If you'd like your question answered on next month's episode, call/text 469-213-6381 and leave us a voicemail/text.Last Month In Healthcare is officially a video podcast! Each month, producer Nathaniel joins me to discuss the previous month's podcasts, headlines, and listener-submitted questions. This episode covers healthcare news from March 2025, including:- Marty Makary getting confirmed to lead the FDA- The HHS restructuring, including 10,000 job cuts- Texas's response to the MAHA commission- Operation Stork Speed, aiming to make baby formula safer and healthier- The potential ban on soda/candy for those on food stamps- Increasing cybersecurity risks for healthcare providersAnd, we play a game of "AI Company, Healthcare Company, or Metal Band?"Chapters: 0:00 - Intro1:10 - The Self-Funded Review5:38 - Healthcare Headlines23:13 - AI Company, Healthcare Company, Or Metal Band?25:17 - OutroSources:https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2025/03/26/Senate-confirms-Marty-Makary/7901742973955/https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/hhs-restructuring-doge.htmlhttps://texasscorecard.com/state/texas-senators-tackle-maha-agenda/https://www.newsnationnow.com/health/rfk-jr-baby-formula-operation-stork-speed/https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/27/rfk-jr-food-stamps-soda-usda-tension-00252045https://www.hipaajournal.com/himss-survey-healthcare-cybersecurity-2024/https://www.theregister.com/2025/03/06/rural_hospitals_cybersecurity/https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/health-tech/private-equity-takeover-healthcare-firms-need-cybersecurity-vigilance-reporthttps://www.hipaajournal.com/healthcare-data-breach-statistics/https://globalventuring.com/corporate/healthcare/us-hospitals-bump-up-tech-investments-as-healthcare-crises-widen/https://www.discogs.com/lists/Underrated-Obscure-And-Cult-Heavy-Metal-bands/313760?page=7https://builtin.com/artificial-intelligence/ai-companies-rounduphttps://www.glassdoor.com/Explore/browse-companies.htm?filterType=RATING_OVERALL&locId=1&locType=N&locName=United-states§or=10012&page=15&overall_rating_low=4

"Insurance is about health and wealth. It protects your health, it should protect your wealth." - Kylie EverhartKylie Everhart, Chief Growth Officer at Oxbridge Health, joined me to discuss episode benefit plans and how they empower consumers to make better healthcare choices. Episode benefit plans bundle pricing for the entirety of an “episode of care” - for example, if you need a knee surgery, an episode benefit plan would figure out the cost of everything involved in that procedure from several different providers in your area, and offer you multiple bundled price points to choose from. Americans deserve to know the price of their healthcare upfront so that they can make informed decisions. As Kylie shares in the episode, once people have transparent pricing on medical procedures, they demand it from any healthcare plan they use in the future.Tune in this week to Self-Funded with Spencer for a new method of empowering consumers to make good healthcare choices.  Chapters:(00:00:00) Empowering Americans To Shop For Their Healthcare | with Kylie Everhart(00:05:22) Consumerism In Healthcare(00:23:59) Connecting Patients To Cost-Effective Care(00:28:02) The Balance of Technology and Human Connection(00:29:44) Data-Driven Solutions for Employer Healthcare Costs(00:42:17) What Are Episode Benefit Plans?(00:57:21) Transparent Pricing Empowers ConsumersKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Healthcare Choice, Employer Healthcare, Healthcare Plans, Episode Benefit Plans, Oxbridge, Empowering Consumers, Consumer Healthcare, Healthcare Consumerism, Healthcare Transparency, spencer smith, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#HealthcareChoice #EmployerHealthcare #HealthcarePlans #EpisodeBenefitPlans #Oxbridge #EmpoweringConsumers #ConsumerHealthcare #HealthcareConsumerism #HealthcareTransparency #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"I think innovation is supposed to be hard. That's why it's innovation.” - Seth Denson“Better consumption requires a lot more education.” - Trey Marinello"Don't compare GLP-1s to working out, because if they were working out, they wouldn't need the GLP1s." - Danish Nagda“I think what RFK has done with the MAHA movement is he's gotten people interested in health again.” - Jonathan LopezSeth Denson, Trey Marinello, Danish Nagda, and Jonathan Lopez joined me for the most ambitious podcast we’ve ever attempted. On location in the Red Phone Booth speakeasy in The Colony, Texas, 35 guests joined us from across the United States to share ideas to shape the future of healthcare. In my longest podcast ever, we covered the doctor shortage in America, GLP-1s, AI’s role in healthcare, answered live audience questions, and so much more.This podcast