50 Years of Community Health Center, Inc.: A Special Conversation

We’re marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of Community Health Center, Inc., by turning the tables on hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter. Join former CBS and ABC News anchor Thalia Assuras as she asks Mark and Margaret to share their memories on this special occasion.

You’ll learn about the early challenges of starting CHC, the patients it’s helped and how it fits into the larger effort to improve U.S. health care.

Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege: A Commitment for 50+ Years

For over 50 years Community Health Center, Inc., has focused on one key thought: Health Care is a Right, Not a Privilege.

“Conversations on Health Care” is CHC’s nationally syndicated program that brings the mission to life.

This week guest host Thalia Assuras, a CBS and ABC News veteran, continues her talk with Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter about CHC’s anniversary, the interview program and its first guest Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. They also discuss how CHC’s experience helped it navigate the COVID pandemic, including setting up a mass vaccination site.

What Does Shark Tank’s Mark Cuban Know About Fixing Health Care? Are There Lessons for All of Us?

Billionaire Mark Cuban never holds back his opinions on TV’s “Shark Tank” and now he’s trying to take a bite out of the health care sector — it might be his biggest challenge yet. Cuban understands he’s up against entrenched lobbyists and bureaucrats as he tries to reform how Americans purchase their pharmaceuticals.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter ask Cuban to explain his venture Cost Plus Drugs, its financial model and how some insurers are already joining in.

Mark Cuban: Drug Price Disrupter Explains How It Works

When we have a guest like “Shark Tank” star Mark Cuban, it can be hard to keep up with all his thoughts. He was a bundle of energy in November 2022 explaining his then-new venture trying to reform how Americans can purchase lower-priced drugs; he called it “dunking on the pharma industry.” Since our conversation, experts say Cuban has become a major disrupter in generic drug pricing. Cost Plus now offers 2,500 drugs and has signed up a large list of health systems.

Join us for this encore presentation as hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter ask Cuban to explain how his approach also includes introducing transparency to drug pricing.

60 Years of Medicaid & Medicare: Health Care Challenges & Opportunities

Record Heat Wave: L.A.’s Chief Heat Officer Speaks Out

Scientists say this July was the Earth’s warmest month on record in “hundreds, if not thousands, of years.” The City of Los Angeles is taking a unique approach to help its people deal with the record-breaking temperatures through the leadership of Marta Segura, one of the few appointed chief heat officers in the world. Her work is focused on finding solutions when the weather causes physical and mental health issues and she’s keeping equity at the forefront of their efforts.

She has tough words in her interview with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter, including criticism of the Texas governor for nullifying local ordinances that had provided workers protection from devastating, triple-digit temperatures.

How to Reduce Health Risks When September Temps Reach 100+

Experts report we’re dealing with the hottest summer on record for the second year in a row. Phoenix has recorded 100 straight days of over 100-degree weather; Hollywood Burbank Airport in the Los Angeles area matched its all-time high temperature with a reading of 114.

In Los Angeles, the city is taking action to help its people deal with the temperatures through the leadership of Marta Segura, one of the few appointed chief heat officers in the world. Her work is focused on finding solutions when the weather causes physical and mental health issues and she’s keeping equity at the forefront of her efforts. Segura explains how an aware and engaged public is key to the effective implementation of climate policies.

This all occurs as U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra has declared extreme heat a rising public health crisis.

Join us for this encore “Conversations on Health Care” with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.

Dr. Martin Kohn, Chief Scientific Officer of Jointly Health

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Martin Kohn, Chief Medical Scientist for Jointly Health, and recent Chief Medical Scientist at IBM Research, which oversaw the development of the supercomputer Watson for Healthcare. Dr. Kohn discusses the promise for the transformation of health care through the growth of Patient Centered Medical Homes as well as developing new platforms which utilize big data from multiple sources to improve health outcomes.

Dr. Martin Makary, Patient Safety Advocate and Surgeon at Johns Hopkins

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Martin Makary, chief of pancreatic surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, and internationally recognized patient safety expert. Dr. Makary discusses his recent study indicating medical errors are the third leading cause of death in this country, the need for better patient safety metrics, as well as a "transparency revolution" in health care.

