In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Immediate Past President Mandy Hawkins, RN, CASC, CAIP, leads a discussion with Press Ganey Emerging Markets President Bob McSweeney and Director of Health Policy Eme Augustine about the challenges and opportunities confronting ASCs administering the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Cons…

InnovAge leaders Maria and Shadie join host Gavin Ward to give background on InnovAge (including its growth in CA and other states), the "secret" of PACE, and why PACE's growth nationally may not be as rapid as other service types.

John joins the show and shares how he went from thinking he'd be a Summer Camp Director to leading the implementation of California's Data Exchange Framework. He discusses how his role as the Chief Data Officer for CAHHS as well as his Director role for the Center for Data Inisghts and Innovation is to help lead organizaitons, whether healthcare, c…

California Association of Health Plans (CAHP) President and CEO Charles Bacchi joins host Gavin Ward to discuss CAHP's 2024 Initiatives, upcoming CAHP Conference with over California 1,000 healthcare leaders, and more.

From a small clinic in downtown LA to impacting tens of thousands of lives in California and beyond, Gray shares how Titanium has expanded in scope and location to help the historically underserved access care in meaningful ways through traditional medical services as well as CalAIM funded enhanced care management, community supports, and more.…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with Will Evans, senior director of data science & insights at HST Pathways, following Evans’s presentation at ASCA 2024 in Orlando, Florida, earlier this year. Evans explains how even small, standalone surgery centers can capture and analyze da…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with Debbie Mack, RN, CAIP, a leading infection prevention (IP) educator and consultant, following an IP session Mack presented at the ASCA 2024 Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida. Beginning with the ongoing training a surgery center’s infect…

Colby Takeda, Pear Suite Co-Founder and CEO, shares how his upbringing, including serving in a nursing home as a teenager, was an inspirtation into serving his community and and ultimately becoming a national leader in the community health worker space. Since 2022's approval of the community health worker benefit in California, Colby shares how his…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with attorney Sal Puccio during the ASCA 2024 Conference & Expo in Orlando, Florida, to discuss a range of human resources issues facing ASCs today. Puccio is widely regarded as an expert on ASC employment practices and his presentations at ASCA…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with Dr. Paul Alcock, chief information security officer for Surgical Information Systems, where he leads the company’s enterprise cybersecurity program, including threat and incident management, security policy and governance. Their conversatio…

Beginning no later than 2024, the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) required all Medi-Cal managed care organizations to have a chief health equity officer (CHEO). Valerie shares how BSC Promise Health Plan gave her the opportunity in 2022 to be its first CHEO and some of the progress she's made in her first 18 months.…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, hear Dr. Abbey Vandersall, vice president for Quality and Clinical Services for ASC management company AMSURG, talk with ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice about the life-saving importance of colonoscopy screenings for the early detection of colorectal cancer. Their discussion also foc…

The California Medical Association has partnered with Health Tech 4 Medicaid (HT4M) at its upcoming 2nd annual CMA HIT Summit, "Health IT In the Safety Net." HT4M's founder Adimika Arthur, whose career has been instrumental in ensuring access to care, joins the show to share the importance of Health IT on health equity and ensuring a safety net for…

From the highlights and challenges in 2023 to what to expect in 2024 and beyond, Gavin discusses CalAIM with guests Michel Huizar, Branch Chief, DHCS Managed Care Quality and Monitoring Division, and Dora Barilla, Co-Founder, HC² Strategies.

In this episode of ASCA’s Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, listen to oral surgeon Dayne Jensen, MD, explain why he believes an ASC offers the safest, most convenient setting for his patients. Then, find out how he turned his vision into reality—even for Medicaid patients in his community. In conversation with ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prent…

Michael's history with health plans and advocacy played a key role in his recruitment to lead C4A, an organization established to advocate and collaborate on behalf of California's "Triple As." Michael shares how his organization supports older adults throughout the state and what their focus is in 2024 and ahead.…

Under the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, Elizabeth shares how the newly created Officer of Healthcare Affordability is helping the most populous state to manage healthcare costs through growth targets and other efforts for 40M Californians.

