Shows
Disruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiWhy It’s Getting Harder to Find a Doctor in America (ft. Dr. Andrew Weinstein) | Disruptive Dialogue Ep. 14Why are so many doctors leaving private practice? Why does it take so long to get an appointment? In the final episode of Season 1, Chuck Melendi is joined by Dr. Andrew Weinstein, President-Elect (2027) of the American Academy of Dermatology, to share how Medicare cuts—and the outdated Physician Fee Schedule—are quietly breaking the healthcare system at its heart .Dr. Weinstein explains how this Medicare pricing system hasn’t kept up with inflation in decades, and how private insurance companies follow Medicare’s lead—paying doctors less, while raising costs for patients. Meanwhile, Medicare Advantage plans rake in billion...2025-07-1642 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiThe Tide Is Turning - Cracking Down on Healthcare Giants | Disruptive Dialogue Ep. 13In today’s episode, Chuck takes you through some of the biggest healthcare headlines shaking the nation. From shocking lawsuits to tragic losses, Chuck reveals how powerful insurance companies and PBMs are being held accountable –and how much more needs to be done to reign them in.Highlights include:· The FTC’s damning report on pharmacy benefitmanagers· BlackRock suing UnitedHealth—for being too generous· A tragic asthma death caused by a $500 inhaler· Medicare Advantage fraud costing billions· Arkansas passing a bold law to ban PBM-ownedpharmacies· A former lawmaker admitting Medicare Advantageis b...2025-07-0726 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiA Father-Daughter Conversation on Mental Health & Parenting (ft. Crosby Melendi) | Disruptive Dialogue Ep. 12An honest, intergenerational conversation about anxiety, parenting, and growing up in a world shaped by 24/7 news and screens.In this deeply personal episode, Chuck Melendi is joined by his 27 year old daughter Crosby for a revealing dialogue about mental health. They unpack Crosby’s journey with anxiety and depression—from early teenage struggles to breakthroughs in therapy—to explore how parenting, social media, and generational disconnects all shape the way we experience and talk about emotional wellness.If you're a parent trying to understand your kids, a young adult navigating pressure and comparison, or sim...2025-06-3048 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiFighting for Mental Health Parity (ft. Roaya Tyson) | Disruptive Dialogue Ep. 11In Part 2 of this meaningful conversation, Chuck welcomes back Roaya Tyson, CEO of Gracepoint Wellness, to dig even deeper into the realities behind mental health care in America. Today we focus on mental health parity, the impact of the opioid crisis, and the personal and economic costs of inaction.From treatment inequities to Medicaid reimbursement gaps and the economic burden of untreated illness, this episode is a sobering look at the policies and systems that need urgent reform. Highlights & Takeaways• Mental Health Parity Gaps: Despite laws mandating equal coverage, behavioral health services are st...2025-06-2329 min
Taking the Pulse: a Health Care PodcastEpisode 239: Understanding the 340B Pricing Program with Chuck Melendi of Disruptive DialogueHeather and Matthew welcome Chuck Melendi, a seasoned healthcare consultant and former executive with decades of experience in pharmaceuticals, biotech, and medical devices. Chuck joins us to examine the complexities of the federal 340B pricing program, which provides discounted outpatient drugs to eligible health care providers. From ongoing litigation and proposed legislative reform to the role of PBMs, Chuck shares insights into why a seemingly good faith regulation is one of the most debated topics in health care policy. Tune in for a thoughtful discussion on how healthcare leaders and government can preserve the mission of 340B while addressing...2025-06-1721 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiUnderstanding Today’s Mental Health Crisis (ft. Roaya Tyson) | Disruptive Dialogue Ep.10How can the USA be failing so many in mental health? In this candid episode, Chuck sits down with behavioral health CEO Roaya Tyson to explore the mental health crisis in America—and how we got here.Roaya’s 20+ year journey from social worker to CEO gives her a rare vantage point on how behavioral healthcare has evolved, what’s still broken, and how she and her team at Gracepoint are fighting stigma, increasing access, and integrating care in revolutionary ways.From the realities of cell phones in schools to what really happens during a Baker...2025-06-1633 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiHealthcare’s Toll on Business (ft. Scott Robey) | Disruptive Dialogue Ep. 9How did one of the richest countries on earth end up with a healthcare system that impacts businesses as much as it hurts their employees? In this episode of Disruptive Dialogue, Chuck Melendi sits down with long-time friend and financial expert Scott Robey, a seasoned partner at Warren Averett, to tackle the economic cost of healthcare—beyond hospital visits and prescriptions.Together, they break down how rising healthcare expenses ripple through industries, drive inflation, impact employments levels, and put U.S. companies at a global disadvantage. It’s a straight-up, no-fluff conversation—fueled by decades of experience and a...2025-06-0945 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiThe Cost of Being Sick in America (ft. John Hoffman) | Disruptive Dialogue Ep. 8What happens when you’re insured, in pain, and still can’t get the help you need? In this episode, Chuck sits down with John Hoffman, an industry leader in health policy advocacy and a long-time veteran of the healthcare industry with an impressive 37-year tenure at Johnson & Johnson. Together, they unpack the frustrating, expensive, and often absurd realities of the American healthcare system. See how good intentions morphed into financial incentives—and why even the best physicians are now bound by spreadsheets, not