Anuradha Rao-Patel

Anuradha Rao-Patel, MD, is a Medical Director at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). She is responsible for the evaluation of the medical necessity, appropriateness, and efficiency of the use of health care services, procedures, prescription drugs, and facilities under the provisions of the applicable health benefits plan. Before joining Blue Cross NC, she worked in a private practice doing acute and chronic pain management.

Could we end mental health stigma in our children’s generation?

Providing youth with access to mental health services is critical at this historical moment, when more than 4 in 10 teens report feeling “persistently sad or hopeless.” Working more...

Industry Perspectives, Behavioral Health, Thought Leadership

Children of color face an invisible threat. Here’s how we can support them.

Here in North Carolina, 69 of our 100 counties have no child psychiatrists; 27 have no psychiatrist at all. Failure to address this challenge now will have long-term consequences....

Industry Perspectives, Behavioral Health

Substance Use is Driving Children into Foster Care. Here’s What We Can Do About It.

Throughout the pandemic, substance use has risen sharply, and record numbers of opioid deaths have left even more families destabilized and more children vulnerable...

Industry Perspectives, Behavioral Health, Thought Leadership

New Advisory Marks a First in the Nation’s Efforts Against Opioid Overuse

The United States is losing ground in our battle against opioid overuse. Overdose deaths were up around 30% in 2020, and opioid overdose is now a leading cause of...

Industry Perspectives, Thought Leadership

How to Talk About COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy: Addressing Four Common Types of Resistance

At this moment in time, no conversation is more critical to our nation’s health than encouraging our peers and loved ones to get vaccinated against COVID-19. But how do we...

Industry Perspectives, Coronavirus, Thought Leadership

Tobacco Cessation: Don’t Let Your Plans Go Up in Smoke

Coverage of COVID-19 has dominated health news for more than a year now. But another disturbing health trend has slipped under the radar: During the pandemic, many vows to...

Industry Perspectives

What women need to know about COVID-19 vaccine side effects

Women have different side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine than men. Here's what you need to know about potential symptoms, including changes to your period and swollen lymph nodes...

Healthy Lifestyle, Coronavirus

Do You Know the Signs of a Brain Injury?

Dr. Anuradha Rao-Patel talks brain injuries--the different kinds of brain injuries, how they can impact our lives, and the symptoms to look for if you suspect someone has had...

4 min read | Healthy Lifestyle, Health Conditions

Do you know the signs of a heart emergency?

Do you know the signs of heart attack and stroke? The signs of a heart emergency are different in men and women. This Heart Health Month, learn the signs...

4 min read | Healthy Lifestyle, Health Conditions

COVID-19 changed health care. But will the changes outlast the pandemic?

Telehealth visits exploded in the early months of the pandemic, increasing by more than 7,500%. Clearly, the way we provide care to patients has changed. But will this change...

5 min read | Industry Perspectives, Transforming Healthcare