Expert Interviews

Jennifer McGuigan Babcock, senior vice president for Medicaid policy at the Association for Community Affiliated Plans (ACAP), and Gabe Scott, a partner at K&L Gates Health Care Group, spoke with Managed Healthcare Executive about what these cuts could mean for the healthcare system.

Panelists discuss how atopic dermatitis, a chronic inflammatory skin condition characterized by intense itching and recurring eczematous lesions, affects millions worldwide, with complex genetic and environmental factors influencing its development, progression, and treatment response.

Inflammatory bowel disease is a diverse disease that affects people all over the globe. This diversity in setting and treatment options makes it difficult for researchers to estimate the exact cost of care, according to Johan Burisch, M.D., Ph.D., a gastroenterologist at Hvidovre Hospital in Denmark.

When disasters occur, organizations such as SCAN Health Plan take a holistic approach, considering the needs of members, providers, brokers, employees and the broader community.

An expert discusses considerations for tailoring narcolepsy treatment plans for patients with complex comorbidities or lifestyle needs, the role of insurance policies, prior authorizations, and specialty pharmacies in treatment access, emerging strategies to improve care in underserved populations, and the role of hypocretin in narcolepsy.

At the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) meeting, Steven Daveluy, M.D., associate professor and program director of dermatology at Wayne State University, discussed ongoing barriers to the early diagnosis of hidradenitis suppurativa and the latest advancements in treatment.

A reduction in emergency room visits is just one of the ways teledermatology has improved patient outcomes and reduced costs, according to Elizabeth K. Jones, M.D., an associate dermatology professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

An overview of the definition of teledermatology and it’s three subtypes, according to Elizabeth K. Jones, M.D., FAAD, an associate dermatology professor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital.

Larry Eichenfield, M.D., chief of pediatric and adolescent dermatology at Rady Children's Hospital, presented a session at the American Academy of Dermatology’s annual meeting in Orlando on some of the most pressing topics in pediatric dermatology.

Rebecca Vasquez, M.D., FAAD, said that while there is not enough data to support success stories yet, she has seen firsthand the ways addressing social drivers of health has impacted her patients.

Raising funding for research on social drivers of health may become an obstacle, given recent anti-DEI policies put into place by the federal government, according to Rebecca Vasquez, M.D., FAAD, a speaker at the 2025 American Academy of Dermatology meeting.

A panelist discusses how managing biosimilars requires close collaboration between payers and health systems to optimize patient care and cost savings, while sharing insights about program implementation challenges across different care settings and emphasizing the importance of robust operational frameworks.

An expert discusses the key unmet needs in current treatment approaches for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

An expert discusses the treatment algorithm for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), along with insurance coverage for the available treatment options.

Environmental factors like diet and early antibiotic use have an impact on the gut microbiome and can contribute to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), explained Ashwin N. Ananthakrishnan, M.D., M.P.H., MGH, associate professor of medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital.

An expert discusses important considerations for clinicians when tailoring narcolepsy treatment plans for patients with complex comorbidities or lifestyle needs.

Major Medicaid cuts may be overshadowing work requirements, but they remain a priority for Republicans. Work requirements are “bad health policy,” says Leanne Berge, J.D., CEO of the Community Health Plan of Washington, although they would not have as great an impact as the cuts that have been under discussion.

Arti Masturzo, M.D., chief medical officer of CCS, spoke with Managed Healthcare Executive about the differences in coaching and guiding patients with type 1 diabetes compared to type 2.

Three Washington, D.C., healthcare policy experts and the former chief of staff of HHS dive into the healthcare politics and policies of the new administration: RFK Jr.’s confirmation hearings; the future of IRA drug price negotiations and PBM reform; Medicare Advantage under the new administration; DOGE cuts at HHS; and ant-DEI and the social determinants of health.

A panelist discusses how their institution is proactively adapting their formulary review processes and infrastructure to handle the growing biosimilar pipeline, while anticipating increased competition will drive strategic shifts in contracting and necessitate more flexible approaches to formulary management in the coming years.

An expert discusses the gaps or outdated elements in the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines that have been identified.

An expert discusses the main treatment recommendations of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines for managing with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF).

Medicaid is a needs-based program, but the misconception that it is a program solely for poor people has made it a target for large federal budget cuts, says Leanne Berge, CEO of a not-for-profit health plan in Washington state.

Unlike some other spending cuts, Medicaid cuts will have direct impact on people who voted for Republicans in November 2024, according to Leanne Berge, health plan leader

An expert discusses the significance of low-sodium oxybate for patients with narcolepsy patients with and cardiovascular disease and compares the diagnostic criteria and clinical presentations of narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

Conversations around menopause symptoms are becoming more common, but there is such a thing as potentially calling too much attention, especially in the workplace, according to Monica Christmas, M.D., director of the menopause program at the University of Chicago Medicine and the Center for Women’s Integrated Health.

A panelist discusses how their institution implements robust safety protocols including distinct labeling, electronic health record alerts, and staff education to prevent dispensing errors when managing multiple biosimilars, while also conducting targeted educational outreach to address stakeholder concerns about interchangeability.

Gaps in funding caused by the potential $5 billion budget cut to the National Institutes of Health would be “almost impossible” to fill, according to Aaron J. Kowalski, Ph.D., CEO of Breakthrough T1D.

Bias and stigma are to blame for the way women’s health research has fallen behind, according to Monica Christmas, M.D., director of UChicago Medicine’s menopause program and the Center for Women's Integrated Health and Valentina Sartori, Ph.D., a partner in McKinsey & Company’s Life Sciences Practice, and affiliated leader of the McKinsey Health Institute.

An expert discusses the management plan for patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and progressive pulmonary fibrosis (PPF), highlighting approaches beyond pharmacotherapies.