1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,080 Hello, everyone. This is Jacob Emerson with the 2 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:03,859 Becker's Payer Issues podcast. 3 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,660 Thrilled today to be joined by Heather Tamberino, 4 00:00:06,799 --> 00:00:09,380 who is the chief financial officer at EmblemHealth. 5 00:00:09,679 --> 00:00:11,439 Heather, thanks so much for taking the time 6 00:00:11,439 --> 00:00:13,139 to be with me on the podcast today. 7 00:00:13,474 --> 00:00:15,554 Thank you so much. I'm here and excited 8 00:00:15,554 --> 00:00:16,535 to talk with you. 9 00:00:16,914 --> 00:00:18,994 Likewise, Heather. And we appreciate you taking the 10 00:00:18,994 --> 00:00:20,855 time to sit down with us. 11 00:00:21,234 --> 00:00:22,914 Before we dive into everything we wanna talk 12 00:00:22,914 --> 00:00:24,454 with you both with you about, 13 00:00:24,994 --> 00:00:26,515 can you tell us a little bit more 14 00:00:26,515 --> 00:00:27,254 about yourself, 15 00:00:27,629 --> 00:00:29,469 your background in health care, and what it 16 00:00:29,469 --> 00:00:31,250 is that you're doing today at EmblemHealth? 17 00:00:32,509 --> 00:00:33,409 Sure. Absolutely. 18 00:00:34,270 --> 00:00:36,750 I've been in health care for over twenty 19 00:00:36,750 --> 00:00:39,070 two years now with the majority of that 20 00:00:39,070 --> 00:00:39,890 being within 21 00:00:40,590 --> 00:00:42,049 nonprofit health plans. 22 00:00:42,515 --> 00:00:44,914 More specifically, over the last ten years, I've 23 00:00:44,914 --> 00:00:46,534 been lucky enough to work in 24 00:00:46,914 --> 00:00:49,875 integrated health plan provider groups so we can 25 00:00:49,875 --> 00:00:51,715 bring more of a unique proposal to the 26 00:00:51,715 --> 00:00:54,594 members and communities we serve. And I have 27 00:00:54,594 --> 00:00:57,140 to say, I'm most proud to be part 28 00:00:57,140 --> 00:00:59,059 of the team at Emblem where I do 29 00:00:59,059 --> 00:01:01,479 truly feel it's a unique health plan. 30 00:01:01,859 --> 00:01:03,239 You know, our social missions 31 00:01:03,619 --> 00:01:05,459 at the heart of everything we do and 32 00:01:05,459 --> 00:01:07,060 the fact that we bring both the health 33 00:01:07,060 --> 00:01:09,459 plan and the physicians together to serve the 34 00:01:09,459 --> 00:01:09,959 community 35 00:01:10,634 --> 00:01:12,575 on their path to health is truly 36 00:01:13,114 --> 00:01:14,795 what I believe is a model for the 37 00:01:14,795 --> 00:01:15,295 future. 38 00:01:15,674 --> 00:01:16,174 Here, 39 00:01:16,474 --> 00:01:20,094 I have overall responsibility for the financial health 40 00:01:20,155 --> 00:01:21,054 of the enterprise. 41 00:01:21,515 --> 00:01:23,594 I work with the broader leadership team on 42 00:01:23,594 --> 00:01:24,094 strategy, 43 00:01:24,969 --> 00:01:27,129 both on the health plan and on the 44 00:01:27,129 --> 00:01:28,189 physician side, 45 00:01:28,650 --> 00:01:30,030 support resource allocation, 46 00:01:30,569 --> 00:01:33,370 and, you know, the traditional financial functions that 47 00:01:33,370 --> 00:01:35,229 you would expect, tax, treasury, 48 00:01:35,609 --> 00:01:36,109 actuarial, 49 00:01:36,489 --> 00:01:36,989 underwriting, 50 00:01:37,290 --> 00:01:37,790 etcetera. 51 00:01:38,834 --> 00:01:41,234 Fantastic. So, Heather, I wanted to get us 52 00:01:41,234 --> 00:01:43,474 started today by talking a little bit about 53 00:01:43,474 --> 00:01:44,215 some important 54 00:01:44,594 --> 00:01:47,334 work, just recently announced by EmblemHealth. 55 00:01:47,715 --> 00:01:50,534 The the company has pledged $2,000,000 56 00:01:50,674 --> 00:01:53,974 to food security efforts across New York City. 57 00:01:54,329 --> 00:01:56,250 So fill in our audience who who isn't 58 00:01:56,250 --> 00:01:58,109 familiar with this initiative, 59 00:01:59,530 --> 00:02:01,450 where did this money come from? Who is 60 00:02:01,450 --> 00:02:03,689 it going to? And what were you hearing 61 00:02:03,689 --> 00:02:05,789 or seeing on the ground in, 62 00:02:06,090 --> 00:02:08,090 your neighborhood care centers that that made this 63 00:02:08,090 --> 00:02:10,064 investment feel really urgent right now? 64 00:02:11,264 --> 00:02:11,764 Absolutely. 65 00:02:12,064 --> 00:02:14,305 And I'm glad you're asking this question because 66 00:02:14,305 --> 00:02:17,104 it's an important initiative, but it's it's also 67 00:02:17,104 --> 00:02:18,805 an important moment in time. 68 00:02:19,585 --> 00:02:21,745 I know your listeners are hearing on their 69 00:02:21,745 --> 00:02:24,224 news feeds and through their government affairs teams 70 00:02:24,224 --> 00:02:26,060 about the recent federal rollbacks 71 00:02:26,599 --> 00:02:29,319 and the reports on rising cases of food 72 00:02:29,319 --> 00:02:29,819 insecurity. 