CMS Is Open for Business: What It Means for Industry with Robert Hicks

On this episode of The JR & Ali Show, hosts JR Glass, President of GovCon Growth Solutions, and Ali Steer, President of Steer Operational Solutions, are joined by returning guest Robert Hicks, Principal at TransformIT Professional Services. The trio dives into a rapidly evolving CMS landscape, where one message is coming through loud and clear: CMS is open for business—and actively engaging with industry in new ways.

Fresh off major events like HIMSS and the Quality Conference, the conversation highlights an unprecedented level of accessibility from CMS leadership, with senior officials openly sharing priorities around digital transformation, AI-driven analytics, and fraud prevention. They explore what this shift means for contractors, emphasizing the importance of showing up, engaging early, and thinking beyond traditional approaches.

From the launch of the CRUSH initiative to combat fraud, waste, and abuse, to broader discussions around enterprise modernization and the future of claims processing, this episode unpacks both the opportunities and the complexities ahead. For industry players, the takeaway is clear: this is a pivotal moment to lean in, bring innovative ideas, and help shape the next phase of CMS transformation.