{"webUser":null}
Audioboom logo
{"flashNotices":[]}
Podcast logo
Listen & subscribe

Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast features lively and informative conversations with health care experts, opinion leaders and practicing physicians about the challenges facing doctors and medical practices. New episodes release every Monday and Thursday morning. Brought to you by Medical Economics and Physicians Practice.

Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast Staff

Hosts: Keith Reynolds, Austin Littrell
Contributors: Chris Mazzolini, Todd Shryock, Richard Payerchin, Keith Reynolds, Austin Littrell
Inquiries: Please email Hosts Keith Reynolds (kreynolds@mjhlifesciences.com) or Austin Littrell (alittrell@mjhlifesciences.com) with feedback, questions, guest suggestions and more.

www.medicaleconomics.com/podcasts

Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast

Medical Economics
Management & Marketing
160 episodes
S1 Ep120: The biggest risks for physicians in 2026, with Peter Reilly of HUB International
In 2026, physicians are facing a familiar mix of pressure — reimbursement uncertainty, rising labor and supply costs, staffing shortages and growing exposure to legal and cyber risk. Medical Economics Managing Editor Todd Shryock caught up with Peter Reilly, North American health care practice leader at HUB International, to talk about what those risks look like in practice, and which ones phy...
27m • Jan 29
27m
S1 Ep119: The staffing squeeze, with Rihan Javid, D.O., J.D., of Edge
Rising minimum wages, fierce labor competition and persistent turnover are reshaping how physician practices operate — and higher pay alone isn’t solving the problem. Rihan Javid, D.O., J.D., a psychiatrist and co-founder and president of Edge, a remote staffing organization, about how staffing pressures are landing inside medical practices in 2026. Javid explains why small practices and rura...
14m • Jan 26
14m
S1 Ep118: How to market an independent practice in 2026, with Carl White of MarketVisory Group
Independent medical practices are facing more competition than ever — from hospital systems, urgent care chains, private equity–backed groups and other local practices just down the road. Medical Economics Content Vice President Chris Mazzolini sat down with Carl White, president and founder of MarketVisory Group, to talk about what it actually takes for independent practices to stay visible, ...
30m • Jan 22
30m
S1 Ep117: What patients are hearing, with Colleen Denny, M.D., FACOG
Patients are making health decisions in a very different information environment — one shaped by social media, search engines, generative artificial intelligence (AI) and increasingly politicized medical claims. Medical Economics Senior Editor Richard Payerchin sat down with Colleen Denny, M.D., FACOG, chief ethics officer for the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), to ...
26m • Jan 19
26m
S1 Ep116: Financial independence, with Michael Jerkins, M.D., M.Ed.
Physicians spend years mastering medicine, but many leave training with little guidance on managing money, debt or long-term financial decisions. Michael Jerkins, M.D., M.Ed., an internal medicine and pediatrics physician and co-founder of Panacea Financial, sits down with Medical Economics Senior Editor Richard Payerchin to break down what financial pressures look like at every stage of a phy...
22m • Jan 15
22m
S1 Ep115: Reinventing physician training, with AMGA President Jerry Penso, M.D., MBA, and Practicing Excellence founder Stephen Beeson, M.D.
Health systems and medical groups are fighting the same three-headed problem: money, access and staffing. In this episode, American Medical Group Association (AMGA) (https://www.amga.org/) President and CEO Jerry Penso, M.D., MBA, and Practicing Excellence (https://practicingexcellence.com/) founder Stephen Beeson, M.D., discuss their new partnership meant to strengthen physician development w...
31m • Jan 12
31m
S1 Ep114: What we get wrong about vaccine hesitancy, with David Higgins, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.
Pediatrician and author David Higgins, M.D., M.P.H., M.S., joins the show to unpack what’s really happening with vaccine confidence. Higgins explains why true anti-vaccine activists are a tiny minority, how media coverage can exaggerate hesitancy and why most parents still want vaccines for their children — even if they come in with questions. He also digs into the role of social media algorith...
