1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,000 Hello, everyone. This is Jacob Emerson with the 2 00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:03,859 Becker's Pay Your Issues podcast. 3 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,399 Thrilled today to be joined by Brendan Harris, 4 00:00:06,399 --> 00:00:08,960 who is the Medicaid president at UPMC Health 5 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:10,880 Plan. Brendan, thanks so much for taking the 6 00:00:10,880 --> 00:00:12,559 time to be with me on the podcast 7 00:00:12,559 --> 00:00:14,414 today. Jacob, it's great to be here, and, 8 00:00:14,574 --> 00:00:16,335 thanks for the opportunity to come and and 9 00:00:16,335 --> 00:00:17,774 talk about, some of the work that we're 10 00:00:17,774 --> 00:00:19,934 doing. Absolutely. We we we're we love having 11 00:00:19,934 --> 00:00:21,315 you on the podcast with us, Brandon. 12 00:00:22,255 --> 00:00:23,855 Before we dive into everything we wanna talk 13 00:00:23,855 --> 00:00:25,214 with you about, all the good stuff that's 14 00:00:25,214 --> 00:00:27,074 happening under your leadership at UPMC, 15 00:00:27,559 --> 00:00:29,000 Can you tell us a little bit more 16 00:00:29,000 --> 00:00:30,599 about yourself for our audience who might not 17 00:00:30,599 --> 00:00:33,179 be familiar, your background in health care, and 18 00:00:33,239 --> 00:00:34,600 the part of the company that you now 19 00:00:34,600 --> 00:00:35,500 lead today? 20 00:00:35,879 --> 00:00:37,399 Great. Great. I'll start with a little bit 21 00:00:37,399 --> 00:00:39,479 of my background and then can lead into 22 00:00:39,479 --> 00:00:41,640 some of, the the, you know, kind of 23 00:00:41,640 --> 00:00:43,855 what I have to to manage today. But, 24 00:00:44,094 --> 00:00:46,414 I actually, prior to joining UPMC, I've been 25 00:00:46,414 --> 00:00:48,115 here a little under eight years. 26 00:00:48,575 --> 00:00:50,575 I, I I was a I'd like to 27 00:00:50,575 --> 00:00:52,734 call myself a reformed bureaucrat now, but I 28 00:00:52,734 --> 00:00:55,054 spent twelve years at the Pennsylvania Department of 29 00:00:55,054 --> 00:00:57,570 Human Services working in a variety of roles, 30 00:00:58,109 --> 00:01:00,609 you know, really supporting the Medicaid program predominantly 31 00:01:00,750 --> 00:01:01,250 across, 32 00:01:02,030 --> 00:01:03,950 all the different, elements that we have in 33 00:01:03,950 --> 00:01:07,010 Pennsylvania. And since coming to UPMC, I've kinda, 34 00:01:07,390 --> 00:01:09,090 taken an interesting, trajectory, 35 00:01:10,314 --> 00:01:13,114 across the board here starting with, you know, 36 00:01:13,114 --> 00:01:15,594 running our MLTSS program, our managed long term 37 00:01:15,594 --> 00:01:16,974 services and support program, 38 00:01:17,435 --> 00:01:19,614 known here in Pennsylvania as Community Health Choices. 39 00:01:19,994 --> 00:01:22,254 But now I also have responsibility, 40 00:01:23,079 --> 00:01:25,799 over most of our Medicaid portfolio, which, not 41 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:27,099 only includes our MLTSS, 42 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:30,299 but also our physical health Medicaid plan, 43 00:01:31,000 --> 00:01:33,319 our CHIP program. And then one of the 44 00:01:33,319 --> 00:01:35,079 the my favorite parts of the work that 45 00:01:35,079 --> 00:01:36,375 I get to do and what I'm gonna 46 00:01:36,375 --> 00:01:38,614 talk a little bit about is our, Center 47 00:01:38,614 --> 00:01:39,594 for Social Impact, 48 00:01:40,054 --> 00:01:42,155 which is really leading the charge, 49 00:01:42,614 --> 00:01:44,715 across, the UPMC world 50 00:01:45,015 --> 00:01:47,575 in looking at health related social needs and 51 00:01:47,575 --> 00:01:49,890 social determinants of health and how we can 52 00:01:50,049 --> 00:01:52,129 really meet people where they are and support 53 00:01:52,129 --> 00:01:52,930 them through, 54 00:01:53,329 --> 00:01:55,250 some of the unique programs that we've developed 55 00:01:55,250 --> 00:01:55,989 through the years. 56 00:01:56,530 --> 00:01:58,129 Sure. Yeah. And let's dive right into that, 57 00:01:58,129 --> 00:02:00,209 Brandon, because we were talking with some other 58 00:02:00,209 --> 00:02:01,829 leaders at UPMC recently 59 00:02:02,325 --> 00:02:04,965 about what the center is doing, specifically about 60 00:02:04,965 --> 00:02:07,444 the Pathways to Work program, which for our 61 00:02:07,444 --> 00:02:08,745 audience who might not know, 62 00:02:09,125 --> 00:02:11,305 UPMC's Pathway to Work program provides 63 00:02:11,764 --> 00:02:15,044 job skills training to Medicaid recipients so that 64 00:02:15,044 --> 00:02:16,584 they can, find a career. 