Tiernan Meyer

A great survey. "Rock solid". Weighing in: Consumer perspectives o weight care by Rock Health. If you are interested in digital health innovation, digital obesity care, GLP-1 drugs, and consumer preferences you should read this survey. Companies mentioned: Noom WeightWatchers Hello Alpha Found Calibrate Form Health Omada Health Recommended to #consumers #patients #entrepreneurs #familydoctors #obesityexperts #nutritionists #exerciseexperts #insurance #employers #payers #obesity #weightloss #weightmanagement #weightcare #technology #innovation #digitaltherapeutics #nutrition #GLP1 #Ozempic #Wegovy #Mounjaro #Zepbound

3

To keep up momentum in the fight for health equity, we need to celebrate wins. That’s why I wrote about some good news in the health policy space for RWJF’s blog. I wanted to share recent efforts by RWJF to make healthcare more inclusive across the U.S. We submitted public comments on several federal rules to help make sure they were written in a way that best serves the public. The rules that were passed mean healthcare just got more accessible and better protected for everyone, but especially for: ✔️People eligible for Medicaid and CHIP ✔️Immigrants ✔️People with disabilities ✔️Those seeking reproductive healthcare, and ✔️LGBTQIA+ people Read more about these important changes: https://rwjf.ws/IvJzMr

52

KFF #HealthData Drop: How States Are Spending Opioid Settlement Funds I wasn't planning on posting today, but... KFF Health News, w/ the incredible Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (the most productive #PublicHealth policy shop in the country IMO) and Shatterproof, just released detailed results from its 50-state survey of how states are spending $6B+ in #opioid settlement funds. Upshots: ▶️ 90k+ Americans died of overdoses in the year ending Jul. 24, w/ rates continuing to rise in Black and AI/AN communities (see previous post) ▪️ FYI: The Oregonian / OregonLive.com and Elizabeth McCarthy just reported that #OR state deaths grew by 33% in 2023 to a new state record (i.e., the #opioidepidemic continues to rage) ▶️ State and local govts received $6B in settlement funds in 2022/23, of which: ▪️ 1/3 has been committed ▪️ 1/3 is being reserved for future use ▪️ 1/3 is "untrackable" (I'll come back to this) ▶️ Opioid settlement payouts are expected to total ~$50B over the next two decades. So this is a bit of a warm up. ▶️ Of the ~$2.1B in committed settlement funds: ▪️18% to addiction and mental health treatment ▪️15% to recovery services ▪️11% to harm reduction efforts ▪️10% to prevention programs ▪️41% to a bevvy of "other" programs ▪️Not enough to babies to address neonatal abstinence syndrome So three additional observations: ▶️ KFF/JHU found that govts spent $240M+ on purposes that did not qualify as opioid remediation. While settlements allow for spending up to 15% of funds in this way - i.e., state "TPA" services? - its use highlights the challenges in addressing systemic issues as other interest scavenge for funds. ▶️ Untrackable? Really? Govts should be able to report how every dollar of revenue is spent. It's a cornerstone of #GoodGovernment. From the article, one activist was quoted stating: "When people know that people aren’t watching and there’s no accountability, then they can kind of do what they want... That’s why we have to have some kind of database and accountability.” Glad KFF/JHU is bringing the #Transparency. ▶️ My amazing Empire State of #NY gets a special shout-out and case example from KFF, allocating $22 million for programs that make the "gold standard" of care as accessible as possible. Nice work. * KFF Article here: https://lnkd.in/eGFT9fbV h/t to author Aneri Pattani + to Samuel C. Roods and Claudia Williams who taught me what "h/t" means OR Live Article: https://lnkd.in/e2KcStJd

25

2 Comments

Why are venture capital firms increasingly investing in clinical care delivery? My latest for Forbes. I explore the investing landscape and how VC (and private equity) firms are increasing their bets on care delivery organizations. I specifically take a look at the recent acquisition of Summa Health by venture capital titan, General Catalyst There's also an important discussion on why non-traditional players are interested in the healthcare landscape. For example, tech giant Amazon has made incredible strides in the space, with its One Medical platform and Amazon Pharmacy One key answer: healthcare is ripe for disruption, and these players hope to become primary catalysts for that disruption As always, keen to hear your thoughts and feedback! CC: Hemant Taneja, Sue Kwon, Marc Harrison, Cliff Deveny MD, Daryl Tol, Josette Beran, Harish Battu, Benjamin Sutton, Molly Blaauw Gillis, Reva Nohria, Sing Yuen (Joey) Chan, Pranay Orugunta, Matt Schwartz, Rachel Sazanowicz, Sandra Desautels, Andy Jassy, Andrew Diamond, Vin Gupta, MD MPA, Christina Smith, Neil Lindsay, Katie Stafford #health #digital #innovation #ai #GenAI #cloud #invest #jobs #economy #VC #PE https://lnkd.in/gY3VsHCH

