#516 Smart Network = Better Results with Scott Smith

The ShiftShapers Podcast

Rethinking PPOs: How High-Performance Networks Deliver Value | ShiftShapers

In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Scott Smith, founder and CEO of Logro Network, to discuss a revolution in health plan design: the nationally curated high-performance network. Scott unpacks the origins of PPOs, why the old “discount everything” approach is broken, and how a focus on total value—cost, quality, and outcomes—can transform employer health plans.
You’ll learn how Logro Network uses massive data sets and provider scoring to give members more choice and better information, all while helping plans rein in costs and fulfill their fiduciary duty.

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🔑 Key Takeaways from This Episode
📌 Why PPOs Are Stuck in the Past
Traditional networks focused only on unit cost, not total value—leaving members and plans exposed to higher downstream costs and mediocre quality.

📌 Volume and Discounts Aren’t Enough
Providers are leaving old PPOs as deep discounts become unsustainable. The cheapest care isn’t always the best, and a “race to the bottom” can cost more in the long run.

📌 High-Performance Networks = Data-Driven Choice
Logro Network’s national footprint scores providers on cost, quality, and appropriateness using over 50 billion claims—empowering members to pick the best care for their needs.

📌 Quality ≠ High Cost
Surprisingly, the best providers are often not the most expensive. High-quality care can lower total cost of care through fewer complications and better outcomes.

📌 Member Experience Is Central
With transparent, easy-to-read provider profiles (using AI to simplify 300+ metrics!) and broad network access, members get more control, less disruption, and the right information to make informed decisions.

📌 A Win for Employers and Brokers
Plans using high-performance networks can see immediate cost reductions, better renewal rates, and lower medical loss ratios—while meeting growing fiduciary expectations.

⏱️ In This Episode

• 00:00 Introduction to High Performance Networks
• 00:47 Guest Introduction: Scott Smith
• 01:30 The Evolution of Networks
• 04:22 Challenges of Traditional Networks
• 07:09 Introduction to High Performance Networks
• 09:55 Building a High Performance Network
• 14:04 Member and Plan Benefits
• 21:02 National Coverage and Future Plans

Chapters

1. Introduction to High-Performance Networks (00:00:00)

2. The Evolution of Traditional Networks (00:04:00)

3. Quality vs. Cost in Provider Selection (00:09:19)

4. How Logro Network Works (00:13:50)

5. Value Proposition and Implementation (00:19:02)

6. The Future of Healthcare Networks (00:22:27)