65 00:02:17,189 --> 00:02:20,150 They can get health benefits and and access 66 00:02:20,150 --> 00:02:21,610 to tuition assistance. 67 00:02:22,790 --> 00:02:25,030 So what's the latest with that, Brendan? How 68 00:02:25,030 --> 00:02:27,210 is the program going? Any latest, 69 00:02:27,909 --> 00:02:30,010 stories, stats to share with us? 70 00:02:30,469 --> 00:02:32,625 Oh, absolutely. I mean, this is this is 71 00:02:32,625 --> 00:02:34,385 one of my favorite programs that we've had, 72 00:02:34,625 --> 00:02:37,125 the opportunity to develop, and it's it's really 73 00:02:37,665 --> 00:02:39,425 it's taken on a life of its own, 74 00:02:39,824 --> 00:02:42,064 and really just been an incredible model when 75 00:02:42,064 --> 00:02:43,665 we look at it. So one of the 76 00:02:43,665 --> 00:02:46,300 big things, and I'll I'll I'll rewind us 77 00:02:46,300 --> 00:02:48,460 to about five year or so years ago 78 00:02:48,460 --> 00:02:50,240 when we really started this program. 79 00:02:50,540 --> 00:02:52,159 One of the big things is, 80 00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:54,780 that's unique about UPMC is we're actually the 81 00:02:54,780 --> 00:02:57,760 largest nongovernment employer in the state of Pennsylvania. 82 00:02:58,305 --> 00:02:58,805 So, 83 00:02:59,264 --> 00:03:00,385 you know, we have, 84 00:03:00,784 --> 00:03:03,824 over 40 hospitals, doctors' offices, you name it, 85 00:03:03,824 --> 00:03:06,245 let alone the health plan that we run. 86 00:03:06,385 --> 00:03:07,985 And and one of the big challenges that 87 00:03:07,985 --> 00:03:09,585 we struggle with, and we're not alone in 88 00:03:09,585 --> 00:03:11,669 this across the country, is is our workforce 89 00:03:12,150 --> 00:03:14,550 and finding people to fill jobs at all 90 00:03:14,550 --> 00:03:16,250 levels within the organization. 91 00:03:16,550 --> 00:03:18,629 And and we really do an incredible job 92 00:03:18,629 --> 00:03:21,289 doing that, with over a 100,000 employees, 93 00:03:21,750 --> 00:03:24,469 but we also have a significant number of 94 00:03:24,469 --> 00:03:26,324 job openings on any given day. 95 00:03:26,884 --> 00:03:29,384 Thousands upon thousands of jobs available across, 96 00:03:29,764 --> 00:03:31,784 our footprint in Pennsylvania here. 97 00:03:32,324 --> 00:03:34,004 And, you know, one of the the unique 98 00:03:34,004 --> 00:03:36,564 things is, you know, that we decided at 99 00:03:36,564 --> 00:03:38,340 the time about five years ago was 100 00:03:38,819 --> 00:03:40,419 what can we do? What more can we 101 00:03:40,419 --> 00:03:42,759 do? Are there some nontraditional 102 00:03:43,139 --> 00:03:45,139 ways that we can look to develop the 103 00:03:45,139 --> 00:03:45,639 workforce? 104 00:03:46,099 --> 00:03:48,360 And that really, led us to a partnership 105 00:03:48,580 --> 00:03:50,759 with, you know, our local workforce, 106 00:03:51,219 --> 00:03:54,014 investment board here in Allegheny County outside in 107 00:03:54,254 --> 00:03:55,155 that's, Pittsburgh, 108 00:03:55,775 --> 00:03:56,675 here in Pennsylvania, 109 00:03:57,455 --> 00:03:59,375 and and really approach them about, you know, 110 00:03:59,375 --> 00:04:01,455 what can we do to maybe look at 111 00:04:01,455 --> 00:04:04,014 the folks that are on our Medicaid program 112 00:04:04,014 --> 00:04:06,254 and enrolled with us to receive benefits for 113 00:04:06,254 --> 00:04:06,754 Medicaid, 114 00:04:07,069 --> 00:04:08,909 and maybe look at how we can support 115 00:04:08,909 --> 00:04:10,610 them and give them an opportunity 116 00:04:11,310 --> 00:04:14,050 to really find gainful employment with us. 117 00:04:15,069 --> 00:04:17,790 And it it really kinda took off. 118 00:04:18,110 --> 00:04:20,050 It started off as a unique conversation. 119 00:04:20,964 --> 00:04:23,125 We got into some disability employment as part 120 00:04:23,125 --> 00:04:24,024 of it as well, 121 00:04:24,324 --> 00:04:26,884 and and we really just, you know, crossed 122 00:04:26,884 --> 00:04:29,705 the an incredible threshold with over 10,000 123 00:04:29,764 --> 00:04:30,264 individuals, 124 00:04:31,605 --> 00:04:33,625 have left our Medicaid program 125 00:04:34,165 --> 00:04:35,305 and joined UPMC's 126 00:04:35,685 --> 00:04:36,185 workforce, 127 00:04:37,100 --> 00:04:38,960 in either full or part time positions. 