73 00:02:30,680 --> 00:02:32,379 Critical programs like SNAP 74 00:02:32,680 --> 00:02:34,060 are being pressured. 75 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:36,620 We're even seeing that the USDA's 76 00:02:37,365 --> 00:02:40,884 decision to stop tracking and releasing annual data 77 00:02:40,884 --> 00:02:41,944 on food insecurity. 78 00:02:42,965 --> 00:02:45,604 You know, their last report showed that over 79 00:02:45,604 --> 00:02:46,405 18,000,000 80 00:02:46,405 --> 00:02:46,905 Americans 81 00:02:47,205 --> 00:02:49,465 were facing food insecurity and hunger. 82 00:02:49,819 --> 00:02:50,879 And as these resources 83 00:02:51,180 --> 00:02:53,439 dwindle and food pantries are strained, 84 00:02:53,980 --> 00:02:56,480 more and more New Yorkers are struggling. 85 00:02:56,939 --> 00:02:58,700 And in fact, the New York City mayor's 86 00:02:58,700 --> 00:03:01,599 office of food policy last reported that 87 00:03:02,034 --> 00:03:03,574 almost 1,200,000 88 00:03:03,794 --> 00:03:06,594 city residents, that's almost 15% of New York 89 00:03:06,594 --> 00:03:08,854 were New Yorkers were food insecure. 90 00:03:09,715 --> 00:03:10,215 So 91 00:03:10,754 --> 00:03:13,735 we're hearing that. Right? That's that's happening broadly, 92 00:03:14,594 --> 00:03:15,810 on the on the 93 00:03:16,209 --> 00:03:19,430 broader stage. And we at Emblem are uniquely 94 00:03:19,489 --> 00:03:19,989 positioned 95 00:03:20,689 --> 00:03:23,669 through what we have our neighborhood care centers, 96 00:03:24,610 --> 00:03:26,469 and we're seeing this issue firsthand. 97 00:03:27,090 --> 00:03:28,930 You know? So as you said, it's a 98 00:03:28,930 --> 00:03:30,870 it's a different and unique model, 99 00:03:31,284 --> 00:03:34,645 but Emblem has invested in 15 sites across 100 00:03:34,645 --> 00:03:36,965 the five boroughs in what we call neighborhood 101 00:03:36,965 --> 00:03:39,444 care centers. Think of them almost as, like, 102 00:03:39,444 --> 00:03:40,585 community hubs. 103 00:03:41,125 --> 00:03:43,205 Anybody in the community can come in for 104 00:03:43,205 --> 00:03:46,409 assistance with social determinants of health. It could 105 00:03:46,409 --> 00:03:47,710 be a housing issue, 106 00:03:48,010 --> 00:03:48,909 food distribution, 107 00:03:49,770 --> 00:03:52,169 cooking and fitness classes. How do they get 108 00:03:52,169 --> 00:03:53,150 access to care? 109 00:03:53,770 --> 00:03:56,110 Someone to help them in language, 110 00:03:56,855 --> 00:03:57,355 understand 111 00:03:57,735 --> 00:04:00,135 mailings, or even just for a cup of 112 00:04:00,135 --> 00:04:02,395 coffee. And when we think about social determinants 113 00:04:02,455 --> 00:04:03,115 of of 114 00:04:03,655 --> 00:04:06,314 of health, two top issues facing, 115 00:04:06,775 --> 00:04:09,335 Americans now and New Yorkers here specifically is 116 00:04:09,335 --> 00:04:11,275 both loneliness and food security. 117 00:04:11,735 --> 00:04:12,395 And so 118 00:04:12,830 --> 00:04:15,709 we offer these free services to any member 119 00:04:15,709 --> 00:04:18,370 of the community, not just EmblemHealth members. 120 00:04:18,990 --> 00:04:21,550 The other thing about these sites is they're 121 00:04:21,550 --> 00:04:23,169 collocated in many instances 122 00:04:23,949 --> 00:04:25,490 with our AdvantageCare 123 00:04:26,029 --> 00:04:26,529 physician, 124 00:04:27,024 --> 00:04:29,584 PCP, and specialist groups. So if there's a 125 00:04:29,584 --> 00:04:30,404 health issue, 126 00:04:30,865 --> 00:04:32,324 we can get that individual 127 00:04:32,625 --> 00:04:34,644 almost immediate access to care. 128 00:04:35,104 --> 00:04:37,904 So that's the construct. That's what we have. 129 00:04:37,904 --> 00:04:41,185 And in these neighborhood care sites today, we're 130 00:04:41,185 --> 00:04:41,685 tracking. 131 00:04:42,339 --> 00:04:44,819 And in comparison to just a year ago, 132 00:04:44,819 --> 00:04:46,579 we have a 17% 133 00:04:46,579 --> 00:04:47,079 increase 134 00:04:47,699 --> 00:04:50,199 with individuals coming into the centers 135 00:04:50,979 --> 00:04:51,479 struggling 136 00:04:51,779 --> 00:04:53,800 with getting access to food. 137 00:04:54,355 --> 00:04:56,355 And I'll give you an example. In early 138 00:04:56,355 --> 00:04:56,855 February, 139 00:04:57,314 --> 00:04:59,875 at our Chinatown location, we had announced a 140 00:04:59,875 --> 00:05:02,194 food distribution event. This has been part of, 141 00:05:02,995 --> 00:05:06,194 ongoing programming that we have. And we had 142 00:05:06,194 --> 00:05:08,995 announced a food distribution event for 11AM where 143 00:05:08,995 --> 00:05:10,410 we had hoped to hand out 144 00:05:10,710 --> 00:05:12,870 200 bags of food, which feed about an 145 00:05:12,870 --> 00:05:14,569 Edgards family of three people. 