The Accidental Healthcare Policy Expert - NextFutureToday Ep. 34: Dan Keldsen and Guest Jeff Grant
Episode 34 Recap: "The Accidental Healthcare Policy Expert" with Dan Keldsen, Chief Innovation Officer at Infocap.AI and Jeffrey Grant, Founder and President, Schedule F Healthcare Strategies.
This week, Dan sat down with Jeff Grant for a candid and insightful conversation about the fascinating evolution of healthcare policy, innovation in public health, and the power of following opportunities - even when they’re unexpected.
From Navy to Healthcare Operations – Jeff Grant’s Journey
Jeff Grant’s path to public health was anything but straightforward. After his stint in the Navy with plans for academia, Jeff pivoted to public administration. He found himself swept into healthcare operations during the Clinton administration’s push for reform. His knack for operations and systems thinking took him into the heart of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services), where he tackled major shifts like the Balanced Budget Act and risk adjustment in Medicare. Jeff’s story is a reminder that sometimes, saying “yes” to the unforeseen creates the best opportunities.
Innovation Means Raising Your Hand
The conversation highlighted how innovation in public service is often about willingness to jump into the breach - even when the path isn’t clear. Jeff and Dan discussed the difference between military and civilian career paths, emphasizing that, unlike the military’s clear roadmap, public sector careers reward opportunists and bridge builders who aren’t afraid of risk or ambiguity.
Bridging Policy, Technology, and Operations
Jeff shared war stories of bridging visionary policy with practical technology - like developing the National Provider ID, which eventually became a cornerstone for billing across Medicare, Medicaid, and private sectors. It’s a vivid example of radical reimagination made real by necessity and adaptability.
The Push for Simplicity: HR-1 and Medicaid Work Requirements
Another timely topic was the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR-1) and its impact on Medicaid and ACA coverage. Jeff unpacked the complex new work requirements, highlighting their operational challenges for applicants (like proving employment in a world dominated by gig work and independent contracting).
Dan and Jeff discussed how technology, AI, and usability principles (think: “Don’t Make Me Think” by Steve Krug) can help streamline processes but also introduce new layers of complexity and privacy concerns.
Skills Over Industry: Reinventing Your Next Future
Wrapping up, Jeff dropped practical advice for those seeking purposeful change in their careers. Focus on the skills you bring to the table - operations, data, startup mentality. If you’re feeling “stuck,” consider a career coach or self-assessment. The trick isn’t just domain knowledge, but transferable skills and knowing what makes you tick.
Connect with Jeff Grant
Interested in digging deeper or connecting with Jeff? You can find him at Schedule F Healthcare Strategies (schedf.com), or email him at info@ (at) schedf (dot) com.
He’s also active on LinkedIn for those who want to network or continue the conversation here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-grant-480aaa19/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-grant-480aaa19/]
What’s Next?
If you’re navigating your own “Next Future,” remember: opportunity often shows up disguised as uncertainty. Embrace your generalist tendencies, seek out innovation, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks. And as always, tune in to Next Future Today for more stories that inform, inspire, and ignite possibility.
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Stay curious, stay connected, and shape your next future - today!
Connect with Dan at https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankeldsen/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankeldsen/]
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