Health Plan Strategy

When I moved from exam rooms to boardrooms, I didn’t leave the clinical mindset behind — I brought it with me.

In a recent discussion on health plan strategy, I found myself reflecting on what’s changing behind the scenes — and how that change connects back to what patients and clinicians actually feel.

Here’s what’s top of mind for health plans right now:

— Designing around people, not systems
Plans are investing in real-time visibility, behavioral health access, and tools that reduce friction. It’s not perfect — but the direction is promising.

— Integration over innovation-for-innovation’s sake
There’s recognition that piling on point solutions isn’t the answer. What matters more: what fits into the workflow, what builds trust, and what gets used.

— Redesigning networks with intention
Instead of “bigger is better,” we’re seeing smarter network strategies — ones that align with quality, access, and outcomes, especially in underserved areas.

— Making data actually usable
Not just dashboards but tools that deliver timely, context-aware support to clinicians and members alike.

As someone who’s been on both sides, caring for patients and shaping payer strategy, I’ve learned that real change doesn’t come from disruption alone. It comes from thoughtful design that respects the complexity of the system and the lives it serves. Not by reinventing everything, but by reimagining how the pieces come together.

Between now and next,

Mamata

Photo: Each home slightly different, built with care, made to last. Like any system worth keeping, progress lives in the details.