128 00:04:39,899 --> 00:04:41,580 And and, you know, that's really just an 129 00:04:41,580 --> 00:04:43,740 incredible milestone, especially in light of all the 130 00:04:43,740 --> 00:04:46,080 conversations about employment with Medicaid today. 131 00:04:47,020 --> 00:04:49,980 Right now, we're hiring more than 200 people 132 00:04:49,980 --> 00:04:50,560 a month, 133 00:04:51,154 --> 00:04:53,714 from our own Medicaid plan. Now it seems 134 00:04:53,714 --> 00:04:55,954 like, you know, we're, you know, hurting ourselves, 135 00:04:55,954 --> 00:04:58,134 but in the end, we're giving these individuals, 136 00:04:59,875 --> 00:05:02,454 skills and and jobs that match their skills, 137 00:05:02,995 --> 00:05:04,535 that they may have or 138 00:05:04,849 --> 00:05:07,329 getting them plugged into programs that actually develop 139 00:05:07,329 --> 00:05:07,829 skills, 140 00:05:08,209 --> 00:05:09,669 and then getting them into 141 00:05:10,209 --> 00:05:12,789 family and life sustaining jobs here at UPMC. 142 00:05:13,329 --> 00:05:15,329 And it's really just been an incredible thing, 143 00:05:15,329 --> 00:05:17,889 and, you know, we see this as as 144 00:05:17,889 --> 00:05:19,189 part of our core mission 145 00:05:19,664 --> 00:05:20,485 across Pennsylvania, 146 00:05:21,024 --> 00:05:23,425 and and it's really just an incredible opportunity 147 00:05:23,425 --> 00:05:25,604 that we've seen so much success with this. 148 00:05:25,745 --> 00:05:27,264 And one of the big things is, you 149 00:05:27,264 --> 00:05:29,425 know, when these folks come to us, we're 150 00:05:29,425 --> 00:05:32,245 paying significantly higher than minimum wage, 151 00:05:32,784 --> 00:05:33,845 for these positions. 152 00:05:34,939 --> 00:05:36,459 And, you know, at the end of the 153 00:05:36,459 --> 00:05:39,259 day, they're getting access to all the benefits 154 00:05:39,259 --> 00:05:41,019 that, you know, all of us have as 155 00:05:41,019 --> 00:05:41,500 employees, 156 00:05:41,819 --> 00:05:44,699 which includes tuition reimbursement, other things like that. 157 00:05:44,699 --> 00:05:46,399 And we've some seen some incredible, 158 00:05:47,259 --> 00:05:50,295 you know, success stories of of individuals that 159 00:05:50,295 --> 00:05:51,435 started in the program 160 00:05:51,975 --> 00:05:54,455 and that continued on and that are now 161 00:05:54,455 --> 00:05:56,855 joining and going to medical school and nursing 162 00:05:56,855 --> 00:05:59,654 school and really kind of rejoining that that 163 00:05:59,654 --> 00:06:01,835 workforce and making a significant difference 164 00:06:02,300 --> 00:06:04,620 for the people that we serve having been 165 00:06:04,620 --> 00:06:05,900 some of the people that we serve. And 166 00:06:05,900 --> 00:06:07,839 it's really just been an incredible program, 167 00:06:09,020 --> 00:06:11,439 that we've been able to to to build 168 00:06:11,740 --> 00:06:14,720 and and really drive and promote self sufficiency 169 00:06:15,295 --> 00:06:17,214 across the region. And one of the great 170 00:06:17,214 --> 00:06:18,415 things that we've been able to do is 171 00:06:18,415 --> 00:06:20,814 it started here in Allegheny County, but we've 172 00:06:20,814 --> 00:06:23,555 expanded it to other parts of our footprint 173 00:06:24,014 --> 00:06:26,014 in the Northwestern part of the state in 174 00:06:26,014 --> 00:06:28,654 Erie, as well as in Central Pennsylvania outside 175 00:06:28,654 --> 00:06:29,314 of Harrisburg. 176 00:06:29,649 --> 00:06:31,410 And we're seeing some of the same success 177 00:06:31,410 --> 00:06:33,889 that we had here in those locations as 178 00:06:33,889 --> 00:06:35,750 well, and it's it's really just incredible, 179 00:06:36,849 --> 00:06:38,930 especially with, you know, as we understand the 180 00:06:38,930 --> 00:06:40,550 intersection of Medicaid and work, 181 00:06:41,329 --> 00:06:43,110 and and what that actually means. 182 00:06:43,995 --> 00:06:46,235 Wow. I mean, those really are some incredible 183 00:06:46,235 --> 00:06:48,314 numbers you just cited there, Brandon, in terms 184 00:06:48,314 --> 00:06:49,435 of 10,000 185 00:06:49,435 --> 00:06:52,714 people placed into career roles since this program 186 00:06:52,714 --> 00:06:55,754 started, 200 people a month being hired. It's 187 00:06:55,754 --> 00:06:56,495 really amazing. 