Best David J. Smolar Podcasts (2025)

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Quality Talks With Peggy O'Kane: The Enthusiasm to Engineer a New Kind of Care 29:44

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6d ago29:44

29:44

In this episode of Quality Talks with Peggy O’Kane, Peggy welcomes Anna Taylor, Associate Vice President for Population Health and Value-Based Care at MultiCare Connected Care in Tacoma, Washington. From the outset, Peggy is captivated by Anna’s clarity, conviction and optimism. Anna doesn’t just understand the technical challenges of digital trans…

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AI’s Place in a Quality World 20:26

18d ago20:26

20:26

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Josh Wymer, Chief Health Information and Data Strategy Officer for the State of Missouri Health Data Consortium. Together, they explore how Missouri is building a smarter health care system that uses AI not just to automate care, but to elevate it. Drawing on Josh’s experience in c…

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Quality Talks With Peggy O'Kane: The Next Five Years in Health Care: Optimism and Opportunity 32:02

27d ago32:02

32:02

In this episode of Quality Talks With Peggy O’Kane, NCQA President Peggy O’Kane speaks with primary care and health IT veteran Dr. Marc Overhage. Marc notes that many of health care’s challenges are design problems—and design problems can be solved. The conversation highlights trailblazing models like hospital-at-home and the need for better data a…

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What the Quest for Data Quality is Really About 17:19

1M ago17:19

17:19

In this episode of Quality Matters, health IT veteran and standards-editor John D’Amore joins host Andy Reynolds to unpack the deeper purpose behind the push to improve data quality. Drawing on decades of experience, from startups and academic research to national standards and consulting, John explains why the real goal isn’t just clean data or se…

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Quality Talks with Peggy O'Kane: Primary Care, Medicare and a New Vision of Accountability 35:37

2M ago35:37

35:37

In this episode of Quality Talks, NCQA President Peggy O’Kane speaks with Dr. Farzad Mostashari, Co-founder and CEO of Aledade. Farzad brings decades of experience in health IT, policy and primary care transformation to a candid and energizing conversation about what’s holding back US health care and how we can move it forward. Farzad and Peggy exp…

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CQL and FHIR: Myths, Misunderstandings and More 20:03

2M ago20:03

20:03

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds welcomes Bryn Rhodes and Rob Reynolds of Smile Digital Health to unravel two foundational, yet widely misunderstood, technologies in health care: Clinical Quality Language (CQL) and Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR). With decades of leadership in health care standards, Bryn and …

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Quality Talks with Peggy O'Kane: Better Care Depends on Aligning Incentives 24:06

2M ago24:06

24:06

In this episode of Quality Talks With Peggy O’Kane, NCQA President Peggy O’Kane speaks with Susan Dentzer, President and CEO of America's Physician Groups. Susan brings her extensive experience in health policy to a rich discussion on the evolution, strengths and future of value-based care, particularly within Medicare Advantage. Susan explains mod…

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The CGM Era: A New Approach to Diabetes Care 20:31

3M ago20:31

20:31

In this episode of Quality Matters, Dr. Richard Bergenstal, Executive Director of the International Diabetes Center, joins host Andy Reynolds to explore the evolving landscape of diabetes care—from the legacy of A1C to the promise of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Rich shares lessons from decades of clinical leadership, research and quality i…

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Quality Talks With Peggy' O'Kane: 'Systemness' is the Key to Better Quality 30:50

3M ago30:50

30:50

In this episode of Quality Talks With Peggy O’Kane, NCQA President Peggy O’Kane has an energizing, constructive conversation with Dr. Will Shrank, a Venture Partner at Andreessen Horowitz. Will shares his vision for a more cohesive health care system that works based on aligned incentives, meaningful measurement of patient outcomes and savvy implem…

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A New Approach to an Old Problem: Tobacco 18:41

