06 If American Healthcare Is Broken, What Can The West Coast Do? With Mike Hanlon

Pacific Time: The "What if...?" of West Coast Independence

Is the U.S. Healthcare System Beyond Repair? Mike Hanlon Explains How the West Coast Could Lead a Revolution

Mike Hanlon knows healthcare in America is broken. As a health economist, tech entrepreneur, and former early-stage Amazon employee, he's seen firsthand how complex systems can either hinder or help innovation. Mike joins Greg Amrofell on Pacific Time to discuss why the U.S. healthcare system, plagued by fragmentation and inefficiencies, consistently fails patients—and how the West Coast might lead the way to meaningful reform.

Mike clearly lays out why the biggest issue isn't who pays—employers, individuals, or the government—but rather how the system operates. Hospitals and healthcare providers, shockingly behind in data management and communication, contribute significantly to escalating healthcare costs and poor patient outcomes. Mike also provides insights into recent federal budget proposals that could drastically cut Medicare funding, potentially destabilizing an already precarious system.

Through his startup Abett, Mike is pioneering solutions by improving healthcare data transparency and enabling better decision-making for employers and patients alike. Could this approach provide a template for broader reform?

Key topics include:

✔️ The hidden costs of fragmented healthcare and poor communication
✔️ How Medicare cuts could amplify existing healthcare crises
✔️ Lessons from international healthcare systems that outperform the U.S.
✔️ Why employer-sponsored healthcare isn't the core problem
✔️ How data transparency could revolutionize healthcare decisions

Join us to explore transformative ideas for healthcare innovation on the West Coast and beyond.

Resources & References:

Abett: The company Mike founded to work on health data problems

Eric Bricker, MD | LinkedIn: An expert Mike recommends

Herbie Duber | UW Department of Emergency Medicine: Another expert Mike recommends

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Related Podcast Episodes:

Ep 01 Making the Case for West Coast Independence