AVBCC Value-Based Voices

Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping healthcare, but what does that look like in the day-to-day practice of oncology? In this episode of AVBCC's Value-Based Voices, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, sits down with Samyukta Mullangi, MD, MBA, Medical Oncologist at Tennessee Oncology and Vice President of Clinical Strategy at OpenEvidence, to discuss how AI-powered clinical decision support tools are helping clinicians navigate an increasingly complex evidence landscape. 

View a demo of Open Evidence: https://youtu.be/iBOlnjuHQxE

Dr. Mullangi explains how OpenEvidence's retrieval-augmented generation (R...

In this episode of Value‑Based Voices, host Deirdre “Dee” Saulet, PhD, Chief Strategy Officer, Jasper Health, and AVBCC Southwest Regional Collaborative Co-Chair, sits down with two extraordinary guests, Kommah "Koko" McDowell, MS, a 21‑year survivor, nationally recognized advocate, and Chief Customer Officer at Tali Health, and Leon Cristobal, MPH, an eight‑year leukemia survivor, and Oncology Sales Consultant, Bayer.

Recorded following the AVBCC Regional Collaborative in Los Angeles, this conversation explores what person‑centered care truly looks like in practice—and why the distinction between “patient” and “person” is more than semantics. Koko and Leon share candid reflections on...

What happens when patients with cancer spend weeks navigating insurance requirements before receiving physician-prescribed care?

In our latest episode of Value-Based Voices, Brian Reid, Principal of Reid Strategic and author of the Cost Curve newsletter, and Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, sit down with CancerCare's  Alexandra Zaleta, PhD, VP of Research & Insights, and Kim Czubaruk, JD, VP of Policy, to discuss findings from CancerCare's groundbreaking Red Tape Report. Based on responses from more than 1,200 people affected by cancer, the r...

In this episode of Value-Based Voices, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies, and AVBCC Board Member, sits down with Joel White, Partner and Head of Health Practice at Monument Advocacy, and a principal architect of Medicare Part D, to discuss one of the most consequential challenges facing cancer care today: the end of the Part D Premium Stabilization Demonstration. 

Bringing unmatched historical insight, policy fluency, and practical clarity to the conversation, Joel breaks down how we got here, how this decision will affect access to cancer therapies, and the real, actionable solutions that c...

In this follow up conversation, Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies and AVBCC Board Members, and Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, Washington, BioCentury Publications, take a clear eyed look at the future of the FDA and the forces shaping biopharmaceutical innovation. Building on their earlier discussion of FDA history and political dynamics, Steve offers candid insights into how U.S. policy, global competition - particularly with China - and shifting regulatory priorities are influencing the life sciences ecosystem.

He explores:
- the implications of NIH funding erosion
- restrictions on international collaboration
...

In this first of a 2-part series featuring Steve Usdin, Senior Editor, Washington, BioCentury Publications, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner at Health Policy Strategies and AVBCC Board Member, leads a spirited conversation around  developments at the FDA, the political influence shaping its decisions, and the outlook for the future. 

Key topics covered include:

In this episode of Value-Based Voices, we delve into the mission and inner workings of the NCCN, a cornerstone organization shaping cancer treatment standards in the U.S. and beyond. We're joined by Bill McGivney, PhD, Principal, McGivney Global Advisors, and Former CEO, NCCN; and host Nicolas Ferreyros, Managing Director, Policy, Advocacy, and Communications, Community Oncology Alliance. 

Hear expert insights on how guidelines, payer decisions, and evolving technologies influence patient access and outcomes as well as some of Bill's own thoughts on the NCCN and his time at its helm. 

Resources & Links: 

We're taking a deep dive into the upcoming Global Cancer Research and Innovation Symposium (GCRIS) in this latest episode of Value-Based Voices.

Join GCRIS Scientific Co-chairs Stan Skrzypczak, MS, MBA, Managing Partner, 5 Prime Life Science Consulting, and Nick Sarlis, MD, PhD, FACP, Chief Medical Officer, Cleara Biotech, as they talk with GCRIS Co-chair Matt Vossler, Managing Director, DSG Global, about the groundbreaking science, innovative drug development, and collaborative ecosystems that are reshaping oncology. 

Hear about: 
- the rise of "biotech 2.0" 
- the complexity of bringing new therapies to market
- strategies to acc...

