Impact Healthcare Podcast

On this episode, Lester Morales interviews Marshall Allen, author of “Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win”. The two discuss healthcare literacy and how the industry continues to take advantage of employers and patients. He also shares several examples on how he’s helped Americans fight the ever-rising cost of medical expenses successfully. Finally, Marshall provides both employers and patients with actionable advice on how they can ensure they are receiving fair prices for their healthcare.

On this episode of Impact Healthcare, Lester is joined by Ben Conner, CEO of Conner Insurance. Together, they discuss Ben’s start in the industry and how he developed into the leader he is today. He also touches on ‘mission-driven benefits’ and shares an impactful story about one of his client’s self-funded journeys. Ben also leaves a word of advice for both employers and advisors looking to achieve similar results. Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! Ben begins by explaining what got him into the insurance business (1:05) and highlights a few key individuals that played a part in his success as a leader (3:52). He speaks about ‘mission-driven benefit’ and how it applies to his business everyday (7:50). Ben also tells a story about a small firm that has achieved significant cost savings with their health plan, showing that all companies are eligible for self-funded insurance. (14:22). Together, the pair discuss the importance of employee buy-in throughout the self-funding process and how it affects recruitment and retention. (26:00). Lastly, Ben shares some advice with advisors and employers in the industry (32:08).

Welcome to Season 2 of Impact Healthcare! On this episode, Lester sits down with John Quinn, CEO of Wellnecity. Together, they discuss his transition from management consulting to health insurance. John explains how healthcare cost are more controllable then ever and the importance of data in reducing expenditure. He also provides employers with actionable strategies they can implement to improve quality of care at a fraction of the cost of their current health plan. Lastly, he leaves listeners with a few words of wisdom for employers and advisers based on his experience in the industry. Show Notes: John kicks off the episode by discussing his company (1:09), as well his past role as a management consultant. (2:40) They then dive right into how healthcare costs are now more controllable than ever (5:08) and how carriers are not incentivized to help employers save money. (13:55) John walks through exactly how he helps organizations optimize their health benefits (16:00) and how certain employers were able to positively impact their employees healthcare during the COVID pandemic. (22:00) They then discuss the importance of having access to data and how it impacts decision making and business strategy. (26:50) Lastly, John leaves the audience with a few proactive strategies employers can implement to impact healthcare (34:35) and a few words of wisdom (41:15).

Description: In this episode, Lester is solo to close out the season and thanks all the listeners for their continued support of the Impact Healthcare podcast, He also gives a full recap of the first season and gives listeners a preview for what they can expect in the second season. Be on the look out for the Impact Healthcare Podcast: Season 2 in the coming weeks! Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! On this final episode of the season, Lester starts off by giving a brief history of the podcast to date and his mission for starting it (00:45). He then recaps a few important and recurring themes throughout season one (4:25) and provides a sneak peek of what to expect in season two (13:38). Lastly, he thanks the audience and leaves listeners with a few words of encouragement. (16:30) Have a topic suggestion or guest recommendation? Contact us at theimpacthealthcarepodcast@gmail.com. We’re also available via text! (813) 537 6992

Description: On this episode of Impact Healthcare, Lester sits down with Nick Williams, Director of Business Development at TrueRx. Together, the pair discuss how Nick started his career as a fifth-generation pharmacist and transitioned into the benefits industry. Nick also walks through the impact the innovative programs that can be developed when pharmacists and PBM’s unite. Lastly, he leaves the audience with a relevant case study and a bit of advice to listeners looking to impact their Rx spend. Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! Nick starts the podcast with a story of how he got into the industry (1:12) and how disruptive benefit managers and carriers can be to patient care (4:00). The pair discuss the problems with rebate chasing (7:00) and how TrueRx helps patients save money on prescription drugs over traditional methods (15:00). Nick explains how he’s able to save employers up to 80% and patients up to $8,000 per year (21:00) what his team does to avoid disruption (23:30). Lester asks Nick to describe the innovation that is fostered when clinicians and PBM combine (26:40) and share a case study from one of his clinical programs (34:00).

