Merge Medical Startup Podcast

Podcast episodes

• Season 2

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  Merge Medical with Robert Pearl, MD: Changemakers in Medicine

  Merge Medical with Robert Pearl, MD: Changemakers in Medicine

  S02 E32

  01:05:46

  Welcome to the Merge Medical Podcast, where today’s healthcare innovators and leaders come together to shape tomorrow’s healthcare landscape. In our latest episode, we’re honored to host Dr. Robert Pearl, the former CEO of Kaiser Permanente, a prolific author and a visionary in the fields of AI and healthcare. Dr. Robert Pearl was the CEO of The Permanente Medical Group (Kaiser Permanente) from 1999-2017. In this role he led 12,000 physicians, 42,000 staff and was responsible for the nationally recognized medical care of over 5 million Kaiser Permanente members on the west and east coasts. His newest book, “ChatGPT, MD: How AI-Empowered Patients & Doctors Can Take Back Control of American Medicine” debuted as #1 on Amazon’s “New Best Seller” list. All profits from the book go to Doctors Without Borders. He is also the author of “Mistreated: Why We think We’re Getting Good Healthcare—And Why We’re Usually Wrong,” a Washington Post bestseller and “Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients,” published May 2021. Pearl, named one of Modern Healthcare’s 50 most influential physician leaders, serves as a clinical professor of plastic surgery at Stanford University School of Medicine and is on the faculty of the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He hosts the popular podcasts Fixing Healthcare and Medicine: The Truth, publishes a newsletter called Monthly Musings on American Healthcare, and is a regular contributor to Forbes. Dr. Pearl received his medical degree from the Yale University School of Medicine and completed his residency at Stanford University. Connect with Dr. Robert Pearl on Twitter @RobertPearlMD, LinkedIn and at his website robertpearlmd.com.

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  Merge Medical with Harvey Castro, MD: Changemakers in Medicine

  Merge Medical with Harvey Castro, MD: Changemakers in Medicine

  S02 E31

  01:01:28

  Welcome to the Merge Medical Podcast, where today's healthcare innovators and leaders come together to shape tomorrow's healthcare landscape. In our latest episode, we're honored to host Dr. Harvey Castro, a visionary ER physician, AI healthcare futurist, and prolific author in the field of AI and healthcare. Dr. Castro delves into how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing patient care and physician practices, sharing his journey in developing AI technologies aimed at improving outcomes and building a sustainable future for healthcare professionals. Discover the potential of AI to transform healthcare delivery, enhance patient experiences, and unlock new avenues for private practice growth and wealth creation. This is a must-listen for anyone passionate about the intersection of healthcare and technology, seeking practical insights and inspiration to navigate the challenges and opportunities ahead. Join us as Dr. Harvey Castro leads the way in leveraging AI for a healthier tomorrow. Merge Medical Website: https://mergemedical.org LinkedIn Newsletter: https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7080491988705234946

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  FIRST PRIMARY CARE: Deed Dive Podcast

