing on lessons from past Medicaid shifts, including redeterminations and state level work requirement experiments, they explain why administrative disenrollment —not ineligibility — is the biggest threat facing patients and providers alike. Together, they break down what health systems can do now to keep eligible patients covered: redesigning workflows earlier in the patient journey, using technology more thoughtfully, partnering with community organizations, state agencies, and operational support partners, and rebuilding trust with patients during moments of vulnerability. We’re here to help: Episode | 288: Health policy update: VBC, site-neutral payments, and 340B Playlist | Radio Advisory health policy playlist Ready-to-Use Resource | Your guide to CMMI’s 25+ innovation models Expert Insight | How policy changes will impact your bottom line White Paper | Navigating the next era of Medicaid On-Demand Webinar | Adapting to the changes in Medicaid policies Want to learn more about how Optum can help? Connect with our team today Register today for the 2026 Advisory Board Summit in Washington, D.C. 2026 State of Healthcare Procurement: Cost, Quality, Resilience A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
In this bonus episode of Radio Advisory, managing producer Chris Phelps and host and executive producer Rae Woods compare notes from the 2026 ViVE digital health conference. They break down what stood out on the main stage and the show floor—from where AI is over and under hyped, to why point solutions keep falling short, to what it actually takes to scale technology in healthcare. They also surface the big questions they still have about the healthcare industry’s digital future. We’re here to help: Podcast | Ep. 294: Live from ViVE: How payers can reduce friction when the rules change Podcast | 276: The AI gold rush is changing how humans (and clinicians) make decisions Research | How to succeed using AI: Lessons from 4 leading organizations Expert Insight | Inside CMS' final rule changes for 2026 Podcast | Ep. 205: Live from ViVE 2024: Four leaders on how technology is redefining clinical work A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Payers are operating at the center of converging pressures: rising costs, accelerating utilization, heightened public scrutiny, and a wave of CMS reforms that are reshaping expectations around transparency, interoperability, prior authorization, and accountability. Medicare Advantage has become the front line for these shifts—exposing tensions between regulatory oversight, margin compression, and growing demands for better member and provider experiences. Against this backdrop, health plans are being asked to do more with less—while proving real value through measurable outcomes, trust, and access. In this episode, recorded in February at the ViVE digital health and healthcare innovation conference, Rae Woods moderates a conversation with payer and technology leaders on how AI and data are being used to reduce payer–provider friction, rethink prior authorization, and improve the member experience—without losing sight of accountability or return on investment. Panelists include: Ali Khan, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Medicare at Aetna (a CVS company) Kay Judge, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Medicare at Blue Shield of California Syed Mohiuddin, MD, Head of Healthcare, Anthropic We’re here to help: Podcast | 276: The AI gold rush is changing how humans (and clinicians) make decisions Research | How to succeed using AI: Lessons from 4 leading organizations Expert Insight | Inside CMS' final rule changes for 2026 Learn more about the ViVE conference Register today for the 2026 Advisory Board Summit in Washington, D.C. Updating COVID-19 management protocols may help address long-term impacts A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Academic medical centers (AMCs) sit at the heart of U.S. healthcare, driving scientific discovery, providing crucial clinical care, and training the next generation of clinicians. They also face mounting financial pressures and a shifting policy landscape that threatens their ability to sustainably deliver on this tripartite mission. And their complex structures make rapid business model transformation tough — at a time when it has become essential for survival. In this episode, host Abby Burns invites Advisory Board expert Wes Campbell to provide an update on how AMCs are doing amidst the current climate, unpack how and why policy shifts hit AMCs differently than their non-academic peers, and discuss what it will take for AMCs to adapt. We’re here to help: Listen | 285: How Rush University Medical Center is closing the 'death gap' Listen | 264: Research funding is being slashed. What’s the real industry impact? Read | How research funding cuts are impacting healthcare (and how to respond) Use our tool | How policy changes will impact your bottom line Check out | Advisory Board resources on Philanthropy Register today for the 2026 Advisory Board Summit in Washington, D.C. A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
Employer-sponsored insurance is reaching a tipping point. What was once a predictable 2–4% annual increase in employer health spending has given way to double digit growth, driven by surging drug costs, rising utilization across all age groups, and escalating provider rates. For many employers—especially smaller organizations with less margin for error—absorbing these costs is no longer viable. As economic conditions shift and the labor market cools, the balance of power between employers and employees is changing, opening the door to more aggressive cost-control strategies. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods is joined by Advisory Board expert Sally Kim to unpack what’s behind the spike in employer health costs—and what employers are doing about it. They walk through the full “menu” of options now on the table, from benefit redesign and navigation tools to network strategy, direct contracting, and alternative funding models. The conversation explores what these moves mean for health plans and providers competing for commercial lives—and why understanding employer behavior is no longer optional. We’re here to help: Ready-to-Use Slides | Market outlook for employer-sponsored insurance Listen | Ep. 232: The rise of ICHRAs: Why some employers are turning to the individual market Listen | Ep. 286: A Medicare Advantage reset — and what comes next Expert Insight | How employers are combating the ‘new normal’ for benefits costs with unconventional measures How UT Southwestern closed genomic testing gaps in prostate cancer care A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
For life sciences companies, access and adoption of clinical products is no longer as simple as demonstrating strong outcomes at a fair price. As payers and providers face mounting financial pressure and operational complexity, they are scrutinizing their partners more closely — expecting clearer evidence, more relevant value narratives, and support that reflects real world constraints. In this episode, host Rachel (Rae) Woods sits down with Advisory Board experts Gina Lohr and Nick Hula to unpack how med tech and pharma companies should adapt their product and partnership strategies. Together, they explore why a single value story no longer works — and how life sciences organizations can better align their products, evidence, and engagement strategies to meet the rising expectations of payers, health systems, ambulatory leaders, clinicians, and patients. We’re here to help: Expert insight | The top 5 trends impacting med tech strategies in 2026 Expert insight | 5 trends shaping pharma strategy for 2026 (and how to adapt) Podcast | Ep. 242: How you should rethink your life sciences-health system partnerships How Highlands Oncology expanded access to oral oncolytics treatment A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
As health systems pursue growth beyond traditional avenues, the role of the strategic planner is becoming increasingly complex. High level directional data is no longer enough — achieving meaningful, differentiated growth now requires leveraging granular, sophisticated data to inform investment decisions. In this episode, host Rachel Woods sits down with Advisory Board experts Sebastian Beckman and Ellie Wiles to explore how health systems can rethink strategic planning for 2026 and beyond. Together, they unpack what it should actually look like to democratize data, why data governance matters just as much as data access, and how service line leaders can partner with planners to make faster, more precise, margin savvy decisions. We’re here to help: Podcast | 289: What are health systems doing in 2026? Results from our survey are in. Playlist | Radio Advisory Provider Strategy and Financial Outlook Playlist Case Study | How UT Southwestern closed genomic testing gaps in prostate cancer care ICYMI: Webinar | The top 10 trends impacting health systems in 2026 Tools | Check out Advisory Board’s Market Scenario Planner and other Advisory Board analytics and data tools to inform your strategy for growth, cost control and more. Comprehensive women’s healthcare: Redefining the standard of care A transcript of this episode as well as more information and resources can be found on RadioAdvisory.advisory.com.