was made possible by Havencrest Capital Management and True Rx Health Strategists. Special thank you to Sawyer Stratton.No matter what role you play in our healthcare ecosystem, I promise that you’ll learn something from these four amazing guests I had on this week’s episode of Self-Funded with Spencer.Chapters:00:00:00 The Future Of Healthcare Podcast00:11:31 Solving The Healthcare Provider Shortage00:16:49 AI’s Role In Healthcare00:23:01 Enhancing The Healthcare Consumer Experience00:29:27 Empowering Individuals in Healthcare Decision-Making00:32:20 PBMs Role In Healthcare00:39:06 GLP-1 Concerns00:51:02 Improving Patient Outcomes01:13:05 Audience Q&AKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Healthcare Innovation, Future Of Healthcare, Doctor Shortage, Care Navigation, GLP1, Ozempic, PBMs, Healthcare Incentives, MAHA, make america healthy again, rfk, jonathan lopez, danish nagda, seth denson, trey marinello, spencer smith, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#HealthcareInnovation #FutureOfHealthcare #DoctorShortage #CareNavigation #GLP1 #Ozempic #PBMs #HealthcareIncentives #MAHA #makeamericahealthyagain #rfk #jonathanlopez #danishnagda #sethdenson #treymarinello #spencersmith #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"Our business is predicated on two things: consolidating things that would otherwise be disparate, and then using that as a trusted chassis to communicate and engage effectively." - Ryan CoplonRyan Coplon, co-founder of HealthWallet, joined me to discuss why improving member engagement actually reduces health plan expenses, how we get members to understand their healthcare, and what the “perfect” employer health plan would look like. In my opinion, solutions like HealthWallet are something of a no-brainer if you’re an employer; you can implement amazing, cost-containing point solutions, but if your employees don’t know how to access them, they aren’t going to when they access care. Ryan and I talk about the importance of accessibility and empowering consumers to make the right choices with their care.Tune in this week to learn how to simplify the way employees access their healthcare!Chapters:00:00:00 Fixing The Way Employees Access Healthcare with Ryan Coplon00:14:26 Re-bundling Disparate Services To Improve Member Experience00:19:50 Enhancing Member Engagement00:21:28 Integrated Healthcare Reduces Expenses00:31:50 Healthcare Simplification00:46:45 Transitioning to Digital Member IDs00:52:49 Building the Perfect Health PlanKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Member Experience, Health Wallet, Health Plans, Member Access, Accessing Healthcare, Digital ID, Direct Primary Care, Emergency Care Navigation, Care Navigation, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#MemberExperience #HealthWallet #HealthPlans #MemberAccess #AccessingHealthcare #DigitalID #DirectPrimaryCare #EmergencyCareNavigation #CareNavigation #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

If you'd like your question answered on next month's episode, call/text 469-213-6381 and leave us a voicemail/text.Welcome to our new monthly podcast series, Last Month In Healthcare! Each month, producer Nathaniel joins me to discuss the previous month's podcasts, headlines, and listener-submitted questions. This episode covers healthcare news from February 2025, including:- the start of the Make America Healthy Again commission- executive orders to make healthcare prices more transparent - beef tallow fries at Steak 'n Shake- telehealth advertising and GLP-1 statistics - the FTC lawsuit against huge PBMs- American's wariness about AI in healthcare- allowing AI to prescribe medicine- a bipartisan bill to allow HSA dollars to be used for direct primary careChapters: 0:00 - Intro1:09 - The Self-Funded Review8:40 - Healthcare Headlines30:40 - Ask Spencer AnythingSources: https://www.yahoo.com/news/america-healthy-again-timeline-maha-093054800.htmlhttps://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/02/establishing-the-presidents-make-america-healthy-again-commission/https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/02/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-announces-actions-to-make-healthcare-prices-transparent/https://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/this-bill-could-make-it-legal-ai-prescribe-medicine-2025a1000504?utm_campaign=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=later-linkinbio&form=fpfhttps://www.benefitspro.com/2025/02/28/want-glp-1-coverage-workers-willing-to-switch-jobs-for-access/https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/telehealth-ads-marketing-birth-control-mental-health-obesity/https://healthexec.com/topics/healthcare-management/legal-news/federal-judge-sides-ftc-case-against-pbms-move-forwardhttps://thenationaldesk.com/top-videos/facing-burnout-us-doctors-see-hope-in-ai-for-better-patient-care-artificial-intelligence-athenahealth-survey-staffing-shortages-reimbursement-electronic-health-records-billinghttps://www.dermatologytimes.com/view/study-reveals-majority-of-us-adults-distrust-health-care-system-s-use-of-aihttps://crenshaw.house.gov/2025/2/crenshaw-co-leads-bipartisan-legislation-expanding-direct-primary-care-access

