Working Healthcare

Meredith Hirsh
  • 5.0 (244)
  • Medicine
  • Weekly

Who holds the power in American healthcare — and how can we change it? Working Healthcare takes you inside the business of medicine, revealing the policies, players and financial incentives shaping access to care. Host Meredith Hirsh, a healthcare entrepreneur, educator, speaker and advocate, brings an insider’s perspective and a willingness to ask uncomfortable questions. Each week, she sits down with physicians, business leaders, policy experts and innovators to explore the system’s failures, the ideas challenging them and the personal journeys behind meaningful change. From health insurance and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to Medicare Advantage, private practice and healthcare leadership, these candid conversations connect money and policy to human consequences. Understand why care gets delayed, what threatens physician independence and how people are building better alternatives. For everyone working in healthcare — and anyone curious enough to question how it works. You can’t fix what you don’t understand. Follow Working Healthcare for new episodes every Tuesday. Listen on your favorite podcast app or watch on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Learn more: https://www.meredithhirsh.com  Contact: workinghealthcarepodcast@gmail.com

  1. 3d ago ·  Video

    Ep. 126 - When Medicaid Policy Meets a Broken Computer (ft. Rob Miller)

    A policy changes. A software system decides who keeps coverage. Listen to explore what happens when Medicaid rules become code. In this episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh sits down with Rob Miller to unpack Medicaid work requirements, eligibility verification and the technology that helps determine who keeps coverage. Meredith and Rob examine how confusing notices, disconnected records and difficult reporting portals can put coverage at risk—even when someone meets the requirements. Rob explains why states should check reliable data before asking members to prove information the government already holds. For physicians and healthcare executives, this is more than a policy debate. It is a conversation about administrative burden, operational efficiency and who takes responsibility when software gets a decision wrong. They also discuss where AI can help identify exemptions, flag conflicting records and reduce manual review. The goal: remove complexity rather than hand it to the next person. Accountability cannot disappear behind an automated decision.\ Press play for a direct conversation about Medicaid, responsible automation and the leadership required to make healthcare technology work. Contact Rob: LinkedIn: @robmillersftn Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 126 - When Medicaid Policy Meets a Broken Computer (ft. Rob Miller)

  2. Oct 20 ·  Video

    Ep. 125 - Your Diagnosis Came With a Second Job (ft. Emily Egley)

    Tune in to learn why a serious diagnosis can turn a patient or family caregiver into an unpaid care coordinator, insurance expert and bill auditor. Board-certified patient advocate Emily Egley joins Meredith Hirsh to explain how people can navigate denied claims, confusing medical bills and disconnected care without losing sight of the doctor-patient relationship. Emily draws on her experience managing her own care and supporting her husband, Jarrod, through seven years of colorectal cancer treatment. She shares practical ways to prepare for a doctor’s appointment, organize medications and test results, compare a medical bill with an explanation of benefits and speak with an insurer when care or payment hits a roadblock. Their conversation asks a larger question for physicians and health care leaders: Why does the system place so much administrative work on people who are sick or caring for someone they love? Emily makes the case for clearer communication, stronger patient advocacy and health care that patients can actually navigate. Share this episode with a caregiver, physician or practice leader who can help take that burden off patients. Contact Emily: Website: healthcareuncomplicated.com Instagram: @healthcareuncomplicated Facebook: HealthcareUncomplicated LinkedIn: @emily-egley Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 125 - Your Diagnosis Came With a Second Job (ft. Emily Egley)

  3. Oct 13 ·  Video

    Ep. 124 - The Doctor They Expected to Fail (ft. Dr. Carolina Sueldo)

    Listen now to hear fertility specialist Dr. Carolina Sueldo explain how she built an independent fertility practice around IVF transparency, physician autonomy and patient-centered care. In this Working Healthcare episode, Dr. Sueldo and Meredith Hirsh confront infertility, IVF costs, fertility preservation, egg freezing and the private equity pressures reshaping fertility clinics. Dr. Sueldo, founder and CEO of Ceibo Fertility Center, shares why she left high-volume, investor-driven medicine to create a doctor-led practice where patients can ask questions, understand treatment options and navigate the emotional weight of infertility with more support. She also offers practical insight for patients who compare fertility clinics, consider IVF or ask when to seek help from a reproductive endocrinologist. For physicians and health care leaders, this conversation explores the business of medicine: private practice, transparent pricing, cash flow, team building, physician burnout and how to scale without sacrificing meaningful care. Dr. Sueldo also shares how she self-funded her practice, recovered startup costs in her first year and built a four-day workweek while growing her fertility center. Follow Working Healthcare and share this episode with a physician who seeks more autonomy, a health care leader rethinking fertility care or someone navigating infertility and IVF. Contact Dr. Sueldo: Instagram: @ceibofertility Facebook: Ceibo Fertility Center LinkedIn: @DrCarolinaSueldo YouTube: @DrCarolinaSueldo Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 124 - The Doctor They Expected to Fail (ft. Dr. Carolina Sueldo)