3M ago18:41

18:41

In this episode of Quality Matters, Jules Reich, NCQA Senior Health Care Analyst in Population Health, and Grace Glennon, NCQA Director of Digital Quality Informatics, join host Andy Reynolds to discuss the latest tool in the long crusade against tobacco use: NCQA’s new HEDIS measure, Tobacco Use Screening and Cessation Intervention (TSC-E). This m…

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Getting to the Root of Two Popular Behavioral Health Ideas 20:24

4M ago20:24

20:24

In this episode of Quality Matters, Julie Seibert, Assistant Vice President of Behavioral Health at NCQA, joins host Andy Reynolds to explore the rise of—and the relationship between—two trends in behavioral health: measurement-informed care and peer support. Julie breaks down how these strategies improve outcomes, engage patients and close gaps in…

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Quality Talks With Peggy O'Kane: The Hidden Harms of 'Doing More': A Cardiologist's Perspective 29:21

4M ago29:21

29:21

In this episode of Quality Talks With Peggy O’Kane, NCQA President Peggy O'Kane sits down with Dr. Rita Redberg, a cardiology pioneer and fierce advocate for evidence-based care. Dr. Redberg, who famously served as Editor-in-Chief of JAMA Internal Medicine for 14 years, shares her "Less is More" philosophy — a perspective that challenges the view t…

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Reimagining Respiration: The Quest for Better Asthma Care 22:47

4M ago22:47

22:47

In this episode of Quality Matters, Tonya Winders, President and CEO of the Global Allergy and Airways Patient Platform (GAAPP), joins host Andy Reynolds to unpack the diagnosis and care gaps that plague asthma treatment—from delayed access to spirometry, to underuse of biologics. Tonya explains what high-quality, patient-centered asthma care requi…

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Quality Talks with Peggy O'Kane: What Must Change for Care to Be Better 30:23

4M ago30:23

30:23

In this debut episode of Quality Talks With Peggy O’Kane, Founder and President of NCQA, Peggy is joined by Dr. Sachin Jain, CEO of SCAN Group and SCAN Health Plan, to explore a provocative question: Why isn’t health care better at getting better? Measuring—Not Missing—What Matters: Anxieties about access and affordability plague everyday people. B…

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Introducing: Quality Talks with Peggy O'Kane 1:21

5M ago1:21

1:21

Why isn't health care better at getting better? Join Peggy O'Kane, founder and outgoing president of NCQA, as Quality Talks tackles this critical question. This engaging, limited-series podcast brings together health care's most innovative thinkers and doers to explore powerful ideas and real solutions needed to transform care. If you're ready to r…

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Trump and the Digital Quality Transformation 21:24

5M ago21:24

21:24

In the second episode of our special series on recommendations to the Trump administration, Quality Matters host Andy Reynolds welcomes Ryan Howells, Principal at Leavitt Partners, for an illuminating discussion on transforming digital quality and data exchange.. Ryan shares fresh ideas from the Leavitt Partners roadmap to reshape digital health in…

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The Next Four Years of Quality: What Trump’s Team Should Do Now 19:58

5M ago19:58

19:58

One-hundred days into the second Trump administration, Quality Matters host Andy Reynolds welcomes Eric Musser, Vice President of Federal Affairs at NCQA, for an insightful discussion about NCQA’s recommendations to the Trump administration for improving health care quality. Eric shares ideas to shape a strong quality future for value-based care, d…

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What Have We Learned About Health Care Economics? 19:52

6M ago19:52

19:52

In this special edition of Quality Matters, we explore what three powerful conversations have taught us about one of health care’s most pressing and perplexing questions: What do we know about the economics of care in America, and how can we make substantial, sustainable improvements? We look back at previous episodes of Quality Matters to reflect.…

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Sneak Preview: Health Quality Forum 2025 19:51

6M ago19:51

19:51

In this episode, we sit down with NCQA leaders Stacy Grundy, Rachel Harrington and Kristine Toppe for a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming Health Quality Forum 2025, and a discussion about the complexities and possibilities of modern health care, with a focus on data sharing and strategies to address health inequities. Learn about data-driven c…

