The Collective Voice of Health IT, A WEDI Podcast

Episode 226- Understanding AI Governance and the Boardroom Through Six Dimensions. JaeLynn Williams

Michael welcomes Jaelynn Williams, former CEO of Air Methods and a respected healthcare and business thought leader. Jaelynn has developed the Board AI Governance Index™, a groundbreaking framework that helps boards assess and strengthen their AI readiness—balancing innovation with accountability.

They explore how this 100-point model gives leaders a structured way to oversee AI risk, capture opportunity, and ensure responsible use of technology in complex, high-stakes environments like healthcare.

Episode 225- WEDI Workgroup Introduction: Patient Experience

From WEDI’s recently concluded National Conference in Washington DC, co-chairs Emma Andelson from the American Medical Association and Anna Hyde from the Arthritis Foundation introduce WEDI’s newest workgroup, Patient Experience.

The workgroup’s primary aim is to embed the patient perspective into healthcare business processes and workflows while elevating the patient voice across WEDI’s broader workgroups and initiatives

Episode 224- Talking AI: Eliminating Administrative Noise and Restoring the Human Connection of Health Care. Ben Scharfe, Altera Digital Health

Michael sits down with Ben Scharfe, EVP of AI at Altera Digital Health, to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping healthcare. From ambient listening that lightens documentation load to specialty-trained AI agents enhancing decision-making, Ben shares practical examples of what’s working today—and where challenges like clinician resistance and AI “hallucinations” remain. Hear why he believes AI, when implemented thoughtfully, can deliver what clinicians want most: more time with patients and less time with paperwork.

Episode 223- Understanding the Story of the Patient Through Synthetic Data. University of Chicago's Julie Johnson, RN

Michael interviews Julie Johnson, Executive Director of the Center for Research Informatics at the University of Chicago, about synthetic data in healthcare. Julie shares her unconventional career path, which included studying nursing at Georgetown and conducting video game research to improve surgical skills. They discuss the definition, creation, and potential of synthetic data in accelerating research and improving efficiencies, while addressing challenges such as trust and privacy concerns. Julie emphasizes the importance of validating findings with real-world data and explores the future of synthetic data in reshaping medical research and decision-making.

Episode 222- Beyond the Chair: Empowering Patients and Providers Through Dental Data Sharing. Steve Roberts, Vyne

What happens when dental data becomes as accessible and actionable as medical data? Steve Roberts, CEO of Vyne, explores how interoperability can transform the patient experience, equip providers with deeper insights, and strengthen the connection between oral health and overall health.

Episode 221- From Compliance to Intelligence: CMS-0057-F Progress and the Future of AI in Healthcare: Sponsored by MCG Health

This podcast is sponsored by MCG Health, which offers evidence-based clinical guidelines and software tools for healthcare providers and payers. These resources aim to optimize patient care and support care management. Learn more about them at https://www.mcg.com/ 

 

Michael welcomes Raj Godavarthi, MCG’s AVP of Technology and Interoperability to discuss industry progress on payer-provider compliance work on the CMS Final Rule (CMS-0057-F). After that, Michael addresses artificial intelligence with Dr. Jason Gillman, MCG’s Director of Clinical Informatics. Dr. Gillman is currently involved in the NCQA AI Governance workgroup, and he’s MCG’s representative in the “Clinical Decision Support” workgroup at the Coalition of Health AI (or CHAI).

Episode 220- Your DNA, Their Data: Privacy at the Crossroads of Consumer Genetic Testing, WEDI Genomics and Privacy & Security Workgroup Chairs

Michael welcomes 

• Dr. Sandy Rolfe, WEDI’s Genomics Workgroup Chair Clinical Content Lead, InterQual, Optum Insight
• Lesley Berkeyheiser, WEDI's Privacy & Security Workgroup Co-Chair, Assessor with DirectTrust
• Thanh Thien Nguyen, WEDI's Privacy & Security Workgroup Co-Chair, Executive Director, Kaiser Permanente

to discuss their workgroups working together to spotlight the intersection between direct to consumer (DTC) genetic tests and some different privacy and security issues associated with these types of tests. The two workgroups collaborated to develop a Fact Sheet to help consumers take action to protect their data, available here- https://www.wedi.org/2025/07/12/direct-to-consumer-genetic-dna-testing-actions-consumers-can-take-to-protect-their-health-data/ 

Current regulations and requirements Thanh Thien references in the episode

• HIPAA Privacy Rule- https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html
• HIPAA Security Rule- https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/security/index.html
• Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008- https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/PLAW-110publ233/pdf/PLAW-110publ233.pdf
• Federal Trade Commission Act- https://www.ftc.gov/legal-library/browse/statutes/federal-trade-commission-act
• California Consumer Privacy Act of 2018- https://oag.ca.gov/privacy/ccpa
• California Privacy Rights Act- https://thecpra.org/
• State Privacy Law Tracker- https://iapp.org/resources/article/us-state-privacy-legislation-tracker/

Episode 219- Rethinking Value-Based Care: Why Children Can’t Be Left Behind. Taylor Beery, Imagine Pediatrics

Children make up nearly half of all Medicaid enrollees—37 million nationwide—yet their unique needs are too often overlooked in value-based care models. In this episode, Michael sits down with Taylor Beery, Chief Innovation & Administrative Officer and Co-Founder at Imagine Pediatrics, to explore why pediatric value-based care requires its own distinct strategy. From addressing the needs of 14.5 million children with special health care needs to building trust with families and caregivers, Taylor makes the case that centering children in healthcare reform not only improves outcomes for vulnerable populations but also strengthens the foundation for broader Medicaid and commercial models.

Episode 218- Solving National Data Exchange Issues at the State Level: A Civitas Networks for Health Conversation

From WEDI's 2025 Spring Conference, Civitas Networks for Health Interim CEO Jolie Ritzo welcomes three HIE leaders to discuss how they are addressing various data exchange use cases from their unique state and regional perspectives. The panelists:

Melissa Kotrys, Chief Executive Officer, Contexture (Colorado and Arizona)

Phil Beckett, Chief Executive Officer, Texas Health Services Authority

Stephanie Brown, Executive Director, CRISP DC

Jolie returns to moderate another interesting HIE panel at WEDI's National Conference, November 3-6 in Washington DC and Zoom (virtual pre-conference on October 31). Visit https://members.wedi.org/event-calendar for more information

Episode 217- What's Next? Moving Forward with CMS-0057F

From WEDI's recently concluded Summer Forum, the association's Prior Authorization Sub Workgorup Co-Chairs- Heather McComas (AMA), Janice Bakos (Aetna) adn Michael Lunzer (Itiliti Health)- offer their thoughts on educational resources and open items related to industry implementation of CMS-0057F. WEDI's Executive Director Robert Tennant moderates the conversation.