188 00:06:57,529 --> 00:06:58,889 And I wanna ask you, you know, you 189 00:06:58,889 --> 00:07:01,850 you mentioned that this these are Medicaid members, 190 00:07:02,009 --> 00:07:04,250 where they where they're starting from. And, obviously, 191 00:07:04,250 --> 00:07:06,170 as you alluded to, there's so much going 192 00:07:06,170 --> 00:07:08,569 on right now with the Medicaid program more 193 00:07:08,569 --> 00:07:09,069 broadly, 194 00:07:09,529 --> 00:07:11,710 of course, work requirements coming down the pipeline 195 00:07:11,850 --> 00:07:12,350 nationally. 196 00:07:12,810 --> 00:07:15,725 So when you're thinking about this this program, 197 00:07:16,104 --> 00:07:18,925 why is UPMC Health Plan so passionate about 198 00:07:19,225 --> 00:07:21,725 removing some of these barriers that these individuals 199 00:07:22,024 --> 00:07:24,824 face? What what is really behind all of 200 00:07:24,824 --> 00:07:25,725 this for you? 201 00:07:26,379 --> 00:07:27,740 Well, I I mean, I think it's it's 202 00:07:27,740 --> 00:07:29,180 at the core of who we are. I 203 00:07:29,180 --> 00:07:29,920 mean, we're 204 00:07:30,300 --> 00:07:32,720 a a regional health plan here in Pennsylvania, 205 00:07:33,660 --> 00:07:34,160 and 206 00:07:34,540 --> 00:07:36,220 not only is our health plan business here 207 00:07:36,220 --> 00:07:39,199 in Pennsylvania for the most part, our hospitals, 208 00:07:39,685 --> 00:07:41,044 for the most part, other than a couple 209 00:07:41,044 --> 00:07:41,544 exceptions, 210 00:07:42,004 --> 00:07:44,884 are here in Pennsylvania, and we're embedded in 211 00:07:44,884 --> 00:07:46,805 these communities. We see it day in and 212 00:07:46,805 --> 00:07:48,485 day out. We see the impact that we 213 00:07:48,485 --> 00:07:48,985 have 214 00:07:49,444 --> 00:07:51,305 in those communities, and and, fundamentally, 215 00:07:52,790 --> 00:07:54,250 community is in our DNA, 216 00:07:54,629 --> 00:07:56,470 and that's really where we saw this. And 217 00:07:56,470 --> 00:07:58,389 we saw some of our community members that 218 00:07:58,389 --> 00:07:59,209 needed help, 219 00:07:59,829 --> 00:08:00,329 and, 220 00:08:00,790 --> 00:08:02,709 really, what we wanted to do was find 221 00:08:02,709 --> 00:08:04,389 a way to help them. And it it 222 00:08:04,389 --> 00:08:06,569 also helps our business as well. 223 00:08:07,125 --> 00:08:09,285 And, you know, so it really kinda checks 224 00:08:09,285 --> 00:08:11,685 a lot of the boxes for us as 225 00:08:11,685 --> 00:08:14,725 a nonprofit health plan, health system here in 226 00:08:14,725 --> 00:08:15,225 Pennsylvania 227 00:08:15,925 --> 00:08:17,845 to really do good and give back to 228 00:08:17,845 --> 00:08:19,259 those communities that we serve. 229 00:08:20,139 --> 00:08:21,660 Because at the end of the day, if 230 00:08:21,660 --> 00:08:24,620 those communities are thriving and being successful, so 231 00:08:24,620 --> 00:08:26,860 are we. And, you know, one of the 232 00:08:26,860 --> 00:08:28,220 other big things, and I'll I'll just throw 233 00:08:28,220 --> 00:08:29,580 this out there because they did come from 234 00:08:29,580 --> 00:08:31,759 their get their health care coverage from Medicaid. 235 00:08:31,980 --> 00:08:34,274 Now they get coverage through our commercial benefits, 236 00:08:34,915 --> 00:08:36,835 and that's been a big shift, for these 237 00:08:36,835 --> 00:08:38,995 folks as well in getting that access point 238 00:08:38,995 --> 00:08:39,495 too. 239 00:08:40,195 --> 00:08:42,195 No. That's absolutely amazing. And like I said, 240 00:08:42,195 --> 00:08:43,955 I we really appreciate you filling us in 241 00:08:43,955 --> 00:08:45,475 on on what the latest is with this 242 00:08:45,475 --> 00:08:47,495 program, some of the latest stats there, Brandon. 243 00:08:47,690 --> 00:08:50,509 I wanna shift focus to another community initiative, 244 00:08:51,129 --> 00:08:52,570 that I know is really at the center 245 00:08:52,570 --> 00:08:54,169 of of what the health plan is focused 246 00:08:54,169 --> 00:08:56,970 on right now. You've got new neighborhood centers 247 00:08:56,970 --> 00:08:59,769 in Pittsburgh and now Erie. The Erie Center, 248 00:08:59,769 --> 00:09:01,870 of course, opening just this past center. 249 00:09:03,174 --> 00:09:05,495 So talk to our listeners about this, what 250 00:09:05,495 --> 00:09:07,495 these centers are, how they position the health 251 00:09:07,495 --> 00:09:09,434 plan to really go beyond just 252 00:09:09,894 --> 00:09:12,214 actual health care and and, 253 00:09:12,615 --> 00:09:15,174 really deliver or or at least address some 254 00:09:15,174 --> 00:09:15,995 of those SDOH, 255 00:09:16,449 --> 00:09:17,970 that you mentioned at the start of our 256 00:09:17,970 --> 00:09:18,949 conversation today. 