"I think that's the difference with a contagious community. Like, I want to bring other people that I like into this community." - Scott SmithScott Smith, President of True Network Advisors, joins the show for a third time for this podcast filmed at his boathouse in Guntersville, Alabama. Scott and I talked about contagious communities, which Scott defines as a community that people want to share with other people in their life. We also talked about Scott’s list of paradoxes, why he calls his wife “Miss Hot Dog”, creating genuine relationships in life and business, and why authentic expression is so important to both of us. This is the longest podcast we’ve ever released, but also one of the most engaging, and Scott is always a fascinating person to talk to. Tune in this week to Self-Funded with Spencer to learn about what it takes to create a contagious community!Chapters:00:00:00 How to Build a Contagious Community | with Scott Smith00:12:19 What’s in a name?00:16:36 Scott’s definition of a “contagious community”00:24:46 Organic growing an engaging community00:36:27 Cultivating positive community experiences00:40:09 Building a culture of kindness 00:46:33 Creating genuine relationships in business and life00:57:48 Should we worry about our own legacies?01:06:29 Dealing with the negativity that comes with building anything01:16:37 Why authentic expression is so important 01:23:10 The burden of choice Key Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Contagious Community, Contagious Communities, Creating Communities, Community Building, Relationship Building, Legacy, Free Speech, Paradox Of Choice, Positive Communities, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#ContagiousCommunity #ContagiousCommunities #CreatingCommunities #CommunityBuilding #RelationshipBuilding #Legacy #FreeSpeech #ParadoxOfChoice #PositiveCommunities #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"Reversing obesity, reversing diabetes is possible. You don't just have to manage a chronic condition." - Steve HastingsSteve Hastings, Leader of Health Plans at Virta Health, joined me to share Virta’s strategy to help members reverse type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, and obesity. He also shared their findings on just how important food is to our overall health and the power it has as medicine.If you’ve listened to pretty much any episode of Self-Funded with Spencer, you’ve heard my thoughts on the importance of healthy nutrition and eating, and how so many of America’s chronic health problems are due to what we eat. Steve shared how they put together effective plans that actually work to help people lose weight, and keep it off, without using GLP-1s or other drugs. And, if a member needs GLP-1s, they work to create a strategy to make sure the drug is effective and they can maintain that weight loss.Join us on Self-Funded this week to learn how it’s possible to reverse diabetes and obesity!Chapters:00:00:00 Meet Steve Hastings00:02:53 Food As Medicine00:07:47 Membership-based Primary Care 00:15:29 Nutrition-Based Reversal of Diabetes and Obesity00:17:35 America’s Obesity Health Crisis00:20:03 Long-term Health Goal Support00:27:42 Tailored Nutrition Plans To Reverse Diabetes00:35:55 Mental Health Improvement From Weight Loss00:49:00 Optimizing Health Outcomes Through FoodKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Nutrition, Primary Care, Reversing Diabetes, Reversing Obesity, Diabetes, Obesity, Obesity In America, Behavior Change, Individualized Nutrition, GLP1s, GLPs, Ozempic, semiglutides, Food As Medicine, Wellness, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#Nutrition #PrimaryCare #ReversingDiabetes #ReversingObesity #Diabetes #Obesity #ObesityInAmerica #BehaviorChange #IndividualizedNutrition #GLP1s #GLPs #Ozempic #semiglutides #FoodAsMedicine  #Wellness #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"If you're not going to be excited when I'm calling you, we're probably not a mutual fit." - Maggie QuinnMaggi Quinn, SVP of Consulting at Intrepid Benefits, joined me to discuss working at an all-female insurance agency, why specialization is so important in today’s market, and some innovative approaches to self-funded healthcare.Maggi shares her journey into insurance, as well as how she found her way to Intrepid, and why the relationship side of the business is the most important to her. We also discuss what makes Intrepid so different, and how that’s won (and lost) them business over the years. Tune