Self-Funded With Spencer

"Eat your food as medicine or medicine will become your food." - Chef Austin SimmonsCan better beef solve America's health crisis? My guests this week, Chef Austin Simmons of Chef and Rancher and benefits/nutrition expert Chris Pierron, believe it's a critical part of the solution. They join the show to discuss the deep connection between cattle genetics, our broken food system, and our exploding healthcare costs.Chef Austin explains his "hoof to fork" model for creating "better beef." We discuss how using purebred, genetically-verified cattle and clean feeding practices, free of the seed oils and used fryer oil common in the commercial industry, produces a more nutrient-dense and flavorful product.This isn't just about a better steak; it's about creating a healthier population from the ground up. We explore how fixing the food system is the most important step to lowering healthcare costs, and why consumer education is the key to driving this change.Tune in today for a conversation that will change the way you think about the beef on your plate.Chapters:(00:00:00) How Better Beef Can Solve America's Health Crisis (00:05:18) The Hidden Additives & "Poisons" in Most Beef(00:19:38) Why is Prime Beef So Inconsistent? (00:20:58) The Power of Cattle Genetics (00:37:47) Is There Used Fryer Oil In Your Steak? (00:54:22) Should We Federally Subsidize Beef?(01:02:09) Why Food Education is the First Step (01:13:26) Fixing the Food System to Fix HealthcareKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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/

Trey Smith, an accomplished employee benefits sales leader at Hub International, reveals the pitfalls of high healthcare deductibles, arguing they create major barriers to necessary care. He advocates for 'first dollar' coverage, which encourages timely treatment and ultimately lowers costs. The conversation explores innovative plan designs, the importance of tiered networks for directing patients to quality providers, and the role of tech in enhancing benefits. Trey emphasizes how these strategies not only help employees but can also boost recruitment and retention for employers.

Amanda Volner, AVP of Broker Partnerships at Healthee and pharmacy expert, shares her insights on making healthcare more human through AI. She highlights the limitations of AI, emphasizing that critical thinking and personal relationships remain essential. Amanda discusses Healthee's innovative approach to hyper-personalized healthcare experiences, including care navigation and pharmacy cost management. She also opens up about the challenges of balancing her career, single motherhood, and the importance of sobriety in a demanding industry.

"Good entrepreneurs fall in love with their solution and their platform, but great entrepreneurs fall in love with the problem." - Matt ScovilMatt Scovil and Nathan Gilchrist of Medefy Health, have fallen in love with one of the biggest problems in benefits: nobody wants to engage with them. They joined the show to discuss their journey of building a platform designed to solve the engagement crisis and simplify the healthcare experience for everyone.Matt and Nathan break down their "bottoms-up" approach to this problem, which focuses on engaging members when they need help through a high-touch, live support model delivered via mobile app. We discuss how they use the psychology of "loss aversion" and constant communication to drive engagement rates over 90%.We also explore how Medefy acts as the "quarterback" for a health plan, removing friction by navigating members to the right solutions. This is all part of their vision for the future of healthcare, where the experience is "heavily, heavily individualized" for each person.Chapters:(00:00:00) Why Employees Would Rather Clean a Toilet Than Use Their Benefits (00:04:18) Cleaning a Toilet vs. Learning Your Benefits (00:08:46) Falling in Love with the Problem, Not the Solution (00:14:23) The Power of Live, Human Support (00:19:08) Using "Loss Aversion" to Drive Engagement (00:34:54) The Quarterback for Your Health Plan (00:47:57) How AI is Augmenting the Human Touch (01:00:01) The Future of Healthcare is "Individualized"Key Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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/

"I think the three strongest words that you can use as a leader, as a salesperson, as a client relationship person is I don't know." - Scott MilsonMy guest this week, 35-year industry veteran and author Scott Milson, joins the show for a deep dive into the mindset required for a long and successful career. We discuss his journey from a self-described "career B student" to a partner at a major firm, and the lessons he learned about loyalty, hard work, and what it truly means to be excellent.Scott breaks down his personal playbook for "tuning into the frequency of excellence." He shares his "Be 5 Framework" (Be Present, Curious, Intentional, Bold, and Reflective) and explains why embracing discomfort, adopting a growth mindset, and learning through informal mentorship are crucial for professional growth.It’s worth noting that Scott is also professionally in the benefits industry, so I wanted to have him on the show to directly speak to those in this space.I hope you'll tune in for this insightful conversation!Chapters:(00:00:00) Tuning Into The Frequency Of Excellence (00:20:08) Why Discomfort is the Path to Growth (00:21:56) The 3 Words That Defeat Imposter Syndrome (00:27:52) The "Success to Significance" Curve (00:38:42) The “Be 5” Framework for Excellence (00:40:52) The Myth of Formal Mentorship (00:48:25) "How You Do Anything is How You Do Everything"Key Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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/