257 00:09:19,409 --> 00:09:21,570 Oh, absolutely. And and and I will say 258 00:09:21,570 --> 00:09:23,490 these are incredibly near and dear to my 259 00:09:23,490 --> 00:09:24,309 heart because 260 00:09:24,690 --> 00:09:26,230 I actually put a lot of, 261 00:09:27,009 --> 00:09:29,110 sweat equity, physical equity, 262 00:09:29,730 --> 00:09:32,444 and work into, setting up our first neighborhood 263 00:09:32,444 --> 00:09:34,284 center in the East End Of Pittsburgh. But, 264 00:09:34,284 --> 00:09:35,264 you know, these really 265 00:09:35,565 --> 00:09:36,784 truly embody 266 00:09:37,164 --> 00:09:39,745 a lot of what I just mentioned about 267 00:09:40,044 --> 00:09:41,424 our commitment to our communities. 268 00:09:41,884 --> 00:09:43,565 You know, one of the big challenges that 269 00:09:43,565 --> 00:09:44,225 we hear 270 00:09:44,684 --> 00:09:46,919 is, you know, we've got a lot of 271 00:09:46,919 --> 00:09:49,720 different community groups that are working within these 272 00:09:49,720 --> 00:09:52,700 communities to support our members and those communities 273 00:09:52,759 --> 00:09:54,519 as a whole. So one of the big 274 00:09:54,519 --> 00:09:56,519 things that, you know, we were presented with 275 00:09:56,519 --> 00:09:59,639 an incredible opportunity with this gigantic space in 276 00:09:59,639 --> 00:10:00,779 the East End Of Pittsburgh, 277 00:10:01,595 --> 00:10:02,975 more than a few years ago, 278 00:10:03,754 --> 00:10:05,194 and it was a blank slate. 279 00:10:05,754 --> 00:10:06,894 And it was 280 00:10:07,274 --> 00:10:09,514 what can we do with this? And knowing 281 00:10:09,514 --> 00:10:10,875 where we were in the East End Of 282 00:10:10,875 --> 00:10:13,274 Pittsburgh and some of the challenges that, some 283 00:10:13,274 --> 00:10:15,214 of the communities in the East End had, 284 00:10:15,459 --> 00:10:17,860 we kind of hatched this idea of meeting 285 00:10:17,860 --> 00:10:20,179 people where they are and meeting people in 286 00:10:20,179 --> 00:10:20,919 those communities. 287 00:10:21,379 --> 00:10:23,240 But not going with a top down approach, 288 00:10:23,299 --> 00:10:26,039 really going at it with a different approach, 289 00:10:26,980 --> 00:10:29,159 creating a platform in those communities, 290 00:10:29,625 --> 00:10:32,825 but then really making that platform adaptable to 291 00:10:32,825 --> 00:10:34,665 the needs of that community. And that and 292 00:10:34,665 --> 00:10:36,285 that's been one of the the the incredible 293 00:10:36,424 --> 00:10:36,924 successes 294 00:10:37,544 --> 00:10:39,544 that we've had, and and and it's rooted 295 00:10:39,544 --> 00:10:42,105 in the the concept of we're embedded there. 296 00:10:42,105 --> 00:10:44,389 We live in these communities too, and we 297 00:10:44,389 --> 00:10:46,070 wanna be able to kinda really find ways 298 00:10:46,070 --> 00:10:47,049 to support them. 299 00:10:47,509 --> 00:10:48,950 And we wanna be able to meet the 300 00:10:48,950 --> 00:10:50,950 people that we serve where they are. And 301 00:10:50,950 --> 00:10:53,990 that becomes incredibly important with all of the 302 00:10:53,990 --> 00:10:55,910 folks that we serve across all of our 303 00:10:55,910 --> 00:10:56,970 Medicaid programs, 304 00:10:57,445 --> 00:10:59,284 and and all our programs in general, really, 305 00:10:59,284 --> 00:11:01,125 when it comes down to it. We all 306 00:11:01,125 --> 00:11:02,404 live in neighborhoods at the end of the 307 00:11:02,404 --> 00:11:02,904 day. 308 00:11:03,605 --> 00:11:05,605 And, you know, really, what we wanted to 309 00:11:05,605 --> 00:11:08,024 be able to do was find, an opportunity. 310 00:11:08,084 --> 00:11:09,384 But too often, 311 00:11:09,860 --> 00:11:11,700 you know, groups can come in, and they 312 00:11:11,700 --> 00:11:14,519 think they know what that community needs. And 313 00:11:14,660 --> 00:11:16,580 we really wanted to flip that on its 314 00:11:16,580 --> 00:11:17,800 head a little bit because 315 00:11:18,500 --> 00:11:20,820 the community knows what they need. They know 316 00:11:20,820 --> 00:11:22,259 what they're seeing day in and day out 317 00:11:22,259 --> 00:11:23,860 and the people that are being served there. 318 00:11:23,860 --> 00:11:26,335 So, really, our goal was to go in 319 00:11:26,634 --> 00:11:27,855 and create a platform. 