The Leadership Lab with Asbel Montes

Healthcare Beyond the Status Quo with Dan McCoy

Healthcare costs keep rising, incentives keep pointing the wrong direction, and patients keep getting caught in the middle. So what would it actually take to build a system that works? In this episode of The Leadership Lab, Asbel Montes sits down with Dr. Dan McCoy, a physician, healthcare executive, and innovator, to make the structural case for why the system must change and what that change could look like. From the volume-over-value trap to the administrative burden crushing providers and payers alike, Dr. McCoy pulls back the curtain on where the system breaks down, where transparency is failing consumers, and how AI and connected data can either solve the problem or deepen it depending on how leaders choose to act. This is a conversation for healthcare leaders, employers, payers, and providers who are done treating symptoms and ready to talk about root causes. If you work in healthcare finance, benefits, operations, or policy, this is the conversation you have been waiting for. 🔗 Learn more about Solutions Group: www.solutionsgroup.com [http://www.solutionsgroup.com] ABOUT DR. DAN McCOY Dr. Dan McCoy is an entrepreneur, business strategist, and the Founder and CEO of RocketTools.io and Dan McCoy Consulting. He is a bold healthcare leader who led Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to unprecedented growth in membership, underwriting margin, and revenue — the largest in the company's 90-year history. During his tenure, he spearheaded the creation of novel healthcare benefit products including the largest HMO in the state's history with over one million members, rebuilt the external media and government relations teams, and launched BCBS Texas as the "Voice of Texas Healthcare," resulting in the most successful legislative session for the industry in over two decades. Today, through RocketTools.io and Dan McCoy Consulting, Dan works with enterprises on brand strategy, AI-powered growth, and market positioning. He is also an experienced communicator and keynote speaker. ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LAB The Leadership Lab is hosted by Asbel Montes and produced by Solutions Group, a healthcare finance services firm helping healthcare organizations maximize reimbursement and drive innovation. The podcast explores the intersection of data, physician leadership, and healthcare transformation through the eyes of the patient. #TheLeadershipLab #HealthcareLeadership #HealthcareReform #ValueBasedCare #HealthcareFinance #PriorAuthorization #HealthcareTransparency #AIinHealthcare #HealthcareInnovation #PatientCenteredCare #HealthcarePolicy #HealthcareCosts #SolutionsGroup #HealthcareExecutive #HealthcareOperations Links: Asbel Montes LinkedIn - / asbel-montes-31027634 Dan McCoy LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dankmccoy/ Solutions Group Services: LinkedIn - / solutionsgroupservices Instagram - / solution_sgroup Facebook - / solutionsgroupservices Website - https://www.solutionsgroup.com/ [https://www.solutionsgroup.com/]

Physician Leadership in the Next Era of Healthcare with Dr. Hawnwan Moy

EMS has always answered the call. But what if the system that created EMS is the very thing holding it back? In this Clarity Special Edition of The Leadership Lab, Asbel Montes sits down with Dr. Hawnwan Philip Moy, Emergency Physician, EMS Medical Director, and incoming President of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP), to make the case for why physicians must step into the room where healthcare policy is written. Recorded live at Solutions Group's 5th Annual Clarity User Summit in Laguna Beach, California, Dr. Moy breaks down the structural argument for moving EMS out of the Department of Transportation and into Health and Human Services, why the "you call, we haul, that's all" reimbursement model is failing patients and providers alike, and what it actually costs when the system chooses reaction over prevention. He also issues a direct call to his physician colleagues: your clinical experience is more powerful in the policy room than you think. Stop waiting to be invited in. Topics covered in this episode: * The 1966 White Paper that put EMS under the DOT, and why that needs to change * Why ground EMS crews that save lives but don't transport go unpaid * EMTALA, the uninsured, and the real cost of reactive medicine * What NAEMSP's next generation of leadership looks like * How physicians can engage healthcare economics without needing an MBA If you work in EMS, emergency medicine, healthcare administration, or policy, this conversation is for you. ABOUT DR. HAWNWAN PHILIP MOY Dr. Hawnwan Philip Moy is an Emergency Physician and EMS Physician at Mercy Hospital in Saint Louis and the Medical Director for the Missouri and Carbondale base of ARCH Air Methods Helicopter EMS. He serves as Secretary Treasurer of the National Association of EMS Physicians (NAEMSP) and is on track to become its next president. He is also the host of the But Why EMS Podcast and the Air Methods Prehospital EDucation Podcast, where he brings physician-level expertise to EMS practitioners and paramedics. Listen to the But Why EMS Podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/but-why-ems-podcast/id1435436833 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/but-why-ems-podcast/id1435436833] ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LAB The Leadership Lab is hosted by Asbel Montes and produced by Solutions Group, a healthcare finance services firm helping healthcare organizations maximize reimbursement and drive innovation. The podcast explores the intersection of data, physician leadership, and healthcare transformation through the eyes of the patient. Learn more at www.solutionsgroup.com [https://www.solutionsgroup.com] Discover Black Ink at www.discoverblackink.com [https://www.discoverblackink.com]