146 00:05:15,110 --> 00:05:17,589 When we arrived, our our team members arrived 147 00:05:17,589 --> 00:05:19,589 to open that day at 7AM. We already 148 00:05:19,589 --> 00:05:20,970 have a line around the block. 149 00:05:21,350 --> 00:05:23,050 So if you know New York in February, 150 00:05:23,435 --> 00:05:25,275 this is not a pleasant time to be 151 00:05:25,275 --> 00:05:26,095 out and about. 152 00:05:26,395 --> 00:05:29,035 But we launched earlier and and basically handed 153 00:05:29,035 --> 00:05:31,275 out our full complement to food in fifteen 154 00:05:31,275 --> 00:05:34,395 minutes. So you hear the federal impacts. You 155 00:05:34,395 --> 00:05:35,035 know that the 156 00:05:35,675 --> 00:05:37,214 with reductions in food, 157 00:05:37,810 --> 00:05:39,509 support with SNAP, etcetera, 158 00:05:40,449 --> 00:05:41,750 you see the increases 159 00:05:42,129 --> 00:05:44,149 of our members coming into our 160 00:05:45,250 --> 00:05:46,310 community centers, 161 00:05:46,769 --> 00:05:49,330 and we have the opportunity to say, well, 162 00:05:49,330 --> 00:05:50,389 what can we do? 163 00:05:51,035 --> 00:05:53,375 So what are we doing? And you identified 164 00:05:53,435 --> 00:05:56,175 it, the community food security initiative. 165 00:05:57,274 --> 00:06:00,175 We recognize that there's this profound connection 166 00:06:00,475 --> 00:06:03,615 between health outcomes and access to food, 167 00:06:04,129 --> 00:06:05,029 So we're expanding 168 00:06:05,569 --> 00:06:07,189 our food security programming 169 00:06:07,970 --> 00:06:08,470 and 170 00:06:09,409 --> 00:06:11,110 adding $2,000,000 171 00:06:11,409 --> 00:06:13,970 to our security initiative. And you said, well, 172 00:06:13,970 --> 00:06:15,430 where's where's that going? 173 00:06:16,225 --> 00:06:19,125 We're providing donations to critical partners 174 00:06:19,504 --> 00:06:22,384 who deliver services and support families in need 175 00:06:22,384 --> 00:06:23,444 already in existence, 176 00:06:23,904 --> 00:06:24,404 trusted, 177 00:06:24,944 --> 00:06:27,365 groups with the Campaign Against Hunger, 178 00:06:27,745 --> 00:06:30,404 the New York Common Pantry, and City Harvest. 179 00:06:31,490 --> 00:06:31,990 Additionally, 180 00:06:32,769 --> 00:06:33,430 we are 181 00:06:34,050 --> 00:06:34,550 supporting 182 00:06:35,250 --> 00:06:39,009 dozens of food distribution events each month through 183 00:06:39,009 --> 00:06:39,669 our EmblemHealth 184 00:06:40,289 --> 00:06:41,669 neighborhood care centers 185 00:06:42,209 --> 00:06:45,110 and also then hosting pop up food distributions 186 00:06:45,935 --> 00:06:48,754 and farmers market with our community affairs teams. 187 00:06:49,935 --> 00:06:52,415 Our our goal here is to ensure that 188 00:06:52,415 --> 00:06:55,555 families have easier access to free, 189 00:06:55,935 --> 00:06:58,035 nutritious food right in their neighborhoods, 190 00:06:58,574 --> 00:07:01,220 whether that's coming to a brick and mortar 191 00:07:01,220 --> 00:07:03,639 neighborhood care center that's close to them 192 00:07:04,019 --> 00:07:06,339 or at these pop up events so that 193 00:07:06,339 --> 00:07:08,259 we can meet the communities where they are 194 00:07:08,259 --> 00:07:09,160 with our partners. 195 00:07:09,939 --> 00:07:11,379 Well, this really sounds like it's gonna be 196 00:07:11,379 --> 00:07:12,105 such an impactful 197 00:07:13,944 --> 00:07:15,865 and as you, you know, explained, you're really 198 00:07:15,865 --> 00:07:17,865 seeing that the demand is there across the 199 00:07:17,865 --> 00:07:20,345 city, both anecdotally and and then through some 200 00:07:20,345 --> 00:07:21,085 of the data, 201 00:07:21,625 --> 00:07:24,425 you shared with us that 15% figure. So 202 00:07:24,425 --> 00:07:25,485 clearly, very comprehensive 203 00:07:26,025 --> 00:07:28,229 infrastructure is in place across your your 15 204 00:07:28,229 --> 00:07:30,229 care centers, across all five boroughs to really 205 00:07:30,229 --> 00:07:32,949 tackle this head on. I wonder if we're 206 00:07:32,949 --> 00:07:34,629 if we're looking more broadly at this from 207 00:07:34,629 --> 00:07:36,949 an industry perspective. You know? We hear from 208 00:07:36,949 --> 00:07:38,870 health plans all the time about how they 209 00:07:38,870 --> 00:07:41,769 are really starting to try to incorporate more 210 00:07:41,944 --> 00:07:43,564 food as medicine based initiatives 211 00:07:44,104 --> 00:07:46,345 as part of their health care efforts, as 212 00:07:46,345 --> 00:07:47,884 part of as part of benefits, 213 00:07:48,264 --> 00:07:48,764 programs, 214 00:07:49,305 --> 00:07:52,185 not just as community outreach, efforts, but as, 215 00:07:52,584 --> 00:07:55,144 tied in with with reimbursement and and social 216 00:07:55,144 --> 00:07:57,564 determinants of health. So I wonder 217 00:07:57,970 --> 00:07:59,910 how how do you think the industry's approach 218 00:07:59,970 --> 00:08:01,589 to social needs like nutrition 219 00:08:02,050 --> 00:08:04,629 is evolving from from where you sit, Heather? 