Most cancer drugs today are more effective and accessible than ever—yet patients often face crushing costs because our healthcare system still values profit over patient benefit. What if the key to transforming cancer care affordability lies in rethinking insurance design, reforming PBMs, and empowering employers with transparent data? 

In this eye-opening episode of Value-Based Voices, host Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner, Health Policy Strategies, Inc., and Member of the AVBCC Board of Directors, sits down with healthcare thought leader John O'Brien, PharmD, MPH, President and CEO of the National Pharmaceutical Council, and healthcare policy strategist Brian Rei...

Most treatments and diagnostics once took years and hundreds of millions of dollars. Today, it costs less than $100,000 to sequence a genome and open the door to tailored cancer therapies that could save lives. But understanding tumor biology is only half the battle. The real challenge lies in interpreting complex genetic data quickly, accurately, and at scale.

In this episode of AVBCC’s Value-Based Voices, James Hamrick, MD, MPH, Chair, Precision Oncology Alliance at Caris Life Sciences, teams up with John Fox, MD, MHA, Senior Medical Director for the Americas, Illumina, to explore how AI-driven bioinformatics is ma...

International reference pricing could drastically reshape drug costs in the U.S. and threaten domestic innovation. In this latest episode of AVBCC’s Value-Based Voices, join Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH, Partner, Health Policy Strategies, Inc., and Member of the AVBCC Board of Directors, and healthcare policy strategist Brian Reid, MS, Founder of Reid Strategic, as they unpack the complex debate over the proposed international MFN models like Globe, Guard, and Generous — and whether they will do more harm than good for U.S. patients and providers.

We break down key insights that every healthcare leader and policymaker must...

Most companies, and even policymakers, are betting big on importing international drug prices — but what does that really mean for cancer care in America? 

In this episode of Value-Based Voices, Jayson Slotnik, JD, MPH,  Partner, Health Policy Strategies, Inc., dives into the evolving landscape of drug pricing reforms, unlocking why policies like the Most Favored Nation (MFN) and the Global Benchmark could reshape how medicines reach patients, providers, and payers. You’ll discover how these models aim to lower drug costs by benchmarking against prices from other countries, and why that sparks fierce debate about innovation, access, and th...

There are countless opportunities hidden in the data-driven tasks pharmacists do every day, and AI is ready to unlock them. But what happens when automation dramatically increases productivity in pharmacy, and how do regulations, workforce, and patient care evolve in tandem?

In this latest episode of AVBCC's Value-Based Voices, join Ira Klein , MD, MBA, FACP, VP Medical Affairs, Payer Relations, Tempus Labs, and AI innovator Harry Travis, BS Pharm, MBA, President, The Travis Group, LLC, as they explore how AI could revolutionize pharmacy practice by speeding up prior authorizations, freeing pharmacists from administrative burdens, and expanding their...

Is consolidation in cancer care truly the best path forward, or does independence offer greater benefits?

In this episode of Value-Based Voices Sarah Alwardt, PhD, President, Avalere Health, and Jeff Patton, MD, CEO, OneOncology, discuss the nuances of consolidation versus independence in cancer care, the impact of policy and capital access, and the future of value-based oncology. Gain insights into sustainable models, data utilization, and patient-centered strategies.

Contact Value-Based Voices

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Commercial health plans may have been missing from J.P. Morgan 2026, but government had a big presence! Value-Based Voices host Burt Zweigenhaft, PhD, and nationally recognized health policy expert Liz Fowler, PhD, JD, share their observations from this year’s meeting and key insights around most-favored nation prescription drug pricing, 340B, PBMs, Medicare site neutrality, AI, and of course value-based care. 

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at info@avbcc.org

Thanks for listening! 

Where was the drama at JP Morgan this year? Host Burt Zweigenhaft, PhD, and seasoned healthcare executive Jeff Berkowitz, JD, debate why the 2026 meeting seemed to be missing its normal electricity. They also share their thoughts around challenges with direct-to-patient models, most-favored-nation and its impact on product launch and pricing both in the US and Europe, and how AI may or may not be the key to finally achieving value-based outcomes. 

Contact Value-Based Voices

- Follow AVBCC on LinkedIn  

- View our podcast lineup 

- Contact us at info@avbc...