31m • Jan 08
31m
S1 Ep113: The 2025 Off the Chart Holiday Spectacular
Two hours. One studio. Zero confetti (almost). In the 2025 Off the Chart Holiday Spectacular, Off the Chart hosts Keith Reynolds and Austin Littrell race to clean the studio before a holiday party — and along the way, revisit some of the most important conversations of the year. Listeners hear from Anders Gilberg of MGMA on what 2026 health care policy could actually bring for physician payme...
26m • Dec 22, 2025
26m
S1 Ep112: Why leading physicians will move to concierge medicine in 2026 with Greg Grant of Specialdocs
Today’s episode is brought to you by Specialdocs Consultants, and our topic today is the growing popularity of concierge medicine. As physician burnout, payer pressures, and patient expectations reach new inflection points, many doctors are rethinking how they practice medicine. For this episode, Medical Economics Content Vice President Chris Mazzolini sat down with Greg Grant, the Chief Opera...
44m • Dec 22, 2025
44m
S1 Ep111: The physician engagement crisis, with Bill Heller of CHG Healthcare
Most physicians say they’re satisfied with their jobs — but far fewer say they feel engaged at work. That disconnect is at the center of CHG Healthcare’s 2025 Physician Sentiment Survey, which draws on responses from more than 900 physicians nationwide. In this episode of Off the Chart, Medical Economics Assistant Editor Austin Littrell speaks with Bill Heller, chief operating officer at CHG H...
30m • Dec 18, 2025
30m
S1 Ep110: Vaccine skepticism, with Paul Offit, M.D.
Vaccine conversations have changed. Sure, there have always been skeptics, but since the COVID-19 pandemic — and especially since Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., has headed Health and Human Services (HHS) — debates have only intensified. For physicians, what used to be occasional questions in the exam room have become daily conversations that are more emotional, more complex and more consequential for...
32m • Dec 15, 2025
32m
S1 Ep109: Point-of-care testing with Daniel Krajcik, D.O., MBA
Point-of-care testing has become a core part of how many primary care practices diagnose, treat and manage patients — but deciding which tests to offer, how to implement them and whether the investment makes sense isn’t always straightforward. Daniel Krajcik, D.O., MBA, a primary care physician with the Cleveland Clinic, joins the show to break down the real-world considerations of bringing ra...
21m • Dec 11, 2025
21m
S1 Ep108: Confronting misinformation, with ACP President Jason Goldman, M.D., MACP
American College of Physicians President Jason Goldman, M.D., MACP joins the show to talk about one of the most difficult realities in clinical practice today: medical misinformation.
36m • Dec 08, 2025
36m
S1 Ep107: In defense of private equity, with Jared Rhoads, M.S., M.P.H., of the Center for Modern Health
Jared Rhoads, M.S., M.P.H., founder of the Center for Modern Health and senior lecturer of health policy at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, joins the show to talk about private equity’s role in health care and how politics are reshaping policy. Rhoads offers a different take on private equity, arguing that current research is too mixed and fragmented to justify...
23m • Dec 04, 2025
23m
S1 Ep106: The realities of running a medical practice, with David N. Gans, MSHA, FACMPE
David N. Gans, MSHA, FACMPE (https://www.mgma.com/authors/david-n-gans) , retired senior fellow at MGMA, joins the show to talk about the real pressures facing practices today — rising costs, flat reimbursement, staffing strain and the push for efficiency. Gans breaks down the key metrics leaders should watch in 2026, the compliance gaps he sees most often, and how to evaluate new technologies...
27m • Dec 01, 2025
27m
S1 Ep105: Understanding ultraprocessed foods in the American diet, with Krista Blackwell, Ph.D.
Krista Blackwell, Ph.D. (https://sc.edu/study/colleges_schools/medicine_greenville/about/faculty/facultydir_biomedical/pf811926ddffdde1e66f9bf6c8879eb0ce) , clinical assistant professor of biomedical sciences at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Greenville, joins the show to talk about two new reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (https://www...
