Podnosis

Life insurance may not be the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about healthcare. But some life insurers are increasingly interested in incentivizing healthy habits.
John Hancock has invested in its health and wellness program for more than a decade. The program’s goal is to reward policyholders for things like exercise and preventive health screenings. There’s actually a simple business rationale behind this approach. To explain, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya talks with John Hancock CEO Brooks Tingle.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
Mercer survey: Employers eye cost-shifting strategies as health benefit spend rises
Only 1 in 4 employers able to ‘absorb’ increasing health benefit costs without impacting business
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As healthcare costs rise and access challenges persist, health plans face growing pressure to engage members more effectively. Employers and plan sponsors expect their plans to play a critical role in that effort.
In this episode of “Podnosis,” Senior Writer Paige Minemyer talks with Dan Kueter, CEO of UnitedHealthcare Employer & Individual, about what employers are asking for in today’s commercial insurance market and how UnitedHealthcare is using digital tools, AI and more personalized benefit design to support member engagement.
Kueter also discusses the push for greater affordability, the role of consumer choice and where he sees the employer-sponsored insurance market heading as health plans look to bring more customization into the member experience.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
UnitedHealth Group spotlights AI investments as part of operational turnaround
A look at how UnitedHealthcare is developing, deploying AI solutions
UnitedHealthcare unveils direct-to-consumer tool to shop for health and wellness programs
Claims for younger adults are on the rise: UnitedHealthcare, HAC study
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What does the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Inspector General do? Today, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya sits down with Assistant Regional Inspector General Scott Perry to find out.
They dive into the agency’s work, the findings of a few recent audits and what providers can do to ensure they are in compliance.
The latest inpatient rehab facilities report discussed in this episode can be found here. The hospital compliance report can be found here. A general compliance guide is also available.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
OIG: Jury still out on impacts of vertical consolidation in Part D
More than half of patient harm events missed by hospital surveillance systems: HHS OIG
OIG: Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care plans often offer limited behavioral health networks
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It’s been more than two years since Eli Lilly announced LillyDirect, a platform that combines telehealth and pharmacy services to provide access to Lilly’s portfolio of diabetes, migraine and obesity medications. The goal is to offer a more transparent and affordable way to access certain drugs. The platform has quickly drawn attention from both consumers and lawmakers.
To understand LillyDirect’s growth and where it’s headed, Senior Writer Anastassia Gliadkovskaya spoke with Jen Mazur, senior vice president and general manager of U.S. LillyDirect and Consumer Services.
To learn more about the topics in this episode:
Eli Lilly launches oral GLP-1 drug across US through Lilly Direct, telehealth providers
Lilly makes website to simplify access to obesity drug Zepbound, plus diabetes and migraine meds
'Abuse of power': Senators call out 'shady tactics' after investigating Pfizer, Lilly DTC platforms

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Is AI in health care overhyped — or underutilized? In this sponsored episode of Podnosis, host Irena speaks with Sanjay Subramanian, SVP & Head of Healthcare Payer Business at Cognizant at Cognizant, about where artificial intelligence is delivering measurable ROI today and why many organizations struggle to scale adoption.
Sanjay explains that back‑office functions such as claims processing, prior authorization and revenue cycle management are seeing the strongest results, thanks to data‑rich workflows and clear operational metrics. He also outlines why more complex use cases, including autonomous clinical decision‑making, remain constrained by fragmented data, regulatory requirements and trust challenges.
The discussion explores common mistakes leaders make when funding AI initiatives, including chasing disconnected use cases, underestimating data readiness and focusing on pilots instead of enterprise outcomes. Looking ahead, Sanjay describes how connected intelligence, responsible AI governance and human‑in‑the‑loop models will shape the next phase of health care transformation — and why AI’s future lies in augmenting decision‑making, not replacing it.

Guest Bio
Sanjay Subramanian is a transformational leader with over 29 years of expertise in profit and loss management, sales and delivery across management consulting, systems integration and outsourcing. He is recognized for guiding CXO clients through strategic business decisions and digital transformation, consistently delivering measurable outcomes in challenging environments. Sanjay has led successful turnarounds, managed large teams exceeding 5000 members and originated transformative outsourcing contracts totaling over $8 billion with Fortune 100 clients. His experience spans Asia Pacific, the UK and North America, across industries including healthcare, life sciences, automotive, manufacturing, retail, energy, utilities, transportation and logistics. He has built and scaled businesses, launched new consulting capabilities and enabled cross-functional collaboration among diverse stakeholders. Sanjay brings a strong focus on client relationships and long-term value creation, supporting sustained growth across major global accounts.
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