320 00:11:28,235 --> 00:11:30,475 And at that platform, we have access to 321 00:11:30,475 --> 00:11:32,315 a bunch of different things that we we 322 00:11:32,315 --> 00:11:32,815 provide 323 00:11:33,434 --> 00:11:35,195 at UPMC as a whole. So we have 324 00:11:35,195 --> 00:11:37,674 access to telehealth at that platform. If someone 325 00:11:37,674 --> 00:11:38,815 needs help or benefits, 326 00:11:39,470 --> 00:11:40,829 we can get them signed up when they 327 00:11:40,829 --> 00:11:42,909 walk in the door. If they're having trouble 328 00:11:42,909 --> 00:11:43,409 navigating 329 00:11:43,789 --> 00:11:45,870 how to find a doctor, where they can 330 00:11:45,870 --> 00:11:48,190 go to get help, we'll help navigate them. 331 00:11:48,190 --> 00:11:49,889 And we have community health workers, 332 00:11:50,909 --> 00:11:52,529 manning all of these facilities, 333 00:11:53,149 --> 00:11:55,485 to to really help them guide. And then 334 00:11:55,485 --> 00:11:57,965 we're also creating a platform for those various 335 00:11:57,965 --> 00:11:59,345 community groups. So 336 00:12:00,045 --> 00:12:02,684 creating, a place where you can go and 337 00:12:02,684 --> 00:12:04,304 you can get access to, 338 00:12:04,764 --> 00:12:07,024 food and nutrition and and healthy produce, 339 00:12:07,649 --> 00:12:10,709 and shelf stable foods there. But then also 340 00:12:10,769 --> 00:12:12,929 using the space that we have and some 341 00:12:12,929 --> 00:12:15,250 of that infrastructure to support community groups that 342 00:12:15,250 --> 00:12:17,649 are doing fantastic work, but they may not 343 00:12:17,649 --> 00:12:19,490 have the infrastructure to provide some of the 344 00:12:19,490 --> 00:12:21,490 things that they need. So, you know, be 345 00:12:21,490 --> 00:12:23,625 it trainings, be it groups, and and it's 346 00:12:23,625 --> 00:12:24,684 everything from, 347 00:12:25,304 --> 00:12:26,445 citizenship classes 348 00:12:26,825 --> 00:12:29,945 to, you know, employment and training programs. Some 349 00:12:29,945 --> 00:12:31,384 of what I talked about with partner for 350 00:12:31,384 --> 00:12:33,225 work, some of the training they do actually 351 00:12:33,225 --> 00:12:35,085 takes place at the neighborhood center. 352 00:12:36,120 --> 00:12:39,159 And, you know, really having that platform through 353 00:12:39,159 --> 00:12:41,659 that. And we've had over 200 354 00:12:41,879 --> 00:12:43,259 different community groups 355 00:12:43,639 --> 00:12:44,940 use the East End, 356 00:12:45,399 --> 00:12:48,345 neighborhood center since its inception and and creation. 357 00:12:48,804 --> 00:12:50,565 And, you know, one of the things that 358 00:12:50,565 --> 00:12:52,725 we decided was we wanted to take the 359 00:12:52,725 --> 00:12:55,524 show on the road. So Pittsburgh obviously is 360 00:12:55,524 --> 00:12:57,205 is near and dear to our heart, and 361 00:12:57,205 --> 00:12:59,524 and the name obviously being rooted in Pittsburgh, 362 00:12:59,764 --> 00:13:00,899 with mister Rogers. 363 00:13:01,379 --> 00:13:02,580 So we want it to be a good 364 00:13:02,580 --> 00:13:04,340 day in the neighborhood for those communities that 365 00:13:04,340 --> 00:13:06,180 we serve, and that's why we came up 366 00:13:06,180 --> 00:13:08,259 with the name of the neighborhood center. But, 367 00:13:08,259 --> 00:13:10,100 you know, really, we didn't wanna stop at 368 00:13:10,100 --> 00:13:11,779 just Pittsburgh. We wanted to take this to 369 00:13:11,779 --> 00:13:14,580 new locations, and, we we decided to go 370 00:13:14,580 --> 00:13:15,399 into Erie, 371 00:13:15,865 --> 00:13:17,325 and the East End Of Erie, 372 00:13:18,425 --> 00:13:19,725 and really find, 373 00:13:20,184 --> 00:13:22,504 a different way. So it's, the Erie Neighborhood 374 00:13:22,504 --> 00:13:24,345 Center, it's different than what we did in 375 00:13:24,345 --> 00:13:26,425 Pittsburgh, which is exactly the point. It's not 376 00:13:26,425 --> 00:13:28,470 going in with a a cookie cutter approach. 377 00:13:28,949 --> 00:13:31,429 It's going in creating that platform and then 378 00:13:31,429 --> 00:13:33,829 using it. And the East End Of Erie, 379 00:13:34,069 --> 00:13:36,470 has a lot of challenges. They've they've really 380 00:13:36,470 --> 00:13:36,970 struggled. 381 00:13:37,589 --> 00:13:38,730 It's a food desert. 382 00:13:39,110 --> 00:13:41,669 It's a childcare desert. There's a whole host 383 00:13:41,669 --> 00:13:43,370 of issues facing that neighborhood. 384 00:13:43,704 --> 00:13:46,745 And, really, we're going in to really develop 385 00:13:46,745 --> 00:13:49,945 and support that neighborhood in partnership with some 386 00:13:49,945 --> 00:13:51,485 of the things that we've been doing. 