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  • Inside Bales Orthodontics: Patient-Focused Innovations and Community Involvement

    Inside Bales Orthodontics: Patient-Focused Innovations and Community Involvement
    2025/11/25
    Katie Bales built on her father's foundation, leading Bales Orthodontics with an all-female team and a focus on patient comfort and cutting-edge care. Her approach has made orthodontics accessible and welcoming for both children and adults. From airway-focused treatment to compassionate service, she continues to redefine the patient experience. Learn more about Bales Orthodontics here, and follow them on Facebook here. Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here. Follow Erin on Facebook here. Follow Erin on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here. Key Takeaways 1. The Evolution and Legacy of Bales Orthodontics Takeaway: Erin Ackenheil and Katie Bales discuss the long history and local legacy of Bales Orthodontics, founded by Dr. Tom Bales and carried on by Katie Bales. The main point is the importance of continuity, innovation, and community involvement in building not just a practice but a trusted local institution. 2. Leadership, Mentorship, and Female Empowerment in Dentistry Takeaway: Katie Bales highlights her journey as a woman leading an all-female dental team, emphasizing the mentorship she received from her father and her efforts to bring a nurturing, collaborative, and empathetic approach to patient care. The conceptual takeaway is that leadership grounded in empathy and support—especially when women empower other women—elevates patient experience and workplace culture. 3. Innovation and Patient-Centered Care in Orthodontics Takeaway: The conversation explores advancements such as airway-focused orthodontics and individualized treatment plans that consider the patient's lifestyle and goals. Katie Bales underscores that tailoring care to each patient's unique needs—from minimal touch-ups to full treatments—demonstrates how modern orthodontics is both innovative and deeply patient-focused. 4. The Growing Trend of Adult Orthodontics Takeaway: There's significant discussion about the rise of adult patients seeking orthodontic care, influenced by aesthetics, new technology (such as Invisalign), and increased self-awareness due to video conferencing. The main lesson is that orthodontic care is relevant at any age, and practices are adapting to make treatments appealing and accessible to adults as well as children. 5. The Value of Community Involvement and Giving Back Takeaway: Erin Ackenheil and Katie Bales talk about the practice's commitment to supporting local schools, sports, charities, and pro bono cases. The key message is that sustainable business success is rooted in genuine community engagement—giving back is not just a duty, but a core part of making a meaningful impact.
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    29 分
  • ENCORE: How to Prioritize a Patient First Mindset

    ENCORE: How to Prioritize a Patient First Mindset
    2025/09/16
    *This episode previously aired on November 13, 2013. What does it mean when a health plan asks, "How would we want this to work for our own parents?" Sharon Jawar has worked for over 20 years as the chief pharmacy officer at SCAN Health Plan, making choices that focus on seniors' health—not shareholders. Why did she choose managed care pharmacy over traditional pharmacy roles? How does SCAN Health Plan support members, agents, and brokers in the Medicare space? What recent changes make SCAN's Medicare Advantage plans different for 2024, especially in pharmacy benefits? Hear what drives Sharon's work and how SCAN aims to keep care simple for every member. Key Takeaways 1. SCAN Health Plan's Unique Approach and Values Takeaway: SCAN Health Plan is a nonprofit organization focused on senior care with the guiding philosophy of treating members as they would their own parents. This member-first approach is enabled by their nonprofit status, allowing them to prioritize patient outcomes and ethical decision-making over shareholder profit, which in turn generates trust and satisfaction among beneficiaries and providers. 2. Pharmacy Benefits & Innovative Programs Takeaway: SCAN Health Plan stands out for its proactive, personalized approach to pharmacy benefits. They run targeted programs to support medication adherence, deprescribing (evaluating and reducing unnecessary medications), and streamline prior authorization for new members. These innovations are designed to make medications more accessible and safe, ultimately improving both member outcomes and satisfaction. 3. High Star Ratings and Industry Recognition Takeaway: Consistently earning high Medicare star ratings and prestigious awards (such as the J.D. Power ranking for customer service) is a reflection of SCAN's commitment to quality. These ratings, which encompass factors like member satisfaction, medication management, and provider partnerships, reinforce the plan's reputation for dependable and superior service in both pharmacy and general healthcare. 4. 2024 Product & Benefit Enhancements Takeaway: SCAN is introducing game-changing benefits in 2024, including a new emphasis on making high-value brand-name medications for heart and diabetes care affordable (with $0 or $11 copays). They've also personalized product offerings, like plans tailored for women and the LGBTQ community, reflecting their commitment to providing individualized care and addressing the specific needs of diverse populations. 5. Support for Brokers, Agents, and Members Takeaway: SCAN provides robust support and resources for both members and the agents/brokers who serve them. Their onboarding processes, training, and partnership with healthcare providers are geared towards delivering the best possible experience—ensuring new members have needed medications right away, making the contracting process for agents simple, and offering detailed information online. Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here. Follow Erin on Facebook here. Follow Erin on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    36 分
  • ENCORE: Pioneering Modern Gynecology with Dr. Mona Orady