220 00:08:04,689 --> 00:08:06,370 When where do you think things are still 221 00:08:06,370 --> 00:08:07,189 falling short? 222 00:08:08,129 --> 00:08:10,814 It's an important question because you can look 223 00:08:10,814 --> 00:08:13,375 at one initiative that we just talked about, 224 00:08:13,375 --> 00:08:13,875 but 225 00:08:14,334 --> 00:08:16,754 it it is absolutely broader than that. 226 00:08:17,134 --> 00:08:20,354 We know hunger and health deeply intertwined, 227 00:08:21,134 --> 00:08:23,474 and and can't just switch health outcomes 228 00:08:24,029 --> 00:08:26,509 directly in the doctor's office. It has to 229 00:08:26,509 --> 00:08:28,589 be addressed in the kitchens. It has to 230 00:08:28,589 --> 00:08:31,170 be addressed in neighborhoods and communities. 231 00:08:31,790 --> 00:08:33,410 So to your point at EmblemHealth, 232 00:08:34,590 --> 00:08:36,750 we're seeing that our neighbors are having to 233 00:08:36,750 --> 00:08:38,690 make these very difficult decisions. 234 00:08:39,434 --> 00:08:41,355 Do I pay rent? Do I put food 235 00:08:41,355 --> 00:08:43,294 on the table? Or do I buy medicine? 236 00:08:43,674 --> 00:08:44,735 And in this environment, 237 00:08:45,674 --> 00:08:46,654 food and housing 238 00:08:47,034 --> 00:08:48,254 will become the priority. 239 00:08:48,794 --> 00:08:50,735 Health and fitness, etcetera, 240 00:08:51,115 --> 00:08:52,414 will fall by the wayside. 241 00:08:53,169 --> 00:08:56,210 And our internal analytics show a very clear 242 00:08:56,210 --> 00:08:56,710 pattern. 243 00:08:57,330 --> 00:08:58,710 Members that are experiencing 244 00:08:59,090 --> 00:08:59,990 food insecurity 245 00:09:00,529 --> 00:09:03,410 have higher rates of chronic diseases, such as 246 00:09:03,410 --> 00:09:03,910 diabetes, 247 00:09:04,690 --> 00:09:05,190 hypertension, 248 00:09:05,730 --> 00:09:06,629 or heart failure. 249 00:09:07,375 --> 00:09:08,675 They also show 250 00:09:09,055 --> 00:09:10,514 higher ER utilization 251 00:09:11,134 --> 00:09:12,595 and avoidable admissions. 252 00:09:13,134 --> 00:09:15,055 So this is a health issue. And to 253 00:09:15,055 --> 00:09:17,555 your point, it's not a charitable giving issue 254 00:09:17,855 --> 00:09:19,855 or or it's not just a community outreach 255 00:09:19,855 --> 00:09:21,154 where you're seeking reimbursement. 256 00:09:21,934 --> 00:09:22,675 And so 257 00:09:23,019 --> 00:09:25,419 you asked, well, why does the industry need 258 00:09:25,419 --> 00:09:27,360 to think or engage in a different way? 259 00:09:28,220 --> 00:09:31,360 When members don't have reliable access to nutritious 260 00:09:31,419 --> 00:09:34,299 food, no amount of benefit design where the 261 00:09:34,299 --> 00:09:35,839 traditional care management 262 00:09:36,139 --> 00:09:37,759 can close that health gap. 263 00:09:38,625 --> 00:09:41,985 So we, you know, are mission driven, community 264 00:09:41,985 --> 00:09:45,524 focused, nonprofit health plan. And so we believe 265 00:09:45,985 --> 00:09:47,524 our role is as a steward 266 00:09:47,904 --> 00:09:51,125 of community health. We go beyond, like, traditional 267 00:09:51,184 --> 00:09:52,165 benefit management. 268 00:09:53,269 --> 00:09:55,129 And we understand that we have to adapt. 269 00:09:55,669 --> 00:09:56,889 Look. I'm the CFO. 270 00:09:57,509 --> 00:09:58,809 People ask me, 271 00:09:59,669 --> 00:10:01,610 why are you the leader of this initiative? 272 00:10:01,669 --> 00:10:02,649 Right? That's unusual. 273 00:10:03,590 --> 00:10:06,090 And one, I would say, one, I wholeheartedly 274 00:10:06,549 --> 00:10:08,169 believe in our mission. 275 00:10:08,834 --> 00:10:11,414 But two, it makes financial sense. 276 00:10:12,274 --> 00:10:14,694 Investing in food security is an upstream 277 00:10:14,995 --> 00:10:15,495 strategy. 278 00:10:15,875 --> 00:10:17,894 You know, preventing avoidable hospitalizations, 279 00:10:18,754 --> 00:10:20,454 lowering long term costs, 280 00:10:21,299 --> 00:10:21,960 most importantly, 281 00:10:22,740 --> 00:10:25,620 improving the dignity dignity and quality of the 282 00:10:25,620 --> 00:10:27,539 life of our members. It's a win for 283 00:10:27,539 --> 00:10:28,039 everyone. 284 00:10:28,820 --> 00:10:29,559 And and 285 00:10:30,100 --> 00:10:30,600 addressing 286 00:10:31,220 --> 00:10:32,039 food insecurity 287 00:10:32,580 --> 00:10:34,340 is more than just the right thing to 288 00:10:34,340 --> 00:10:34,840 do. 289 00:10:35,465 --> 00:10:36,445 It can support 290 00:10:36,904 --> 00:10:38,205 medical cost management. 