Episodes
300
Latest episode
Aug 2026
Language
EN-US
The Becker's Payer Issues Podcast is the must-listen podcast exclusively created for health insurance executives. Two new 15-minute episodes are released weekly with the leaders who shape health insurance in America and the cost of care, policy and regula
In this episode, Ceci Connolly, President and CEO, Alliance of Community Health Plans (ACHP), discusses Medicare Advantage market disruption, plan exits, beneficiary impacts, and the need for risk adjustment reform to support sustainable coverage in local communities.
In this episode, Karen Ignagni, CEO, EmblemHealth, discusses the evolving Medicaid landscape, healthcare affordability, interoperability, and how health plans can use technology, AI, care management, and value-based care to better support members. She also shares insights on her return to the CEO role and EmblemHealth's ongoing transformation.
In this episode, Rick Gordon, Director of Government Programs at Milliman MedInsight, and Nicole Zilliox, Director of Clinical Products at Milliman MedInsight, discuss how Medicare Advantage plans can integrate quality, risk adjustment, clinical data and provider engagement to improve performance. They also explore data governance, audit readiness and proactive workflows for navigating evolving CMS requirements. This episode is sponsored by Milliman MedInsight .
In this episode, Matthew Hurford, President and CEO of Community Care Behavioral Health at UPMC, discusses workforce development, the growth of UPMC’s Telemedicine Bridge Clinic to 23,000 encounters, and strategies to expand behavioral health access, treatment engagement and recovery.
In this episode, Mike Sanky, Vice President of Healthcare & Life Sciences GTM, Databricks, discusses how health plans can modernize data and AI capabilities to manage rising costs, improve utilization insights and strengthen governance for scalable AI adoption. This episode is sponsored by Databricks .
In this episode, Dr. Jeremy Wigginton, Chief Medical Officer at Capital Blue Cross, discusses expanding behavioral health networks, improving access and navigation, and using integrated care strategies to reduce costs and emergency department utilization.
In this episode, Halsey Wise, CEO, Lyric, discusses the importance of trust, truth and transparency in healthcare AI, including decision lineage, governed AI and keeping humans in the loop. He also explores how AI can reduce administrative waste, improve decision-making and strengthen trust among payers, providers and patients. This episode is sponsored by Lyric .
In this episode, Cereasa Horner, Vice President of Payment Integrity and Governance at CERIS, discusses how health plans can adapt to accelerating regulatory changes, strengthen documentation and audit readiness, and improve alignment with providers. She also shares strategies for cross-functional collaboration, transparency and an education-first approach to payment integrity. This episode is sponsored by CERIS .
In this episode, David Merritt, Senior Vice President of External Affairs at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, discusses rising healthcare costs, employer affordability pressures and the growing impact of the No Surprises Act’s IDR process. He also outlines potential reforms to curb excessive awards, increase transparency and slow premium growth.
In this episode, Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director, Becker’s Healthcare, discusses Centene’s exit from the commercial group markets in California and Oregon, rising employer health insurance costs and growing pressure on coverage. He also explores specialty drug spending, AI-driven administrative costs, payer consolidation and the evolving politics of health insurance.
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