    ENCORE: Pioneering Modern Gynecology with Dr. Mona Orady
    2025/08/26

    *This episode originally aired on October 23, 2023

    She's known as the Sherlock Holmes of gynecology. In this episode, Gynecologic Surgeon Dr. Mona Orady shares how she launched her own business and became the head of robotic surgery at St. Francis Hospital. Discover the path she and her team are forging in women's healthcare.

    Explore Dr. Orady's website here.

    Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here.

    Follow Erin on Facebook here.

    Follow Erin on LinkedIn here.

    Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    33 分
  • Step-by-Step Provider Referral Strategies for Insurance Agents

    Step-by-Step Provider Referral Strategies for Insurance Agents
    2025/08/12

    Have you ever wondered how Medicare agents grow their business and keep their clients coming back year after year? Sometimes it's not about big ads or marketing campaigns. Instead, it comes down to relationships, and finding the right partners and building trust. Day by day.

    Today, we're talking about provider referrals:

    • Why identifying the right providers can change your business
    • How everyday connections can turn into your best sources of growth
    • The steps to nurture trust, not just get names on a list

    Learn more about SCAN Health Plan here.

    Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here.

    Follow Erin on Facebook here.

    Follow Erin on LinkedIn here.

    Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    45 分
  • Encore: How To Build A Strong Patient Doctor Core

    Encore: How To Build A Strong Patient Doctor Core
    2025/07/29

    Strengthen your practice! In this episode, founder of Marina Village Medicine, Dr. Jagmohan S. Khaira discusses his success in nurturing relationships. He believes in building a strong core between each patient and doctor to consistently deliver high-value healthcare.

    Explore Dr. Khaira's website here.

    Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here.

    Follow Erin on Facebook here.

    Follow Erin on LinkedIn here.

    Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    33 分
  • SCAN Health Plan: Why Nonprofit Medicare Advantage Makes a Difference

    SCAN Health Plan: Why Nonprofit Medicare Advantage Makes a Difference
    2025/07/15

    Medicare is complicated, and every year brings new challenges for those helping seniors choose the best health plan. SCAN Health Plan is a nonprofit that has been serving Northern California with a different approach—prioritizing community, stable benefits, and real customer service.

    Today, the team behind SCAN's local success joins Erin to talk about:

    • What it means to be a nonprofit Medicare Advantage plan
    • How star ratings affect seniors' benefits
    • Unique ways SCAN supports members and agents all year

    Learn more about SCAN Health Plan here.

    Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here.

    Follow Erin on Facebook here.

    Follow Erin on LinkedIn here.

    Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    30 分
  • ENCORE: Dr. Gary S. Huang's Heart Health Tips

    ENCORE: Dr. Gary S. Huang's Heart Health Tips
    2025/07/01

    *This episode originally aired on October 16, 2023.

    These are the warning signs you should know. In this educational Provider Spotlight, Dr. Gary Huang, shares his journey in cardiology and supporting heart-healthy lifestyles. Dr. Gary is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology, and Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Get the exact advice he tells his real-life patients!

    Learn more about Dr. Huang here.

    Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here.

    Follow Erin on Facebook here.

    Follow Erin on LinkedIn here.

    Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    25 分
  • Medicare Compliance: Essential Tips for Agents and Brokers

    Medicare Compliance: Essential Tips for Agents and Brokers
    2025/06/17
    What does it really mean to stay compliant in Medicare sales? Sometimes, we hear about changes to broker compensation, new rules for sharing beneficiary information, and best practices for telephonic selling. But what do these updates mean for agents, FMOs, and beneficiaries?

    Shelley Segal has spent decades navigating Medicare compliance and working with organizations, agents, and health plans to build better, safer practices for everyone involved. She's here to walk us through:

    • What's changing with CMS final regulations

    • Securing and sharing beneficiary data the right way

    • Avoiding common mistakes that could put a business at risk

    Learn more about Segal Medical Experts here.

    Contact Shelley at ShelleySegal@SMEteam.org.

    Follow Erin's company, Black Point Insurance, on Instagram here.

    Follow Erin on Facebook here.

    Follow Erin on LinkedIn here.

    Learn more about Erin's company, Black Point Insurance here.
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    56 分