  4. Oct 6 ·  Video

    Ep. 123 - What Your Closet Says About Your Confidence, Career and Power (ft. Paola Arencibia)

    Learn how your wardrobe can shape your confidence, communicate your authority and strengthen the way you show up at work, on camera and in everyday life. In this vibrant episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh sits down with Paola Arencibia, personal stylist and founder of Serious Style Inc., for a candid conversation about clothing, self-esteem and executive presence. Paola explains why style reaches far beyond fashion trends: every outfit sends a message to the world, but it first speaks to the person wearing it. Paola shares how she moved from teaching literature and creative writing to reading closets as emotional archives. Behind unworn dresses, tight jeans and inherited pieces, she often finds stories about identity, body image, ambition and major life changes. Her approach helps clients clear the visual noise and choose clothing that supports who they are now—not who they once were or who they think they should become. The episode explores style archetypes, personal branding, confidence and the subtle power of color, proportion and posture. Paola also addresses an important challenge for women in healthcare: how to project credibility and authority without shrinking, camouflaging or apologizing for success. From white lab coats to Zoom meetings, she explains how intentional clothing can help professionals feel grounded, visible and ready to lead. Paola closes with a simple closet audit: remove clothing that criticizes your body, try on pieces that still carry price tags and decide whether gifted items truly serve you. Listen in for an empowering conversation about dressing with intention, claiming your presence and becoming the CEO of your wardrobe. Contact Paola: Website: serious-style.com Instagram: @seriousstyle_mia LinkedIn: @paola-arencibia Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 123 - What Your Closet Says About Your Confidence, Career and Power (ft. Paola Arencibia)

  5. Sep 29 ·  Video

    Ep. 122 - Get on the Bus: The Mammogram Should Come to You (ft. Dr. Ryan Polselli)

    Discover why breast cancer screening still falls behind busy schedules and how one physician is bringing 3D mammography directly to the women who need it. In this Breast Cancer Awareness Month episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh speaks with Dr. Ryan Polselli, Navy veteran, fellowship-trained breast radiologist and founder of Mammolink. Dr. Polselli challenges the assumption that awareness alone drives screening. He argues that access creates the real barrier when women must navigate referrals, insurance questions, time away from work and multiple appointments before they can get a mammogram. Dr. Polselli shares how Mammolink brings mobile 3D mammography to workplaces, schools and communities across Florida. His model aims to make screening faster, more convenient and more personal: women can schedule from their phones, step onto a mobile unit near work and receive results directly on their devices. The conversation also explores dense breast tissue, follow-up imaging, patient communication, employer-supported screening and the role AI can play in reducing delays. Dr. Polselli explains why breast imaging needs more than new technology—it needs a patient-centered system that removes friction, shares information quickly and helps women stay on track year after year. His message is clear: women should not have to fight the healthcare system to access a lifesaving screening. Pull up a chair to hear how Mammolink is reimagining breast cancer screening and why easier access could save lives. Contact Dr. Polselli: Website: mammolink.com Instagram: @ryanpolselli Facebook: 3DMobileMammography LinkedIn: @ryanpolselli YouTube: @RyanPolselli Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 122 - Get on the Bus: The Mammogram Should Come to You (ft. Dr. Ryan Polselli)

  6. Sep 22 ·  Video

    Ep. 121 - Medicare Advantage: The Payer Tactics Practices Need to Know (ft. Stephanie Allard)

    Listen now to uncover how Medicare Advantage plans can create costly barriers through restrictive networks, prior authorization, drug formularies and opaque coverage rules — and learn how your practice can protect patient access before, during and after the sale. In this episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh speaks with healthcare compliance and reimbursement expert Stephanie Allard of Stephanie Allard Consulting about Medicare Advantage, Original Medicare, Medigap, claim denials and the rules that shape access to care. Stephanie explains why low premiums and attractive extras like dental, vision, gym memberships or grocery benefits should not be the only factors driving a coverage decision. Listeners will learn what to review before enrolling, including provider networks, specialist access, prescription drug formularies, prior-authorization requirements, coverage limitations and appeal options. The conversation also explores the challenges medical practices face when working with payers. Stephanie draws on her experience in coding, billing, audits and payer investigations to discuss downcoding, bundled services, changing payer policies, payment clawbacks and denial patterns. She shares practical insight on protecting practice revenue while maintaining compliance. Press play for practical guidance on evaluating Medicare coverage, asking smarter questions and advocating for the care you or your loved one needs before accepting a plan’s promises—or a payer’s denial. Contact Stephanie: Website: stephanieallardconsulting.com Facebook: Stephanie Allard Consulting, LLC LinkedIn: @stephanie-allard-cpc-cema-rhit YouTube: @stephanieallardconsultingllc Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 121 - Medicare Advantage: The Payer Tactics Practices Need to Know (ft. Stephanie Allard)