27m • Nov 27, 2025
27m
S1 Ep104: Payer ownership and the future of primary care, with Loren Adler of the Brookings Institution
Loren Adler, fellow and associate director at the Brookings Institution's Center on Health Policy, joins the show to talk about his new Health Affairs (https://academic.oup.com/healthaffairsscholar/article/3/7/qxaf120/8160115) study examining the rise of insurer-owned primary care practices. Adler breaks down how quickly payer ownership has expanded, why certain markets are seeing far higher c...
35m • Nov 24, 2025
35m
S1 Ep103: Physician mental health: A silent crisis, with Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, M.D., MBA, and Christine Yu Moutier, M.D.
Mental health remains a silent crisis among physicians. Medical Economics Senior Editor Richard Payerchin sat down with Daniel Saddawi-Konefka, M.D., MBA, and Christine Yu Moutier, M.D., to learn more about the rising rates of depression and suicidal ideation among physicians, why stigma and licensing questions still keep many from seeking help, and how to separate burnout from true mental hea...
30m • Nov 20, 2025
30m
S1 Ep102: The shutdown is over — now what? A conversation with Anders Gilberg of MGMA
After the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, the government is finally open again — but for medical practices, the relief is short-lived. In this episode, Physicians Practice editor Keith Reynolds sits down with Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs at the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), to talk about what the reopening actually means for medical groups...
32m • Nov 17, 2025
32m
S1 Ep101: Denied claims and AI, with Clarissa Riggins of Experian Health
Denied claims are cutting deeper into practice revenue — and the numbers are getting worse. In this episode, Medical Economics Managing Editor Todd Shryock talks with Clarissa Riggins, chief product officer at Experian Health, about the company’s 2025 State of Claims Report (https://www.experian.com/healthcare/resources-insights/thought-leadership/white-papers-insights/state-claims-report) . ...
24m • Nov 13, 2025
24m
S1 Ep100: 100 episodes of Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast
In the 100th episode of Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast, host Austin Littrell is joined by Todd Shryock, Richard Payerchin, and Keith Reynolds — the editors from Medical Economics and Physicians Practice who helped build Off the Chart into what it is today. Together, they look back on favorite conversations, memorable guests and defining trends from the show’s first 100 episodes. ...
23m • Nov 10, 2025
23m
S1 Ep99: New lessons in lifestyle medicine, with Jennifer Trilk, Ph.D., FACSM, DipACLM
Jennifer Trilk, Ph.D., FACSM, DipACLM, professor of biomedical sciences and director of lifestyle medicine programs at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville, joins the show to discuss how her program is reshaping physician education through lifestyle medicine. Trilk explains how training future doctors in nutrition, physical activity, behavior change and self-care is k...
35m • Nov 06, 2025
35m
S1 Ep98: Fighting burnout, with Stefanie Simmons, M.D., FACEP, CMO of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation
Stefanie Simmons, M.D., FACEP, chief medical officer of the Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes’ Foundation (https://drlornabreen.org/) , joins the show to talk about the state of burnout in health care and what’s being done to fix it. She explains how the foundation is working to remove stigmatizing mental health questions from licensing and credentialing forms, and why addressing burnout requires systemi...
30m • Nov 03, 2025
30m
S1 Ep97: AI, malpractice and the future of physician liability
Artificial intelligence (AI) is entering everyday care, so of course it’s raising questions about malpractice. In this episode, we sat down with three national experts shaping how AI liability will evolve: Sara Gerke, associate professor of law at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; David A. Simon, J.D., LL.M., Ph.D., associate professor of law at Northeastern University; and Deepika S...
21m • Oct 30, 2025
21m
S1 Ep96: Less paperwork, more patients, with David Ford, CEO of CMA Physician Services
David Ford, CEO of MedWay, joins the show to discuss how the California Medical Association’s (CMA's) new business support program is helping independent physicians take control of their practices without taking on more administrative work. Launched in 2025, MedWay (https://medwaydocs.com/) is a subscription-based management service designed to handle HR, payroll, benefits, insurance and other...