291 00:10:38,665 --> 00:10:40,205 If we intervene early, 292 00:10:40,665 --> 00:10:43,085 we address the root causes of poor health 293 00:10:43,544 --> 00:10:46,445 rather than try and treat the more expensive 294 00:10:47,065 --> 00:10:48,205 downstream consequences. 295 00:10:49,309 --> 00:10:52,190 So EmblemHealth is leaning into these types of 296 00:10:52,190 --> 00:10:54,929 community investments, not just the food initiative, 297 00:10:55,549 --> 00:10:56,610 but by establishing 298 00:10:57,389 --> 00:11:00,509 these co located neighborhood care centers that partnered 299 00:11:00,509 --> 00:11:01,809 with physicians' offices, 300 00:11:02,269 --> 00:11:04,209 delivering support in language, 301 00:11:05,205 --> 00:11:08,264 providing unique tailored local programming. 302 00:11:09,605 --> 00:11:10,745 If as health plans, 303 00:11:11,285 --> 00:11:13,545 look at any one of our mission statements. 304 00:11:13,605 --> 00:11:15,365 It could be a for profit. It could 305 00:11:15,365 --> 00:11:16,585 be a not for profit. 306 00:11:17,169 --> 00:11:19,009 But almost all of us will have a 307 00:11:19,009 --> 00:11:20,929 focus on improving the health of our members 308 00:11:20,929 --> 00:11:22,470 and our mission and vision statements. 309 00:11:22,929 --> 00:11:26,610 But we cannot continue to lean on aged 310 00:11:26,610 --> 00:11:27,110 practices. 311 00:11:27,809 --> 00:11:29,654 We need to be in the community. We 312 00:11:29,654 --> 00:11:32,214 need to be focused on specific concerns as 313 00:11:32,214 --> 00:11:35,195 they are emerging. Like, we're seeing this pivotable 314 00:11:35,334 --> 00:11:35,834 point 315 00:11:36,214 --> 00:11:39,274 in time right now for New Yorkers and 316 00:11:39,495 --> 00:11:40,074 the country. 317 00:11:40,454 --> 00:11:42,375 And we need to think local, and we 318 00:11:42,375 --> 00:11:43,595 need to serve local. 319 00:11:44,009 --> 00:11:45,389 I think that's where 320 00:11:46,330 --> 00:11:49,070 we have to see as you asked specifically, 321 00:11:49,850 --> 00:11:51,290 I think that's where you have to see 322 00:11:51,290 --> 00:11:53,929 health plans thinking about it as a broader 323 00:11:53,929 --> 00:11:54,429 element, 324 00:11:54,889 --> 00:11:56,029 not just the traditional. 325 00:11:56,674 --> 00:11:58,454 It it really is if you want to 326 00:11:58,834 --> 00:11:59,975 address the costs 327 00:12:00,514 --> 00:12:03,074 of care. Right? If you think about it 328 00:12:03,074 --> 00:12:04,615 from a for profit perspective, 329 00:12:05,714 --> 00:12:08,294 let alone the social mission and 330 00:12:09,330 --> 00:12:11,570 care of our members aspect of it. I 331 00:12:11,570 --> 00:12:13,590 think that's why we have to see people 332 00:12:13,649 --> 00:12:14,629 lean in differently 333 00:12:15,570 --> 00:12:17,750 more through partnership, more through connectedness, 334 00:12:18,050 --> 00:12:19,190 more through understanding 335 00:12:19,649 --> 00:12:21,430 very specific local needs. 336 00:12:22,254 --> 00:12:23,855 Absolutely. And I think it's such a great 337 00:12:23,855 --> 00:12:26,014 point that you you made, Heather, that and 338 00:12:26,014 --> 00:12:28,414 it sends such a great message of, why 339 00:12:28,414 --> 00:12:30,034 the CFO is overseeing, 340 00:12:30,894 --> 00:12:33,054 an initiative like this. It all ties back 341 00:12:33,054 --> 00:12:35,389 together. It's all connected. And And I think 342 00:12:35,389 --> 00:12:36,590 in the spirit of talking about, you know, 343 00:12:36,590 --> 00:12:37,250 the connectedness 344 00:12:37,790 --> 00:12:39,250 of the health care system, 345 00:12:39,550 --> 00:12:42,110 looking forward on on something like this, and 346 00:12:42,110 --> 00:12:43,470 we can take this just from the New 347 00:12:43,470 --> 00:12:44,450 York City perspective. 348 00:12:44,990 --> 00:12:46,750 What do you think it will take from 349 00:12:46,750 --> 00:12:48,050 from payers like EmblemHealth, 350 00:12:48,705 --> 00:12:50,705 from providers across the city, and then, of 351 00:12:50,705 --> 00:12:53,605 course, from from local and and state policymakers 352 00:12:53,985 --> 00:12:56,625 to make food security a a lasting part 353 00:12:56,625 --> 00:12:58,865 of public health infrastructure and and as part 354 00:12:58,865 --> 00:13:00,884 of the work that you do at Emblem? 355 00:13:02,460 --> 00:13:04,160 I I think we have to be 356 00:13:04,860 --> 00:13:05,360 specific. 