  7. Sep 15

    Ep. 120 - When Doctors Lose Autonomy, Patients Lose More: Dr. Kayvan Amini on Saving Independent Medicine

    Listen to a doctor’s passionate case for protecting the physician-patient relationship and keeping care centered on people—not metrics, corporate targets or insurance barriers. On this episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh speaks with Dr. Kayvan Amini—an independent cardiologist, physician advocate and leader in organized medicine—about the forces reshaping American healthcare and what is at stake when physicians lose autonomy. Kayvan shares why independent medicine matters and why doctors need a meaningful voice in healthcare leadership. He discusses the pressures facing private practices, including physician burnout, workforce shortages, administrative demands and the growing movement toward employed care models. The conversation also explores how healthcare organizations can better support and retain women physicians through more flexible workplace structures, creative practice models, and leadership opportunities that recognize the realities of rigorous training and family responsibilities. Kayvan’s commitment to service and resilience is rooted in his personal story. After political exile disrupted his family’s life, he rebuilt from the ground up—an experience that strengthened his belief in independence, public service and building a medical practice around patients’ individual needs. Press play for an honest conversation about compassionate care, physician leadership and the changes needed to preserve the human connection at the heart of medicine. Contact Dr. Amini: LinkedIn: @Kayvan Amini, DO, FACC Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 120 - When Doctors Lose Autonomy, Patients Lose More: Dr. Kayvan Amini on Saving Independent Medicine

  8. Sep 8

    Ep. 119 - Who Really Controls Your Healthcare? Shelly Starks Exposes the Hidden Insurance Maze

    Shelly Starks knows the raw isolation that comes when healthcare leaves a patient with life-altering questions and no clear path forward. A breast cancer diagnosis in her 20s. More than 30 surgeries. Surgical menopause with little guidance and even less support. Today, she sits on the other side of the system, helping employers, carriers and brokers shape benefit strategies that influence access, premiums and patient choices. On this episode of Working Healthcare, host Meredith Hirsh sits down with Shelly for a candid, high-energy conversation about the hidden structure behind employer-sponsored health insurance. Shelly breaks down the maze of carriers, third-party administrators, managing general agencies, brokers and benefit plans that stands between an employee and care. She explains why employers often select from limited options, why brokers may not know every available product and why rising premiums place intense pressure on both businesses and families. Shelly also translates Section 125 plans into plain English and explores how pre-tax benefits can help employees stretch healthcare dollars. Then the conversation turns personal. Shelly shares the struggle to find menopause support after a radical hysterectomy, the frustration of being told she would simply “be fine” and the fierce drive that pushed her to search for better answers. The healthcare system does not need another Band-Aid. It needs leaders who ask harder questions, demand better options and refuse to accept confusion as the cost of care. Press play if you lead a business, manage benefits, work in healthcare or want to understand who makes the decisions behind your health insurance card. Contact Shelly: Website: inlineconsultingservices.com Instagram: @shellystarks Facebook: ShellyStarksICS LinkedIn: @shelly-starks Contact Meredith: Website: meredithhirsh.com Instagram: @workinghealthcare Facebook: WorkingHealthcare LinkedIn: @meredithfhirsh YouTube: @WorkingHealthcare

    Ep. 119 - Who Really Controls Your Healthcare? Shelly Starks Exposes the Hidden Insurance Maze
See All (128)

5
out of 5
244 Ratings

About

Who holds the power in American healthcare — and how can we change it? Working Healthcare takes you inside the business of medicine, revealing the policies, players and financial incentives shaping access to care. Host Meredith Hirsh, a healthcare entrepreneur, educator, speaker and advocate, brings an insider’s perspective and a willingness to ask uncomfortable questions. Each week, she sits down with physicians, business leaders, policy experts and innovators to explore the system’s failures, the ideas challenging them and the personal journeys behind meaningful change. From health insurance and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) to Medicare Advantage, private practice and healthcare leadership, these candid conversations connect money and policy to human consequences. Understand why care gets delayed, what threatens physician independence and how people are building better alternatives. For everyone working in healthcare — and anyone curious enough to question how it works. You can’t fix what you don’t understand. Follow Working Healthcare for new episodes every Tuesday. Listen on your favorite podcast app or watch on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube. Learn more: https://www.meredithhirsh.com  Contact: workinghealthcarepodcast@gmail.com

Information

  • Creator
    Meredith Hirsh
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    128
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Working Healthcare
  • Show Website
    Working Healthcare

You Might Also Like