Expanding Access

Fixing the Broken Path to Disability Benefits with Lauren Fusco, Director of Partnerships at Mindset Care

Navigating SSI and SSDI benefits is often overwhelming, time-consuming, and difficult to manage, especially for individuals already dealing with health, financial, and life challenges. In this episode, Lauren Fusco, Director of Partnerships at Mindset Care, shares how Mindset Care is addressing these barriers with end-to-end, person-centered support that guides individuals through every step of the process. By combining technology with human expertise, Mindset helps streamline applications, improve approval outcomes, and reduce the burden on individuals and care teams alike. Through partnerships with providers, payers, and community organizations, they’re turning disability benefits into a critical gateway for broader care, stability, and improved quality of life. Tune in to hear how a more human, connected, and tech-enabled approach is helping people access the benefits they deserve! Resources: * Connect with and follow Lauren Fusco on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lnfs/]. * Follow Mindset on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mindsetcare/] and explore their website [https://mindset.care/].

What Unified Platforms Make Possible In Behavioral Health with Tasneem Sanwarwalla, Director, Healthcare Presales at Workday

Unified enterprise systems are no longer back-office upgrades in behavioral health. They are essential infrastructure for access, workforce stability, and financial resilience. In this episode,  Tasneem Sanwarwalla, Director, Healthcare Presales at Workday, explains why behavioral health organizations need a unified platform that connects HR, finance, and operations in real time. She highlights how fragmented systems contribute to burnout, limit visibility, and force leaders to rely on outdated data for critical decisions. Tasneem shares how modern platforms enable better workforce planning, scenario modeling, and early detection of staff strain while aligning staffing, care delivery, and financial performance. She also discusses how AI can reduce administrative burden by automating repetitive tasks and allowing clinicians and leaders to focus more on people than paperwork. Tune in and learn how unified systems and thoughtfully applied AI can help behavioral health organizations scale access, support staff, and make better decisions. Resources: * Connect with and follow Tasneem Sanwarwalla on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/tasneem-sanwarwalla-2bba454/]. * Learn more about Workday on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/workday/] and explore their website here [https://www.workday.com/].

Designing the AI Native Clinic with Dominik Middelmann, co-founder and CEO of mdhub

Getting mental health care is not only about having enough clinicians. It is also about having systems that help people get in the door, get treated, and stay on track without delays. In this episode, Dominik Middelmann, co-founder and CEO of mdhub, discusses how everyday operational issues can slow access to behavioral health care. He explains how missed calls, excessive paperwork, disconnected systems, and billing issues can get in the way of helping people, even when clinics have open appointments. Dominik shares how mdhub was built to bring many of these tasks together into one system, using AI to support scheduling, documentation, and payment workflows. He also explains why trust matters when using AI in mental health care, especially regarding privacy, security, and reliability, and offers practical advice for organizations trying new AI tools. Tune in to learn how better systems and carefully designed AI can make mental health care easier to access and deliver. Resources: * Connect with and follow Dominik Middelmann on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominik-middelmann-01232378/]. * Follow mdhub on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/mdhub-ai/] and explore their website here [https://www.mdhub.ai/].

Why Payers And Providers Need A Better Compliance Bridge with Paige Dustmann and Derek Staub

Compliance works better when documentation supports care in real time instead of becoming a burden after the fact. In this episode, Paige Dustmann and Derek Staub discuss how fraud, waste, and abuse pressures are reshaping behavioral health compliance for providers, payers, and managed care organizations. Paige explains how Monolith Health helps teams capture services, assessments, and treatment planning in real time, reducing paperwork and improving audit readiness. Derek highlights how changing regulations, random audits, and documentation gaps can put even well-intentioned providers at risk, emphasizing the need for stronger systems and clearer communication with MCOs. Together, they explore how better workflows, state-aligned lesson plans, and proactive compliance tools can protect organizations while ensuring clients receive care that meets their real needs. Tune in and learn how better documentation, stronger compliance systems, and clearer payer-provider communication can reduce risk and improve behavioral health care delivery! Resources: * Learn more about Monolith Health on their LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/monolithhealth/] and visit their website here [https://www.monolith.health/].

Your Life is Worth the Work: From Episodic Treatment to Continuous Recovery with Chris Thompson, founder and CEO of Sober Sidekick

Recovery outcomes improve when support is continuous, trust-based, and built around human connection rather than episodic treatment alone. In this episode, Chris Thompson, founder and CEO of Sober Sidekick, shares how his personal experience with addiction inspired him to build a platform focused on reducing isolation and providing real-time support. He explains why relapse, overdose, and crises often occur outside traditional care settings, where support is limited. The platform addresses this gap through peer support, behavioral signals, and care navigation to engage people when it matters most. Chris also critiques traditional treatment incentives and emphasizes the need for a more empathetic, proactive, and trust-based approach to long-term recovery. Tune in and learn how always-on, empathy-driven support can help people sustain recovery and rethink how addiction care is delivered! Resources: * Connect with and follow Chris Thomson on LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-thompson-codes/]. * Learn more about Sober Sidekick by Empathy Health Tech on their LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/sober-sidekick-empathy-healthtech/] and explore their website [https://www.sobersidekick.com/].