357 00:13:05,660 --> 00:13:08,460 Right? We can talk about it. But when 358 00:13:08,460 --> 00:13:10,240 you have a multifactor, 359 00:13:12,059 --> 00:13:12,559 difficult 360 00:13:12,940 --> 00:13:14,960 sort of challenge in front of us, 361 00:13:15,304 --> 00:13:17,964 and you use the word connections or connectedness, 362 00:13:18,504 --> 00:13:20,985 we really do have to think about how 363 00:13:20,985 --> 00:13:21,884 do we connect 364 00:13:22,345 --> 00:13:24,125 our community affairs team 365 00:13:24,504 --> 00:13:25,725 with our care providers. 366 00:13:26,264 --> 00:13:28,365 How do we focus on consistency 367 00:13:28,904 --> 00:13:29,804 of that application? 368 00:13:30,679 --> 00:13:31,500 How do we 369 00:13:31,879 --> 00:13:34,139 highlight partnership and collaboration 370 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:36,919 across all those groups you just noted? You 371 00:13:36,919 --> 00:13:38,199 could be a payer. You could be a 372 00:13:38,199 --> 00:13:40,379 provider. You could be elected official. 373 00:13:40,839 --> 00:13:41,579 But how 374 00:13:41,879 --> 00:13:44,355 do each of us think about that? I 375 00:13:44,355 --> 00:13:46,435 do think in many ways right now, the 376 00:13:46,435 --> 00:13:46,935 model 377 00:13:47,394 --> 00:13:48,774 health that we're providing 378 00:13:49,555 --> 00:13:51,495 and investing in at Emblem, 379 00:13:52,115 --> 00:13:54,115 you know, we talk about neighborhood care as 380 00:13:54,115 --> 00:13:54,935 being different. 381 00:13:55,730 --> 00:13:59,029 Those care centers are focused on not just 382 00:13:59,569 --> 00:14:00,069 the 383 00:14:00,769 --> 00:14:03,509 not just food distribution, but it's on education 384 00:14:03,730 --> 00:14:04,549 and empowerment. 385 00:14:05,250 --> 00:14:08,129 So in addition to providing free and healthy 386 00:14:08,129 --> 00:14:08,629 food, 387 00:14:08,929 --> 00:14:10,709 we're hosting nutrition workshops, 388 00:14:11,625 --> 00:14:14,044 culturally tailored cooking demonstrations. 389 00:14:14,665 --> 00:14:15,965 We're helping families 390 00:14:16,745 --> 00:14:19,465 take fresh ingredients, and how do you turn 391 00:14:19,465 --> 00:14:20,605 those into healthy, 392 00:14:20,904 --> 00:14:21,965 affordable meals 393 00:14:22,504 --> 00:14:24,745 that align with their health goals. So so 394 00:14:24,745 --> 00:14:26,605 when I talk about nutrition classes, 395 00:14:27,659 --> 00:14:29,500 a couple of the nutrition classes we have 396 00:14:29,500 --> 00:14:31,419 are like, how do you make healthier choices 397 00:14:31,419 --> 00:14:33,500 when you're eating out? Some folks would say, 398 00:14:33,500 --> 00:14:35,259 well, eating out, like, they can bear you 399 00:14:35,259 --> 00:14:36,000 know, some 400 00:14:36,379 --> 00:14:39,019 of our our constituents can barely put money 401 00:14:39,019 --> 00:14:41,179 on their table. But what will happen is 402 00:14:41,179 --> 00:14:42,159 they will go to 403 00:14:42,674 --> 00:14:46,434 quick, easy, cheap, not necessarily always nutritious fast 404 00:14:46,434 --> 00:14:46,934 food. 405 00:14:47,315 --> 00:14:48,995 So how do you make a healthier choice 406 00:14:48,995 --> 00:14:50,215 if you're in that option? 407 00:14:51,154 --> 00:14:54,995 Having series on plant based foods, heart health 408 00:14:54,995 --> 00:14:55,495 nutrition. 409 00:14:56,149 --> 00:14:57,590 We even have like, you can go to 410 00:14:57,590 --> 00:14:58,889 our website today. 411 00:14:59,350 --> 00:15:00,730 There's cooking demonstrations. 412 00:15:01,429 --> 00:15:04,970 So, again, with limited healthy food, 413 00:15:05,509 --> 00:15:06,950 how do you make it you know, how 414 00:15:06,950 --> 00:15:08,789 do you make it spread? How do you 415 00:15:08,789 --> 00:15:09,450 make it 416 00:15:09,825 --> 00:15:11,825 seem nutritious? And how do you link it 417 00:15:11,825 --> 00:15:13,764 to your specific condition? 418 00:15:14,384 --> 00:15:14,884 So 419 00:15:15,264 --> 00:15:18,485 another thing we do is really design classes 420 00:15:19,345 --> 00:15:22,625 around chronic conditions that are most prevalent in 421 00:15:22,625 --> 00:15:24,165 the neighborhoods we serve. 422 00:15:24,480 --> 00:15:26,019 So we we know 423 00:15:27,360 --> 00:15:30,100 almost ZIP code by ZIP code, we track 424 00:15:30,639 --> 00:15:33,699 what are the most prevalent chronic disease conditions. 425 00:15:33,839 --> 00:15:35,779 Is it diabetes? Is it hypertension? 426 00:15:36,559 --> 00:15:37,699 Is it heart disease? 427 00:15:38,235 --> 00:15:39,134 And we focus 428 00:15:39,595 --> 00:15:42,554 on some of our population health activities and 429 00:15:42,554 --> 00:15:43,054 leveraging 430 00:15:43,674 --> 00:15:45,375 these neighborhood care centers 431 00:15:46,075 --> 00:15:46,815 to reflect 432 00:15:47,514 --> 00:15:50,414 the people that we're serving and their needs 433 00:15:50,554 --> 00:15:52,095 in those local spaces. 