"The best way I can explain it is the concept is like your house is on fire, and now you go get homeowners insurance." - Kevin Chambers Kevin Chambers (Lucent Health) joined me this week to help me understand just what makes tribal healthcare plans so unique.  As Kevin shares in this episode, many companies are somewhat scared to insure tribes, as they have sovereignty and so any potential lawsuits are tried in tribal court. That doesn’t mean that this niche needs to be neglected, though; tribes actually have some huge opportunities to build really effective healthcare plans.  Kevin and I discussed the federal government’s role in tribal healthcare, and the four main “pillars” he uses to insure tribes; four little-known government sponsored entitlements that subsidize tribal healthcare, including the ability for native people to pay Medicare rates for their healthcare, which Kevin calls “the ultimate Reference-Based Pricing”. Tune in this week for a look into the world of tribal healthcare!  Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing Kevin Chambers (00:01:32) Self-Governed Tribal Healthcare Clinics (00:16:24) Medicare Savings Program for Tribal Healthcare (00:23:24) Tribal Healthcare: Self-Governance and Affordable Medicine (00:27:26) High-Cost Medical Expense Reimbursement Fund (00:36:20) Crucial Role of TPAs in Tribal Healthcare (00:39:02) Reducing Fraudulent Charges through Healthcare Billing Transparency (00:40:08) Exposing Wasteful Healthcare Practices Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #TribalHealthcare #SelfGovernance #EducationalInitiatives #HealthcareSolutions #CatastrophicHealthFund #TPAs #TransparencyInHealthcare #HealthcareEfficiency #TribalSpace #QualityCare #FinancialEfficiency #LegalCompliance #selffunded #podcast Tribal Healthcare, Self Governance, Educational Initiatives, Healthcare Solutions, Catastrophic Health Fund, TPAs, Transparency In Healthcare, Healthcare Efficiency, Tribal Space, Quality Care, Financial Efficiency, Legal Compliance, self funded, podcast

"I think we need to do a better job of understanding each other and plugging each other in where we can help our clients to solve for issues that may not directly impact us, but make a world of difference for them." - Madison Baker Madison Baker, from Marsh McLennan, has expanded her business and online presence exponentially over the last year by creating engaging posts and content on LinkedIn. If you’re just starting out in a producer role and you’re not using LinkedIn to build your brand, tune in this week to hear from Madison why it’s been so crucial for her business, and will be for yours.  Whether you’re an up-and-coming broker or consultant, or you’ve been in this industry for decades, there’s one thing that’s become pretty evident: if you aren’t engaging with your peers and clients through social media, you’re missing out on the chance to help so many more clients than you could through traditional methods.  But where do you start? Find out this week on Self-Funded with Spencer. Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing Madison Baker (00:00:48) The Importance Of Networking In Insurance (00:16:37) Communicating About Risk With Clients (00:21:44) Learning How To Always Bring Value (00:34:05) Approaching Risk Differently In The Current Market (00:46:39) Building A LinkedIn Brand From Scratch (00:48:00) LinkedIn's Impact on Prospecting Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #InsuranceNetworking #CareerProgression #ProducerTraining #BusinessPlan #AddingValue #TalentGap #RiskManagement #LinkedInBranding #BusinessGrowth #SelfInsurance #AIinInsurance #ClientSolutions #selffunded #podcast Insurance Networking, Career Progression, Producer Training, Business Plan, Adding Value, Talent Gap, Risk Management, LinkedIn Branding, Business Growth, Self Insurance, AI in Insurance, Client Solutions, self funded, podcast

