Impacting the Stigma

Stigma is a major barrier to people getting the support they need for substance use disorders. People who are struggling with addiction often feel ashamed and isolated, and they may be afraid to seek help because they don’t want to be judged. This stigma can also affect family members, who may feel like they are to blame for the addiction or that they will be judged if they talk about it.

We need to do more to normalize the idea of addiction and to make sure that people know that they are not alone. We also need to make sure that there are accessible and affordable resources available to people who need help.

Recent Episodes

Dr. Sam Ambewadikar, RVP and Medical Director at Anthem National Accounts, joins Brent to unpack the power of primary care attribution analysis—a tool he helped pioneer to spotlight the clinical and financial impact of members not having an established PCP. Drawing from his background as a practicing pediatrician and claims analytics leader, Dr. Sam shares…

In this episode, Christina Firouztash, Executive Advisor of Digital Solutions at Anthem, gives a dynamic walkthrough of the Sydney Health app—Anthem’s flagship digital member experience. Christina showcases how Sydney delivers personalized, simple, and equitable navigation across benefits, including virtual care, pharmacy, financial transparency, and social services access. From contextual chatbots and ID card access to…

In this episode, Brent chats with Katie Brennan, National Sales Director at CarelonRx, about making pharmacy benefits more accessible, consistent, and member-friendly. Katie spotlights Carelon new advanced home delivery model, which brings the pharmacy counter—and the pharmacist—into the member’s home. With fewer retail pharmacies offering extended hours and many patients lacking reliable transportation, CarelonRx is…