Anita Darden Gardyne

If you’re building a health tech startup, here’s a useful perspective from the accelerator side. At ViVE, I spoke with Keith Camhi, Managing Director of the Techstars Healthcare Accelerator powered by Permanente Medicine Mid-Atlantic States. The program invests in early-stage startups and helps founders run pilots with physicians in the Kaiser Permanente ecosystem. Some interesting takeaways: • Techstars still prioritizes “Team, team, team” above everything else; • Founders in the program are interviewed by physicians before acceptance; • The goal isn’t just mentorship — it’s getting real pilots with providers; • AI startups dominate applications, but the focus remains on real clinical problems. Applications for the next cohort open soon, so founders may want to keep an eye on it. Short interview from #ViVE 👇 🎥 Watch here: https://lnkd.in/gNN_5628 #Vive2026 #digitalhealthinsideout #health2tech #digitalhealth

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When was the last time you stopped and really checked your own pulse? James Jackson, CEO of Alameda Health System, shares a powerful moment from mid-career when he took 10 months away from work to reassess both his professional and personal life. What he realized? You can’t put work ahead of family without losing your balance - and sometimes stepping back is the best way to move forward. Watch this clip to hear why taking a pause can be the most important decision in your career. Did you find this post useful? Drop a comment - I’d love to hear your thoughts! If you want more insights on leadership, healthcare, and career growth, follow me here on LinkedIn for weekly content.

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Zocdoc recently signed its first payer deal—with Blue Shield of California—to allow patients to book in-network appointments directly.   It may not sound like a big deal, but it is. That’s because, year after year, the ZS Future of Health Report shows the degree to which hassle dissuades consumers from accessing the healthcare they need. In the 2025 report, a majority of respondents across all seven countries we surveyed said they avoid medical care due to inconvenience—easily outpacing cost as a barrier in the U.S., U.K., Germany, India and Japan.   Helping people schedule appointments within their insurer’s member portal is a no-regret move that will build trust, reduce hassle and get more people through healthcare’s front door.

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CA practice owners: AB 3275 took effect January 1st. Health plans and insurers now have 30 calendar days to pay clean claims, with 15% annual interest and penalties for late payments. A reminder for practices to review their claim tracking and for payers to review their adjudication workflows. Cleaner processes on both sides means faster reimbursement for everyone. https://lnkd.in/gFw9Mm2s

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Excited to formally announce Collective Health's expansive AI partnership with Google Cloud for our core AI infrastructure and development frameworks. After evaluating all of the major AI and foundational model companies out there, it was clear that Google Cloud was the right partner for us at Collective Health given their breadth of AI development tools, level of foundational model investment, and focus on user privacy and safety. Thank you Aashima Gupta, Amin Vahdat, Anas Osman, Hamidou Dia, Jeff Dean, and Sundar Pichai for your partnership and support of our AI efforts at Collective Health. Here's to transforming America's health insurance and health benefits industries together by harnessing the near-limitless power of Google Cloud's generative AI stack. https://lnkd.in/gJXGbeJB

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📢 Big news in the world of Essential Health Benefits (EHBs)! California has officially submitted its application to CMS to update the state's benchmark plan, aiming to expand required health benefits starting in 2027. The proposed updates would significantly enhance access to care by including fertility services (like IVF), hearing aids, and expanded coverage for durable medical equipment such as wheelchairs and scooters. 👏 This is a major win for Californians—especially individuals and families facing barriers to mobility, reproductive care, or hearing support. While NovaRest did not participate in California’s EHB analysis, we applaud the state's commitment to expanding meaningful access to care. With over two decades of experience supporting states and regulators in evaluating and updating their EHB-benchmark plans, NovaRest has provided actuarial support to multiple states through: Cost impact analyses Issuer surveys Certification reports for CMS Tight-deadline collaboration with CCIIO We know the process well—and we’re ready to help any state or stakeholder considering a benchmark update. 🔍 Curious about how an EHB change could impact your market? Let’s talk. #HealthPolicy #ActuarialConsulting #EssentialHealthBenefits #BenchmarkPlan #HealthcareAccess #NovaRest #CaliforniaHealth

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The 2025 HealthEdge Consumer Study revealed that 51% of consumers now view their plan as a “partner in care” vs. a “payer of claims,” and those who do report dramatically higher satisfaction, lower cost sensitivity, and a more substantial likelihood of recommending or retaining their current plan. What can health plans do to reinforce this trustworthy, partner perception? When asked directly, the top thing health plans can do to move the needle from payer to partner is help members find ways to lower the cost of care and coverage. This may take the form of proactive engagement regarding the utilization of benefits, educational information, or greater clarity on financial responsibilities. Learn more: https://ow.ly/YbQN50WhITA

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📣 We're investing $𝟮𝟮𝟬𝗞 in each of 10 healthcare startups 📅 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗠𝗔 (𝟯/𝟮𝟱): luma.com/rkginczo You’ll hear from leaders of the Techstars Healthcare Accelerator powered by Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group | Kaiser Permanente (MAPMG): Ameya Kulkarni, MD FSCAI | Jessica Locke | Keith Camhi In addition to the $220K investment, selected startups receive a three-month mentorship-driven program in Washington D.C., with support from both Techstars and MAPMG, the award-winning group of 1,800 physicians and exclusive care provider of Kaiser Permanente in the DC/MD/VA region. 🩺 Opportunity to seek a pilot with MAPMG 🌐 Access to Techstars's global network of investors, mentors, and alumni 📅 Register for the Info Session and AMA: luma.com/rkginczo To learn more about the program, review our investment themes, and apply, see the link to our program page in the first comment below. 👇 #HealthTech #Startups #Techstars #VentureCapital #HealthcareInnovation

