On Background - A Healthcare Podcast
by OBG Podcast
Health policy analysis and interviews.
Episodes
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Episode 18: WHES 2026 Roundtable – How to Fix 340B?
In this episode of On Background, host Stephen Parente leads a roundtable at the HEAL Network’s 3rd annual Washington Health Economic Symposium (WHES). Health economists, academics, industry participants, and future leaders debate how to reform 340B without destabilizing hospitals that depend on...
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Episode 17: WHES 2026 Roundtable – Is a Universal Medicare Advantage Model Viable?
In this episode of On Background, host Stephen Parente leads a roundtable discussion at the HEAL Network's 3rd annual Washington Health Economics Symposium (WHES) debateing whether a private-sector Medicare Advantage for All proposal could become politically viable by 2030, contrasting it with...
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Episode 15: Sayeh Nikpay – From Safety Net to Profit Center: The Complicated Truth About the 340B Program
In this episode, hosts Stephen Parente and Thom Gunderson explore the complexities of the 340B drug pricing program, its origins, current challenges, and potential reforms. Guest expert Sayeh Nikpay from the University of Minnesota provides insights into how the program operates, its unintended...
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Episode 14: Rena Conti, Marta Wosinska, and Doug Holtz-Eakin – TrumpRx, Medicaid Cuts, and the Future of Drug Pricing
In this episode of On Background, host Stephen Parente conducts a roundtable with previous guests Marta Wosinska, Rena Conti, and Doug Holtz-Eakin on the current challenges, innovations, and future prospects in the healthcare marketplace, including drug pricing, insurance markets, and…
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Episode 13: Kenny White – The Complexities of the US Health Insurance Industry
In this episode of On Background, we talk with Kenny White and explore the complexities of the US health insurance industry, the role of managed care, AI's potential in healthcare, and future policy directions, delving into cost management, risk analysis, and the sustainability of current models.
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Episode 12: 2025 Year in Review – Health Policy Highlights and What's Ahead in 2026
In this year-end review, hosts Stephen Parente, Thom Gunderson, and Matt Stoll discuss key topics covered throughout 2025 in the On Background podcast: the impact of AI, investment trends, market uncertainties, and the future of MedTech. They explore the challenges and opportunities presented by…
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Episode 11: CHES 2025 Roundtable – The Health Data Wish List: What Economists Need to Fix US Health Policy
In this episode of On Background, host Stephen Parente leads a conversation around the challenges and opportunities in health economic analysis, particularly focusing on the missing data that hinders optimal policy-making. The participants discuss the difficulties in accessing health data, the…
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Episode 10: Eric Hargan – Affordable Care Act Subsidies and The State of Play for Healthcare Policy in Washington
In this episode of the On Background podcast, host Steve Parente and former Deputy Secretary of HHS Eric Hargan discuss the current state of healthcare legislation, particularly focusing on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies and the implications of the recent government shutdown. The two...
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Episode 9: Rena Conti – The 340B Problem: When a Safety Net Program Loses Its Way
In this episode, the discussion revolves around the 340B Drug Pricing Program, its origins, current issues, and potential reforms. Rena Conti provides insights into how the program, initially designed to help underinsured patients, has expanded and been misused, leading to significant concerns...
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Episode 8: Joe Antos – The Impact of Employer-Sponsored Insurance on Market Competition, Drug Pricing, and the Evolution of Payment Mechanisms.
In this episode of On Background, health policy professionals discuss the complexities of healthcare costs, innovations, and the evolution of payment mechanisms. Joe Antos shares insights on the inefficiencies in healthcare delivery, the impact of consumer demand, and the challenges of...
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Episode 7: Marta Wosinka – Generic Drugs, Global Supply Chains, and the Limits of FDA Oversight
In this episode, Marta Wosinska discusses the complexities of pharmaceutical quality oversight, focusing on the roles of the FDA and the differences in regulations between the US and EU. She highlights the importance of good manufacturing practices, the challenges faced by manufacturers, and the...
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Episode 6: Tomas Philipson – Free Riders and Price Controls: The Global Economics of Drug Innovation
In this episode, Tomas Philipson, a professor at the University of Chicago and former acting chair of the Council of Economic Advisors, alongside financial analyst Thom Gunderson and pharmaceutical expert Briana Mayer, discusses drug innovation, pricing policies, and the role of the FDA in the…
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Episode 5: Tony Losasso – The Next Claritin? GLP-1 Drugs and the Future of Obesity Treatment
In this episode, Tony Losasso, a professor of economics and Driehaus Fellow at Depaul University, discusses his experiences in public service, particularly his role in the Center for Program Integrity at CMS during the implementation of the Affordable Care Act. He shares insights on the…
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Episode 4: Doug Holtz-Eakin – Pharmaceutical Policy, Drug Pricing, and the Cost of Bad Policy
In EP4, Bryana Meyer joins us to talk with Doug Holtz-Eakin, former CBO head and president of the American Action Forum.
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Episode 3: Marta Wosinska – Drug Shortages and How to Prevent Them
On this episode, Marta Wosinska of the Brookings Institution talks about drug shortages and the challenges of preventing them.
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Episode 2: Karen Mandelbaum – CMS Privacy Standard for the Public Health Exchanges
In EP2, we interview Karen Mandelbaum at Epstein Becker Green and discuss her work at CMS drafting privacy standards for the public health exchanges after the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
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Episode 1: Paul Howard – The Developing Role of AI Healthcare
In the first episode of On Background, we talk to Paul Howard, former senior advisor to the commissioner of the FDA, about the developing role of AI in healthcare.
About this show
Health policy analysis and interviews.
Hosted by
OBG Podcast
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