
Driving Affordability and Access Through Digital Innovation with Ellen Sexton
From Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast by Becker's Healthcare
May 6, 2026 · 10 min
About this episode
Ellen Sexton discusses digital innovation in healthcare to improve affordability and access.
This episode recorded live at the Becker’s Spring 2026 Payer Issues Roundtable features Ellen Sexton, Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer, Blue Shield of California. She discusses tackling healthcare affordability, scaling virtual care and digital tools like Virtual Blue, and using AI and data-driven strategies to improve access, reduce ER utilization, and enhance member experience while maintaining trust and quality. In collaboration with Hippocratic AI .
People in this episode
Guest: Ellen Sexton
Topics covered
- healthcare affordability
- digital innovation
- virtual care
- AI in healthcare
- member experience
Keywords
- affordability
- access
- digital tools
- AI
- virtual care
- member experience
- ER utilization
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Blue Shield of California, Hippocratic AI
More episodes of Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast
- Tackling Healthcare Affordability Through Innovative Funding Models with Morgan Kendrick · June 11, 2026 · 12 min
- America’s Health Rankings Senior Report: Key Trends in Healthy Aging with Rhonda Randall, DO · June 9, 2026 · 22 min
- Sharon Williams on Member Experience, Healthcare Access, and Smarter Payer Technology · June 5, 2026 · 7 min
- Rethinking Risk Adjustment and Payer Provider Alignment in Value-Based Care · June 3, 2026 · 18 min
- Rethinking Health Plan Design Through Access, AI, and Preventive Care with Adam Park · June 2, 2026 · 6 min
- AI, Interoperability, and Member Experience in Modern Payer Operations with Cara Wahmann · June 1, 2026 · 8 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Becker’s Payer Issues Podcast podcast page.