Contributor: Katherine Clark, MD'15, WG’15

As we move into the start of the next Board term, I’d like to extend a warm welcome to our newly elected Board members: Ryan Berger, WG’06, Smita Jain, WG’05, and Rob Varady, WG’14. We will also be joined by Imran Cronk, W’16, our incoming undergraduate alumni representative, who is a former president of the Wharton Undergraduate Health Care Club. We are grateful for the service of those rolling off the board - Ryan Vass, WG’14 and Mark Whitcher, W’93. Their contributions have been invaluable, and we now look forward to the fresh perspectives our new members will bring. Read more.

This eclectic standing column features insightful musings, words of wisdom, life lessons, and stepping-stones to business success. This month's philosopher is Connie Jao, WG'22, National Accounts Lead of commercial solutions for health plan partners at Headway. Read more.

Contributors: Sean Zabaneh and Samantha Dalmass

On February 21, 2024, Change Healthcare (“Change”), a subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group (“UHG”), was hit with a cyberattack carried out by the ransomware operator AlphaV/BlackCat. While Change is not an insurance company and does not provide healthcare services directly, it is one of the largest clearinghouses for medical payments in the U.S., touching at least one in three patient records according to estimates from the American Hospital Association (“AHA”). Every organization in the healthcare space should be following developments regarding the attack. Read more.

Contributor: Syed Siddiqi

When discussing plastic surgery, one's mind may easily jump to cosmetic procedures, such as an older woman wanting Botox injections to look younger for an upcoming event or a teenager wanting a nose job because their high school friends are all getting one. Although cosmetic requests are a big component of medical aesthetics, the medical side is not nearly discussed as much. Read more.

Contributor: Deanna Banks

2020 and 2021 brought much-needed attention and action to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts in healthcare. However, these gains have faced a significant setback due to various legislative actions. The Supreme Court's reversal of Affirmative Action, followed by the introduction of bills in several states to restrict DEI efforts, has regressed progress in many ways. It is crucial to understand how the industry can navigate these obstacles and uphold its commitment to advancing DEI strategies without giving in to the prevailing backlash. Healthcare is a vital part of society, and its success depends on embracing DEI. While many organizations are pulling back, successful healthcare teams are stepping forward, recognizing the pivotal role of inclusion and equity for all in the communities they serve. Read more.

Contributor: Vidya Murthy, WEMBA’42 

Change Healthcare captured headlines after suffering a cybersecurity attack in late February 2024, that crippled the ability to process medical claims for hundreds of healthcare providers. Less discussed is that 74% of hospitals said the incident resulted in “direct patient care impact.” At times, as many as 2 in every 5 hospitals reported patients couldn’t get access to care due to the inability to get prior authorization. Read more.

Contributor: Dona Kim Murphey, MD PhD CHW 

In 2020, around $280 billion was spent on therapeutic services in mental health alone, a quarter of which went disproportionately to Medicaid. With an overrepresentation of Black (20%) and Latino (30%) patients, there is a racialization of poverty, as there is for many other social determinants of mental health. There appears to be no disproportionate incidence of mental health disorders for minoritized populations, but health disparities manifest in various ways for these groups, including lower rates of diagnosis and treatment, greater severity and longer duration of illness, and decreased access to culturally competent counsel and care. What remains poorly exposed in this ecosystem are the myriad ways in which drug development efforts, haunted by a history of racialized exploitation, continue to reproduce health disparities. Examining, for instance, the explosive interest in psychedelics, reveals the contemporary challenges that remain willfully ignored. Read more.

Contributor: Arpit Khemka

In Part 1 we discussed meeting patients where they are (literally) when it comes to musculoskeletal care. In Part 2, we will explore the importance of a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to musculoskeletal (MSK) care. This care delivery model involves a range of specialists including acupuncturists, chiropractors, occupational therapists, and orthopedic surgeons. By taking this comprehensive approach, patients can experience better outcomes and more streamlined care delivery. Read more. 

Contributors: Wren Keber and Lisa Soroka

Medicare Advantage Organizations (MAOs) are operating in a uniquely difficult period in the history of managed Medicare. In this second part of our look into the Medicare Advantage (MA) market, we focus on the health plan perspective. We consider various themes and challenges facing MAOs today and again offer tactical suggestions on how to manage it all. Read more. 

Contributors: Jennifer Tomasik, SM, FACHE and Christopher Hugill, MBA

What is a professional home? What does it mean to consider one’s job the place where you feel most listened to, most intellectually challenged, and most appreciated? What might it mean for leaders of healthcare organizations to create work environments where employees experience a true sense of belonging? Membership associations around the healthcare ecosystem have long framed their mission as making themselves the professional home for members within their respective fields of work. We contend that healthcare leaders should look carefully at the lessons that membership associations have already learned so they, too, can increasingly be seen as the professional home for their workforce.  Read more. 

Contributor: Rich Shanfeld

Fostering long-term relationships with executive recruiters specializing in your business and function can be highly beneficial for your long-term career advancement. After all, we already know your space well—once we learn more about your background, we can oftentimes offer tailored advice, as well as a look at what may be available in the marketplace over the long haul. Read more. 

Contributors: Linda Roszak Burton, ACC, BBC, BS and Betsy Chapin Taylor, FAHP

In the complex landscape of healthcare, the well-being of clinicians stands as a cornerstone of sustainable and effective care delivery. Yet, historically, the focus on clinician well-being has often been overshadowed by other priorities within healthcare systems. Additionally, healthcare institutions are slow to conduct organizational well-being assessments among clinicians. Forward-thinking healthcare leaders are beginning to recognize the critical importance of integrating clinician well-being into the strategic planning process. Read more. 

Contributor: John Winkelman, WG'80

The Scholarship and Awards Committee of the Wharton Health Care Management Alumni Association is pleased to announce the 2024 recipients of The June Kinney Scholarship Fund, The William Kissick Scholarship Fund, the WHCMAA Outstanding Service Award, and the WHCMAA Alumni Achievement Award. Read more.