On this episode of the JR & Ali Show, hosts JR Glass, President of GovCon Growth Solutions, and Ali Steer, President of Steer Operational Solutions, chat with guest Jason Cullum, a Vice President with Element Solutions and a seasoned Health IT veteran with more than 20 years of experience, including over 15 years working directly with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

The August CMS forecast is packed with movement, but the bigger story may be what is happening between the lines.

In this episode, the team breaks down 19 newly added opportunities, major forecast updates, and the shifting relationships between CMS offices, contracting teams, and emerging priorities. The conversation explores what contractors should be watching across WETG, OHTP, OIT, KINETIC, Diagnose, Claims Core, Harbor, and other high-interest opportunities.

They also dig into the realities facing incumbents as CMS weighs continuity against fresh ideas, AI-driven approaches, cost savings, and new vendors. How should companies interpret contract extensions, sole-source activity, conflict-of-interest language, and organizational changes? And what does it mean when several interconnected opportunities are moving at the same time?

The discussion also looks ahead to the CMS Cloud Fusion Summit and why understanding the agency’s evolving multi-cloud strategy, building the right relationships, and doing the work beyond simply reading the forecast could make all the difference.

For companies pursuing CMS, this episode is a timely look at where opportunities may be heading and what industry should be paying attention to now.

To connect with Jason, follow him on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Element here.

If you’d like to reach out to JR, connect with him on LinkedIn. | Learn More About GovCon Growth Solutions here.

If you’d like to reach out to Ali, connect with her on LinkedIn. | Learn More About Steer Operational Solutions here.