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Chronic Kidney Disease is a Quality Priority 19:00

6M ago19:00

19:00

Why does a potentially deadly condition that affects 1 in 7 adults fly under the radar, undetected and undiscussed? Join us on this episode of Quality Matters as we explore Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD), a silent killer that’s finally coming into the limelight of quality improvement. Our conversation begins with Dr. Ben Oldfield, a primary care phys…

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Digital Quality Transformation Made Simple 22:17

7M ago22:17

22:17

Continuing the last Quality Matters episode, host Andy Reynolds and NCQA Chief Technology Officer, Ed Yurcisin, break down the complexities of the digital transformation in health care quality and explore the importance of high-quality data exchange, particularly in the context of HEDIS reporting and the FHIR interoperability standard. Ed explains …

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Decoding Digital Transformation 17:38

7M ago17:38

17:38

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Ed Yurcisin, Chief Technology Officer at NCQA, to break down the complexities of digital transformation in health care quality. Ed explains how NCQA’s push for digital measurement cuts through inefficiencies and inconsistencies in assessing quality. Traditionally, HEDIS® quality me…

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Bundles 101: An Education in Value-Based Care 16:13

8M ago16:13

16:13

On this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Brittany Cunningham, Vice President of Episodes of Care and Population Health at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, to discuss how value-based care is reshaping health care through MyHealth Bundles. By packaging treatments into predictable, all-inclusive bundles, employers save …

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Quality’s AI Future is Now 19:51

8M ago19:51

19:51

In this engaging episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Aaron Neinstein, Chief Medical Officer at Notable, to explore how AI is reshaping health care. It’s not all robotic efficiency and cold algorithms. Aaron shares how AI takes over repetitive and data-heavy tasks so doctors can focus on their patients. Imagine spending less …

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Unlocking Value in US Health Care 19:35

9M ago19:35

19:35

This week on Quality Matters, we dive into a complex discussion on the often perplexing landscape of the health care economy with guest Sanjula Jain, Chief Research Officer at Trilliant Health. This isn’t your standard health policy chat; it’s a bold exploration of how costs, value, and quality intersect—and often misalign—in America’s health care …

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Equity Means Everybody 13:27

9M ago13:27

13:27

On this episode of Quality Matters, we highlight a thought-provoking panel from the NCQA Health Innovation Summit, featuring experts Dr. Bryan Buckley, Tosan Boyo, Dr. LaShawn McIver, Camille Burnet and Daniel Dawes. The conversation cuts through labels and buzzwords to remind listeners that equity is about giving everyone an opportunity to be as h…

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Getting Clear About Behavioral Health 19:18

10M ago19:18

19:18

In this episode of Quality Matters, we dive into the complexities of behavioral health care with Julie Seibert, Assistant Vice President of Behavioral Health at NCQA, and Tom Tsang, founding CEO and Chief Strategy Officer at Valera Health. Together, they explore the interconnected challenges of access, quality and payment in behavioral health, emph…

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Nine Insights Into Interoperability 16:24

10M ago16:24

16:24

This episode of Quality Matters features highlights from the NCQA Health Innovation Summit panel discussion on data interoperability, held on November 1st in Nashville. Moderated by Arcadia’s Aneesh Chopra, the panel explored how to make health data accessible and usable for improving patient care. Panelists (Laura McCrary of KONZA, Dr. Marc Overha…

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Hospital President: Health Equity Verifies Quality 20:17

11M ago20:17

20:17

n this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds sits down with Tosan Boyo, President of Sutter Health East Bay Market, to discuss his inspiring journey from Nigerian immigrant to leading a major health care institution. Boyo shares how his early experiences as a patient in a safety-net hospital shaped his commitment to health equity and conti…