The Strategic Value of EMS Data in Modern Healthcare with Dr. Eric Beck

EMS has been delivering value the healthcare system has never measured — until now. In this Special Edition of The Leadership Lab, Asbel Montes sits down with Dr. Eric Beck, CEO of ESO, to talk about how EMS data, AI, and physician leadership are converging to reshape healthcare economics from the ground up. Recorded live at Solutions Group's 5th Annual User Summit in Laguna Beach, California, this episode covers the gap in physician education around healthcare economics, ESO's acquisition of D2i, the role of AI in healthcare interoperability, and what the EMS industry must do to seize its seat at the modernization table. If you're an EMS leader, physician, policymaker, or healthcare executive — this is the conversation you need to hear. Learn more about Solutions Group: www.solutionsgroup.com [https://www.solutionsgroup.com] Discover Black Ink: www.discoverblackink.com [https://www.discoverblackink.com] ABOUT DR. ERIC BECK Dr. Eric Beck is the CEO of ESO, one of the largest EMS data and analytics platforms in the country. He began his career as a firefighter and paramedic, went on to practice as an emergency physician, and served as a health system executive before taking the helm at ESO. Dr. Beck is a leading voice on EMS data interoperability, healthcare economics, and the role of AI in transforming pre-hospital and emergency care. This is his third appearance on The Leadership Lab. ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LAB The Leadership Lab is hosted by Asbel Montes and produced by Solutions Group Services, a healthcare finance services firm helping healthcare organizations maximize reimbursement and drive innovation. The podcast explores the intersection of data, physician leadership, and healthcare transformation — through the eyes of the patient. www.solutionsgroup.com CONNECT WITH US Asbel Montes on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634] Solutions Group on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices] Solutions Group on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/ [https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/] Solutions Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices [https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices] Solutions Group Website: https://www.solutionsgroup.com [https://www.solutionsgroup.com]

Part II: An Economist's Take on Surprise Billing and Healthcare Payment Reform with Dr. Lisa Grabert

What happens when healthcare payment systems no longer reflect the services providers actually deliver? In this Clarity Special Edition, recorded live from the fifth annual Clarity Summit in Laguna Beach, California, Asbel Montes sits down with Dr. Lisa Grabert — healthcare economist, visiting research professor at Marquette University, and nationally recognized expert on Medicare reimbursement policy — for a conversation that is equal parts personal, analytical, and urgent. Dr. Grabert doesn't just study healthcare policy. She's lived its consequences. In this episode, she shares her own mother's experience as a surprise billing victim — fully insured under Medicare, yet sent to collections before the family even knew a bill existed. That story opens a deeper discussion about what's working, what isn't, and what policymakers still need to fix. This conversation covers the No Surprises Act, ambulance payment reform, healthcare transparency, the prospective payment system, and the growing role of AI in policy research and healthcare decision-making. What you'll hear in this episode: * How surprise billing continues to impact Medicare beneficiaries despite recent reforms — and why Congress may need to revisit the No Surprises Act * Why 20% of Medicare Advantage enrollees switch plans annually — and what that means for provider billing and patient protection * Why transparency, not just legislation, may be the most powerful tool for healthcare accountability * What the ground ambulance data collection results mean for the future of EMS reimbursement * Why some healthcare economists favor moving beyond the fee schedule to a prospective payment system — and what a budget-neutral, phased transition could look like * Why EMS providers treating patients without guaranteed reimbursement is a systemic design flaw — not a compliance issue * How Dr. Grabert uses AI to replace months of data cleaning work in 24 to 48 hours — and why she tells her students that ignorance is now a choice * What healthcare leaders should be thinking about as AI becomes a standard research and policy tool The bottom line: Healthcare reform is rarely simple. But transparency, thoughtful payment policy, and better use of data remain essential to building a more accountable and sustainable healthcare system. Dr. Grabert challenges leaders to think beyond short-term fixes — and toward payment models that actually reflect the value providers deliver. If you're a healthcare executive, EMS leader, policymaker, physician, researcher, or healthcare finance professional trying to understand where payment reform is heading next, this episode is for you. Subscribe to The Leadership Lab with Asbel Montes for conversations at the intersection of healthcare leadership, finance, technology, and systems-level thinking. Links: Asbel Montes LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634] Dr. Lisa Grabert LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lisa-grabert-78ab527/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-lisa-grabert-78ab527/] Solutions Group Services: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/ [https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices [https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices] Website - https://www.solutionsgroup.com/ [https://www.solutionsgroup.com/]

