Why Does Better Diagnostic Science Struggle to Reach Patients? Hannah Mamuszka, Founder Alva10
Show notes
In this episode of Diagnosing Dx, David Filby is joined by Hannah Mamuszka, Founder of Alva10.
After more than 20 years in the diagnostics industry, Hannah has seen first-hand why promising scientific breakthroughs don't always translate into better patient care. The challenge often isn't the science itself, but the financial incentives, reimbursement structures and clinical workflows that determine whether a diagnostic test is actually adopted.
Hannah explains how Alva10 approaches this problem from both sides, working with diagnostic developers and healthcare payers to identify unmet needs, understand the economics of care and create clearer routes to market.
We explore why better diagnostics can struggle to gain reimbursement, the growing influence of self-insured employers, opportunities in treatment-response prediction, and what founders need to understand before investing years in developing a test.
Key takeaways:
🔹 Why strong clinical evidence alone isn't enough to drive diagnostic adoption
🔹 How reimbursement and financial incentives can prevent better tests from reaching patients
🔹 Why Alva10 works backwards from payer needs to identify commercial opportunities for diagnostics
🔹 The growing opportunity for companion diagnostics and treatment-response prediction beyond oncology
🔹 Why founders must understand clinical workflows, healthcare economics and reimbursement much earlier in development
Chapters:
02:06 Hannah's background and journey through diagnostics
07:57 Why healthcare incentives can work against better diagnostics
09:08 Why Hannah founded Alva10
15:15 Working with payers and self-insured employers
17:22 Where the biggest diagnostic opportunities exist
25:34 How employers are driving demand for better testing
29:14 Why clinical workflow and healthcare economics matter
39:50 What needs to change for diagnostics to reach more patients
Guest: Hannah Mamuszka
Founder, Alva10
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-mamuszka-5121454/
Host: David Filby
Founder and CEO of Elevra Consulting
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidfilby/
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