  FIRST PRIMARY CARE: Deed Dive Podcast

  S02 E30

  01:07:56

  Beyond being a solid entrant to the DPC (direct primary care space) market, First Primary Care founder, Dr. Geetinder Goyal, and his team are on their way to forming a physician led insurance company that solves for healthcare industry’s terminal illness, the mega-carriers. “Deep Dive″ or uncut version of our video podcast. Drs Jeff Brown and Jeff Cole interview Dr. Goyal, Founder of First Primary Care. First Primary Care (FPC) grew both its membership and its revenue by more than 100% between 2023 and 2024. The vast majority of the 6000 members have onboarded through self-funded employer plans. These plans are comprised of a vertical stack of solutions designed to optimally benefit the patient, the employer, and the physician care team. While many direct primary care (DPC) businesses are emerging, we are not aware of another DPC company has built a full stack health plan that includes a strong primary care base with integrated partners for cash pay specialists and services, a pharmacy benefit manager, TPAs (third party administrators), PPO network access, stop-loss insurance and distribution through brokers who are becoming more of a benefit advisor. With a focus on price transparency, healthcare can become more stream-lined, and value can be measured. The incentives of the FPC physicians are aligned with that of the patient, health and prevention. The original role of insurance is restored to cover catastrophic issues, and not day-to-day needs. Consistent results show a savings of $200K – $300K for a company with 100 employees. First Primary Care accomplishes this with a tiered service line beginning with a solid foundation of primary care. This base layer represents 65% of care and is free to the patient, without copays or other expenses. Generic prescriptions are free. The second level, 25% of care, is Guided Healthcare and demonstrates price transparency and cash pay by the plan for specialists, imaging, outpatient surgery and more. The final 10% is “Guided to Network” care for hospitalizations, ER visits, or catastrophic events.  ***** Would this bring value to you, your family or your medical practice?  Investable merits of this company? Let’s discuss in the forum.   If you are a physician or healthcare professional with an NPI number, you can register for our private forum to join the discussion.   Sign up today! https://mergemedical.community.forum/   Timestamps: 03:40 –A STRONG FOUNDATION 06:30 – PRICE TRANSPARENCY 06:45 – TIERED APPROACH 07:28 – SELF-FUNDED EMPLOYERS 08:35 – THE ORIGINAL ROLE OF INSURANCE 11:25 – COST SAVINGS TO EMPLOYERS 15:20 – COST VS VALUE 16:05 – 65% BASE LAYER OF FREE HEALTHCARE 17:45 – GUIDED HEALTHCARE 19:30 – GUIDED TO NETWORK 21:05 – PLAN ADMINISTRATION 24:20 – EMPLOYER’S RISK 26:55 – STOP-LOSS CLAIM FUND SURPLUS 29:55 – WHY NOT REDESIGN INSURANCE? 34:30 – STARTING A PHYSICIAN LED INSURANCE COMPANY 40:50 – THE CHANGING ROLE OF BROKERS 47:18 – TPA (THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR) AS PARTNER 48:55 – PHARMACY SERVICES 54:30 – TEAM 57:25 – RPM (Remote Patient Monitoring) 59:45 – WHO IS YOUR CUSTOMER? 102:15 – GROWTH / NATIONAL FOOTPRINT 103:50 – THE BIG INSURERS: ARE THEY TOO BIG TO FAIL?   ***** DISCLAIMER: Merge Medical and the podcast hosts are providing this content for informational and entertainment purposes only and are not broker dealers or registered investment advisors. We are not providing investment or legal advice.

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  FIRST PRIMARY CARE: 10 in 10 Podcast

  FIRST PRIMARY CARE: 10 in 10 Podcast

  S02 E29

  11:46

  Beyond being a solid entrant to the DPC (direct primary care space) market, First Primary Care founder, Dr. Geetinder Goyal, and his team are on their way to forming a physician led insurance company that solves for healthcare industry’s terminal illness, the mega-carriers. “10 in 10″ or quick hitting version of our video podcast. Drs Jeff Brown and Jeff Cole interview Dr. Goyal, Founder of First Primary Care. First Primary Care (FPC) grew both its membership and its revenue by more than 100% between 2023 and 2024. The vast majority of the 6000 members have onboarded through self-funded employer plans. These plans are comprised of a vertical stack of solutions designed to optimally benefit the patient, the employer, and the physician care team. While many direct primary care (DPC) businesses are emerging, we are not aware of another DPC company has built a full stack health plan that includes a strong primary care base with integrated partners for cash pay specialists and services, a pharmacy benefit manager, TPAs (third party administrators), PPO network access, stop-loss insurance and distribution through brokers who are becoming more of a benefit advisor. With a focus on price transparency, healthcare can become more stream-lined, and value can be measured. The incentives of the FPC physicians are aligned with that of the patient, health and prevention. The original role of insurance is restored to cover catastrophic issues, and not day-to-day needs. Consistent results show a savings of $200K – $300K for a company with 100 employees. First Primary Care accomplishes this with a tiered service line beginning with a solid foundation of primary care. This base layer represents 65% of care and is free to the patient, without copays or other expenses. Generic prescriptions are free. The second level, 25% of care, is Guided Healthcare and demonstrates price transparency and cash pay by the plan for specialists, imaging, outpatient surgery and more. The final 10% is “Guided to Network” care for hospitalizations, ER visits, or catastrophic events.  ***** Would this bring value to you, your family or your medical practice?  Investable merits of this company? Let’s discuss in the forum.   If you are a physician or healthcare professional with an NPI number, you can register for our private forum to join the discussion.   Sign up today! https://mergemedical.community.forum/   Timestamps: 03:40 –A STRONG FOUNDATION 06:30 – PRICE TRANSPARENCY 06:45 – TIERED APPROACH 07:28 – SELF-FUNDED EMPLOYERS 08:35 – THE ORIGINAL ROLE OF INSURANCE 11:25 – COST SAVINGS TO EMPLOYERS 15:20 – COST VS VALUE 16:05 – 65% BASE LAYER OF FREE HEALTHCARE 17:45 – GUIDED HEALTHCARE 19:30 – GUIDED TO NETWORK 21:05 – PLAN ADMINISTRATION 24:20 – EMPLOYER’S RISK 26:55 – STOP-LOSS CLAIM FUND SURPLUS 29:55 – WHY NOT REDESIGN INSURANCE? 34:30 – STARTING A PHYSICIAN LED INSURANCE COMPANY 40:50 – THE CHANGING ROLE OF BROKERS 47:18 – TPA (THIRD PARTY ADMINISTRATOR) AS PARTNER 48:55 – PHARMACY SERVICES 54:30 – TEAM 57:25 – RPM (Remote Patient Monitoring) 59:45 – WHO IS YOUR CUSTOMER? 102:15 – GROWTH / NATIONAL FOOTPRINT 103:50 – THE BIG INSURERS: ARE THEY TOO BIG TO FAIL?   ***** DISCLAIMER: Merge Medical and the podcast hosts are providing this content for informational and entertainment purposes only and are not broker dealers or registered investment advisors. We are not providing investment or legal advice.

