Insights

In this episode of Vital Viewpoints on Healthcare, HMA Regional Director Cara Henley discusses how healthcare organizations can plan for constant policy change without losing focus on their mission. Drawing on decades of experience in Medicaid policy, ACA implementation, and state healthcare transformation, Cara shares practical strategies for successfully transitioning policy upheaval into operational success. 

The conversation explores how organizations can prepare for the impacts of One Big Beautiful Bill Act and other Medicaid changes by balancing flexibility with stability, strengthening communication across leadership and frontline teams, and building the resilience needed to thrive through uncertainty. 

This episode of Vital Viewpoints on Healthcare explores the growing coverage gap across the health insurance landscape and the pressures shaping affordability, enrollment, and access to care. The discussion covers coverage churn between Medicaid and ACA Marketplace plans, the operational and financial realities faced by states, and the warning signs emerging for consumers, providers, and health plans alike. Zach Sherman, managing director at Health Management Associates and former head of state marketplaces in PA and RI, shares his perspective on current state challenges for insurance affordability and coverage pressures, and the policy decisions that could shape the next phase of healthcare coverage across Medicaid, Marketplace, and employer-sponsored insurance.

This episode of Vital Viewpoints on Healthcare explores how evolving Medicare payment policy is reshaping where and how care is delivered. The discussion covers the phase-out of the inpatient only list and the operational and financial challenges tied to shifting procedures into outpatient settings. Zach Gaumer, regional director at Health Management Associates, shares his perspective on the policy mechanics, provider behavior, and market signals emerging from CMS rulemaking; while Rachel Stewart, senior consulting actuary at Wakely (an HMA Company), explains how plans are modeling uncertainty, navigating contract dynamics, and assessing the downstream impact on costs and quality across the healthcare system.

This episode of Vital Viewpoints on Healthcare unpacks the rapidly evolving regulatory landscape for pharmaceuticals. The discussion covers the challenges to innovation, such as the growing unpredictability in FDA policy, the challenges with reimbursement, and the increasing role of real-world evidence in bringing therapies to market. Julie Tierney, principal at Leavitt Partners (an HMA Company) shares her expert perspectives on rare disease innovation and upcoming user fee negotiations; while Ben Shand, vice president at Health Management Associates, talks about why organizations must actively engage to navigate risk, identify opportunity, and ultimately improve patient access to care.