In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, host Norman Volsky welcomes Lee Lewis, the Chief Strategy Officer and General Manager of Medical Solutions at the Health Transformation Alliance (HTA). They discuss the pressing issue of rising healthcare costs and the misconceptions that many leaders have about managing healthcare expenses. Lee shares his insights on the three major dogmas that hinder progress in healthcare cost management: the belief that costs are fixed, that saving money equates to harming people, and the notion that efforts to save money are not worth the trouble. He emphasizes the importance of understanding the disconnect between price and quality in healthcare, urging employers to take a proactive approach in managing their health benefits.

Takeaways

🔥 Healthcare costs aren’t fixed: the belief that “nothing can be done” is one of the biggest barriers to change
🚫 Saving money does NOT mean hurting people: better outcomes often come from lower-cost, higher-value care
⚠️ Doing nothing is the biggest risk: an 8–10% trend is far more disruptive than thoughtful change
🎯 Incentives drive behavior: benefits leaders are punished for one bad call but barely rewarded for massive savings
🧠 Employer decisions are rational… just misaligned: fear of disruption outweighs upside without leadership support
🔍 Price ≠ quality in healthcare: some of the best outcomes come at the lowest prices
🧾 Transparency without steerage can backfire: members may assume higher price means better care
🤝 HTA’s power is benchmarking + real-world performance data: RFPs don’t predict outcomes, current results do
🧪 Point solutions must earn their seat at the table: 1% impact, 2x+ ROI, clean math, and pay-for-performance only
🧙‍♂️ The best point solutions are invisible: show up at the moment of need, solve the problem, then disappear
🚪 Primary care is the front door to cost control: whoever controls primary care controls downstream spend
🧭 Steer referrals with data: aligned PCPs + high-value referral pathways can reset system incentives
💰 Employers must reward value creators and punish profiteers: otherwise prices will keep rising
💊 GLP-1s and specialty drugs are the next battleground: employers want direct purchasing at rational prices
🧬 Cell & gene therapies need adult supervision — saying “yes” to any price sets a dangerous precedent
👥 The right benefits team can flatten trend: talent + permission + incentives matter more than tools
📉 Tie benefits leader comp to CPI: hit CPI without cost shifting and eliminate constant plan design churn
🚀 Healthcare innovation must break the “10% better for 10x cost” rule: real disruption requires order-of-magnitude value
🧠 Culture change starts with rejecting bad dogma: flat trend is possible when leaders believe it is

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Lee Lewis and HTA
01:37 The Fight Against Rising Healthcare Costs
03:18 Misconceptions in Healthcare Management
06:55 Understanding Price vs. Quality in Healthcare
11:36 Employer Accountability in Healthcare
14:37 The Role of HTA in Healthcare Solutions
17:23 Structural Issues in Employer-Sponsored Healthcare
20:54 Point Solutions: Successes and Failures
31:15 The Importance of Advanced Primary Care
35:41 Data Transparency and Performance Measurement
46:57 Emerging Demands in Healthcare
56:27 Outro

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In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, Norm Volsky interviews Anish Sebastian, co-founder and CEO of Baby Scripts, a digital health startup transforming prenatal care through technology and data. Anish shares his journey into healthcare, the founding vision of Baby Scripts, and how the pandemic accelerated innovation in maternal care. The conversation highlights alarming U.S. maternal mortality rates, the importance of virtual monitoring, and how digital tools empower both patients and providers. They also dive into how AI could shape the future of maternal health, the need for system-level collaboration, and the role of active listening in effective innovation.

Takeaways

🤰 Baby Scripts is focused on improving prenatal care through digital health.
📉 Maternal mortality rates in the U.S. are alarmingly high and rising.
📲 Virtual care models can enhance access and outcomes for expectant mothers.
👂 Active listening is essential in healthcare product innovation.
📈 The pandemic accelerated the adoption of digital maternal health solutions.
🧠 AI has the potential to redefine how care is delivered and accessed.
🌍 Healthcare transformation requires collaboration among providers, payers, and patients.
📦 Product-market fit evolved as Baby Scripts responded to market needs.
👩‍⚕️ Personal health stories drive innovation in maternal care.
🥗 Nutrition and wellness practices are part of the prenatal care equation.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Baby Scripts and Anish Sebastian
04:36 The Birth of Baby Scripts
09:30 Early Days and Product Market Fit
12:05 Addressing Maternal Mortality
14:50 Virtual Care and Access to Outcomes
15:51 Impact of COVID on Maternal Health
18:50 Future Innovations in Maternal Health
19:07 Understanding Racial Inequality in Maternal Health
23:05 Obesity and Pregnancy Complications
24:32 Evolution of Baby Scripts' Product
26:53 Accessing Baby Scripts and Partnerships
28:40 Accessing Baby Scripts: A Patient's Journey
30:35 Impactful Patient Stories: Real-Life Transformations
32:24 Improving Patient Outcomes: The Baby Scripts Advantage
35:51 Healthcare Transformation: The Role of Startup Health
36:58 Active Listening: Keys to Success in Healthcare
39:02 The Future of Digital Health: AI and Beyond
40:34 Next Decade in Maternal Care: Innovations Ahead
43:12 Living Health: Personal Wellness Practices
46:26 Healthy Eating: Recipes and Tips for Families

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In this episode of the Digital Health Heavyweights podcast, host Norm Volsky speaks with Jacob Peters, founder of Superpower, and Prabhat Dhar, Executive Vice President of Enterprise at Superpower. They discuss their personal journeys into healthcare, the founding of Superpower, and the challenges and opportunities in the preventative health space. The conversation covers the importance of proactive healthcare, the need for actionable health data, and the role of technology in transforming the healthcare experience. They also touch on the challenges of scaling a health tech company, measuring success, and the importance of personal health intelligence.

Takeaways

🧠 Jacob Peters’ personal health journey was the catalyst behind founding Superpower.

❤️ Prabhat Dhar emphasizes the humanity that must remain central to healthcare.

🚀 Superpower is reimagining preventative health through a technology-enabled approach.

🧪 The platform turns biomarker testing into clear, actionable insights.

👥 Consumer education and awareness are critical drivers of enterprise health adoption.

💪 Superpower’s model empowers individuals to take ownership of their health.

📊 Digital health often prioritizes engagement metrics over true outcomes.

🧩 Employers face point-solution fatigue across today’s healthcare ecosystem.

📈 Preventative health ROI can be demonstrated through early risk identification.

🧘 Stress management is essential for executives in high-pressure environment

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Superpower and Founders' Backgrounds

02:08 Jacob Peters' Journey into Healthcare

04:17 Prabhat Dhar's Perspective on Healthcare and Technology

08:54 The Early Days of Superpower and Founding Vision

12:44 Prabhat's Personal Experience and Motivation

16:47 Investor Interest and the Future of Preventative Health

19:25 Challenges in Preventative Healthcare

21:28 The Need for Proactive Health Models

24:13 Defining Success in Preventative Health

26:22 Making Biomarker Data Actionable

26:58 Transforming Healthcare with AI and Intelligence

29:46 Navigating the Point Solution Landscape

33:56 ROI in Preventative Healthcare Solutions

37:53 Scaling Superpower: Challenges and Successes

40:42 Measuring Impact: Success Stories from Superpower

43:21 The Digital Health Ecosystem: What’s Missing?

45:46 Managing Stress in a High-Stakes Environment

48:26 Healthy Eating: Recipes for Optimal Health

49:56 Outro

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