Over 15M Californians are Medi-Cal beneficiaries, yet there are so many misceptions about Medi-Cal and very few Californians truly understand Medi-Cal eligibility. Lisa shares how she went from an entry level Medi-Cal worker to an expert, where she now leads a team that helps families navigate Medi-Cal, including asset and income limits, or lack th…

Beau shares how an initial stint as a temporary worker landed him a role with California's In-Home Supportive Sevices that became a springboard into his career as he ultimately become well versed in California's long term supports (LTSS) and services as well as home and community based services (HCBS). That foundation has helpd Beau become one of A…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with ASCA Regulatory Counsel and Director of Government Affairs Kara Newbury about the 2024 outpatient payment and quality reporting rule the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released on November 2, 2023. A highlight of the conversation …

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice and ASCA Director of Education & Clinical Affairs Gina Throneberry discuss the Outpatient and Ambulatory Surgery Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (OAS CAHPS) Survey, a postoperative patient survey developed by the Centers for Me…

L.A. CARE is one of the largest health plans in CA, serving millions in L.A. County, primarily Medi-Cal beneficiaries. L.A. CARE CMO Dr. Sameer Amin joins host Gavin Ward to share some of the highlights of his first year and what we can expect in 2024 with the state's largest Medi-Cal managed care organization.…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with Deb Yoder, RN, CASC, vice president of clinical operations for Surgical Management Professionals, about the critical steps and considerations involved in constructing and opening a new ASC. Yoder is an accomplished nurse with frontline expe…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with orthopedic surgeon and ASCA Board member David Weinstein, MD, about performing outpatient total shoulder surgeries in both hospitals and ASCs. Tens of thousands of patients with commercial insurance undergo safe, effective total shoulder su…

Charles joins the show and shares about the latest CAHP initiatives and what to expect at the annual 2023 conference where over 1,000 leaders from DHCS, Health Plans, and providers gather in the desert.

WellSpace Health has been serving the Greater Sacramento area for many decades, and the CalAIM initiative is only going to increase its impact. Wellspace leaders Christie Gonzales and Cordia Losh join the show to share about the impact WellSpace has had in the community and what's to come through the CalAIM initaitive, enhanced care management, and…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice speaks with SCA Health Vice President for Talent Management Vicki Heinz about the importance of creating a culture of inclusion among ASC staff. In a conversation recorded live following Heinz’s presentation on that same topic at ASCA 2023 in Louisvil…

Susan Phillip joins the show to discuss the process and results of DHCS' procurement and results for the 2024 managed care plan contracts. Susan, who serves as DHCS' Deputy Director, Health Care Delivery Systems, shares how she came into the role and what we can expect heading into 2024 and beyond.

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, Mandy Hawkins, CASC, CAIP, president of the ASCA Board, talks with Debra Stinchcomb, CASC, president of the Board of Ambulatory Surgery Certification (BASC), regarding the Certified Administrator Surgery Center (CASC) credential and the Certified Ambulatory Infection Preventionist (CAIP) crede…

Leza joined the show and shares how her passion for older adults has led to her work wtih CCOAin the Golden State. CCOA's latest initiatives include efforts to ensure the aging population has access to legislative meetings as well as a recognized voice and influence into lawmaking.

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with nimble solutions Chief Executive Officer Nader Samii during a break at ASCA’s annual conference in Louisville, Kentucky, this past May. Prentice invited Samii, whose company was the platinum sponsor of this year’s event, to join him in a di…

With the demand for outpatient surgery on the rise, forecasters are concerned about the future supply of physicians, nurses and other healthcare professionals. In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Board President Mandy Hawkins talks with David Acosta, MD, the chief diversity and inclusion officer of the Association of Americ…

Health Net's VP of Communications and Marketing joined the show to share how the end of the pandemic and Public Health Emergency (PHE) is making the annual Medi-Cal redetermination of eligibility unlike recent years before as Californians were automatically renewed during the PHE. The state, Health Net, and other Medi-Cal plans are making significa…

Dan discusses his journey as the son of immigrant parents that inspired Dan to make a difference in Kern County where he's spent his entire life. From ICU nurse to leading enhanced care management efforts of the 20th largest county in the US, Dan's shares how he's played a role in saving lives both literally and figuratively as he now helps lead en…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, Kara Newbury, ASCA regulatory counsel and director of government affairs, leads a discussion about the Outpatient Surgery Quality and Access Act of 2023 (H.R. 972/S.312) with her colleagues David Opong-Wadee, ASCA manager of legislative and political affairs, and Maia Kunkel, ASCA manager of g…