35m • Oct 27, 2025
35m
S1 Ep95: The case for independent practice, with Paul Merrick, M.D., and Dan Greenleaf of Duly Health and Care
Paul Merrick, M.D., and Dan Greenleaf of Duly Health and Care join the show to discuss why independent medical practices deliver high-quality care at lower costs — and why that matters for the future of U.S. health care. They share insights from a Duly study on health care spending, the importance of physician autonomy and how independent groups can stay competitive amid industry consolidation...
38m • Oct 23, 2025
38m
S1 Ep94: When ICE shows up at your practice, with Katie P. Russell, J.D., partner at Brown Immigration Law
Katie P. Russell, J.D., partner at Brown Immigration Law (https://www.brown-immigration.com/) in Cleveland, Ohio, joins the show to explain what physicians and practice managers should do if Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) comes knocking at their practice door. She discusses how to identify valid warrants, protect patient information under HIPAA, and prepare staff with clear response...
19m • Oct 20, 2025
19m
S1 Ep93: Unpacking Medicare’s $15B skin substitute boom, with HHS-OIG Regional Inspector General David Tawes, M.A.
David Tawes, regional inspector general in the Office of Evaluation and Inspections at HHS’ Office of Inspector General, joins the show to discuss the agency’s new report on the massive rise in Medicare spending for skin substitutes. He explains what’s driving the surge — from changing billing practices to outright fraud — and how policymakers can balance patient access with stronger oversight...
26m • Oct 16, 2025
26m
S1 Ep92: Building true wealth, with Bryan Jepson, M.D., CFP
Bryan Jepson, M.D., CFP, joins the show to explain what “true wealth” really means for physicians, and why retirement planning goes far beyond money. He explains how to balance financial goals with personal fulfillment, tackle student debt and make smart decisions about saving, investing and enjoying life along the way. Music Credits: Distant Memories by Buurd - stock.adobe.com (http://stock....
24m • Oct 13, 2025
24m
S1 Ep91: The telehealth crisis of 2025, with Kyle Zebley, senior VP of public policy at the American Telemedicine Association
Kyle Zebley, senior vice president of the American Telemedicine Association (ATA) and executive director of ATA Action, joins the show to talk about what happened when Medicare’s telehealth flexibilities expired during the federal government shutdown earlier this month. In discussion with Medical Economics Senior Editor Richard Payerchin on October 3, 2025, Zebley explains how the lapse has di...
35m • Oct 09, 2025
35m
S1 Ep90: Medicine's broken workflow, with Kevin Schulman, M.D., MBA
Kevin Schulman, M.D., MBA, professor of medicine, clinical excellence research center at Stanford University, joins the show to talk about why the U.S. spends more on health care administration than many countries spend on care itself. Schulman explains how complexity in billing and payment drives up costs, why current processes are still stuck in the analog era and how ideas from other indust...
37m • Oct 06, 2025
37m
S1 Ep89: Staying resilient with Andrew Swanson, M.P.A., FACMPE, of MGMA
At the MGMA Leaders Conference 2025 in Orlando, Florida, Andrew Swanson, M.P.A., FACMPE, spoke with Physicians Practice Editor Keith Reynolds about the pressures facing practices, from shrinking reimbursements to rising costs. He shared why technology, stronger leadership and a focus on patient experience are key to staying resilient — and why finding community and even humor can help practice...
15m • Oct 02, 2025
15m
S1 Ep88: Women in medicine month, with Yalda Jabbarpour, M.D., and Annie Koempel, Ph.D., M.A., RDN, LD
As Women in Medicine Month comes to a close, Yalda Jabbarpour, M.D., director of the Robert Graham Center at the American Academy of Family Physicians and Annie Koempel, Ph.D., M.A., RDN, LD, qualitative scientist at the American Board of Family Medicine, join the show to discuss their recent study on early career women in family medicine. They share insights on how women physicians are alread...
