
Episode #10
The Real Cost of Healthcare: Medicare, Long-Term Care, & the Future of Community Hospitals
Healthcare is one of the biggest financial and personal considerations we face throughout our lives, but understanding how the system works can be complicated. In this episode of The Finance Things in Life, Matt and Sal sit down with Mike Stapleton, CEO of Thompson Health, to talk about the realities of healthcare today and what individuals and families should be thinking about as they age. Mike shares his perspective from decades in healthcare, beginning as a patient care technician and nurse before moving into hospital administration and ultimately becoming CEO of Thompson Health. The conversation covers everything from choosing between primary care, urgent care and the emergency department to the financial pressures facing hospitals, the role of Medicare and Medicaid, long-term care planning, preventive care, artificial intelligence, staffing, and the future of healthcare in our local community. In this episode, we discuss: Why knowing where to seek care can make a difference in both outcomes and cost When primary care, urgent care or the emergency department may be appropriate Why community hospitals play such an important role How Medicare, Medicaid, commercial insurance and self-pay affect hospital finances The financial pressures facing healthcare providers How AI is already changing healthcare and documentation Healthcare staffing and why retention matters The importance of preventive care and regular screenings What families should know about long-term care Why long-term care planning can be a critical part of retirement planning Healthcare proxies and having conversations about end-of-life wishes The future of Thompson Health and its planned expansion Mike's advice on starting to save and invest early About The Finance Things in Life The Finance Things in Life is a podcast from The Pitti Group Wealth Management exploring the financial decisions, conversations and life events that shape our financial futures. Have a topic you'd like us to cover? Send us your questions. Follow The Finance Things in Life on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.thepittigroup.comHeadquartered in Victor, NY | Serving you 'round the globe! Disclosures: The content and information provided through the links should not be interpreted as being investment advice or a recommendation of suitability for any particular security, portfolio of securities, transaction, or investment strategy, or related decision. Please seek assistance from a qualified investment professional for any and all investment matters.The information provided is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice and it should not be relied on as such. It should not be considered a solicitation to buy or an offer to sell a security. It does not take into account any investor's particular investment objectives, strategies, tax status, or investment horizon. You should consult your attorney or tax advisor.The views expressed in this commentary are subject to change based on market and other conditions. These documents may contain certain statements that may be deemed forward‐looking statements. Please note that any such statements are not guarantees of any future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected. Any projections, market outlooks, or estimates are based upon certain assumptions and should not be construed as indicative of actual events that will occur.The Pitti Group Wealth Management, LLC (“The Pitti Group”) is a registered investment advisor. Advisory services are only offered to clients or prospective clients where The Pitti Group and its representatives are properly licensed or exempt from licensure.