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Let's have an honest discussion about the quality of conferences and speakers. I have been evaluating ACHE of Southern California, MGMA, Marcus Evans Group, Becker's Healthcare, and Healthcare Financial Management Association (HFMA). In this video, where Tom Reid tells Yuriy Kotlyar on a sales call that Marcus Evans Summits Healthcare Delegates “don’t give a sh*t”. Yet, so many vendors spend six figures, and so many people put their reputation on the line to go speak for compensation instead of sharing their knowledge with people who actually want to learn and listen, such as local chapters of the American College of Healthcare Executives, MGMA, etc. How much do they pay executives for this? I look forward to your comments and opinions. Lamya Righi, MBA, CSPO Jerome Adams, MD, MPH Jason Golbin DO MBA MS CPE (EVP & Chief Medical Officer,Catholic Health ) Nicholas Testa, MD (Regional Chief Medical Officer – California, CommonSpirit Health) Selwena Brewster, MD, MBA (Chief Quality Officer & Interim CMO, NYC Health + Hospitals) David Bordo, MD MBA FACEP (Chief Clinical Officer, Ascension Illinois) Luis Abrishamian, MD (Chief Medical Officer, Providence Health & Services) Dr. Cynthia Rowell DNP, MBA, RN, NEA-BC (Chief Nursing Officer at AdventHealth Riverview Hospital) Denzil Ross, MBA, FACHE (President, South Region, Indiana University Health) Michael Dowling (CEO Emeritus, Northwell Health) Lyndon Edwards (Chief Operating Officer, Loma Linda University Health).         Leslie Dyson, MBA (Patient Access, CHRISTUS Health) Christine Asato (CFO, Hawaii Health Systems Corporation) Susan Burroughs, FACHE, MHA, FACHE,Chief Operating Officer, Wilson Medical Center – A Duke LifePoint Hospital Robert Weiss, MBA, MHA, FACHE, Director Business Operations and Optimization, Brown University School of Public Health Health Dr. Patrick Hunt, Chief Medical Officer, QGenda #LTCCXO #SeniorLiving #HealthcareLeadership #ExecutiveLeadership #PublicHealth #HealthcareLeadership #CMOSummit #HealthcareTransformation #ClinicalLeadership #ValueBasedCare #DigitalHealth #PhysicianLeadership #HealthcareInnovation #HealthcareSummit2026 James Edwards #Networking #Innovation #SanDiegoEvents

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It's Official! 🚨 We’re pleased to share that Blue Shield of California and UC Health have reached a new agreement. As part of this agreement, UC Health will continue to see Blue Shield members as in-network while we finalize the formal contract renewal and receive necessary approvals from the Department of Managed Health Care. In the meantime, HMO members who were previously assigned to UC Health providers will be reassigned back to their UC Health primary care provider effective July 10, 2025—no action needed. Members always have the option to change their primary care provider by calling the number on the back of their Blue Shield ID card.

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An interesting Substack article by Dr. Robert Wachter, Chair of the Dept. of Medicine, U.C. San Francisco. He connects the dots between Utah's introduction of a new pilot prescribing program and OpenAI's introduction of ChaptGPT health. Dr. Wachter's summation is: "The AI Doctor is arriving faster than regulators anticipated and sooner than skeptics expected. The challenge now is to stop debating if patients should manage some of their own care and start defining how." Have we really reached a tipping point regarding virtual care? https://lnkd.in/g_n73c7r

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Excellent panel discussion featuring David Holmberg, Mike Jones, Dr. Omar Lateef, and Dawn Maroney, expertly moderated by Lynne Chou O'Keefe at #AHIP2025. While AI continues to be a hot topic dominating the health care industry, we must not lose sight of the critical role of human leadership in ensuring data quality, security and governance, cultivating stakeholder collaboration, and driving member-centric innovation and scalable value creation. #AI, #SAS, #DataAnalytics, #Innovation

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My personal outlook on the Compliance Wave and its new opportunity for California CAMTC holders. To every CAMTC-holder in CA: The State of California now recognizes CAMTC-certified holders as Healthcare providers. Our state just upgraded us from a "permit to practice" to a 'medical license lite'. With that comes scrutiny. Insurance audits, board investigations, and higher stakes for your documentation are no longer "if" but when. The Forward Shift: The CMTs who will not only survive, but thrive in this new reality won't just have good hands. They'll have: ✅ Audit-proof SOAP notes that will stand up to an investigator's review. ✅ A working understanding of medical coding (CPT/ICD-10) the language of insurance and legitimacy. ✅ Practices that look and operate like healthcare clinics, not spas. This isn't something to fear. This your competitive edge. To differentiate your certification from the rest. This is how you build a practice that is respected, sustainable, and financially solid. The next generation of leaders in our field, the ones who will define its future won't just be the best documenters, business owners, and compliance experts. After having a discussion with peers on this new endevor and understanding the deep dive into the regulations, I see this not as a burden, but as the single biggest opportunity for CAMTC holders to elevate our profession and our earning potential. So, are we looking forward to building a practice that's ready for this wave? #CAMTC #CaliforniaMassageTherapist #HealthcareProvider #MedicalMassage #MassageTherapyBusiness #Compliance #HealthcareStrategy #FutureOfBodywork

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