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For several years, the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) has presented data showing that the United States faces a shortage of physicians in almost every specialty. In June 2020, the association issued its sixth annual report on the shortage, predicting that in just over a decade, the U.S. healthcare system would face a shortage of between 54,100 and 139,000 physicians in primary and specialty care.

Now more than ever, dental providers are on the front lines of chronic disease. How? Before the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that older adults were more likely to visit a doctor than a dentist. Even though older adults with chronic conditions were more likely to have severe tooth loss than persons without chronic conditions, national data showed dental visits lagged behind medical.

In this latest episode of the Meet the Board series on Tuning In to the C-Suite podcast, Managed Healthcare Executive's Peter Wehrwein and Briana Contreras speak with Rodrigo Cerda, vice president of clinical care transformation at Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia. Rodrigo is a newer member of MHE's Editorial Advisory Board and in the discussion he shared a bit about himself such as what his personal goals were. The focus of the discussion highlighted a pipeline of clinical care and what's to come, as well as looking at virtual care.

Woodcock is seen as more pro-industry and favored by patient advocacy groups. Sharfstein's supporters say he would restore integrity to the agency. Sharfstein has proposed reforms to the FDA approval process.

Caring for seniors means attending to both their physical and emotional health. Unfortunately, the mental health of older patients is rarely evaluated and treated. Multiple barriers to care exist, including availability and access to mental health practitioners, as well as the stigma associated with psychological conditions that may prevent patients from seeking help.

Peter Wehrwein, senior editor of Managed Healthcare Executive, speaks with Mohan Giridharadas, the founder and CEO at LeanTaas, a software and machine learning company. The Santa Clara, California, company’s software enables healthcare systems to maximize efficient use of their infusion centers, operating rooms and other facilities. More efficient use translates into improved access to services for patients, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, Giridharadas explains.

The Next Generation ACO program, was supposed to end in 2020, but it was granted a one-year reprieve because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The National Association of ACOs (NAACOS) wants that extension to become permanent and says the “Next Gen” ACOs save the Medicare program a lot of money. Former CMS Administrator Seema Verma begs to differ.