Chris Grilli, a pharmacist and genomics expert at RxMapper, dives deep into the staggering $528 billion wasted on medication errors in healthcare. He reveals how personalized, DNA-guided medicine can dramatically reduce these costs and improve patient outcomes with nearly 90% accuracy. Chris shares a personal story that inspired him to develop RxMapper after a family tragedy, and he discusses the powerful role genetics plays in medication efficacy. Tune in to learn how this innovative approach is set to revolutionize healthcare!

Todd Whitthorne, a former TV personality turned healthcare executive, dives deep into the essence of well-being and leadership. He shares insights on the importance of a leader's personal health as a cornerstone for professional success. The conversation spans the five pillars of wellness, distinguishing between 'lifespan' and 'healthspan.' Todd underlines that self-investment is key for leaders, and narrates a powerful story of resilience involving a 70-year-old who survived a serious accident, exemplifying the impact of lifelong fitness.

Bobby Stuart, a benefits consultant with Hotchkiss Insurance, shares insights on navigating the complexities of self-funding and risk management. He emphasizes the importance of 'thinking like an underwriter' to create impactful solutions for employers. Bobby discusses simplifying complex insurance jargon and the real-world strategies his team employs, such as using direct contracts for high-cost cancer care. His optimistic approach and focus on proactive healthcare can transform lives while alleviating financial burdens.

"The balance bill came in, it was 37 grand for this member, and we were able to get that thing fully wiped." - Patrick HaigMy guest this week, Patrick Haig, Co-Founder of Goodbill, has built a company designed to find errors in medical bills and fix them. From upcoding to time-based discrepancies, these inaccuracies cost health plans and their members a fortune.In this episode, Patrick breaks down the Goodbill model. We discuss how their technology integrates directly with health plans to audit claims for errors before they're paid, and why that “upstream” approach is so game-changing. We also dive into one of their most powerful tools: the underutilized 501(r) IRS rule that can wipe out bills entirely, even for six-figure income families.This episode is personal for me, as Patrick's team fixed my own son's ER bill, saving almost $1,000. I hope you’ll tune in!Chapters:(00:10:22) How DPC inspired Goodbill(00:23:03) The 501(r) Secret: Hospital Financial Assistance (00:27:15) How Upcoding Inflates Your ER Bill (00:38:29) The Art of Negotiating a Hospital Bill (00:48:43) Why "Upstream" Claim Auditing is a Game-Changer (00:59:29) Can a Six-Figure Family Qualify for Assistance?Key Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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/

"I doubled my profit when I lost 70% of my customers, which is insane." - Brad HartMy guest this week, Brad Hart, owner of Forest Park Pharmacy, came on the show to discuss how he moved his pharmacy from struggling to survive in a broken, insurance-based reimbursement model to thriving as an all-cash, "cost-plus" business.Brad popped on my radar because of his very popular and informative Instagram profile, where he shows how everyday Americans are getting fleeced by PBMs. We break down the mechanics of his model and discuss the "low copay trap," why the term "specialty generic" is nonsense, and how his pharmacy's Price Checker tool brings radical transparency to a purposefully confusing industry.We also dive into the exponential overpayments Brad has uncovered in the Medicare system, where a drug that costs his pharmacy $96 is reimbursed for over $3,400.This is one you won't want to miss!Chapters:(00:00:00) This Pharmacy Went Cash-Only, Lost 70% Of Customers, & Doubled Profits(00:07:28) The "Cost-Plus" Pharmacy Model, Explained (00:08:49) How Brad Lost 70% of Customers & Doubled Profits (00:10:45) The Deceptive "Low Copay Trap" (00:13:29) The Pricing Breakdown: Cost + 15% + $10 (00:34:52) Why the Term "Specialty Generic" is Nonsense (00:47:53) What is the Average Wholesale Price (AWP)? (00:52:41) PBM Reform vs. Direct-to-ConsumerKey Links for Social:@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFundedListen/watch 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/