28m • Sep 29, 2025
28m
S1 Ep87: Challenging your limits, with Justin Osmond
Justin Osmond, international keynote speaker, best-selling author, producer and humanitarian, joins the show to share his journey of overcoming profound hearing loss and breaking through self-imposed limits. In conversation with Keith Reynolds, editor of Physicians Practice, Osmond explains how leaders can reframe setbacks, build supportive teams and use mindset as a powerful tool to turn chall...
22m • Sep 25, 2025
22m
S1 Ep86: The future of medical research, with Donald Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement
In the U.S., billions of dollars are spent each year on medical research and drug development, but too often those dollars don't match up with the diseases and patient needs that matter most. In this episode of Off the Chart: A Business of Medicine Podcast, Donald Berwick, M.D., M.P.P., president emeritus and senior fellow at the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, and former director of the...
37m • Sep 22, 2025
37m
S1 Ep85: Branding for physicians, with Scott Bartnick, CEO of Otter Public Relations
In today’s digital marketplace, a physician’s reputation is no longer shaped only by word-of-mouth — it’s built online through reviews, search results and digital presence. In this episode of Off the Chart, Scott Bartnick, co-founder & CEO of Otter Public Relations, sits down with Medical Economics Managing Editor Todd Shryock to explore how physicians can create strong, credible personal brand...
25m • Sep 18, 2025
25m
S1 Ep84: Food as medicine and the future of physician training, with David Eisenberg, M.D.
David Eisenberg, M.D., director of culinary nutrition at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, founding co-director of the Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives conference, and founder and former executive director of the Teaching Kitchen Collaborative, joins the show to talk about the importance of nutritional education for physicians. "Proposed Nutrition Competencies for Medical Students...
35m • Sep 15, 2025
35m
S1 Ep83: Community, leadership and mental health in medicine, with AOA President Robert Piccinini, D.O.
Robert G.G. Piccinini, D.O., D.FACN, an adult, geriatric and forensic psychiatrist and recently-appointed president of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), joins the show to talk about leadership, mental and behavioral health and his goals as president. Music Credits: Rooftops by Buurd - stock.adobe.com (http://stock.adobe.com/) Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com (h...
38m • Sep 11, 2025
38m
S1 Ep82: Practice leadership, with Kem Tolliver, FACMPE, CPC, CMOM, of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists
Kem Tolliver, FACMPE, CPC, CMOM, president and CEO of Medical Revenue Cycle Specialists, joins the show to talk leadership in medicine, including key insights into the importance of innovation, vulnerability and teamwork, and how to recognize and reduce burnout and prepare for upcoming changes in medicine. Kem will also be the opening keynote speaker at the HCLA Virginia 2025 Fall Conference (...
32m • Sep 08, 2025
32m
S1 Ep81: AI safety and governance in health care, with Kedar Mate, M.D., of Qualified Health
Kedar Mate, M.D., founder and chief medical officer of Qualified Health, joins the show to talk about the promise and risks of artificial intelligence (AI) in health care. He discusses the importance of proper oversight and governance, the need for HIPAA-compliant tools and how health systems can operationalize ethical frameworks to ensure safe and effective AI use. Mate also shares lessons fr...
28m • Sep 04, 2025
28m
S1 Ep80: Health equity and medical misinformation, with Gary Price, M.D., MBA, president of The Physicians Foundation
Gary Price, M.D., MBA, joins Medical Economics senior editor Richard Payerchin to discuss The Physicians Foundation’s latest initiatives, including open grants addressing social drivers of health and physician well-being. Price reflects on the legacy of Richard “Buz” Cooper, M.D.’s research linking poverty and health care costs, highlights examples of community-driven solutions and explains how...
35m • Sep 01, 2025
35m
S1 Ep79: The state of health care policy, with Anders Gilberg, SVP of government affairs at MGMA
Anders Gilberg, senior vice president of government affairs at the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), joins the show with updates from Washington on the most important topics affecting medical groups and health care policy. Speaking with Keith A. Reynolds, editor of Physicians Practice (https://www.physicianspractice.com/) , Gilberg talks about the impact of recent health care legisl...
