Mental Health’s AI Revolution: What It Means for Patients & Providers

How is the long-held image of a psychiatrist with a couch in an office being replaced by artificial intelligence? And what are the promises and perils of using technology to help treat depression and anxiety? Dr. Jodi Halpern is a psychiatrist, noted author and co-founder of the University of California’s Berkeley Group for Ethics and Regulation of Innovative Technologies.

Research shows that 26% of adult Americans have a diagnosable mental health situation each year, and private industry is rushing to provide AI and bots to help patients navigate these issues. However, Dr. Halpern explains the ethical problems that are arising from the marketing of these services. Join us for this insightful “Conversations on Health Care” with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.

A Roadmap to Improve Health Outcomes By Investing In Green and Healthy Homes

There are many ways to address the social determinants of health but do we need to pay more attention to the one right in front of us? The Green and Healthy Homes Initiative thinks so, and it’s focused on addressing health inequities by making homes healthier, safer and more energy efficient.

Helping Community Health Workers Succeed: Ideas From an Innovative Program

Experts praise community health workers as the keys to building a more equitable and fair health care system in America. Is there a way to unlock more success for hiring and retaining them?

Dr. Shreya Kangovi thinks so; she developed the IMPaCT Care program, which is saving money and quickly growing. “Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter talked to her about how it’s a standardized, scalable program that transforms the effectiveness of the community health workforce by reimagining each step.

She Helped Design Pres. Biden’s AI Bill of Rights—How Does It Protect Patients?

Less than three months ago, Alondra Nelson, Ph.D., proudly watched as President Biden unveiled the administration’s blueprint for an artificial intelligence bill of rights, which is focused on ensuring safe, secure and trustworthy technology. Nelson had a big role in developing the strategy as she served as deputy assistant to the president and acting director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Since then, major health care companies have agreed to work toward solutions that advance health equity, expand access to care, make care affordable and other commitments.

But there’s anxiety about clinical algorithms showing racial bias and privacy worries. Nelson joins hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter to explain how the health care sector, including its employees, can benefit if AI is thoughtfully deployed.

(Alondra Nelson Photo/Dan Komoda)

Are You Up to Date on Health Care Policy & Innovation as 2024 Kicks Off? We Can Help.

A new year brings hope for breakthroughs for our most complex health care issues. The leading thinkers have been sharing their perspectives with us. We’ve captured the highlights from our recent interviews covering vaccinations, abortion, mental health and all the top stories. Plus, we have important updates for 2024. Click below to join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for “Conversations on Health Care.”

Long COVID: 2023’s Enduring Medical Mystery

The diagnosis and treatment of Long COVID made many advancements in the past 12 months and “Conversations on Health Care” covered all of them. We’ve collected the most important insights from leading researchers and clinicians as this medical mystery continues. Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter as they highlight the perspectives of guests ranging from NIH researchers and patients, to the leader of the Mayo Clinic’s COVID Activity Rehabilitation Program.

Any Hope to Avoid Govt. Shutdown in ’24? Health Care Reporters Assess the Chances

The advice from one of Washington’s health care policy reporters is to rest up and enjoy the holidays because 2024 is going to be a very intense time. The top items on the agenda include a federal fight over the budget (including health care) that could lead to a government shutdown at the beginning of the year, a presidential campaign that will place health issues at the forefront, continuing concerns about AI and health, and a Supreme Court decision expected by June on medication abortion.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter get the health care policy prognosis for 2024 from: Joyce Frieden, who oversees MedPage Today's coverage of Washington and health policy; Caitlin Owens, a senior policy reporter for Axios; and Nathaniel Weixel. a health policy reporter for The Hill.

Holiday Blues & America’s Mental Health Crisis: Insights from NAMI’s Chief Medical Officer

This is a critically important time for Dr. Ken Duckworth as the chief medical officer for NAMI— the National Alliance on Mental Illness. It’s the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Yet the holidays often bring increased instances of depression, which is especially troubling for a country already experiencing the highest rates of suicide in over 80 years.

