Podcast
MedCity Pivot
Hosted by Breaking Media · EN
We are at a watershed moment in healthcare. The entire industry is being compelled to question old assumptions and chart a new path forward - in a word, we need to pivot. This podcast hosted by the editorial team at MedCity News will highlight the strategies, the companies and the personalities spearheading this monumental transformation.
12episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Modernizing Prior Authorization to Boost Transparency
3w ago00:26:20Tap to summarizeEpisode Summary In this episode of the MedCity Pivot Podcast, host Arundhati Parmar sits down with Javier Gonzalez (Abarca Health) and Tanvi Patel (Amazon Pharmacy) to unpack one of healthcare's most frustrating processes: prior authorization. The conversation explores how outdated systems, lack of transparency, and fragmented communication are eroding patient trust and delaying care. From policy complexity and data gaps to operational risks, the guests break down why prior authorization remains such a challenge—and what it will take to modernize it at scale. They also highlight the critical role of transparency, interoperability, and consumer expectations in shaping the future of healthcare. With insights from both payer and pharmacy perspectives, this episode paints a clear vision of a more patient-centered system where access to medication is faster, clearer, and more trustworthy Links & Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Keywords prior authorization healthcare transparency patient trust interoperability digital pharmacy healthcare innovation medication adherence health tech ePA patient experience healthcare systems PBM reform Amazon Pharmacy Abarca Health Episode Highlights 00:00–00:25 – Introduction to prior authorization challenges and patient frustration 00:01–00:49 – Overview of modernization efforts in healthcare systems 00:01:27–00:03:31 – The three core challenges: policy complexity, data quality, operational risk 00:04:11–00:04:29 – Real-life impact: delays in critical care (cancer case) 00:04:36–00:05:22 – How prior authorization erodes patient trust 00:05:59–00:07:00 – Medication adherence begins before the first dose 00:07:00–00:07:18 – 20–30% drop-off due to prior authorization failures 00:07:18–00:07:39 – Transparency as the key to patient engagement 00:08:20–00:09:45 – Benefits of electronic workflows (60–70% efficiency gains) 00:11:18–00:12:24 – What should be eliminated in a redesigned system 00:12:47–00:13:55 – Employers' role in improving benefit transparency 00:15:23–00:16:21 – Rise of modular PBM models and industry shifts 00:20:46–00:22:11 – Misaligned incentives across healthcare stakeholders 00:23:51–00:24:45 – Consumer expectations reshaping healthcare timelines 00:25:14–00:26:11 – The future: invisible, frictionless prior authorization
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Tackling Existential Crisis
Mar 3000:19:53Tap to summarizeSummary In this episode of the Med City Pivot Podcast, host Arundhati Parmar speaks with Lars Petersen about one of the most remarkable corporate transformations in modern business history. Facing a catastrophic collapse of its core film business in the mid-2000s due to the rise of digital photography, Fujifilm executed a bold and strategic pivot into healthcare and life sciences. The company diversified aggressively, leveraging its deep expertise in materials science, imaging, and innovation to build a thriving biotechnology and medical technology ecosystem. Today, Fujifilm operates as a global Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO), partnering with leading pharmaceutical companies and startups alike. The conversation explores how strategic investment, diversification, long-term thinking, and innovation—including AI—enabled Fujifilm not just to survive, but to lead in a completely new industry. Links & Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Keywords Fujifilm Pivot Healthcare CDMO Biotechnology Biologics digital transformation business strategy Innovation AI in healthcare Pharma Manufacturing monoclonal antibodies gene therapy cell therapy Diversification corporate strategy MedTech Episode Highlights 00:00–00:23 – Introduction to the concept of "pivot" and Fujifilm's survival story 00:00–00:47 – The collapse of the film industry and existential crisis 00:00–01:15 – Fujifilm's transformation into a healthcare company 00:02:39–00:03:28 – 2006: the pivotal year and 60% revenue loss 00:03:28–00:03:45 – Strategic decision to diversify long-term 00:04:22–00:05:08 – Why Fujifilm succeeded while competitors failed 00:05:35–00:06:26 – Key investments and acquisitions (including Biogen assets) 00:06:52–00:07:30 – Why healthcare is a stable, long-term growth industry 00:07:53–00:08:29 – Expansion into medical devices and imaging technologies 00:09:42–00:10:34 – Core therapeutic focus: biologics, gene therapy, cell therapy 00:10:49–00:11:22 – Serving both startups and global pharma giants 00:12:39–00:13:40 – Competitive positioning vs. Samsung Biologics & Lonza 00:15:08–00:15:44 – "Partners for life" philosophy and long-term trust 00:17:52–00:18:49 – AI integration across manufacturing ecosystems 00:18:54–00:19:42 – Final takeaway: building shared ecosystems for the future of medicine
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Should Testosterone Replacement Therapy Be Less Regulated?