434 00:15:52,610 --> 00:15:55,250 So so, really, you're connecting not just the 435 00:15:55,250 --> 00:15:56,149 food access, 436 00:15:56,850 --> 00:15:58,870 but you're connecting it to health literacy, 437 00:15:59,570 --> 00:16:00,949 and you're connecting it 438 00:16:01,570 --> 00:16:02,949 to community belonging. 439 00:16:03,649 --> 00:16:05,509 Right? Because it's tied to the cultural 440 00:16:06,209 --> 00:16:09,225 norms and cultural needs that are prevalent in 441 00:16:09,225 --> 00:16:09,725 certain 442 00:16:10,184 --> 00:16:10,684 microcosms 443 00:16:11,065 --> 00:16:12,605 within our service area, 444 00:16:13,225 --> 00:16:17,004 you know, that helps create more sustainable outcomes 445 00:16:17,144 --> 00:16:18,764 that can improve health. 446 00:16:19,225 --> 00:16:20,665 And so I I talk a lot about 447 00:16:20,665 --> 00:16:22,684 neighborhood care, and so maybe other 448 00:16:23,399 --> 00:16:26,279 plans don't have that same investment that we've 449 00:16:26,279 --> 00:16:29,799 made. But they do have community affairs teams. 450 00:16:29,799 --> 00:16:30,940 They do have partnerships 451 00:16:31,799 --> 00:16:33,740 with large provider systems. 452 00:16:34,279 --> 00:16:36,679 And we do. We couple our community affairs 453 00:16:36,679 --> 00:16:39,375 teams. We partner with ACP and Y and 454 00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:40,595 other provider groups. 455 00:16:41,054 --> 00:16:42,195 Our events teams 456 00:16:42,575 --> 00:16:45,554 are out there pointing members to resources available 457 00:16:45,855 --> 00:16:48,115 to them through community based organizations 458 00:16:49,295 --> 00:16:50,995 or through our neighborhood care sites. 459 00:16:51,350 --> 00:16:54,309 Our neighborhood care team members can actually connect 460 00:16:54,309 --> 00:16:56,889 people to PCP appointments right on the spot, 461 00:16:57,509 --> 00:17:00,090 or they can connect them to SDOH resources. 462 00:17:01,190 --> 00:17:02,570 In our PCP offices, 463 00:17:02,950 --> 00:17:05,335 they can walk people down stairs to someone 464 00:17:05,335 --> 00:17:07,674 who can help beyond just the health visit. 465 00:17:08,534 --> 00:17:11,335 So we're doing this all as well. We 466 00:17:11,335 --> 00:17:13,355 talked about that third leg of the stool, 467 00:17:14,454 --> 00:17:17,914 in concert with elected leaders across the city, 468 00:17:18,420 --> 00:17:20,340 reaching out and talking to them through our 469 00:17:20,340 --> 00:17:22,680 community affairs and government affairs teams, 470 00:17:23,059 --> 00:17:23,559 understanding 471 00:17:23,940 --> 00:17:26,740 and learning what is most critical to their 472 00:17:26,740 --> 00:17:27,240 constituents, 473 00:17:28,019 --> 00:17:30,740 making sure that we're leaning in and standing 474 00:17:30,740 --> 00:17:33,220 up to that specific need in partnership with 475 00:17:33,220 --> 00:17:37,005 those on the bids. I think this level 476 00:17:37,005 --> 00:17:40,743 of partnership, sort of consistency, connecting needs to 477 00:17:40,743 --> 00:17:44,481 resources is what we're striving to achieve with 478 00:17:44,481 --> 00:17:47,630 our investments at EmblemHealth. Any health plan, though, 479 00:17:47,630 --> 00:17:50,190 or large provider system, they have those same 480 00:17:50,190 --> 00:17:53,230 capabilities. They have community affairs and government affairs 481 00:17:53,230 --> 00:17:53,730 functions. 482 00:17:54,349 --> 00:17:57,390 They have population health teams. They have big 483 00:17:57,390 --> 00:17:57,890 data. 484 00:17:58,625 --> 00:18:01,265 This isn't unique. It doesn't have to be 485 00:18:01,265 --> 00:18:02,404 unique to a nonprofit 486 00:18:02,865 --> 00:18:04,805 mission based health plan like ours. 487 00:18:05,105 --> 00:18:05,924 This connectedness 488 00:18:06,225 --> 00:18:06,884 of data, 489 00:18:07,505 --> 00:18:08,005 resources, 490 00:18:08,625 --> 00:18:09,125 partnerships 491 00:18:09,984 --> 00:18:11,125 to extend nutrition, 492 00:18:11,830 --> 00:18:13,289 extend health and education 493 00:18:13,830 --> 00:18:14,570 and empowerment. 494 00:18:15,029 --> 00:18:16,630 I think that's where we have to see 495 00:18:16,630 --> 00:18:19,109 people lean in to really get to something 496 00:18:19,109 --> 00:18:20,170 that's more sustainable. 497 00:18:21,190 --> 00:18:23,190 And, Heather, you're really you're speaking directly to 498 00:18:23,190 --> 00:18:25,190 a lot of the other health plans listening 499 00:18:25,190 --> 00:18:26,805 in right now. You mentioned some of the 500 00:18:26,965 --> 00:18:28,805 smaller plans and where they may be at 501 00:18:28,805 --> 00:18:31,205 in their journey, in the space that we're 502 00:18:31,205 --> 00:18:32,025 talking about. 