In this episode of the Regional Hospital Voice, Mark interviews Scott Ellsworth, a former health plan executive who spent 30 years on the payer side, including Market President at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and President and CEO of Centene's seven-state western region. In 2022 he left the payer side and built a firm that works only for providers, after a health system brought him in to help undo a bad Blue Cross contract.

Scott explains how hospitals can use price transparency data to anchor rate requests and why he targets the 75th percentile of the market. He lays out the payer playbook of “start late, go slow, run the clock out.” He describes how dropping the bottom half of Medicare Advantage plans can lift yields by 200 to 300 basis points, and shares his view on why value-based contracts favor payers.

Scott’s message to hospital leaders is that every hospital has leverage. The key is knowing how to use it.

Learn more about Scott's work HERE

Connect with Scott on LinkedIn HERE

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE

In this episode of the Regional Hospital Voice, host Mark Craig speaks with Marc Mertz, CEO of Kaweah Health in Visalia, California.

Mertz discusses the mounting pressures facing regional hospitals, including surging emergency department volumes, nursing shortages, and the devastating financial impact of Medicaid cuts under H.R. 1, projected to cost Kaweah $40 million annually. He highlights innovative solutions like launching an in-house nursing school, reducing vacancies from 270 to under 60. Mertz also addresses unfunded state mandates, OB care deserts, and his commitment to community health, emphasizing that sustainable Medicaid reimbursement is critical to keeping regional hospitals operational.

Learn more about Marc's work at Kaweah Health HERE.

Connect with Marc on LinkedIn HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

In this episode of the Regional Hospital Voice podcast, your host Mark Craig sits down with healthcare advisor Nathan (N8) Kaufman, Managing Director of Kaufman Strategic Advisors, to discuss the dire state of American healthcare.

Kaufman describes the system as "designed to fail," driven by political dysfunction, insurance company abuses, and misaligned incentives. He addresses the financial struggles of independent community hospitals, the predatory practices of insurers, flawed Medicare Advantage programs, and the devastating impact of poorly informed policymakers. Kaufman offers potential solutions, including standardized reimbursement rates and contract reforms, while warning that without meaningful change, hospital closures and reduced patient access will worsen.

Learn more about Nathan's work at Kaufman Strategic Advisors HERE.

Connect with Nathan (N8) on LinkedIn HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

In part two of this Regional Hospital Voice episode, your host Mark Craig continues his conversation with Tracy Warner, CRHCEO, Executive Director of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN).

As Executive Director of ICAHN, Tracy leads statewide initiatives focused on rural hospital sustainability, workforce development, innovation, and policy advocacy. She is passionate about helping rural healthcare organizations navigate change through strong governance, collaborative partnerships, and strategic leadership.

Tracy addresses key challenges facing rural hospitals, including outdated Medicare Advantage reimbursement policies, telehealth infrastructure barriers, and workforce shortages. She highlights the importance of developing local healthcare talent through early career pathways and community partnerships. Tracy also discusses her consulting firm, Board of Business, emphasizing strong hospital governance as essential for sustainability. She closes with a hopeful message: rural hospitals must not just survive, but thrive as vital economic and healthcare pillars of their communities.

Learn more about Tracy's work at Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) HERE.

Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

In this episode of The Regional Hospital Voice podcast, your host Mark Craig speaks with Tracy Warner, CRHCEO and Executive Director of the Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN).

With over 30 years of experience, Tracy explores the unique challenges facing rural hospitals, including leadership demands, reimbursement pressures, and cybersecurity needs. She emphasizes that rural hospitals are complex economic anchors, not just smaller urban facilities. Tracy also highlights ICAHN's collaborative approach to shared resources, Illinois' Rural Hospital Transformation Program grants, and the critical importance of strong governance and sustainable strategies to keep rural hospitals thriving.

Learn more about Tracy's work at Illinois Critical Access Hospital Network (ICAHN) HERE.

Connect with Tracy on LinkedIn HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

In this episode of the Regional Hospital Voice, your host Mark Craig interviews Angela Handley, CEO of Clinch Memorial Hospital in Somerville, Georgia.

Angela shares her journey from bedside nurse to CEO, describing how she turned around a hospital facing closure. She discusses the challenges rural critical access hospitals face, including Medicare Advantage reimbursement disparities, rising staffing costs, and regulatory burdens. Angela highlights Clinch Memorial's recent achievements, including a Georgia Hospital Association award and becoming Georgia's first critical access hospital with pediatric ER certification. She emphasizes community support, leadership development, and resilience as essential to sustaining rural healthcare.

Learn more about Angela's work at Clinch Memorial Hospital HERE.

Connect with Angela on LinkedIn HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

In this episode of The Regional Hospital Voice, host Mark Craig interviews Bill Lee, CEO of Evans Memorial Hospital in Claxton, Georgia.

Bill shares his personal journey into healthcare leadership, inspired by his father's illness. He discusses the unique challenges rural hospitals face, including workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, complex reimbursement models, and growing Medicare Advantage burdens. Bill highlights the importance of community advocacy, legislative relationships, and philanthropy, noting that $1.6 million was raised through Georgia's HEART tax credit program. He emphasizes that healthy rural hospitals are essential to healthy communities and encourages locals to support their regional facilities.

Learn more about Bill's work at Evans Memorial Hospital HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.

In this episode of the Regional Hospital Voice, host Mark Craig interviews Aaron Herbel, CEO of Mercy Hospital in Moundridge, Kansas.

Aaron shares his unconventional path into healthcare leadership and discusses the unique challenges rural hospital CEOs face, including financial pressures, staffing shortages, and complex regulations. A key focus is Mercy Hospital's conversion to a Rural Emergency Hospital designation, which transformed their operating margin from -20% to +2%, enabled new services like a walk-in clinic, and improved staff retention. Aaron also advocates for policy changes, particularly allowing swing beds in Rural Emergency Hospitals to better serve rural communities.

Learn more about Mark's advocacy work HERE.

Check out Aaron's work at Mercy Hospital HERE.

Apply to be a guest on the show HERE.