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Women In Quality 15:24

12M ago15:24

15:24

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds previews the upcoming Women in Quality panel at NCQA’s Health Innovation Summit. He speaks with Vanessa Guzman, CEO of SmartRise Health and Ella Es Health, who will moderate the panel. Vanessa shares her insights on empowering women in quality by cultivating self-awareness, fostering connection…

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A Win for Value-Based Care in OB-GYN 15:47

12M ago15:47

15:47

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds is joined by Dr. Tiffany Inglis, National Medical Director for Women’s and Children’s Health at Carelon Health, to explore the Elevance Health Obstetrics Practice Consultants program. A winner of an NCQA Health Innovation Award, the Elevance Health program breaks new ground by bringing value-ba…

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When Exchanging (and Trusting) Data Grows Up 17:40

1y ago17:40

17:40

On this episode of Quality Matters, we explore the growing importance of Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) and Qualified Health Information Networks (QHINs) with Laura McCrary, President and CEO of KONZA National Network. Laura discusses the pivotal role these systems play in quality care, enabling the secure and efficient sharing of medical reco…

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The New Rules of Data Sharing 14:47

1y ago14:47

14:47

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds delves into the transformative impact of the Trusted Exchange Framework and Common Agreement (TEFCA) on health care data interoperability. Joined by Amol Vyas, NCQA Vice President of Interoperability, and Eric Musser, Vice President of Federal Affairs, the discussion uncovers how TEFCA is resha…

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The Move to Digital Quality Measurement 23:11

1y ago23:11

23:11

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds sits down with Rebecca Jacobson, CEO of Astrata, to explore the challenges and opportunities in transitioning to digital quality measurement in health care. Rebecca offers an in-depth look at the sociotechnical shifts required for this evolution, sharing practical strategies to help organizatio…

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The US Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health 18:05

1y ago18:05

18:05

In this episode of Quality Matters, host Andy Reynolds discusses the U.S. Playbook to Address Social Determinants of Health with its lead author, Dr. Sandra Elizabeth Ford. Dr. Ford, a pediatrician and public health advocate with extensive experience at both local and federal levels, highlights the necessity of looking beyond clinical care to facto…

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Sex, Gender, Lawyers, and the Law 17:35

1y ago17:35

17:35

On this episode of “Quality Matters” with host Andy Reynolds, we explore the vital role of Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) data in healthcare. Our expert guests, Kellan Baker, Executive Director of the Whitman-Walker Institute, and Dr. Carl Streed, a primary care physician at Boston University, share why SOGI data are essential for de…

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You Can’t Spell “Equity” Without “IT” 18:43

1y ago18:43

18:43

In the first episode of a two-part series titled, 'In Data We Trust,' host Andy Reynolds and Tam Ward, Senior Vice President of Business Strategy and Operations at Oscar Health, discuss the intersection of technology and health care to improve care equity, especially in underserved communities. Focusing on initiatives by Oscar Health, Tam highlight…

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One State’s Billion-Dollar Bet on Better Behavioral Healthcare 24:00

1+ y ago24:00

24:00

Join us for an insightful conversation with North Carolina Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kody Kinsley, as he shares how growing up without health insurance influences his drive to improve health care access and affordability in his home state. Discover the transformative impact of the state’s recent Medicaid expansion and substantial inve…

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An Unconventional Approach to Health Equity 27:17

1+ y ago27:17

27:17

University of Chicago professor and Doctor, Marshall Chin, joins us on Quality Matters to revolutionize medical training with his unique blend of improv and stand-up comedy. Discover how these innovative techniques equip medical students with the skills to care for diverse patients and engage in vital discussions about systemic racism and social pr…

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Welcome to Quality Matters! 1:21

1+ y ago1:21

1:21

Welcome to "Quality Matters," the podcast where we unpack the complexities of modern healthcare to shape a brighter future. Join us as we delve into the dynamic world of healthcare quality and innovation, exploring topics such as digital transformation, health equity, and quality standards. Each episode brings together thought leaders, industry exp…

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Inside Health Care #125: The Digital Drive from Sick Care to Value-Based Care 34:15

