How Margin Shoves Mission Off of the Bus: A Primary Care Case Study, With Stan Schwartz, MD—Summer Shorts

In this episode, Stacey Richter talks with Dr. Stan Schwartz, co-founder of ZERO.health about the tension between mission-driven healthcare and financial incentives within the healthcare system. Highlighting examples like the Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative and other advanced primary care efforts, Schwartz shares insights on how health system economics, particularly the reliance on emergency room admissions, often undermine initiatives aimed at reducing costs and improving patient outcomes. 

The discussion delves into the role of employer-sponsored health plans as potential change agents in the healthcare system, given their significant influence over commercially insured patients, who are highly attractive to providers. Dr. Schwartz underscores the importance of aligned financial incentives and collective action among employers to drive meaningful change in healthcare.

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08:11 What was Dr. Schwartz's "Pelican Brief" moment?

09:09 How Dr. Schwartz's advanced primary care structure and health information exchange beat out competing states for CMMI funding.

12:53 What did "good" look like with this advanced primary care program?

15:06 EP391 with Scott Conard, MD.

15:42 EP438 with John Lee, MD.

16:57 What got Dr. Schwartz interested in employer-sponsored healthcare?

18:46 EP419 with Andreas Mang.

18:48 EP453 with Claire Brockbank.

18:50 EP452 with Cora Opsahl.