Self-Funded With Spencer

How much does surgery cost?  How good is my surgeon?  Sanjay Prasad MD sits down with me to discuss the answers to both of those questions and more.   Sanjay is an Ear, Nose, and Throat surgeon by trade, the Author of "Resetting Healthcare", and the founder of SurgiQuality.   Sanjay is a brilliant man on a mission to create more transparency for patients around the ability of their surgeon, and the price the member will pay.  

"Healthcare is Fixed" - That is the message Glenn Fisher, serial entrepreneur and Managing Partner of NavMD, is delivering to the employee benefits world.  We talk data analytics, acting on these insights, FinTech, and why Glenn was attracted to the Healthcare space initially.  Beyond the technical nature of his business, he stresses the importance of delivering value to your customer no matter what you do.  We round out the discussion on pharmacy, consulting, reference based pricing, captives, and how the Shine Solar testimonial was one of the key takeaways of the conference for Glenn.  Here is the registration link for the next Future of Benefits in Business conference in St. Louis, MO at Busch Stadium on 4/12/22.  https://truecaptive.com/st-louis-registration/ https://www.navmd.com/

Rachel Strauss joined me in OKC to discuss the vital role of a transparent PBM, such as her employer EHIM.  She has been a previous podcast guest (Episode 10), and she is one of the most knowledge people when it comes to Pharmacy Benefit Management. She implores employers to ask the simple question, "How does my PBM get paid"?  Rachel also relates the problem of "rebates", to getting money back on your tax return.  Is it really better to overpay, and then wait 12 months to get money back? She sees the market is now more open to change, and the "No Surprises" act is a step in the right direction towards more transparency in the healthcare marketplace. Hope you enjoy!

Modern marketing is evolving, and Trey Hinson of Ocozzio shares everything you need to know about this changing landscape. We covered an array of topics from Self-Funding, Bourbon, LinkedIn Sponsored Posts, The Power of Video for Marketing, Personalized Prospecting, the Decentralization of Healthcare Solutions, Storytelling, and so much more! This was one of the most difficult episodes to edit because there was so much great content.  I ended up making 4 promo clips instead of 1!

In installment 3 of my coverage of the True Captive Summit, I sit down with the CEO of Vālenz®, Robert Gelb. "Vālenz® simplifies the complexities of self-insurance for employers through a steadfast commitment to data transparency and decision enablement". Rob is quickly becoming one of my favorite people in Employee Benefits because of his charisma, his focus on company culture, and the "yes, and" mentality he brought over from studying improv to apply to the business he runs. In this episode we cover, keynote speaking, overcoming travel issues, music as an aid in preparation, passion for what you do, and ultimately how to deliver best in class benefit design and selection. https://www.valenzhealth.com/

In installment 2 of my coverage of the True Captive Summit, I sit down with Adam Berkowitz of Simpara, and his client Lance Young, of Shine Solar. In this mini-episode, we discuss Lance's experience working in Human Resources and how his partnership with Simpara inspired Shine Solar to transition from fully-insured to self-funded. Shine Solar went from experiencing annual costs increases with no ability to counteract this trend, to lowering their cost multiple years in a row, while simultaneously improving their benefits for their employees! I LOVE client testimonials, so thank you so much to Lance and Adam in sharing their success story!

Episode 38 of Self-Funded with Spencer features Jorge Arzate, CEO and Founder of MAKINA BENEFITS. Jorge joined me on the show to discuss the role of a boutique-style independent TPA and his passion for helping small employers take control of their healthcare spend. We had conversations about discipline as an entrepreneur, focusing on growth over just setting goals, and even kicked the chat off with our mutual upbringing on #heavymetal.

I recently took the Self-Funded w/ Spencer Podcast on the road to Oklahoma City where I covered the Future of Business and Benefits Conference, Hosted by True Captive Insurance and Presented by Valenz.  In this mini-episode, I sat down with the CEO of True Captive, David Vorhees, to discuss the goals for the conference and what the audience should expect in terms of quality content.

Dan is the US Head of Sales, Middle Market for Meritain Health. He has an extensive career in Employee Benefits, especially in Self-Funding, and received his CEBS designation through an affiliation with the Wharton School.   In particular, this episode focuses on the advanced role of a TPA for self-funded groups, and how they can serve as an open architecture solution for employers to customize their health plan and better control the cost of care. Dan is also an avid fitness enthusiast, participating in triathlons as well as competitive rowing, and this passion for his own personal health coincides perfectly with his career.

One of the most neglected parts of our healthcare system in the last few years has been the lack of availability in virtual mental/behavioral health support for employees.   In this episode, Mike Kohl of Vida Health joined me to discuss whole person healthcare, which includes a heavy emphasis on getting members of an employer sponsored health plan access to mental health support as quickly as possible.   Mike is a great person, with an awesome story, and I hope you find this information valuable.