Healthcare Digest

Healthcare Digest

Fulcrum Strategies' Healthcare Digest is the go-to podcast for busy physicians, practice managers, and healthcare professionals who want to stay ahead of the curve. In under 20 minutes per episode, we break down the latest changes in healthcare policy, Medicare regulations, insurance and payer policies, and legislation affecting physician practices—all in plain language. Whether it’s a new CMS rule, a shift in payer reimbursement models, or state-level legislative updates, we cover what matters most to your practice, your patients, and your bottom line. Stay informed, stay compliant, and stay in control—without wasting your time. Hosted by former payer executive turned physician pratice consultant Ron Howrigon and Fulcrum Strategies' Matthew Handley. New episodes bi-weekly. Subscribe now and never miss critical healthcare news. Learn more about Fulcrum Strategies and their services at FSDOC.com.

Episodes

September 11, 2024 20 mins
The week on the FLATLINING Podcast, Matthew and Ron discuss several payer issues in the news including the firm "we're not for sale" by BlueCross BlueShield of Louisana, payers being fined by states, and the rare instance of an insurance company doing good for the community.

Further reading:
New Blue Cross CEO talks prospects of future sale, staying competitive - Greater Baton Rouge Business Report
9 payers recently fined by states - ...
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The week on the FLATLINING Podcast, Matthew and Ron discuss the roll healthcare might play in the 2024 presidential election.  Healthcare has made appeances at this week's Democratic National Convention in Chicago.  Will it sway voters?

Further reading:
Harris isn’t pushing Medicare for All anymore. Progressives say that’s OK. - Politico
Abortion rights and drug pricing program take spotlight at first night of DNC - STAT
Sally Pipes: H...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon discuss the life of the late Dr. Dan Hurley with his wife Dr. Traci Hurley, his sister Christine, and his brother Tom. They shared memories of his life and why he fought so hard for transparency in our healthcare system.

Matthew and Ron spoke to Dr. Hurley last year on the FLATLINING Podcast after he was diagnosed with dedifferentiated chon...
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On the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies this week, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley a recent PBS News report on the shortage of pediatric physicians.  Is the mainstream media finally seeing what patients have been experiencing for years?  How do we ensure that we will have enough doctors to take care of us in the future?

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Articles mentioned in this program:
The causes and consequences of a decline in doctors going into pe...
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On the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies this week, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss what sort of healthcare platforms Vice President Kamala Harris could advocate as the new Democratic nominee.  They also discuss a recent interview Ron gave with New York Magazine on automatic insurance denials.

 
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Further reading:
Where Kamala Harris Stands on Key Healthcare Issues - Medpage Today
In Denial - New York Magazine
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Listen...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon discuss how the Supreme Court overturning Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. could affect healthcare down the road.  There is a possiblity that it could dictate how the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services detirmine Medicare reimbursement, whether or not the Food and Drug Administration can approve ov...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon have a conversation with universal healthcare advocate Wendell Potter.  They discuss Wendell's decision to get out of the insurance business and become an advocate for affordable healthcare for all Americans.

Wendell Potter was a VP level executive at Cigna before he left in 2008.  He now advocates for universal healthcare and is the le...
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Next week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon talk to former Cigna executive Wendell Potter about the feasibility of universal healthcare in the United States.

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Listen to the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies wherever you listen to podcasts and have every episode delivered to your email by subscribing at www.FLATLINING.net.

Follow Matthew on X and LinkedIn.Follow Ron on Linke...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon have a conversation with Gus Geraci, MD about the challenges of reforming healthcare.

Dr. Gaspere Geraci has more than thirty-five years of clinical, process, and quality improvement experience.  He has worked as a physician, recruiting physicians and working with insurance companies.  You can find more about him on his website, drgerac...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and CEO Ron Howrigon discuss several healthcare-related news items and how they affect patients and providers. 

They discuss for-profit HMO’s being banned from participating in Minnesota Medicaid products.  They also discuss the economic impact and future of insurance coverage for GLP-1 weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound.  Also on the program: Un...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley sit down with Lou Tharp to discuss patient-centered healthcare and patient advocacy.  

Lou Tharp is the co-founder and executive director of the Global Healthy Living Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on improving the quality of life for those living with chronic diseases such as arthritis, psoriasis, IBS, cardiovascular di...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley take a look back at the last 20 years of Fulcrum Strategies.  They discuss why Ron left his employment with the payers and began working with physicians and what has changed in the last twenty years.  They also take a look at what might change in the future.

Listen to the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies wherever you listen to pod...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley break down testimony from the Congressional hearings about the Change Healthcare cyber attack.  On May 1, UnitedHealth Group CEO Andrew Witty was in the hot seat as senators and representatives grilled him on the impact to patients and providers.  Ron and Matthew break it down in a way that is easy to understand and help you know how it im...
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On today’s episode of the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, President and CEO Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley talk to John Scagnelli, MD, about multiple sclerosis.  This disease has no known cause and no known cure, but there have been some incredible advancements in treatment over the past few decades.

Dr. Scagnelli specializes in Multiple Sclerosis and Adult Neurology at Raleigh Neurology’s Durham and Raleigh offices. D...
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Next week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, President and CEO Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley are joined by John Scagnelli, MD of Raleigh Neurology.  They will be discussing multiple sclerosis, a devastating disease with no known cause and no known cure.  But there is hope.  Recent research has created new advancements in treatment.  You won’t want to miss this episode of the FLATLINING Podcast.  Subscribe now whe...
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On today’s episode of the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, President and CEO Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss some of the most pressing topics affecting physicians and their patients.  

In this episode, they discuss:
•    UnitedHealth Group admits they paid the ransom for the Change Healthcare cyber attack
•    The Justice Department sets up an online portal for people to report anti-competitive healthcare practices
...
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This week on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew and Ron discuss the news that UnitedHealth Group posted a $1.4 billion loss in quarter 1 of 2024 following the Change Healthcare cyber attack.  They talk about whether or not providers should care about news such as this.
Then, they discuss a new law going into effect in California that ups the minimum wage for healthcare workers to $25 an hour.  There could be som...
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Today on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley take a look at some of the latest healthcare news.  First, they discuss changes to the Medicare Advantage rates published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; they explain why insurers are saying out of pocket expenses will go up for seniors.  Ron and Matthew also discuss Home Depot’s decision to appeal a settlement with BlueCros...
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Today on the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Matthew Handley and Ron Howrigon have a conversation with Matthew Stephens, MD, a board certified radiologists at Radiology of Indiana. Dr. Stevens, Matthew, and Ron discuss the exciting topic of artificial intelligence in healthcare, particularly AI's influence in radiology.  They discuss what some of the pitfalls are of using the new technology and what might be coming next...
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In this episode of the FLATLINING Podcast from Fulcrum Strategies, Ron Howrigon and Matthew Handley discuss Congress’ late fix to eliminate part of the cut to Medicare physician fee schedule.  They also discuss a recent report about a whistleblower case that alleges major accountable care organization Aledade engaged in serious Medicare fraud. -- Follow Matthew on X and LinkedIn. Follow Ron on LinkedIn. -- Articles mentioned in thi...
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