32

1 Comment

The recent move by CVS Health to integrate Oak Street Health primary care clinics into its retail pharmacy locations represents an innovative approach to healthcare that aims to serve underserved populations effectively. This strategy not only leverages CVS's vast retail footprint but also signals a shift towards a more integrated, accessible healthcare model that can potentially offer greater convenience and reduced costs for patients. Firstly, the choice of locations for these clinics, including some in previously closed CVS stores, highlights a strategic use of space that aligns with the needs of communities, especially seniors on Medicare plans. This is particularly significant as these locations are often in prime areas with high visibility and accessibility, which is crucial for the elderly who may face transportation challenges. Moreover, CVS’s approach is differentiated from its competitors by its scale and the integration of multiple aspects of patient care—from primary services to pharmacy operations and even insurance. The co-located clinics model, while still in pilot stages, suggests a forward-thinking solution to utilize existing retail space efficiently. This is crucial in a landscape where other companies have struggled with expansion or had to scale back operations. The educational programs, exercise classes, and behavioral health services offered at Oak Street clinics indicate a holistic approach to healthcare, which is particularly appealing as it addresses multiple dimensions of health. This is a progressive step in creating a healthcare environment that goes beyond just medical treatments to encompass overall wellbeing. CVS's integration of healthcare into retail spaces also presents a potential uplift in retail traffic, aligning health visits with routine shopping. This could redefine the convenience factor and make healthcare more approachable for everyday consumers. However, challenges such as the perception of visiting a clinic inside a retail store and the cost implications of retrofitting these spaces for medical use must be carefully managed. In summary, CVS Health's initiative with Oak Street Health clinics could serve as a model for future healthcare delivery, especially in how it caters to the underserved and elderly populations. By combining healthcare with retail, CVS is not just expanding its service scope but potentially setting a new standard in patient-centric care. This strategic innovation could inspire similar moves across the industry, provided the execution is adeptly handled to ensure quality care and operational efficiency. https://lnkd.in/gEByunMi

1

Seamless data is essential for communities to effectively address public health disparities. The past three years have shown us just how important data is to addressing needs in a timely manner, and the lack of data needed to respond to continuous public health threats has shown us why an updated data infrastructure is long overdue.    In their recently updated Public Health Data Strategy for 2024-2025 and a companion 2023 Lookback Report, @The CDC Foundation shares how they intend to continue improving data modernization across all levels of public health.   More here: https://lnkd.in/ehWsk2d9    #PublicHealthData #DataQuality

20

2 Comments

The latest news from Taft Communications

9

CMS’ newly finalized rules on #Medicaid access, managed care, and HCBS aim to modernize the framework for defining, measuring, and enforcing the standards for access to care in Medicaid and #CHIP. Sharing this helpful summary from my colleagues that outlines the key details of the rules and implications for enrollees, states, providers, and managed care organizations: 

5

Our new report explores three structural flaws that impede women’s access to health care. I’m proud of the work my colleagues Kulleni Gebreyes jen radin Asif Dhar Wendy Gerhardt Dorfman Leslie Korenda and others have done to bring these #WomensHealth issues to light. Read the report here: https://deloi.tt/3SOR3uF

46

6 Comments

We are at a pivotal moment for public health, and it is imperative that all stakeholders, including policymakers and the public, advocate for evidence-based leadership in health policy. Addressing the nation’s most pressing health challenges requires a well-informed, transparent, and collaborative approach. #APHA remains committed to supporting efforts that restore trust in science and promote health equity for all communities. Choosing a leader for the Department of Health and Human Services #HHS is a decision that will profoundly impact the health of the nation. This position requires public health expertise, strong leadership skills, and a dedication to evidence-based decision-making. The leader must prioritize building trust in science and addressing critical issues such as #vaccine_safety, #health_disparities, and #public_health_preparedness. APHA urges the administration to select a qualified, science-driven leader who can advance #health_equity and enhance the well-being of all Americans.