in this week to Self-Funded with Spencer to learn why I gave Maggi the name “Maggi Quinn, Benefits Woman”.Chapters:00:00:00 Meet Maggi Quinn00:11:18 Maggi’s Journey To Intrepid00:22:11 Enhancing Employer Healthcare00:26:09 Customized, Personal Solutions For Employers00:31:06 Mutual Fit in Client Relationships00:37:11 Enhancing Client Understanding in Healthcare Communication00:39:18 Personalized Medication Management through DNA Sequencing00:42:39 Enhancing Well-being Through Health Education00:55:14 Innovative Approaches To Employer-sponsored HealthcareKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Healthcare Solutions, Wellness, Personalized Medication, Client Relationships, Innovative Healthcare, Self Funded Employers, Specialized Healthcare, Future Of Healthcare, Cost Effective Healthcare, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#HealthcareSolutions #Wellness #PersonalizedMedication #ClientRelationships #InnovativeHealthcare #SelfFundedEmployers #SpecializedHealthcare #FutureOfHealthcare #CostEffectiveHealthcare #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

"Be kind, be focused on others, be a steward of your craft and take the opportunity to take action.” - Sean WoodSean Wood, SVP of National Partnerships at ParetoHealth, joined me for a podcast that is far less about captives than it is about being a sales ninja. We talk about getting started in sales, the buyer as a skeptic, collaborative selling, and sales mentorship.Sean was actually a pro basketball player, and he shares how his point guard experience has translated to his career. He shares what led him into sales and why he embraced it so quickly, and why Pareto felt like a natural fit when he joined. Whether you’re just getting started in sales or you’re a sales veteran, I promise you’ll learn something from this week’s episode of Self-Funded with Spencer.Chapters:00:00:00 Meet Sean Wood00:04:16 Elevating Your Team As A Leader00:11:04 Transitioning From Pro Basketball To Sales00:20:04 Trust-Based Team Selling 00:24:11 Long-term Relationship Building In Sales00:31:30 The Importance Of Sales Mentorship00:53:09 Healthcare Solutions Driven By The Market00:59:57 The Future Of Healthcare ConsultingKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Transition To Sales, Collaborative Selling, Team Sales, Mentorship, Relationship Building, Sales Process, Healthcare Solutions, Buyer Mentality, Sales Success, podcast, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding, self funded health insurance, self funded insurance#TransitionToSales #CollaborativeSelling #TeamSales #Mentorship #RelationshipBuilding #SalesProcess #HealthcareSolutions #BuyerMentality #SalesSuccess #podcast #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding #selffundedhealthinsurance #selffundedinsurance

“Whatever your clients find attractive about you and the reason they want to work with you is the exact same reason that a buyer is going to find you attractive and want to acquire your agency.”- Shelby CowleyShelby Cowley joined me this week to discuss the complicated world of insurance mergers & acquisitions. How do you get the best valuation for your agency? What key metrics are most attractive to buyers? How much does personality impact the value?We answer all of those questions and more on this week’s episode of Self-Funded.Chapters:00:00:00 Meet Shelby Cowley00:08:51 Empowering Entrepreneurs through Unique Insurance M&A00:11:42 Valuation Impact on Agency Acquisition Success00:15:46 High Demand Driving Top-Tier Valuations in Acquisitions00:19:29 Strategic Evaluation for Successful Business Acquisitions00:22:18 Long-term Partnership Potential in Buyer Selection00:28:45 Performance-Based Growth In Business Sale Agreements00:37:57 Leveraging Private Equity for Growth and Acquisitions00:42:15 Maximizing Acquisition Value Through Seller's Representation00:45:18 Value-Driven Consulting in Client RelationshipsKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/Key Words: Insurance Mergers, Mergers And Acquisitions, Business Sales, Sales, Business Acquisition, Market Dynamics, Transactions, Private Equity Deals, PE, Private Equity, Buyer Selection, Earn Out Period, Seller Representation, Consultant, Insurance Industry, Broker, Representative, Valuations, Growth Strategies, Transaction Goals, Employee Benefits, fixing healthcare, podcast, benefits, health, healthcare, health insurance, self funded, self funding#InsuranceMergers #MergersAndAcquisitions #BusinessSales #Sales #BusinessAcquisition #MarketDynamics #Transactions #PrivateEquityDeals #PE #PrivateEquity #BuyerSelection #EarnOutPeriod #SellerRepresentation #Consultant #InsuranceIndustry #Broker #Representative #Valuations #GrowthStrategies #TransactionGoals #EmployeeBenefits #fixinghealthcare #podcast #benefits #health #healthcare #healthinsurance #selffunded #selffunding