Feb 2200:22:32Tap to summarizeEPISODE SUMMARY In this episode, Arundhati Parmar interviews Shalin Shah, CEO of Marius Pharmaceuticals, about Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) and the long-standing regulatory classification that places testosterone as a Schedule III controlled substance. Shah explains that testosterone was scheduled in 1990 following Olympic doping scandals — despite opposition at the time from the FDA, DEA, and the American Medical Association. More than 30 years later, he argues that the regulatory framework no longer reflects current clinical evidence and may be doing more harm than good. The conversation explores: The scientific evidence surrounding cardiovascular and prostate safety The differences between injectable and oral testosterone therapies The stigma and logistical barriers created by controlled substance status How GLP-1 drugs intersect with hormone health and muscle preservation The possibility of expanding testosterone therapy access to women Whether the current regulatory environment may revisit testosterone scheduling At its core, this episode examines whether testosterone is being regulated based on outdated controversy rather than modern clinical science — and what that means for patients navigating care today. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ KEYWORDS Testosterone Replacement Therapy TRT regulation Schedule III classification Controlled substances Hormone therapy stigma Men's health Women's hormone therapy TRAVERSE study Cardiovascular risk Prostate cancer risk Oral testosterone Injectable testosterone Hematocrit levels GLP-1 muscle loss Hypogonadism FDA regulation Healthcare policy Hormone optimization EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS 00:00–01:40 - Why testosterone became a Schedule III controlled substance in 1990 01:40–02:30 - Political backlash after Olympic doping scandals 02:30–03:56 - Testosterone as the only controlled hormone 03:56–04:58 - The physiologic role of testosterone across multiple organ systems 04:58–06:19 - Cardiovascular and prostate cancer risk: What the TRAVERSE study showed 06:19–07:04 - Physiologic vs. supraphysiologic dosing 07:04–08:49 - How controlled status creates stigma and access barriers 08:49–10:10 - Provider tracking, pharmacy hurdles, and patient friction 10:10–11:48 - Would deregulation increase abuse or doping? 11:48–13:20 - GLP-1 drugs, rapid weight loss, and muscle preservation 13:20–15:08 - Testosterone in women: The overlooked half of the population 15:08–16:22 - Injectable vs oral TRT: Mimicking natural diurnal rhythms 16:22–17:40 - Hematocrit elevation differences between injections and oral therapy 17:40–19:07 - Side effect profiles and hormone signaling differences 19:07–20:32 - Go-to-market strategy: Cash pay vs insurance coverage 20:32–21:24 - Stigma among payers and barriers to reimbursement 21:24–22:43 - Expanding label indications and idiopathic hypogonadism 22:43–22:22 - Could the current administration reconsider testosterone scheduling?
