The War on Waste: CMS Priorities in a New Era with Kimberly Brandt

What happens when healthcare leaders stop chasing fraud after the fact — and start preventing it before the money ever leaves the door? In this Clarity Special Edition, Asbel Montes sits down with Kimberly Brandt, JD, Deputy Administrator & Chief Operating Officer at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). With experience spanning CMS, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee, HHS OIG, and the private sector, Kim offers a rare inside look at how federal healthcare leadership is rethinking program integrity, modernization, and accountability in a rapidly shifting landscape. From "war room" initiatives that stopped over $2.5 billion in suspicious payments — before they were made — to the growing role of artificial intelligence in healthcare oversight, this conversation lives at the intersection of leadership, policy, technology, and patient-centered reform. What you'll hear in this episode: How CMS is using AI and machine learning to proactively detect fraud, waste, and abuse Why program integrity is a leadership issue, not just a compliance one What CMS priorities mean for providers, payers, EMS agencies, and healthcare leaders How organized healthcare fraud networks are evolving — and how oversight is keeping pace The balance between regulation, competition, and patient access How value-based care, Medicare Advantage, and program integrity intersect Why innovation and accountability are not opposing forces — and what it looks like when leaders treat them as one The bottom line: Healthcare reform is no longer just about reimbursement. It's about accountability, modernization, leadership, and trust. This conversation challenges healthcare leaders to think differently about how we protect patients, strengthen systems, and responsibly innovate. If you're a healthcare executive, EMS leader, policymaker, revenue cycle professional, or physician trying to understand where healthcare is heading — this episode is for you. Subscribe to The Leadership Lab for conversations at the intersection of healthcare leadership, finance, technology, and systems-level thinking. Links: Asbel Montes LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634   Solutions Group Services: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices  Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/  Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices  Website -  ​​https://www.solutionsgroup.com/