So many Californians provide care to their loved ones and often don't know where to turn for help and support. Michelle shares how her own journey as a caregiver led to her receiving support from Valley CRC. Now as the Executive Director, Michelle shed lights on how caregiver resource centers throughout the state like hers in the Central Valley reg…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice sits down with surgery center payment policy expert Naya Kehayes for an informative discussion about the migration of surgical codes from the inpatient-only list to the list of procedures Medicare will reimburse in hospital outpatient departments (HOP…

Dr. Wada returns to PopHealth Podcast to share some of the initial results of IEHP's California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM) efforts as well as what's to come next for IEHP, including how the end of the Covid-19 related Public Health Emergency (PHE) may have a significant impact on eligibility for the Medi-Cal population.…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with ASCA Board Member Lisa Austin, RN, CASC, about succession planning for ASCs. Austin, an ASC development and operations expert, is a member of the ASCA Board of Directors, a past president of the Colorado Ambulatory Surgery Center Associatio…

Jon joins the show to give some insight into what the American College of Healthcare Executives is all about and how it has helped shape him into the leader he is today as VP, Ancillary Services, at MLK Community Healthcare. We also learn how Jon just welcomed his 4th child and his unexpected connection with party buses.…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with HST Pathways Chief Innovation Officer Gavin Fabian about the challenges, and potential solutions, for surgery centers that perform procedures that require the use of medical devices or surgical implants. As ASCA continues its efforts to add…

America's Physican Groups' New President and CEO Susan Dentzer joins the podcast to share about her first 9 months in the role as well as what's to come in 2023, including ACO Reach and direct contracting, for the organization that is "taking responsibiity for America's health."

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, ASCA Chief Executive Officer Bill Prentice talks with ASCA Board President Mandy Hawkins about ASCA’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Initiative. The ASCA Board of Directors approved a resolution supporting this effort at the association’s 2022 annual conference in Dallas, Texas, and wor…

Lisa joins the show and shares how she's grown into a policy expert during the 2000s and how Transform Health got its start in Sacramento. Lisa typically is the facilitator of meetings and discussions, but it's great to have her "on the other side" to hear her story as well as she and Transform Health are literally transofrming healthcare in Califo…

In this episode of the Advancing Surgical Care Podcast, Bill Prentice, ASCA chief executive officer, and Alex Taira, ASCA regulatory policy and research manager, talk with Jigar Patel, MD, chief medical officer for the for-profit and emerging markets at Oracle Cerner. Their discussion focuses on electronic health records (EHR) in ASCs. Oracle Cerne…

CCHP Chief Medical Officer Dr. Dennis Hsieh discusses the inspiration behind his passion for his leadership role at Contra Costa Health Plan, the county operated health system serving the East Bay. We learn of his shared passion for soccer with host Gavin Ward, but more importantly how his time as a young man serving in Chinatown was an inspiration…

California Association of Health Plans' (CAHP) Charles Bacchi joins the show to give some background on the work of CAHP, including some of its memorable moments in his nearly 2 decades with CAHP. Charles also shares about his cowboy background and CAHP's upcoming annual conference in October with some of California's biggest names in healthcare.…

California Department of Health Care Services' Chief of the Benefits Division Lisa Murawski joined host Gavin Ward to provide details on the new Community Health Worker (CHW) benefit that has been years in the making. The new benefit delivery doesn't require someone with a clinical background to make a big impact in the healthcare community, and wi…

Dora joins the show and shares how a combination of blessings, hard work as a healthcare leader (and mom), as well as a miracle have paved the way to today, where Dora and HC2 Strategies are leading large scale CalAIM collaborations between health plans, providers, and the community.

Dr. Schultz shares how his work serving individuals goes beyond just the Inland Empire and San Diego, but also to the Himalayas. He also shares how Federally Qualified Health Centers like Neighborhood Healthcare provide services for individuals that may otherwise struggle to access primary and other medical care.…