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  VITEL HEALTH: Deep Dive Podcast

  VITEL HEALTH: Deep Dive Podcast

  S02 E28

  01:13:36

  Healthcare has been criticized for its slow adoption of advanced technology, and independent doctors can lag even further behind the curve due to the reasonable fear of the financial, security, and administrative risks associated with implementing new and unproven technologies such as AI, digital therapeutics, and remote vital sign monitoring. The healthcare technology landscape is littered with vendors who don’t always have the physician or patient best-interest in mind. “10 in 10” or quick-hitting version of our video podcast. Drs Jeff Brown and Jeff Cole interview Dr. Brittany Busse, Co-Founder of ViTel Health. ViTel Health is a technology platform-as-a-service company that is empowering physicians to thrive in independent practice by creating and vetting technology solutions that are proven to improve the lives of physicians and the patients they in their care. ViTel Health was founded by Dr. Brittany Busse and Doug Sumaraga in 2021 with the mission “Happy Physicians, Healthy Patients.” Our current “sick care” system has taken the autonomy of physicians, left us burned out, and has decimated the care of patients. ViTel Health is using technology to turn the sick care system to healthcare system and partnering physicians with health coaches who can offer consistent support to patients struggling with chronic disease. It’s more than Remote Physiologic Monitoring, it’s Tech Enabled Health Coaching, and it gets results. Patients are healthier, staying out of the hospital, and physician practices are thriving with the extra revenue combined with limited administrative work. ViTel Health has created a simple vertically-integrated solutions that handles all of the compliance, hiring, documentation, and billing associated with this billable service, empowering doctors to take better care of patients and earn extra revenue. Beyond cutting edge RPM/CCM services, ViTel Health and the ViTel Health Physician Services Cooperative are committed to empowering the return of the independent physician practice in the US. Our services include an affordable and flexible EHR, cost effective credentialing/contracting, revenue cycle management, malpractice, legal advice, and more. ***** Would this bring value to you, your family or your medical practice? Investable merits of this company? Let’s discuss in the forum. If you are a physician or healthcare professional with an NPI number, you can register for our private forum to join the discussion. Sign up today! https://mergemedical.community.forum/ ***** DISCLAIMER: Merge Medical and the podcast hosts are providing this content for informational and entertainment purposes only and are not broker dealers or registered investment advisors. We are not providing investment or legal advice. We will bring awareness to interesting projects and companies and then leave further discussion of the clinical and/or investable merits of these companies up to free discussion within the forum. Additionally, podcast participants (including the hosts) and Merge Medical forum members may or may not have a financial interest within the companies being interviewed or featured.