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Separating Hype from Reality in AI
Jan 1300:34:39Tap to summarizeSummary Tune into MedCity Pivot Podcast with host Arundhati Parmar as three healthcare tech leaders—Serge Perras, Ton Roelandse, and Bertil Chappuis—decode AI's true potential in healthcare. Explore its role in enhancing efficiency and busting myths about AI supremacy. Episode Highlights 00:00:19 - The high bar for AI safety in healthcare. 00:01:29 - AI's current hype and exaggerated promises. 00:03:57 - Misconceptions about AI replacing healthcare roles. 00:05:51 - Meaningful AI use cases: Prior authorization automation. 00:06:52 - AI in triage and its capacity enhancements. 00:08:10 - AI's role in modernizing healthcare infrastructure. 00:10:46 - Clarifying AI vs. RPA in tech solutions. 00:13:30 - Importance of governance and guardrails in AI. 00:16:38 - Humanizing healthcare through AI. 00:18:27 - AI's potential and challenges in medical coding. 00:21:31 - AI's impact on job roles and productivity boosts. 00:24:25 - Use of AI in personal life for everyday tasks. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Keywords Artificial Intelligence Healthcare Innovation AI Applications Healthcare Safety Technology Hype Serge Perras Abarca Health Ton Roelandse Trexin Consulting Bertil Chappuis Xtillion Machine Learning Generative Media Super Agents Risk and Reliability Clinical Prediction Models Automation Bias Prior Authorization Process Agentic Systems Healthcare Infrastructure Modernization Robotic Process Automation (RPA) Data Quality Governance and Guardrails Human vs AI Roles Healthcare Workforce Transition AI Augmentation Patient Care Medical Coding Electronic Health Records (EHR) AI Ethics Data Fragmentation AI Engineering Healthcare Economics AI's Net New Jobs AI Sounding Board
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How Emergency Departments Are Using Real-Time Data to Improve Outcomes with Dr. Hamad Husainy and Dr. Barbara Bond
Dec 1600:16:20Tap to summarizeDuring the episode, MedCity News Associate Editor Katie Adams interviews Dr. Hamad Husainy, chief medical officer at PointClickCare, and Dr. Barbara Bond, a physician at Sutter Health, about how AI can help improve patient outcomes in the emergency department. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe with Spotify Click here to subscribe with Podbean Click here to
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A Flexible Approach to Pharmacy Benefits Management with Adriana Ramirez and Matt Gibbs
Dec 1100:26:21Tap to summarizeI interviewed Adriana Ramirez and Matt Gibbs, and we spoke about how a new approach to pharmacy benefits management. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Connect with Adriana Ramirez and Matt Gibbs hans.amalia@abarcahealth.com matt.gibbs@lark.com Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe with Spotify Click here to subscribe with Podbean Click here to subscribe with RSS
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Brain Health at the Point of Care with Dr. Iftach Dolev
Nov 2400:28:32Tap to summarizeI am interviewing Dr. Iftach Dolev, co-founder and CEO of QuantalX a neurodiagnostics company that has just received FDA clearance for its device. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Connect with Dr. Iftach Dolev iftach@quantalx.com Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe with Spotify Click here to subscribe with Podbean Click here to subscribe with RSS
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How AI Is Reshaping Care Navigation and Patient Outcomes with Shannon Skaggs
Nov 1300:26:19Tap to summarizeThis episode was sponsored by Quantum Health. Katie Adams, associate editor at MedCity News, interviewed Shannon Skaggs, chief AI officer at Quantum Health, about how AI is reshaping the care navigation and benefits guidance world. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Connect with Shannon Skaggs https://quantum-health.com/shannon-skaggs/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannonskaggs/?skipRedirect=true Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe with Spotify Click here to subscribe with Podbean Click here to subscribe with RSS
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Diving Into AWS' Healthlake with Dr. Rowland Illing
Oct 2700:30:56Tap to summarizeI interviewed Dr. Rowland Illing, Chief Medical Officer of AWS (Amazon Web Services) about its Health Data Lake and how those data are being powered into innovations transforming healthcare. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Connect with Rowland Illing danielle.rowe@longjump.agency Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe with Spotify Click here to subscribe with Podbean Click here to subscribe with RSS
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Price Transparency in the PBM World with Javier Gonzalez and Otto Sipe
Sep 900:31:04Tap to summarizeI interviewed two healthcare executives and we talked about the importance of price transparency in pharmacy benefits management to make life easier for patients taking prescription medications and for providers who use e-prescribing. Episode Resources Connect with Arundhati Parmar aparmar@medcitynews.com https://twitter.com/aparmarbb?lang=en https://medcitynews.com/ Connect with Javier Gonzalez https://www.linkedin.com/in/jgonzalezpharmd/ Connect with Otto Sipe https://www.linkedin.com/in/ottosipe/ Review, Subscribe and Share If you like what you hear please leave a review by clicking here Make sure you're subscribed to the podcast so you get the latest episodes. Click here to subscribe with Apple Podcasts Click here to subscribe with Spotify Click here to subscribe with Podbean Click here to subscribe with RSS
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