“I realize there's this massive disconnect in the business model whereby you've got governments and health insurers paying billions and billions of dollars for what might be a not very effective therapy, and then there's all these potential cures, even, and much better treatments out there.” - Savva Kerdemelidis Savva Kerdemelidis and Zan Lowe, of Public Good Pharma, joined me this week to talk about re-aligning the incentive structures for drug development.  In our current system, drugs are often funded based on how much of their formula is patentable, and manufacturers will tweak the formulas in order to get new patents when they’ve run out. So how do we fix the system, for the public good?  Savva’s solution is to “self-fund” pharmaceutical trials, through employers. These trials can be used to determine if lower cost drugs have the same or better effect than more expensive, patented ones (which they often do), and also demonstrate huge cost-savings for employers.  Join us as we take on “Big Pharma” this week on Self-Funded. Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing Public Good Pharma (00:09:29) Our Profit-Driven Pharmaceutical Industry (00:12:16) Drug Development Challenges in Patent System (00:13:19) Patent Monopolies and “Evergreening” Pharmaceuticals (00:17:44) “Interventional Pharmacoeconomics” (00:19:32) Clinical Trials for Affordable Treatments (00:29:18) Employer Involvement in Lower-Cost Drug Trials (00:33:37) Cost-Effective Pharmaceutical Incentive Strategy (00:36:55) Revamping Healthcare Incentives (00:45:28) Affordable Pharmaceutical Alternatives Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #PharmaIndustry #DrugPricing #PatentSystem #Evergreening #ValueBasedPricing #InterventionalPharmacoeconomics #FormularyDesign #InnovativeIncentives #FixTheSystem #CostReduction #PersonalizedMedicine #AIinHealthcare #selffunded #podcast Pharma Industry, Drug Pricing, Patent System, Evergreening, Value Based Pricing, Interventional Pharmacoeconomics, Formulary Design, Innovative Incentives, Fix The System, Cost Reduction, Personalized Medicine, AI in Healthcare, self funded, podcast

"The US healthcare system is simple, easy to navigate and affordable. Said no one ever." - Guy Benjamin Guy Benjamin returns to the show a year after his previous episode to share just how much Healthee has expanded in that time (spoilers: it’s 100x).  We talk about how Healthee’s role in the marketplace has shifted, what huge feature is on the horizon for them, and why Guy believes that the Healthee app deserves a spot on the bottom row of apps on your phone, next to your messages/email/Spotify apps. The future of Healthee is bright, and I’m proud to highlight just how far they’ve come this week on Self-Funded with Spencer. Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing Guy Benjamin (00:07:56) Revolutionizing Healthcare With AI (00:19:16) Using AI To Support Patients And Physicians (00:27:01) Empowering Self-Service Healthcare (00:35:26) Healthcare Bill Accuracy Through AI (00:40:56) AI-driven Solutions for TPAs Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #healthcaretransparency #programminghealth #engagementstrategy #AIinhealthcare #scalability #selfservicesolutions #medicalbillauditing #telehealthcostsavings #TPApartnerships #wearablesinhealthcare #healthtech #consumerempowerment #selffunded #podcast healthcare transparency, programming health, engagement strategy, AI in healthcare, scalability, self service solutions, medical bill auditing, telehealth cost savings, TPA partnerships, wearables in healthcare, health tech, consumer empowerment, self funded, podcast

"It's not always what you can do that makes you who you are. Sometimes the things that you don't do well create your style." - AG Ford We have a bit of a different episode in store for you this week: an interview with a local illustrator AG Ford, who’s worked on children’s book series like Construction Site and Magic Tree House. AG and I discussed just how hard it is to break into the world of illustration, what he learned in art school, and what his current work-life balance looks like.  We also talked about art in general, why being different is better than being better in the artistic world, and why he wouldn’t trade his current lifestyle for any other.  Chapters: (00:00:00) Introducing AG Ford (00:03:48) Embracing Imperfections for Unique Artistic Style (00:17:23) Redefining Artistic Success Through Personal Journey (00:21:06) Finding Balance: Artistic Creativity and Financial Stability (00:25:55) Navigating Artistic Integrity in Commercial Ventures (00:33:59) Illustration Process Timeline for Picture Books (00:43:52) Diversifying Your Artistic Skillset (00:53:17) Creating a Balanced Routine for Work-Life Harmony Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #ArtisticStyle #EmbracingFlaws #BusinessArt #ArtisticJourney #CommercialArt #Illustrations #MarketDiversification #SelectiveProjects #WorkLifeBalance #BookPromotion #CreativeBalance #FamilyAndCareer #selffunded #podcast Artistic Style, Embracing Flaws, Business Art, Artistic Journey, Commercial Art, Illustrations, Market Diversification, Selective Projects, Work Life Balance, Book Promotion, Creative Balance, Family And Career, self funded, podcast

