In the third episode of BYOB: The Healthcare Podcast, the team speaks to Bianca Desai who is a Policy Director at Healthsperien in Washington, D.C. The episode covers a swath of topics on the healthcare policy side. The guys dive in deep with Bianca on what it’s like to create and curate healthcare policy with changing administrations, what keeps certain states from not expanding Medicaid and how a bill becomes law outside of our favorite Schoolhouse Rock movie. In this episodes, ‘Talking with Nakin’s segment, Nakin takes Freddy and Joe through the current Medicaid landscape, how one qualifies for Medicaid at the federal level and what the intricacies look like at the state level, especially for the states where our hosts currently reside. Nakin discuss how Medicaid expansion impacts all sectors of healthcare and how his pod mates determine that healthcare can truly expand for all.
Bianca Desai – Healthsperien
Nakin, Freddy, and Joe invite their guest, Bianca Desai, who is the Policy Director for the National MLTSS Health Plan Association, among other roles at Healthsperien. Bianca shares where her passion for policy came from, how she was able to get into the work that goes on in our nation’s capital and provides great advice for those pursuing a career in healthcare policy. The crew asked Bianca the following questions:
- What is Healthsperien and how did you get there?
- How did you get into Health Policy work?
- How does someone with an MHA or similar degree get into health policy work?
- How do you and your team contribute to the creation of policy and cutting of laws in the process?
- What does a day on the hill look like?
- What is your drink of choice? (Alcoholic or non-alcoholic) – BYOB recurring question for guests
Bianca shares a unique perspective that not many healthcare leaders are able to see every day. She shares how partisanship has impacted her career and the work that she does at Healthsperien. Additionally, she provides advice for any students or emerging healthcare leaders who are looking to enter health policy or pivot into that sector of healthcare. Grab your drink of choice and join us as we listen to Bianca Desai.