Examining Oral Health Disparities in America with Author Mary Otto

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with health journalist and author Mary Otto about her book, "Teeth: The Story of Beauty, Inequality, and the Struggle for Oral Health in America" which she explores the huge gap in access to dental care in this country. She examines the sometimes deadly consequences for those lacking access to care, and solutions that could help alleviate the nation's unmet oral health needs.

Omicron’s Health Inequities: N.Y. State Health Commissioner Vows to Close Gap

Dr. Mary Bassett, New York State Commissioner of Health, says the COVID Omicron variant is still exposing health inequities — African Americans in New York have been hospitalized twice as much as the majority population during this latest wave. Bassett says achieving health equity “will be the North Star of my working life as a physician committed to public health.” Bassett also tells Conversations on Health Care hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter that the state has four times as many hospitalized now compared to the pandemic lull last summer. Yet she also notes the hospitalization and case rates are going down.

Hon. Mary Bono, Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse

Mary Bono has left the halls of Congress, but she’s still winning with her efforts to stop the misuse of both prescription and illegal drugs. Bono, co-founder and chair of Mothers for Awareness and Prevention of Drug Abuse, wants to see a focus on solutions from lawmakers. With a greater presence of fentanyl in the drug supply, “everything [has] changed because there’s no longer time for experimentation,” Bono says. “‘One pill can kill’ is a [Drug Enforcement Administration] slogan, and it’s true.”

Dr. Mary Jane Koren, vice president for the Picker-Commonwealth Fund Long-Term Quality Improvement Program.

Conversations on Health Care® focuses this week on reforming long-term care. Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Mary Jane Koren, a long-term care expert, about improving the quality of life through system changes that focus on the needs of the individual versus the needs of the institution.

Mary Jo Assi, Director of Nursing Practice at the American Nurses Association

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Mary Jo Assi, PhD, Director of Nursing Practice and Work Environment at the American Nurses Association which represents the nation's 3.4 million nurses. They discuss the expanding scope of the nursing work force in the ACA era, as well as the organization's current focus on workforce safety.

Medicaid Expert Matt Salo Discusses Looming Challenges for Nation's Medicaid Directors

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Matt Salo, Executive Director of the National Association of State Medicaid Directors which represents the nation's 56 state and territorial Medicaid Directors. Mr. Salo discusses Medicaid's complex patient population of 76 million Americans, the impact of the ACA on the program, and how uncertainty over Washington health policy is cause for concern for those who administering the program.

Vaping and the Rise of Teen Nicotine Addiction: Warnings and Solutions from Matthew Myers, CEO of Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter welcome Matthew Myers, co-founder and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a leading organization dedicated to reducing tobacco use and harm around the country and the world. He discusses the dramatic decline of teen tobacco use, until the recent rise in vaping and e-cigarettes among the nation's youth - leading to a dramatic increase in nicotine addiction. He discusses the best approach to addressing this public health crisis.

Maureen Bisognano, president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

This week, Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Maureen Bisognano, president of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, about advancing patient safety and quality while improving value and controlling cost.

COVID Variant and Delayed Vaccines: Dr. Megan Ranney on Pandemic Perils

This week, hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with ER physician Dr. Megan Ranney, Assistant Dean of the Institute for Translational Science at Brown University and Director of the Brown-Lifespan Center for Digital Health. A frequent spokesperson across the media landscape on the COVID-19 pandemic, and founder of #GetUsPPE and the MyCOVIDrisk app, Dr. Ranney warns the new COVID-19 variant which is highly transmissible could spark a new wave of super-spreader events, and that poor preparation on vaccine distribution will slow our ability to contain the pandemic.

Healthcare Disability Advocate, Fueled by Personal Experience: Megan Morris

Dr. Michael McGinnis—creator of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and currently senior scholar at the Institute of Medicine.

Conversations on Health Care® focuses this week on the current issues we face in both clinical care and public health interventions. Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter speak with Dr. Michael McGinnis, a health policy leader who has served through the Carter, Reagan, Bush and Clinton Administrations as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health, Assistant Surgeon General and Director of the Office of Disease Prevention. Dr. McGinnis is currently senior scholar at the Institute of Medicine, leading its initiative on evidence-based medicine.