“If you're going to be the fiduciary, you have to protect the members, you have to protect the plan, and you need to defend that allowable to make sure that you're covering all of your bases." - Amy Pellegrin We made it to episode 150! A huge thank you to every guest we’ve had on the show so far, and obviously to you, the listeners, for making the show what it is today. For this special episode, we traveled to Des Moines, Iowa to meet with ClaimDOC, one of our sponsors, in early March and I hosted a panel podcast with Bruce Hansen, Amy Pellegrin, and Brad Hansen. We talked about how each of them made their way to ClaimDOC, why it’s so important that ClaimDOC is a co-fiduciary with it’s clients, and why human customer support is especially welcome in the healthcare space. We also talked about the reference based pricing world at large and what ClaimDOC does to help its clients deal with balanced bills.  Join us for the 150th time this week on Self-Funded with Spencer as we talk all things RBP!  Chapters: 00:00:00 Welcome to Episode 150! 00:02:53 Member-Centric Healthcare Pricing 00:17:49 Navigating Healthcare Billing and Coding for Fair Charges 00:20:50 Claimdoc's Co-Fiduciary Role in Healthcare Operations 00:25:43 Better Healthcare Experiences Through Member Advocates 00:37:22 Navigating Balance Billing With An Advocate Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #ReferenceBasedPricing #HealthcareBilling #FiduciaryResponsibilities #MemberAdvocacy #VendorRelationships #NetworkFreeOptions #BalancedBilling #ProviderRelationships #MemberAdvocates #HealthcareTools #HealthcareInnovation #selffunded #podcast Reference Based Pricing, Healthcare Billing, Fiduciary Responsibilities, Member Advocacy, Vendor Relationships, Network Free Options, Balanced Billing, Provider Relationships, Member Advocates, Healthcare Tools, Healthcare Innovation, self funded, podcast

"You're talking about the number one creator of wealth and security for people and one of their most important purchases. And like, how is this not in the employee benefits arena?" - Tommy Shumway For the first time ever, a father and son joined the podcast together. Dave and Tommy Shumway, from CityWorth, joined the show to discuss an innovative, yet somewhat obvious, benefit that they’ve rolled out for employers to offer their employees: down payment assistance.  We spend a lot of time on the show covering new point solutions that employers can use to offer better benefits to their employees, but the idea of helping employee’s purchase real estate has yet to come up on the show. Dave and Tommy are able to offer this benefit thanks to their ability to operate in several states and their experience with doing these kinds of transactions many times.  The approach for employers is simple: offer employers help with their downpayment only after they’ve worked a set number of years at the company. The benefit is hugely beneficial with encouraging employee loyalty, and as Dave and Tommy shared, homeowners live much more stable lives and are much more productive than renters.  Join us this week on Self-Funded with Spencer for a discussion on home ownership as an employee benefit.  Chapters: 00:00:00 Introducing The Shumways 00:07:06 Financial Struggles in Entrepreneurship and Resilience 00:15:04 Cityworth’s Unique Approach To Real Estate 00:22:32 Real Estate As An Employee Benefit 00:24:32 Why Owning Real Estate Is So Important 00:28:05 Down Payment Assistance Based On Employee Loyalty 00:34:55 Shared Ownership for Non-Married Roommates 00:45:00 The Future Of Real Estate Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #StartupChallenges #CityworthBusinessModel #RealEstateIndustry #MortgageEmployeeBenefits #HomeBuyingAssistance #EmployeeRetention #PrivatePortals #HomeownershipBenefits #RealEstateInnovation #RealEstateStrategies #RealEstateServices #EmployeeBenefits #selffunded #podcast Startup Challenges, Cityworth Business Model, Real Estate Industry, Mortgage Employee Benefits, Home Buying Assistance, Employee Retention, Private Portals, Homeownership Benefits, Real Estate Innovation, Real Estate Strategies, Real Estate Services, Employee Benefits, self funded, podcast

"Your fitness affects if you, even if you have a desk job. Your fitness is going to affect your performance over the long run, because it's your energy level."  - Chris Hamilton Chris Hamilton (Hotchkiss) needs no introduction on the show at this point; this is his fifth appearance!  This time, Chris introduced me to the world of Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) by putting a CGM in my arm at the very start of the show (be sure to listen to the whole episode to hear what my glucose level was!). We talked about why Chris tracks his health so intensely, what he does on a daily basis to stay fit and healthy, and why he believes fitness is extremely important, even if you work at an office job.  Chris and I also discussed how we can incentivize employee’s to care about their health, and why that’s such a struggle for employers.  Chapters: 00:00:00 Spencer Tries Out A CGM Monitor 00:16:51 Optimizing Work Performance through Health and Wellness 00:20:52 Why Concierge Medicine Is So Valuable 00:32:07 Data-Driven Health Monitoring 00:47:38 The Long-Term Impact of Health Behavior Modifications 00:57:19 Aligning Economic Incentives for Employee Health Improvement 01:05:38 Investing In Your Employee’s Wellbeing 01:13:45 Healthy Lifestyles At Work Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #HealthMonitoring #CGM #WellnessOptimization #FastingBenefits #ConciergeMedicine #EmployeeWellness #PersonalizedHealthcare #HealthyWorkplace #WorkplaceWellness #NutritionalAdvice #HealthCulture #HealthIncentives #selffunded #podcast Health Monitoring, CGM, Wellness Optimization, Fasting Benefits, Concierge Medicine, Employee Wellness, Personalized Healthcare, Healthy Workplace, Workplace Wellness, Nutritional Advice, Health Culture, Health Incentives, self funded, podcast