27m • Aug 25, 2025
27m
S1 Ep78: What the 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule means for RPM, with Lucienne Marie Ide, M.D., Ph.D.
Lucienne Marie Ide, M.D., Ph.D., founder and CEO of Rimidi (https://rimidi.com/) , joins the show to discuss the proposed 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule and its impact on remote patient monitoring (RPM) programs. Ide shares insights on new billing codes, increased flexibility for physicians, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) and the evolving integration of RPM into standard health ...
29m • Aug 18, 2025
29m
S1 Ep77: What's broken in health care, with Marschall Runge, M.D., Ph.D.
Marschall Runge, M.D., Ph.D., dean of the University of Michigan Medical School, CEO of Michigan Medicine and author of The Great Healthcare Disruption, joins the show to dissect exactly what's broken in U.S. health care — and what we can do to fix it. Music Credits: Moonlit Walk by Buurd - stock.adobe.com (http://stock.adobe.com/) Relaxing Lounge by Classy Call me Man - stock.adobe.com (http:...
30m • Aug 11, 2025
30m
S1 Ep76: What AI can (and can't) do for prior authorizations, with Brad Boyd of BDO USA
Brad Boyd, principal of management consulting at BDO USA, joins the show to talk about how artificial intelligence (AI) and other health technologies are helping physicians navigate the prior authorization process, reduce administrative burdens and improve patient care. Music Credits: CHILL LOFI HIPHOP (AGATE LEVELS) NO MEL by Tasty Tunes - stock.adobe.com (http://stock.adobe.com/) Relaxing Lo...
35m • Aug 04, 2025
35m
Special Report: 60 years of Medicare
This is an Off the Chart Special Report. 60 years ago today, on July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare and Medicaid Act — also known as the Social Security Amendments of 1965 — into law at the Truman Library in Independence, Missouri. Years earlier, in 1945, it was President Harry S. Truman who first proposed a comprehensive national health insurance program to Congres...
32m • Jul 30, 2025
32m
S1 Ep75: Physician struggles, with AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. (Part 2)
Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA) joins the show to talk about what the AMA is doing for pressing issues like prior authorizations, private practice, artificial intelligence and scope of practice. This is part two of our conversation with Mukkamala. If you haven't already, be sure to check out part one, "From patient to president, with AMA President Bob...
21m • Jul 28, 2025
21m
S1 Ep74: From patient to president, with AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. (Part 1)
Bobby Mukkamala, M.D., president of the American Medical Association (AMA) joins the show to discuss the AMA's mission in the year ahead, health care policy, challenges facing primary care and his personal health journey. This is part one of a two-part interview with Mukkamala. Don't miss part two — where he talks about reimbursement struggles, prior authorization frustrations, the potential o...
25m • Jul 21, 2025
25m
S1 Ep73: Why physicians are suing RFK Jr., with attorney Richard H. Hughes IV, J.D., M.P.H.
Richard H. Hughes IV, J.D., M.P.H., joins the show to talk about the recent lawsuit filed against Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., by major medical groups — including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American College of Physicians, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and a "Jane Doe" pregnant physician — regarding the removal of the COVID-19 vaccination for...
15m • Jul 14, 2025
15m
S1 Ep72: Medicare reform with Susan Dentzer of America's Physician Groups
Susan Dentzer, president and CEO of America's Physician Groups, joins the show to talk Medicare reform and the specific proposals included in America's Physician Group's latest report, "Medicare Done Right. (https://www.apg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Medicare-Done-Right-Final-4.1.25.pdf) " Download the full report: https://www.apg.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/Medicare-Done-Right-Final-4....
28m • Jul 07, 2025
28m

Sorry, your browser isn't supported.

We recommend upgrading to the latest Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

You can visit our support center if you're having problems.