387 00:13:51,865 --> 00:13:53,404 So the UPMC Foundation, 388 00:13:53,865 --> 00:13:55,884 with, the UPMC Hammett Foundation, 389 00:13:56,620 --> 00:13:58,939 in Erie has been investing a lot in 390 00:13:58,939 --> 00:14:00,779 in in some of the locations in the 391 00:14:00,779 --> 00:14:02,699 East End, and this is really meant to 392 00:14:02,699 --> 00:14:03,679 supplement that. 393 00:14:04,139 --> 00:14:06,939 So we've got some really incredible partnerships there 394 00:14:06,939 --> 00:14:09,819 with, a Second Harvest, which is the food 395 00:14:09,819 --> 00:14:11,360 bank, in Erie, Pennsylvania. 396 00:14:11,774 --> 00:14:13,535 And what they've actually created is a one 397 00:14:13,535 --> 00:14:14,835 of a kind marketplace 398 00:14:15,375 --> 00:14:17,934 where people can go in and get access 399 00:14:17,934 --> 00:14:20,175 to healthy foods. They're not running to the 400 00:14:20,175 --> 00:14:22,495 convenience store than bodegas that are down the 401 00:14:22,495 --> 00:14:25,950 street. They're really getting access to healthy produce 402 00:14:25,950 --> 00:14:28,210 and food at the neighborhood center. 403 00:14:28,750 --> 00:14:30,929 It's it's really an incredible partnership, 404 00:14:31,389 --> 00:14:32,670 and it's like I said, it's a little 405 00:14:32,670 --> 00:14:33,790 bit different than what we have in the 406 00:14:33,790 --> 00:14:36,509 East End, but it's providing a lot of 407 00:14:36,509 --> 00:14:38,590 really good opportunities for that. And and we 408 00:14:38,590 --> 00:14:40,725 also have access to street medicine. We have 409 00:14:40,725 --> 00:14:43,285 access to a whole host of services that 410 00:14:43,285 --> 00:14:43,865 are there, 411 00:14:44,325 --> 00:14:46,884 and it's really meant to focus on what 412 00:14:46,884 --> 00:14:49,205 that neighborhood needs and what we can do 413 00:14:49,205 --> 00:14:51,205 to really support it. It's got a lot 414 00:14:51,205 --> 00:14:52,485 of the same things that we do in 415 00:14:52,485 --> 00:14:54,805 the East End, but we've really expanded it. 416 00:14:54,805 --> 00:14:56,089 And I will tell you, I I was 417 00:14:56,089 --> 00:14:58,089 doing a walk through before the the the 418 00:14:58,089 --> 00:15:00,009 grand opening, and we had people knocking on 419 00:15:00,009 --> 00:15:01,289 the door, and and we were able to 420 00:15:01,289 --> 00:15:02,970 get them help. We had a gentleman walk 421 00:15:02,970 --> 00:15:05,629 in, who was having trouble finding a doctor 422 00:15:05,690 --> 00:15:08,644 and a dentist. And, literally, we got on 423 00:15:08,644 --> 00:15:10,565 the phone with him, as I was standing 424 00:15:10,565 --> 00:15:12,404 there with the team, and we got him 425 00:15:12,404 --> 00:15:15,445 a, doctor's appointment, for a couple days later 426 00:15:15,445 --> 00:15:16,884 and found a dentist to get him in 427 00:15:16,884 --> 00:15:18,985 there too, which is exactly the point. It's 428 00:15:19,125 --> 00:15:21,304 it's meant to be that community resource 429 00:15:21,679 --> 00:15:24,079 to really support that community and really give 430 00:15:24,079 --> 00:15:26,399 back and find those creative solutions to best 431 00:15:26,399 --> 00:15:28,740 support the our our membership in those areas. 432 00:15:29,279 --> 00:15:31,360 Yeah. No. Absolutely. And I'm sure that feels 433 00:15:31,360 --> 00:15:32,959 really great for you and your team on 434 00:15:32,959 --> 00:15:35,315 a on a personal level being to be 435 00:15:35,315 --> 00:15:37,075 there on the ground and and see the 436 00:15:37,075 --> 00:15:38,535 impact you're making firsthand 437 00:15:38,995 --> 00:15:39,894 with your members. 438 00:15:40,675 --> 00:15:43,875 Absolutely. Absolutely. And and and it really I 439 00:15:43,875 --> 00:15:45,315 I think it it was it was great 440 00:15:45,315 --> 00:15:46,700 for me because I don't always get to 441 00:15:46,700 --> 00:15:48,139 see all the folks that we serve on 442 00:15:48,139 --> 00:15:49,820 a regular basis, and I and I love 443 00:15:49,820 --> 00:15:51,679 to meet them, hear their stories, 444 00:15:52,220 --> 00:15:53,820 and and that experience. And then when we 445 00:15:53,820 --> 00:15:55,339 did the grand opening, I was hanging out 446 00:15:55,339 --> 00:15:57,339 for a little bit afterwards and had the 447 00:15:57,339 --> 00:15:59,419 same type of interaction with some folks that 448 00:15:59,419 --> 00:16:01,695 just needed some help. And and that's really 449 00:16:01,695 --> 00:16:03,934 what it was meant to be. And our 450 00:16:03,934 --> 00:16:06,274 partnership with those community groups that are there 451 00:16:06,335 --> 00:16:08,595 is is only continuing to get stronger. 