“We need to solve for all of that, so that it's more rewarding, more enjoyable, because that's where the cost savings will come in. That's where the innovation will come." - Ben Callaghan Ben Callaghan, Chief Experience Officer at Empara, joined me this week to discuss how design can actually play a huge role in fixing many of the problems in our industry.  Before working at Empara, Ben actually attempted to launch a ski design company, and we discussed how that experience designing physical products still informs his design philosophy.  Ben focuses on the experiences that patients have utilizing healthcare, which is famously frustrating and complicated. Even if you have the best point solution in the world, it’s not going to be effective if nobody uses it, so it’s pivotal that the way that employees use healthcare is designed thoughtfully.  Even if you don’t know anything about design, I’d encourage you to check out this episode to learn how design impacts literally everything we do in modern America.  Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Ben Callaghan 00:04:26 From Design Entrepreneur to Healthcare Innovator 00:09:31 Driving Innovation Through Healthcare Industry Collaborations 00:26:09 Digital ID Cards for Enhanced Member Engagement 00:33:38 Tailored Solutions for Buyer Engagement 00:44:58 Enhancing Healthcare Experiences with AI Technology Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #HealthcareTransformation #TechnologyInHealthcare #InnovativeHealthcare #PatientExperience #DigitalHealthSolutions #HospitalAssistance #MemberEngagement #CustomizedHealthcare #FutureOfHealthTech #UserExperienceDesign #HealthcareIndustryInsights #ConsumerDrivenHealthcare #selffunded #podcast Healthcare Transformation, Technology In Healthcare, Innovative Healthcare, Patient Experience, Digital Health Solutions, Hospital Assistance, Member Engagement, Customized Healthcare, Future Of Health Tech, User Experience Design, Healthcare Industry Insights, Consumer Driven Healthcare, self funded, podcast

"If you do hard things now, your life will be easy in the future. If you do easy things now, your life will be hard in the future." - Nick Bellanca Nick Bellanca joined me this week to get his perspective on something we don’t get a lot of on the show: selling as a consultant.  Nick and I talked about his upbringing, how he got onto the football team at the University of San Diego, and starting out working at a carrier (which he says is a great place for people to start in this industry). Nick actually found himself working at a genetic testing startup for a number of years before transitioning into a sales role at MMA. I was interested to hear his outside perspective on selling as a consultant in the current insurance industry and what it takes to stay disciplined, as a human and as a salesman.  Whether you’re just starting out in sales, you’ve had a long career selling, or you don’t have anything to do with it, you’ll enjoy getting to hear Nick’s perspective on what it takes to make it in the current industry. Chapters: 00:00:00 Meet Nick Bellanca / Running Marathons 00:07:44 Majoring In Accounting, Stumbling Into Sales 00:15:11 The World of Genetic Testing Benefits 00:17:49 The Challenge And Opportunity Of Changing Roles 00:22:01 Growth Mindset / Effective Communication In Sales 00:41:13 Wellness Programs / Wearables 00:52:41 Do The Hard Things Now Key Links for Social: @SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02 Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286 Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/ Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/ Key Words:  #CareerChoices #FinancialMotivation #SalesInsights #Adaptability #GeneticTesting #HealthcareInnovation #CareerTransition #PersonalGrowth #WorkLifeBalance #YouthfulMindset #EmployerWellness #SuccessPathway #selffunded #podcast Career Choices, Financial Motivation, Sales Insights, Adaptability, Genetic Testing, Healthcare Innovation, Career Transition, Personal Growth, Work Life Balance, Youthful Mindset, Employer Wellness, Success Pathway, self funded, podcast