Description: On this episode of Impact Healthcare, Lester connects with James Stines, President and Managing Partner at HAUSER. Over the past 15 years, HAUSER has grown into the largest independent broker exclusively serving private equity firms and their subsidiaries. James describes his experience in the private equity space and provides several examples of the cost savings his clients have realized using his strategies. He also gives actionable tips to both employers and advisors looking to achieve similar success.   Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! James starts with a brief introduction of himself, his experience, as well as his current business (1:05). He begins describing his unique experience in combining self-funded health benefits with the private equity space (4:22) and detail some of his strategies with clients (9:30). Lester and James discuss how the highest quality of care usually amounts to the lowest cost (14:18) and how that improves employee recruitment and retention (16:20). They also touch on the increasing price of prescription drugs and James’ strategies for mitigating rising costs (21:31), as well as the importance of data to any employer’s health plan. Lastly, James shares a bit of advice for employers looking to save on their healthcare expense (36:30).

Description: On this episode of Impact Healthcare, Lester is joined by Bill Miller, CEO of Drexi. Together, they discuss the intricacies of the pharmacy benefits industry and how Bill transitioned from a serial entrepreneur to an honest, transparent PBM. In the episode, he breaks down a real-life example of claims data and shares powerful analogies to help listeners understand the difference between transparent pharmacy benefits and traditional pharmacy benefits. Bill also shares several words of advice for employers and advisors when choosing PBMs. Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! Bill kicks the podcast off the podcast by describing how he got into the industry as an ‘honest’ Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM) (1:00) and describes how a traditional PBM operates (4:00). He also explains how this affects fully insured employers (14:55) and how PBM’s are compensated under a self-insured model (17:20). Bill shares a real-life example of claims data and breaks it down (20:45) and why employers shouldn’t chase rebates (33:00). Lastly, Bill shares advice and questions that, if answered incorrectly by a PBM, should raise red flags for any employer or advisor (40:15).

Description: Sovereign Health Advantages: Impacting the health benefits offering for Tribal Groups and their business entities. On this episode of Impact Healthcare, Lester sits down with Cameron Cummins, Managing Partner at Transparent by Design. Together, the pair discuss his experience working primarily with tribal entities and discusses how he’s able to impact their second largest expense – healthcare. They also look at a few key provisions that allow Cameron to lead tribal nations towards financial savings while delivering better health outcomes for their community. Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! Lester stars off by introducing Cameron and asking what led him towards healthcare insurance (1:15). The two dive deeper into the intricacies of servicing tribal nations and casinos (4:55) and how self-funded plans also help non-tribal employees as well (15:26). Cameron discusses the Catastrophic Health Emergency Fund and other provisions for tribal entities (17:12). He also discusses how easy it is for employers to implement a self-funded plan and achieve cost savings (36:25).

Description: On this episode of Impact Healthcare, Lester sits down with Emma Fox, COO and Partner of E-Powered Benefits, to discuss healthcare debt and the effect it can have on families. Emma shares some deeply personal stories that drove her motivation to change the industry she has decades of experience in. She also discusses her passion for mentoring and leaves several pieces of advice for employers, advisors, and parents as well. Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! Emma Fox begins with a story on her own personal experience with healthcare (1:25), provides a story about her own struggle with bankruptcy and offers advice to those in a similar position (3:38). She also explains how she helps people alleviate their struggle with debt (5:45). The pair discuss direct primary care and its benefits (9:05). Emma breaks down how she helps clients’ lower costs with a few words of advice (18:00). Lester then asks her to explain the genesis of a ‘win, win, win’ for employers, members, and providers (21:51) and talk a bit about her course on self-funding (26:28). Finally, Emma leaves listeners with a piece of advice (30:54).

Description: In this episode, Lester Morales connects with Allison De Paoli, a long-time benefits advisor and advocate for improved employer health benefits plans. She details a powerful story about her mother that sparked the passion for her career and highlights important distinctions about physicians who operate under hospital systems and integrated health networks. Together, Lester and Allison also break down why data is the key to helping employers achieve better outcomes for their workforce. Show Notes: Welcome to Impact Healthcare! Allison De Paoli starts the podcast off by telling a personal story that defines her approach as an advisor (1:55) then proceeds to explain the downsides of physicians that accept network contracts, (8:50) and how their operation changes as a result (11:00). Lester and Allison dive deeper into how this also affects both employers and their employees (16:50). Our guest explains how she helps companies provide better healthcare packages for their workforce (21:35), why data should always come first (24:00), and how patients can achieve the highest quality of care (25:45). The pair close out the episode with guidance for employers looking to offer more cost-efficient healthcare with better outcomes for their employees (32:15).