How Do We Get More Latinas Interested in Nursing? Ideas & Inspiration from Authors of New Book

Our guests were looking for a book that told real-life stories about Latinas in nursing, but they couldn’t find one. So they took the job upon themselves and wrote their own book, titled “Latinas in Nursing: Stories of Determination, Inspiration, and Trust.”

The book is a compilation of the beautiful stories of the challenges, growth and discovery influential Latina nurses share about their journeys, including during the COVID pandemic. Right now, Hispanics make up 19% of the total U.S. population but only about 8% of registered nurses are Latina.

Join us as Tina Loarte-Rodríguez and Zacnité Vargas-Avalos bring their book to life in conversation with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter.

Environmental Leader Dr. Vanessa Kerry Delves Into Intersections of Health and Climate at COP28 Global Climate Gathering

The United Nations Climate Change Conference (known as COP28) is underway and on Dec. 3 it will feature a “Day of Health.” This is the first time the world leaders on climate change will devote an entire day to how climate change is affecting our physical, mental and emotional health.

Dr. Vanessa Kerry, the World Health Organization Director-General Special Envoy for Climate Change and Health, joined us with an overview of what to expect from the discussions, including ongoing efforts to reduce fossil fuels. In fact, new research shows using fossil fuels accounts for 5 million extra deaths a year worldwide.

Dr. Kerry also shared with hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter how she helps her dad, U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry, understand the urgent need to protect human health as temperatures continue to rise.

Can She Solve the Mystery of Long COVID? Dr. Lisa Sanders Searches for Clues

Dr. Lisa Sanders grew up reading Sherlock Holmes. Now, she’s looking to solve health care mysteries as the medical director of the Yale New Haven Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center. She recently explained her patients are getting better through a variety of approaches and she’s hopeful the caseload will continue to decrease. Dr. Sanders, well-known for writing The New York Times “Diagnosis” column, rejects Long COVID skepticism because she says she has seen clinical evidence of the condition. Join us for this encore presentation of the interview Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter conducted with Dr. Sanders for “Conversations on Health Care.”

Is the Air We Breathe Safe? Award-Winning Scientist Linsey Marr & Green Building Council’s Peter Templeton Share Their Insights

Did you catch environmental engineer Linsey Marr, Ph.D., on “60 Minutes” explaining how she was confident she knew COVID was an airborne virus (even when the World Health Organization was saying otherwise)? Learn more about her insights and latest observations as she joins “Conversations on Health Care” this week.

Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also discuss air quality and energy efficiency with Peter Templeton, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council, who explains their LEED green building rating systems.

New NACHC CEO Dr. Kyu Rhee: Top 3 Goals for Community Health Centers

Experienced health care executive Dr. Kyu Rhee, recently named as the president and CEO of the National Association of Community Health Centers, says member organizations are working on three big goals: Being the provider of choice, the employer of choice and the partner of choice.

As he and NACHC members focus on these items, they’re also nervously awaiting congressional action. In late September, Congress passed a short-term extension of funding for community health centers, National Health Services Corps and the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education program. Without Congressional action, that money will expire on Nov. 17.

Dr. Rhee says he sees bipartisan support for community health centers on Capitol Hill but the coming days will be critical as the funding hurdles become clearer.

“Conversations on Health Care” hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter also discuss with Dr. Rhee workforce needs, value-based care and how centers are ready for the next pandemic, if and when it could occur.

Grantmaking During Global Turmoil: The Rockefeller Foundation’s President Dr. Rajiv Shah

Dr. Rajiv Shah, president of The Rockefeller Foundation, served on the National Security Council and elevated the role of development as part of our nation’s foreign policy while he was USAID Administrator. Dr. Shah, our guest this week on “Conversations of Health Care,” explained that the war in Gaza requires a need to balance defense, diplomacy and development.

