Recent Notable Quote(s) - 9/15/23

“The anniversary of women’s right to vote in the United States, also known as Women’s Suffrage Day, is a momentous occasion that celebrates the hard-fought victory of the women’s suffrage movement.  On August 18, 1920, the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified, granting women the right to vote after years of relentless advocacy and perseverance…it serves as a poignant reminder that progress is achieved through collective action, determination, and resilience.  It is essential to remember the sacrifices of those who fought for women’s suffrage and continue striving for a more inclusive and equitable society for all.” 

Anne McCune, CEO – The Carol Emmott Foundation, an initiative dedicated to the education, training and support of women leaders in health care. 

"At the heart of any value-based strategy, it really needs to be a community-based partnership approach where healthcare organizations are partnering with public health agencies, county health agencies, state and federal authorities, food banks, schools, and working alongside other employers."

Tommy Ibrahim, MD, MHA, CEO, Bassett Health 

"The absence of robust oversight of MCO decisions on prior authorization requests presents a limitation that can allow inappropriate denials to go undetected in Medicaid managed care"

Office of the Inspector General – in a report on the apparent excessive pattern of Medicaid prior authorization denials by various Managed Care Organizations (MCOs)

 

Recent Notable Quotes - 8/14/23

“You've got several people with their hands on the wheel here—maybe two or three with their feet on the gas pedals, others on the brakes. It's almost like a three-legged race with either state or federal governments or payers generally each putting a leg in the sack."

John Barkett, managing director, Berkeley Research Group – in describing the new initiative by the US Centers for Medicaid and Medicare (CMS) related to implementation of value-based care. 

“…I am not blind to the fact that there are people out there who, though they don’t know me personally, have made judgments about my political beliefs and the fairness with which I have done my job. I often say, because I believe it, that I am not left wing, right wing, or chicken wing. I’m just another American who loves this country and is trying as best I can to do my job. I acknowledge I am flawed, as all humans are. And I have made my mistakes.”

Dan Rather, Former CBS Evening News Correspondent and (now) Retired Thought Leader and Commentator on the News of the Day – in a commentary on the recent indictment of Former President Donald J. Trump.

Quote(s) Of The Week - 7/20/23

"The generalist mindset and ability to be able to take in information in multiple aspects of medicine is helpful... A global thought process is ingrained when you work in primary care."

 Bethany Bruzzi, DO, MBA, CMO, Banner-University Medical Center Tucson, Banner-University Medical Center South

 "If you look at it from the perspective of what is right for the patients, the community, and the institution, it is easier to do the right thing.... When we look at the situation in that framework, most people are going to do the right thing no matter what." 

William Agel, MD, MPH, CMO, Cape Cod Healthcare

Recent Notable Quotes - 7/11/23

"Health equity is a priority for the AMA... As the first openly gay person to hold the office of AMA president, issues of LGBTQ health and equity are close to my heart and have long been a focus of my work in medicine."

 Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, AMA President – in a presentation before the American Medical Association

 “This ruling restricts medical schools from considering race and ethnicity among the multiple factors in admissions policies and will translate into a less diverse physician workforce. Diversity is vital to healthcare, and this court ruling deals a serious blow to our goal of increasing medical career opportunities for historically marginalized and minoritized people,”

 Statement issued by the American Medical Association following the announcement of the Supreme Court’s undoing of affirmative action plans.  

 “…we’ve spent nearly a century working with communities to build a more equitable world where every child has access to the opportunities they need to thrive. Following today's rulings by the U.S. Supreme Court in two affirmative action cases, I am profoundly concerned that these efforts have become more challenging.

La June Montgomery Tabron, President/CEO - W.K. Kellogg Foundation, in a  statement on the ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court on affirmative action.

 

Recent Notable Quotes - 6/26/23

Thoughts and Perceptions

“The transformation of delivery and financing of healthcare is going to change in the future. With the big box stores coming in and providing healthcare, my first thoughts are will [they] provide quality healthcare?"

Stacey Malakoff, CFO, Hospital for Special Surgery – New York City

"We’re trying to look around the corner for our patients to understand the promise and limitations of AI. There is a lot of uncertainty about the direction and regulatory framework for this use of AI that has found its way into the day-to-day practice of medicine."

Alexander Ding, MD, MS, MBA, AMA trustee, assistant professor, University of Louisville School of Medicine.

"To achieve continued growth, we must assess and take advantage of the available opportunities that enable us to drive better health outcomes and quality of care for our members, such as value-based care arrangements."

Terri Swanson, President - Aetna Medicare

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