Private Equity in Healthcare: Separating Myth from Reality with Larry Richardson

What happens when one of healthcare's most controversial funding models is also one of the biggest drivers of its future growth? In this episode of The Leadership Lab, Asbel sits down with Larry Richardson of AmeriPro EMS for an in-depth conversation about private equity in healthcare, EMS transformation, healthcare economics, reimbursement reform, AI innovation, workforce development, and what it takes to build sustainable, patient-centered systems in a complex financial environment. Drawing from his journey from frontline paramedic to healthcare executive and finance leader, Larry shares how understanding both clinical care and healthcare economics has reshaped how he views system sustainability, growth, and leadership. Together, they explore why AmeriPro chose to partner with private equity, how they distinguish between a "co-builder" and a traditional investor, and why alignment of values is critical in today's healthcare landscape. The conversation also examines the deeper structural issues shaping healthcare today, including outdated reimbursement models, clinician burnout, workforce shortages, fragmented data systems, and the widening gap between frontline care and executive decision-making. And then there is AI. From fraud detection and administrative efficiency to workforce support and operational optimization, artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming a defining force in healthcare transformation. But it also raises new questions about trust, judgment, and the future role of clinicians in decision-making. In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ Why AmeriPro EMS partnered with private equity and what they looked for in a growth partner ✅ How the "co-builder" model differs from traditional private equity relationships ✅ Why healthcare leaders can no longer ignore economics, reimbursement, and financial sustainability ✅ The biggest misconceptions about private equity in healthcare ✅ How outdated EMS reimbursement models impact operations and patient access ✅ Why balancing patient care and financial performance is now essential for healthcare organizations ✅ How AI is being used to reduce fraud, waste, and administrative burden ✅ Why data and KPIs must be balanced with individual patient context ✅ How employee experience directly influences patient outcomes and organizational culture ✅ The workforce pipeline and leadership challenges shaping the future of EMS and healthcare ✅ How reimbursement reform could transform rural healthcare and EMS delivery systems If you are a healthcare executive, EMS leader, physician, policymaker, investor, or healthcare innovator, this episode offers a grounded look at one of the most debated topics in the industry today. Because the real question is not whether healthcare should involve capital. It is whether we are building systems that use it well. 👉🏻 Subscribe to The Leadership Lab with Asbel Montes for more conversations with industry innovators. 👉🏻 Follow and rate the show to help others discover the future of healthcare transformation. 👉🏻 Share this episode with your team to spark meaningful change. Links: Asbel Montes LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634 [https://www.linkedin.com/in/asbel-montes-31027634] Larry Richardson LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryjrichardson [https://www.linkedin.com/in/larryjrichardson] Solutions Group Services: LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices [https://www.linkedin.com/company/solutionsgroupservices] Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/ [https://www.instagram.com/solution_sgroup/] Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices [https://www.facebook.com/solutionsgroupservices] Website - https://www.solutionsgroup.com/ [https://www.solutionsgroup.com/]