Understanding Generation 2.0 Health Equity

August 9, 2023
Brian Urban

In the latest Healthcare Rethink podcast, hosted by Brian Urban, industry leaders Dr. Romilla Batra, Chief Medical Officer at Scan Health Plan, and Sharon Jhawar, Chief Pharmacy Officer at Scan Health Plan, joined Urban to discuss their roles and the initiatives they are implementing to address health equity in their organization and the industry at large.

The trio discussed:

  • Scan Health Plan’s prioritization of health equity and view of it as a strategic focus.
  • The organization’s aims to address disparities and inequities in healthcare outcomes among its diverse member population.
  • It’s collection of race and language data for 90% of its population, which helps inform their strategies for improving health equity.

Dr. Batra shared her journey from being a primary care physician in academic medical centers to joining Scan Health Plan as a physician leader. She was drawn to the mission-driven nature of Scan Health Plan as a not-for-profit organization that serves older adults. With a panel size of 300,000 older adults at Scan Health Plan, Dr. Batra has had the opportunity to make a significant impact on the lives of older adults.

Sharon Jhawar also shared her journey from being a geriatric pharmacist to becoming the first full-time pharmacist at Scan Health Plan 20 years ago. She highlighted the challenges faced by seniors in understanding their medications and ensuring affordability.

As part of their efforts to address these challenges, Scan Health Plan has proactively paired advocates and pharmacists with members who face medication-related issues.

Driven by their commitment to equitable care for all populations they serve, they have made health equity a strategic focus rather than just an initiative or project. They aim to ensure that diverse populations have access to high-quality care with positive outcomes. One key aspect of their approach is data collection on race and language preferences among their members. With data on 90% of their population already available, they understand its power in identifying disparities and taking action accordingly.

Recent Episodes

View episode

With healthcare costs continuing to climb, and the access to quality care remaining uneven, discussions on healthcare reform are quite an essential topic. Millions of Americans face high out-of-pocket costs and limited access to critical health services. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, nearly 40 percent of Americans have delayed medical care due to…

ICN: Investing in the Future of the Global Nurse Workforce | Howard Catton | EP04
View episode

In the latest episode of Care Anywhere, host Lea Sims sits down with Howard Catton, CEO of the International Council of Nurses (ICN), to discuss the state of the global nursing workforce. As a respected figure in global nursing, Howard shares insights from ICN’s recent findings, addressing a projected global shortage of 13 million…

personalized solutions
View episode

The healthcare industry faces unprecedented challenges, with workforce shortages pushing hospital labor costs to over 60% of total expenses. This strain is compounded by rising burnout rates among healthcare providers, particularly nurses. A recent AMN Healthcare survey revealed that nurses are prioritizing well-being and flexibility in 2024, underscoring the urgent need for personalized solutions…