503 00:18:32,325 --> 00:18:34,244 And before we go, is there any final 504 00:18:34,244 --> 00:18:35,924 thoughts that you would offer them or or 505 00:18:35,924 --> 00:18:37,144 final bits of advice, 506 00:18:38,005 --> 00:18:39,845 as as they continue on, like I mentioned, 507 00:18:39,845 --> 00:18:41,970 in in different stages of this food is 508 00:18:41,970 --> 00:18:43,429 medicine and an access 509 00:18:43,890 --> 00:18:44,390 journey. 510 00:18:44,849 --> 00:18:46,950 Anything any parting words for them? 511 00:18:47,730 --> 00:18:49,429 Yeah. I mean, I would say 512 00:18:49,890 --> 00:18:52,950 I do believe we're unique in our mission 513 00:18:53,089 --> 00:18:55,269 and where we are on our path 514 00:18:55,674 --> 00:18:58,154 because we have continued to believe and still 515 00:18:58,154 --> 00:18:59,454 believe that we are 516 00:18:59,835 --> 00:19:02,494 envisioning a health plan model that addressing 517 00:19:03,434 --> 00:19:06,394 social determinants of health and true community health 518 00:19:06,394 --> 00:19:08,174 needs, it's not an add on. 519 00:19:08,549 --> 00:19:10,630 We've already made it to that step that 520 00:19:10,630 --> 00:19:12,490 we believe it's a core part 521 00:19:12,870 --> 00:19:15,670 of our benefit design and our population health 522 00:19:15,670 --> 00:19:16,170 strategy. 523 00:19:16,870 --> 00:19:19,430 And we are seeing and believe that making 524 00:19:19,430 --> 00:19:21,130 these types of investments 525 00:19:22,805 --> 00:19:24,904 in whether it be food security initiatives 526 00:19:25,365 --> 00:19:25,865 or 527 00:19:26,565 --> 00:19:28,105 access to care in underserved 528 00:19:28,484 --> 00:19:28,984 populations, 529 00:19:29,285 --> 00:19:30,184 but leveraging 530 00:19:30,884 --> 00:19:32,744 our resources where we can, 531 00:19:33,125 --> 00:19:34,744 we believe we're sending the signal. 532 00:19:35,125 --> 00:19:36,825 Health equity is not charity. 533 00:19:37,339 --> 00:19:38,799 It's a strategic imperative, 534 00:19:39,660 --> 00:19:40,720 and it's good business. 535 00:19:41,180 --> 00:19:43,119 Right? If you wanna move the needle 536 00:19:43,500 --> 00:19:44,320 on outcomes 537 00:19:44,779 --> 00:19:45,519 for underserved 538 00:19:45,820 --> 00:19:46,320 populations, 539 00:19:47,180 --> 00:19:48,400 we have to reimagine 540 00:19:49,019 --> 00:19:50,960 what it means to be a health plan. 541 00:19:51,325 --> 00:19:52,305 That could mean, 542 00:19:52,765 --> 00:19:54,705 depending on where you are in your journey, 543 00:19:54,845 --> 00:19:57,404 it could mean leaning into food. It could 544 00:19:57,404 --> 00:19:59,105 be leaning into connections, 545 00:20:00,285 --> 00:20:01,744 leveraging your data. 546 00:20:02,525 --> 00:20:05,085 I think those are all things where we 547 00:20:05,085 --> 00:20:05,825 can be. 548 00:20:06,150 --> 00:20:07,369 We, as an industry, 549 00:20:07,830 --> 00:20:08,890 can identify 550 00:20:09,910 --> 00:20:10,410 opportunities 551 00:20:11,590 --> 00:20:14,250 to deliver a different health outcome. 552 00:20:15,029 --> 00:20:17,430 I mean, we do believe that these types 553 00:20:17,430 --> 00:20:19,605 of investments that we're making, whether it be 554 00:20:19,605 --> 00:20:21,625 in food security or establishing 555 00:20:22,085 --> 00:20:25,625 these community hub type neighborhood care centers 556 00:20:26,085 --> 00:20:28,985 or not everybody's along that path yet. Investing 557 00:20:29,045 --> 00:20:32,105 in primary care practices in underserved areas. 558 00:20:32,490 --> 00:20:34,730 You know, we'd like this to serve almost 559 00:20:34,730 --> 00:20:37,529 as a rallying cry to other insurers and 560 00:20:37,529 --> 00:20:38,029 providers. 561 00:20:38,569 --> 00:20:40,349 You know, we can lift our communities. 562 00:20:41,049 --> 00:20:42,029 We can help 563 00:20:42,730 --> 00:20:45,230 our members and the members of our community 564 00:20:45,769 --> 00:20:48,065 on their path to health, but we need 565 00:20:48,065 --> 00:20:49,825 to do it together, and we need to 566 00:20:49,825 --> 00:20:51,444 be consistent about it. 567 00:20:52,065 --> 00:20:55,125 Wonderful. Well, Heather, thank you so much for 568 00:20:55,184 --> 00:20:56,865 taking the time to sit down with us 569 00:20:56,865 --> 00:20:58,085 and for sharing 570 00:20:58,384 --> 00:21:00,625 about the impactful work going on under your 571 00:21:00,625 --> 00:21:01,765 leadership at EmblemHealth. 572 00:21:02,065 --> 00:21:04,230 We really appreciate it. Thank you so much, 573 00:21:04,230 --> 00:21:04,730 Jacob. 574 00:21:05,109 --> 00:21:06,710 And to our listeners, if you'd like to 575 00:21:06,710 --> 00:21:09,029 listen to more podcasts from Becker's Healthcare, you 576 00:21:09,029 --> 00:21:11,849 can visit beckershospitalreview.com.