His new book Big Bets: How Large-Scale Change Really Happens, takes readers inside past efforts to secure federal funding for humanitarian aid. These lessons are even more important as President Biden is now asking for $105 billion for international conflicts.

From COVID vaccines to climate change, Dr. Shah is at the center of it all. In 2021, The Rockefeller Foundation awarded $440 million in grants to tackle these issues and many others. Hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter ask Dr. Shah to explain how he and his team make big bets during a time of global turmoil.

Preventing Veteran Suicides: VA Under Sec. Dr. Shereef Elnahal Outlines Plan

Dr. Shereef Elnahal, the Under Secretary for Health in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, says their most important clinical care and public health issue right now is preventing veteran suicides. The data show that 17 vets a day die by suicide. Their work includes making sure vets know that the 988 Suicide and Crisis Hotline is available for them.

He also explained that the VA has communicated to the U.S. Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that his department is ready to conduct clinical trials using marijuana when and if the substance is reclassified as a less dangerous drug.

Other topics discussed include why vets should sign up now for new benefits available through the PACT Act, how the VA performs on various metrics and the latest details about innovations they’re bringing to the entire health care sector.

Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for this conversation as we prepare for National Veterans and Military Families Month, starting on November 1.

Flu Update from CDC Dir. Cohen: So Far, Not An Early Flu Season

Dr. Mandy Cohen, the new CDC director, is facing big hurdles as she tries to explain to Americans the benefits of three vaccines now available at the same time: the updated COVID and the flu vaccine (for everyone 6 months and older) and the RSV vaccine (for eligible older adults). There's vaccine skepticism and have been some issues with insurance payments. At the same time, she’s trying to rebuild trust in the CDC when polls show that has been eroding.

Budget Woes & Health Care Policy Snarls: Latest Views from D.C

While both parties in Washington dig in for a longer fight over the budget, health care policy hangs in the balance. Ben Leonard with POLITICO and Nathaniel Weixel with The Hill both cover health care policy and join us for a reporters’ roundtable to go over the pending issues as the government faces another funding shutdown in mid-November.

Ideas for Improving Hispanic Health With Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association; Charles Barber on “Paz Y Salud” Publication

As we mark Hispanic Heritage Month, we hear from Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO of the National Hispanic Medical Association, which represents the interests of the nation’s 50,000 Latino physicians. This is an encore presentation from 2021 yet many of the issues we discussed then are still relevant, including Latino vaccine hesitancy and the pandemic’s mental health toll. Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for their conversation about how to address health inequities affecting the Hispanic community.

In addition, author Charles Barber sits down with Mark Masselli to discuss the publication of "Paz y Salud," the translation of his book about Community Health Center, "Peace & Health," into Spanish.

NYT’s Diagnosis Columnist Dr. Lisa Sanders’ Views on Long COVID Affirmed by New Research

Researchers just announced they have found clear differences in the blood of Long COVID patients—this is the scientific proof that some in the health care sector want to see. Right before this news broke, we asked Dr. Lisa Sanders, the director of the new Yale New Haven Long COVID Multidisciplinary Care Center, about the lack of a Long COVID blood test.

She pushed back on skeptics because she has seen clinical evidence of the condition. Now, it appears Dr. Sanders and her colleagues will indeed be able to confirm Long COVID is a biological illness.

Dr. Sanders, who also writes The New York Times Diagnosis column, explained her patients are getting better through a variety of approaches and she’s hopeful the caseload will continue to decrease.

Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter for this important conversation that’s part of our continuing coverage of Long COVID.

New Ways to Solve Big Health Problems: Lola Adedokun, Aspen Global Innovators Group

Lola Adedokun is executive director of the Aspen Global Innovators Group, which advances a portfolio of programs focused on health and prosperity in the U.S. and around the world. This work includes a focus on what she calls powerful women who are redesigning health systems to better meet the needs of families. Join hosts Mark Masselli and Margaret Flinter as Adedokun explains how local leaders are at the forefront of designing solutions that work for local populations.