10

2 Comments

HCD International President and CEO Jean Drummond has been invited to speak on Wednesday, May 15th at 9:45 am at the 10th Annual SDoH and Health Equity Innovations to Transform Population Health Summit, hosted by Strategic Solutions Network in Orlando, Florida. Drummond's presentation topic is "Using Actionable Data Insights to Close Gaps in Care for SDoH and Reduce Health Disparities." The discussion will cover the following topics: 🔶 Creating and implementing actionable data insights for decision-making 🔶 Applying a health equity lens to reduce gaps in care and SDoH barriers 🔶 Integrating multiple data sets to refine population health interventions 🔶Using a centralized dashboard to make integrated, nuanced, data-driven decisions Meet with Drummond at the Conference or Contact HCDI for more information at [email protected] or visit hcdi.com #Populationhealthconference #SDoH #Healthequity #HCDI #HCDInternational #Jeandrummond #Florida #Healthplans #healthdisparities #healthtransformation #healthinnovations #healthequity #HealthCareDynamicsInternational

2

Just announced: WalMart Health shutting down Walmart Health--all 51 health centers and virtual health to close. My colleague and friend Robert Huckman at Harvard Business School just shared this news, and it's unfortunate. As he, Brad Staats, and I wrote about in Harvard Business Review last month, retailers could be strong complements to traditional health care delivery systems if they partnered successfully. The retailers offer accessibility, convenience, and strong consumer behavior insights, while the delivery systems that are involved in risk-bearing value-based contracts could do with the help in preventing unnecessary (re)admissions. Together, the two could do a lot to advance health and, in turn, even reduce costs of care for society. More of our thoughts here: https://lnkd.in/eY3kC2pb https://lnkd.in/eWa5Wk5i

73

18 Comments

Use R packages for HTA or HEOR? The R Consortium Health Technology Assessment (HTA) Working Group will hold its second meeting on Wednesday. One of the items discussed at the inaugural meeting was building an understanding of the R software packages used across different stakeholders. I've adapted the open-source assertHE package to help understand the network of HEOR R software, which packages depend on each other, using a subset of packages and their dependencies. The resulting network map is shown below. The node color relates to riskmetric score, and the size the degree of centrality. Arrows point from dependency package to dependee. It would be great to build something comprehensive, but to do this knowing what R packages health economists are using is crucial. **Let us know which R packages should be added in the comments below** Anders Gorst-Rasmussen, Dominic Muston Joseph Rickert Howard Thom Gianluca Baio Felicity Lamrock Nathan Green More on assertHE here: https://lnkd.in/ep-wZJ9m

269

11 Comments

Check out this article by BCG alum Cristian Liu!

1

John Kell's recent article in Fortune, "The best investment opportunities in AI for health care right now," provides incredible insights about the challenges of healthcare data and how it impacts the advancement of #ai. Three out of every four leading health care companies are experimenting with generative AI or attempting to scale it across their business. What are they creating and why? Venture capitalist Deena Shakir asks founders if they "are aiming to solve a technology problem or a clinical adoption problem". Solving existing problems will speed decision making and improve data quality. The Deloitte report:  “Navigating the Emergence of Generative AI in Health Care” shares some of the data challenge in health care. While boasting the largest source of raw data, 80% of the data are unstructured.  Simon Gisby, managing director and the global leader of life sciences and health care at Deloitte further expounds "But as an industry, we’re not surprisingly that good at analyzing and drawing correlations out of that" https://lnkd.in/gXE_HVG2 Read thus great article for use cases and examples from fertility and maternal health care to predicting adverse outcomes to drug development and immunotherapies. The future of health and #ai is the hope that we can provide value in health care data equal to the volume we produce Read the article here: https://lnkd.in/gTx6ic_b

11

Overcoming the toxic political environment, we got 30+ organizations and experts from multiple sectors to agree on a practical policy agenda to address social factors influencing health. DEFINITELY worth reading. #SDOH

18

2 Comments

For health tech startups, pursuing government contracts can open doors to impactful, large-scale opportunities in public health. However, working with government agencies isn't just about pitching innovative solutions; it requires a deep understanding of regulatory and security standards unique to healthcare. Aligning with government priorities around patient privacy, data security, and equitable access is critical for building trust and sustaining partnerships. Health tech startups in the national interest space must balance innovation with compliance, ensuring that their technologies are safe, reliable, and scalable. Success here means not only delivering cutting-edge solutions but also adhering to the stringent demands of the public sector to truly make a difference in community health. #HealthTech #GovTech #InnovationInHealthcare #PublicHealth

3

2 Comments