493 – Dr. Jim Bonnette, Chief Medical Officer at 86Borders

Episode Details:

Join us on the latest episode, hosted by Jared S. Taylor!

Our Guest: Dr. Jim Bonnette, Chief Medical Officer at 86Borders.

What you’ll get out of this episode:

Siloed strategies fail—coordination and patient focus are critical.
Overuse of vendors leads to confusion and poor patient engagement.
Real-time data and personal interaction significantly boost outcomes.
Quality outreach hinges on empathy, not just volume.
Targeted member education drives both satisfaction and star ratings.
adopters of genetics to promote longevity and healthier lives.
The Future Is Now: With global health systems under pressure, predictive genomics is primed to shift care from treatment to prevention.

Rethinking Health Plan Strategies: Coordination Over Silos

In a compelling discussion, Dr. Jim Bonnette, Chief Medical Officer at 86Borders, unpacks the critical flaws in many health plans' approach to improving star ratings. According to Dr. Bonnette, plans often fragment their efforts, assigning different vendors or teams to each individual HEDIS measure. This siloed approach leads to a disconnect that patients experience firsthand—especially when they receive multiple uncoordinated calls or mailings.

One large health plan, he notes, employed over 300 vendors—making effective coordination nearly impossible. The takeaway? "You have to be able to think about the patient first," says Dr. Bonnette.

The Pitfalls of Vendor Overload and Misaligned Outreach

Excessive vendor use not only burdens members with redundant contact but also dilutes care coordination. “Patients don’t care about one issue; they care about the whole picture,” Dr. Bonnette emphasizes. When outreach is narrowly focused and uncoordinated, members become disengaged.

He recounted his own experience of receiving 45 mailings in his first month on Medicare—most of which ended up in the trash. The message was clear: outreach needs to be smarter, not louder.

Real-Time Data and Member Engagement

Real-time data is vital for monitoring adherence, especially in chronic disease management. Dr. Bonnette shared that pharmacy data, which is both current and accurate, is underused in improving care. He illustrated the power of timely interventions with a story about a patient repeatedly admitted for congestive heart failure—until a program of weekly follow-ups helped her avoid the ER for years.

Quality Over Quantity in Outreach

The conversation shifts toward a principle often overlooked: meaningful engagement. Outreach isn't just about hitting numbers—it's about truly understanding and responding to member needs. A member won't prioritize a mammogram if they’re struggling to eat or pay rent. “You have to coordinate those sorts of things,” says Dr. Bonnette, “so that you can get people to do the kinds of things they need to do.”

Smarter Member Education = Better Star Ratings

Mass mailings and generic communications often fail to connect. Dr. Bonnette described how education must be personal and conversational—like when one patient unknowingly worsened her condition by drinking pickle juice, unaware it was high in salt.

“An educated member is your best asset,” Dr. Bonnette asserts. Targeted education not only empowers patients but directly boosts satisfaction scores, impacting overall star ratings.

The 86Borders Approach

Founded on empathy, 86Borders focuses on helping members navigate their health benefits while addressing the social determinants of health. Whether it's finding food, securing transportation, or clarifying care options, their model ensures patients feel heard—and supported.

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