science. With a combined 75+ years of healthcare experience, Chuck and John break down the ta...2025-06-0343 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiPart 2 -The TRUTH About Drug Prices: Why U.S. Drug Prices Stay High Despite ReformsIn this timely follow-up to last week's breakdown of the prescription drug pricing crisis, Chuck dives even deeper into the root causes—and policy battles—behind the price tags we all feel. From patent games that block generics to the ripple effects of President Trump’s recent executive order, Chuck breaks down the complex ecosystem of drug pricing like only an insider can. If you thought the system was rigged before… just wait until you hear how long some patents last (spoiler: Humira had a 25-year run). This episode hits everything from global price benchmarks to why Florida c...2025-05-2625 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiPart 1 -The TRUTH About Drug PricesWelcome back, disruptors! In this two-part episode, Chuck digs into one of the most frustrating issues in healthcare: the skyrocketing cost of prescription drugs. After years of personally negotiating drug contracts with PBMs and insurers, he saw how the sauce was made – and now he is sharing that with you. From gag clauses in pharmacy contracts to middlemen pocketing billions, Chuck reveals how the system is designed for profits - not for patients.This one’s personal, fiery, and packed with eye-opening insights (plus a shot of Fireball to kick things off). FOR EPISODE SLIDES, visit https://www...2025-05-1940 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiPHARMACIST ON THE FRONTLINES: Fighting for Patients & for SurvivalWelcome back! In this week’s episode, Chuck sits down with independent pharmacist Dr. Scott Fritch for a powerful conversation about what’s really going on behind your pharmacy counter.Dr. Fritch reveals how major insurance companies and their pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) have created a rigged system that squeezes out independent pharmacists, limits patient access, and confuses the public with the lack of transparency endemic in the system. He and Chuck expose how PBMs can manipulate drug pricing, mislead employers on their cost savings, and even launch smear campaigns against those who speak up.If you’ve eve...2025-05-1238 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiWHY YOUR DOCTOR’S HANDS ARE TIED with Dr. Madelaine FeldmanWelcome back to Disruptive Dialogue with Chuck Melendi, the show that pulls back the curtain on America’s broken healthcare system and calls the community to action. Your host, Chuck Melendi, spent 35 years in the industry — including 25 with Johnson & Johnson — and he’s seen enough to know: Americans are being ripped off.In This Episode:Chuck is joined by Dr. Madelaine (Mattie) Feldman, a renowned rheumatologist and fierce advocate for patient access. With decades of experience treating chronic illness and fighting the gatekeepers of drug pricing, Dr. Feldman delivers a revealing perspective, from a practicing physicia...2025-05-0544 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiFIGHTING FOR CARE: A Mother’s Journey Through the Healthcare MazeWelcome back to Disruptive Dialogue, the show that pulls back the curtain on America’s broken healthcare system. Your host, Chuck Melendi, spent 35 years in the industry — including 25 with Johnson & Johnson — and he’s seen enough to know: Americans are being ripped off.In This Episode:Chuck Melendi welcomes guest Jenn Munchel to share her inspiring story in Disruptive Dialogue’s powerful first interview. Jenn, a former social worker and teacher, opens up about her daughter Mila’s unexpected diagnosis with juvenile idiopathic arthritis at just two years old.Together, Chuck and Jenn dive into the...2025-04-2838 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiFOLLOW THE MONEY: Who Profits from America's Broken Healthcare System?Welcome back to Disruptive Dialogue, the show that pulls back the curtain on America’s broken healthcare system. Your host, Chuck Melendi, spent 35 years in the industry — including 25 with Johnson & Johnson — and he’s seen enough to know: Americans are being ripped off.In This Episode:Chuck pulls back the curtain on one of the biggest drivers of the U.S. healthcare crisis: corporate profit. While Americans struggle to afford care, a small group of healthcare giants are raking in trillions. In this explosive episode, we break down:Why Everything Costs More in U.S. Hea...2025-04-2128 minDisruptive Dialogue with Chuck MelendiThe Wake-Up Call - America's Broken Healthcare SystemWelcome to the introductory episode of Disruptive Dialogue, the show that pulls back the curtain on America’s broken healthcare system. Your host, Chuck Melendi, spent 35 years in the industry — including 25 with Johnson & Johnson — and he’s seen enough to know: Americans are being ripped off.Here’s the harsh reality:• The U.S. ranks dead last in healthcare performance among 10 developed nations.• In 2023, we spent nearly $5 trillion on healthcare — that’s over $14,500 per person.• Rising healthcare costs are crushing our economy, becoming the second-largest expense for U.S. employers after wages — shrinking wo...2025-04-1827 min
Working HealthcareEp. 40 - Chuck Melendi Unveils the Truth Behind Big PharmaIn this insightful episode of Working Healthcare, Meredith Hirsh sits down with Chuck Melendi for his first interview since leaving Johnson & Johnson, offering a rare, insider perspective on the complex world of Big Pharma. Chuck’s 30 years' experience navigating pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and biotechnology offers listeners a rare, insider perspective on the industry's inner workings. From the staggering $83 billion spent on research and development each year to the role pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play in the pricing of medications, Chuck breaks down why Big Pharma is often misunderstood and scrutinized. He sheds light on how companies like Pfizer, Merck, an...2025-02-2556 min