1+ y ago34:15

34:15

In this episode, we highlight two companies that leverage data from many different sources to create a more complete picture of a person’s health. The ultimate goal? Shifting away from the current model of “sick care” - where patients primarily see their doctors when they aren’t feeling well – to care models that prioritize long-term health and sel…

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Inside Health Care #124: Targeting Health Equity Gaps with Digital Tools 23:49

1+ y ago23:49

23:49

The course of the Digitalization of Health doesn’t always run smooth. But for every set of pain points a provider might experience, there are companies developing technological solutions – platforms and tools – that not only guide us through digital transformation but identify crucial patient and population data along the way. In this episode, we t…

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Inside Health Care #123: Health Equity & Making the Commitment to Change 51:59

1+ y ago51:59

51:59

This episode of “Inside Health Care: a Podcast by NCQA” features three interviews recorded live at our Health Innovation Summit in October 2023. Among many panels and presentations was an incredible session titled “Health Equity Trailblazers: Where Vision Meets Commitment.” Health equity leaders discussed their organizations’ health equity strategi…

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Inside Health Care #122: Teaching Medical Residents to Follow a Value-Based Model of Care 32:30

1+ y ago32:30

32:30

In this Inside Health Care interview, we explore GME — graduate medical education — and explore a few fundamental questions. How can we make sure today’s medical residents are paying attention to their patients? How do we teach residents to ask the right questions? And even more fundamentally, how do we make sure that the next generation of clinici…

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Inside Health Care #121: Peggy O'Kane and Driving Digital Transformation in 2024 30:02

2y ago30:02

30:02

We close 2023 with our annual year-end State of Health Care interview with NCQA President Peggy O’Kane. In this interview, Peggy talks with Vice President for Public Policy and External Relations, Frank Micciche, about NCQA’s progress in 2023—both in improving equitable access to health care and implementing digital transformation across the ecosys…

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Inside Health Care #120: Bringing PCMH Back Home and Digging into Supplemental Data 56:01

2y ago56:01

56:01

In this episode of our “Inside Health Care” podcast, we hear two interviews that each demonstrate how close we are to solving the challenges of health disparities and digital transformation. Our first interview finds a real-life, “Last Mile” solution that will bring historically under-served populations to the health care services they need and des…

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Inside Health Care #119: Bringing Alcohol Screening to the PCPs & Coordinated Care through CBOs 1:00:41

2y ago1:00:41

1:00:41

In this episode of Inside Health Care, we present two interviews that each ask really basic, yet complex, questions about health care. The first question: Why are patient alcohol and substance use issues so often overlooked in primary care? This interview will not only answer that question: it will point patients and providers in the right directio…

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Inside Health Care #118: Collaboration Is the Key to Interoperability and Equity for All 47:02

2y ago47:02

47:02

In this episode, we explore a much-discussed Inside Health Care topic: interoperability. Within the process of health care digitalization, interoperability deals with the multi-lane, multi-directional transfer of electronic health records, or EHRs. But more and more, in that transfer process, companies discover data they hadn’t considered using, da…

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Inside Health Care #117: Live from NCQA's Second Health Innovation Summit 24:16

2y ago24:16

24:16

In this episode, we hear clips from four interviews recorded live at NCQA’s 2nd annual Health Innovation Summit. Parker Holcomb is Chief AI Engineer at Elevance Health. At NCQA’s 2023 Health Innovation Summit, he participated in a session titled “Building Trust in Clinical Data for Value-Based Care”. Parker stands at the forefront of data quality, …

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Inside Health Care #116: Fighting Structural Racism and Promoting Virtual Care 56:44

2y ago56:44

56:44

In this episode of “Inside Health Care,” we meet two guests, in two interviews. Our first guest advocates for birth, racial and gender equity, driven by her own distressing experiences as a patient. Our second guest developed effective ways to implement virtual care on a large scale to improve equity and representation for rural communities. Sinsi …