Briana Contreras

Young adults, in particular, are more likely to seek out and place high value on telemedicine for eye care and those in vulnerable populations are benefitting most, according to an annual vision wellness study by VersantHealth.

Deloitte health report projects a deceleration in health spending, likely creating a U.S. $3.5 trillion “well-being dividend” by 2040. The report shares what the future of health could look like: new business models, emerging technologies, and highly engaged consumers.

MHE's Briana Contreras spoke with Bill Coletti, CEO, and Founder of Kith, a firm serving organizations in communication crisis and reputation management, in this week's episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite. Bill and Briana discussed how working with healthcare leaders during a crisis has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic, how leaders in the C-Suite can be prepared for a crisis and what to do in the journey post-crisis.

Employees of Kroger Co. who receive a COVID-19 vaccine will be rewarded with a $100 bonus, according to the supermarket giant.

Johnson & Johnson submitted its single-shot COVID-19 vaccine to U.S. regulators recently for emergency use authorization after the vaccine was shown to be effective against illness and preventing severe disease and death.

In this episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite, MHE Associate Editor Briana Contreras spoke with Associate Dean for Equity Inclusion and Research Professor in the College of Nursing at Penn State University, Dr. Sheldon Fields. He is also the first Vice President for the National Black Nurses Association. In celebration of Black History Month, the two discussed racial equity in healthcare and what is being done for patients and nurses of color toward the improvement of the racial and health disparities that take place in care.

Sports have been impacted by the pandemic from professional leagues, to youth and school activities, and even sports medicine. According to Aaron Smith, CEO of orthopedic medtech company, Artelon, sports medicine has become less about bones and muscle, and more about epidemiology.

In this second part of a two-part video series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19 and Cohen addresses the U.S.'s response under the new President Joe Biden Administration.

MHE Associate Editor Briana Contreras and Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein speak with Julie Olson, senior director of Population Health and Product Development at Navitus, a full pass-through pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company. In this discussion they talked about how Navitus has created a Clinical Engagement Center designed to improve medication adherence and reduce both member and plan prescription costs, while easing benefit transitions. Additionally, they discussed what it means to be a “full pass-through” PBM and how it compares to other PBMs.

In this first of a two-part video series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about the current pharmacy benefits market as well as Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19.

In this episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite's Meet the Board series, MHE Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras speak with Perry Cohen, Pharm. D., CEO of The Pharmacy Group. Perry has been on MHE's Editorial Advisory Board for over 25 years and has contributed a number of interviews and guest articles toward the publication. In this discussion, Briana, Peter and Perry talked about the current pharmacy benefits market as well as Sweden, Japan and the United States' response to COVID-19.

In this latest episode of the "MHE Talks: Improving Patient Access" series, Senior Editor of MHE, Peter Wehrwein, speaks with Harvey Kaufman, M.D., FCAP, MBA, senior medical director of medical informatics at Quest Diagnostics. The two discussed a recent Quest Diagnostics Health Trends report examining healthcare disparities.

Nearly 80% of Americans believe the COVID-19 vaccines will help combat the pandemic, but 71% are concerned about vaccine side effects. Experts say some side effects are not only normal, but are working.

Healthcare workers, residents of long-term care facilities, and many public leaders have been the first to receive a Covid-19 vaccine in the U.S., but it’s essential to consider disadvantaged communities for phase 2 of vaccine deployment.

In this week’s episode of Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, MHE's Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein and Associate Editor Briana Contreras spoke with CEO of Syntellis Performance Solutions, Kermit Randa. In the discussion they talked about a recently released survey by Syntellis called the 2021 Healthcare Financial Trends Survey report, which highlights how finance leaders pivoted in 2020 and the way they will continue to evolve in 2021.

MHE's Peter Wehrwein talks with Lloyd Dean, CEO of CommonSpirit Health, and Valerie Montgomery Rice, M.D., FACOG, president of Morehouse School of Medicine, in this new episode of MHE Talks: Improving Patient Access podcast series. The three discuss the lack of Black physicians in the United States. Of the 22,000 medical school applicants in the U.S. every year, only 1,600 are Black. Dean and Rice created a program that seeks to cross barriers of healthcare and racial disparities by offering more opportunities for students of color in medical school programs.

Sumit Dutta, MD, MBA, of OptumRx, talks to MHE about drug use among Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic and about vaccine distribution to its members in this part two of a two-part video interview series.

There currently aren't enough vaccines in the United States, and between the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the two are very important to get their hands on, Sumit Dutta, MD, MBA, of OptumRx, says in this part one of a two-part video interview series.

Briana Contreras of MHE spoke with Josh Claman, CEO of Rimidi about the strong need for a permanent remote patient monitoring, or RPM, reimbursement reform, and how our health industry can come together to influence this change. The two also discussed the benefits of RPM technology for underserved, uninsured or Medicaid populations, and the benefits of RPM during and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.

More oncologists are experiencing burnout due to the loss of face-to-face interactions with patients, according to a report from Cardinal Health Specialty Solutions.

In this second of a three-part video series, Craig Samitt, CEO and president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota talks with MHE about healthcare utilization, MLR rates and investing in telehealth models for the better care of its members.

In this first of three-part video series, Craig Samitt, CEO and president of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota talks with MHE about healthcare utilization among its members and the elimination of low-value care.

In this week's episode, MHE's Senior Editor Peter Wehrwein spoke with Sumit Dutta, Optum Rx chief medical officer. The two spoke about COVID-19 vaccines and how the pharmacy benefit market responded to the pandemic.

MHE Senior Editor talks with John “Jack” S. Linehan, a lawyer at Epstein Becker Green, for this week's episode of MHE Talks: Improving Patient Access series. The two discuss copay accumulators and maximizers, as well as how states have moved to prohibit accumulators and maximizers as the federal government takes a hands-off approach.

TPG International Health Academy held an educational summit on COVID-19 and spotlighted were the different efforts of Japan and Sweden, as well as their eagerness toward a vaccine. Sweden rep shares the country’s “hands off approach,” while Japan looks to adapt telemedicine in their line of care.

In this episode, Briana Contreras of MHE spoke with Dr. David Moen, president of Prospero Health Partners. The two discussed how Prospero is closing a gap in the healthcare system by taking care of patients with chronic, serious health issues, who are not yet in hospice care, but are prone to frequent, costly hospital admissions. They also talked about the skyrocketing demand for in-home care and telehealth during the pandemic, especially for seniors with advanced illnesses and compromised immune systems.

The five states have moved to prohibit accumulators and maximizers as the federal government takes a hands-off approach, according to John “Jack” S. Linehan, a lawyer at Epstein Becker Green, who is featured in this second part of a two-part video series.

Thomas P. Leist, MD, PhD, says doctors working with patients diagnosed with SPMS don't necessarily have prognostic biomarkers to detect SPMS. The best prognostic biomarkers they have currently are MRI and potentially neurofilament light. He adds their techniques need to improve in order to harness the full benefit of potentially individualizing care to the most optimal fashion in a given patient.

Briana Contreras of MHE spoke with Manik Bhat, founder and CEO of Healthify – a company that works with managed care organizations to integrate social determinants of health (SDoH) into the healthcare ecosystem. Manik and Briana spoke about how the need to address SDoH has changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began and what the importance of addressing these social and economic issues are during and after the pandemic. They also touched on how SDoH contribute to the spread of viral diseases, but worsen the issues for individuals already struggling.

John “Jack” S. Linehan, a lawyer at Epstein Becker Green, is featured in the first part of a two-part video series on copay accumulators and maximizers.