452 00:16:08,975 --> 00:16:11,215 We have classes that are going for, 453 00:16:11,535 --> 00:16:12,754 you know, pregnant moms, 454 00:16:13,509 --> 00:16:14,789 you know, teach them what they should be 455 00:16:14,789 --> 00:16:17,370 doing with their kids. We have caregiver classes, 456 00:16:17,750 --> 00:16:19,589 because we have a a lot of seniors 457 00:16:19,589 --> 00:16:22,389 in in those areas. So trying to to 458 00:16:22,389 --> 00:16:23,210 help support 459 00:16:23,589 --> 00:16:26,309 the people that are are really spending all 460 00:16:26,309 --> 00:16:28,575 their time in blood, sweat, equity supporting the 461 00:16:28,575 --> 00:16:30,815 people, that we have in those those areas 462 00:16:30,815 --> 00:16:32,654 and those members. And it's really it's it's 463 00:16:32,654 --> 00:16:34,115 not meant to be only UPMC. 464 00:16:34,975 --> 00:16:38,095 It's really a broader aspect of of how 465 00:16:38,095 --> 00:16:39,774 we can give back to those communities and 466 00:16:39,774 --> 00:16:40,754 really support them. 467 00:16:41,440 --> 00:16:43,779 No. Certainly. And, you know, 200 community, 468 00:16:44,399 --> 00:16:47,040 organizations already. That's incredible. I'm sure many more 469 00:16:47,040 --> 00:16:47,620 to come. 470 00:16:48,639 --> 00:16:51,040 Brendan, before we go today, anything else we're 471 00:16:51,040 --> 00:16:53,745 missing? Any other tidbits you wanna share with 472 00:16:53,825 --> 00:16:56,065 the other health plan leaders listening right now? 473 00:16:56,065 --> 00:16:58,004 It's it's an incredibly busy time, 474 00:16:58,625 --> 00:17:00,945 for for everybody listening in. What else do 475 00:17:00,945 --> 00:17:03,664 you wanna share today? It's it's incredibly busy, 476 00:17:03,664 --> 00:17:06,144 and and, you know, Medicaid's always had its 477 00:17:06,144 --> 00:17:07,984 its challenges through the the years. And I've 478 00:17:07,984 --> 00:17:10,440 been working in Medicaid for twenty years now. 479 00:17:10,440 --> 00:17:13,160 And, it's, it's it's it's always going through 480 00:17:13,160 --> 00:17:14,599 the ringer when we look at those things. 481 00:17:14,599 --> 00:17:17,160 But but, really, I think it's it's in 482 00:17:17,160 --> 00:17:19,559 in these times, it's really about listening to 483 00:17:19,559 --> 00:17:20,619 the people you serve, 484 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,339 and going and meeting them where they are. 485 00:17:23,755 --> 00:17:25,595 You can't forget about it. It's one thing 486 00:17:25,595 --> 00:17:28,234 to to to be a leader. It's another 487 00:17:28,234 --> 00:17:29,755 thing to really go out and listen to 488 00:17:29,755 --> 00:17:31,835 those communities, really spend the time and the 489 00:17:31,835 --> 00:17:35,034 energy with them. That's such such an important 490 00:17:35,034 --> 00:17:37,730 component of it, to have their stories to 491 00:17:37,730 --> 00:17:39,569 be able to to to give back to 492 00:17:39,569 --> 00:17:40,230 our regulators, 493 00:17:41,089 --> 00:17:43,809 and to also help inform us. I learned 494 00:17:43,809 --> 00:17:45,909 so much from talking to the people, 495 00:17:46,369 --> 00:17:48,289 that are enrolled with us, going on visits 496 00:17:48,289 --> 00:17:50,474 with our teams. It really gives you a 497 00:17:50,474 --> 00:17:52,394 a a good perspective on how you should 498 00:17:52,394 --> 00:17:53,994 be functioning and and how you can do 499 00:17:53,994 --> 00:17:55,835 the best to serve them and meet people 500 00:17:55,835 --> 00:17:56,654 where they are. 501 00:17:57,595 --> 00:18:00,075 Wonderful. Well, Brandon, I wanna thank you so 502 00:18:00,075 --> 00:18:02,335 much for taking the time once again to 503 00:18:02,450 --> 00:18:04,609 sit down with us, share your insights with 504 00:18:04,609 --> 00:18:07,329 our listeners on sharing about all this, clearly 505 00:18:07,329 --> 00:18:09,650 very impactful work going on under the leadership 506 00:18:09,650 --> 00:18:11,329 of you and your team at the health 507 00:18:11,329 --> 00:18:13,190 plan. So thank you very much. 508 00:18:13,730 --> 00:18:15,825 No. Thank you for the opportunity, and, you 509 00:18:15,904 --> 00:18:17,664 know, appreciate you taking the time to to 510 00:18:17,664 --> 00:18:19,024 hear some of what the great things that 511 00:18:19,024 --> 00:18:21,505 we're doing. Absolutely. And to our listeners, if 512 00:18:21,505 --> 00:18:23,744 you wanna listen to more podcasts from Becker's 513 00:18:23,744 --> 00:18:27,125 HealthCare, you can visit beckershospitalreview.com.