Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast

In this episode, Rhonda Randall, DO, Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare’s employer and individual business, discusses the company’s expansion of doula coverage to millions of members and the evidence behind its impact on maternal and infant health. She also explains how doulas support care teams and why employers are increasingly prioritizing better maternity care outcomes.

In this episode, Daniel J. Elliott, MD, MSCE, FACP, FAAP, Chief Medical Officer of Provider Experience at Centene Corporation, discusses how payers and providers can work together to address cost pressures, workforce challenges, and care coordination. He also shares perspectives on using AI, improving data sharing, and reducing friction in processes like prior authorization to strengthen the healthcare ecosystem.

In this episode, Krista Nelson, CEO of Optum Health, shares her vision for strengthening value based care through a more focused care delivery model, stronger clinician support, and expanded technology capabilities. She also discusses Medicare Advantage policy stability, the role of AI in reducing administrative burden, and how partnerships across the healthcare ecosystem can improve outcomes and patient experience.

Dr. Kara Odom Walker, Aetna Medicaid Chief Medical Officer and family physician with public health leadership, outlines a community-centered push to control hypertension. She discusses partnering with community health centers, using data to target care, addressing social drivers like food insecurity, and scaling successful models across states to reduce disparities.

In this episode, Dawn Maroney, President of Alignment Health and CEO of Alignment Health Plan, joins the podcast to discuss how payer–provider relationships are evolving amid cost pressures and workforce shortages. She explores common gaps between strategy and execution, the importance of disciplined operational follow-through, and why healthy competition remains essential to driving innovation, value, and improved outcomes across the healthcare landscape.

Jennifer L. Kowalski, Vice President at Elevance Health’s Public Policy Institute, leads data-driven research on Medicare Advantage. She discusses how rigorous evidence shapes strategy, the integration challenges for dual eligibles, and opportunities around affordability, navigation, and supplemental benefits. The conversation highlights using research to guide policy and sustainable innovation.

Karen Walker-Johnson, CEO of Clever Care Health Plan and former nurse, leads culturally competent, value-based Medicare Advantage care. She discusses building provider trust with reliability and transparency. She describes collaborative member outreach, community-centered engagement, and the push for cultural competence metrics to shape quality measures and funding.

In this episode, Jeff Bak, President and Chief Executive Officer of Imagine360, shares how alternative health plan models and reference based pricing can lower employer costs while improving the member experience. He discusses narrowing networks, building provider trust, correcting broker misconceptions, and delivering guaranteed savings in a high pressure cost environment.

In this episode, Emily Durfee, Partner of Corporate Venture Capital at Healthworx, discusses strengthening payer provider collaboration, accelerating responsible AI adoption, and using strategic investment to address regulatory uncertainty and the rising cost of care.

In this episode, Saria Saccocio, MD, MHA, Chief Medical Officer of Essence Healthcare, discusses the growing collaboration between payers and providers, the push for site neutral care and pharmacy cost reform, and the need for stronger investment in cardiometabolic and population health. She also shares how quality performance, member experience, and social determinants of health are shaping health plan strategy and margins heading into 2026.