

Voices of Self Funding
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Join in on the conversation with host Ramesh Kumar, CEO and Co-Founder of zakipoint Health, as he interviews key self-funding experts and dives deep into impactful topics and perspectives surrounding the self-funding industry.
Make sure you continue to tune in to hear unparalleled perspectives in each upcoming episode! We will cover a diverse mix of topics ranging from the challenges that TPAs face, price transparency, competitive implications,
and more.
Make sure you continue to tune in to hear unparalleled perspectives in each upcoming episode! We will cover a diverse mix of topics ranging from the challenges that TPAs face, price transparency, competitive implications,
and more.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 15, 2022 • 41min
Episode #17 Driving Value From DPC, Experiences From the Trenches of a TPA That Has Done it Well
Do you want to know how to drive value from DPC? In this episode, Ramesh sits down with Dr. Jeremy Smith and Katelynn Smith from MyMDConnect, as well as David Jacobson VP of Sales at Entrust to discuss DPC and care navigation. How do you ensure members are using it, and using it appropriately? What has been the ROI of DPC and concierge programs?
For more information on DPC or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

May 23, 2022 • 44min
Episode #16 Roadmap for Price Transparency and How to Offer it to Employers
Everyone has talked about price transparency, and how much it is going to change. In this episode, Ramesh sits down with the Founder of Launchpad, Mike Orth, to discuss brass tacks and price transparency. What does the plan sponsor need to provide? What are the fines? Why is it difficult? How can you simplify it? What is a three-step approach to delivering value to plan sponsors and capturing value from it?
This episode was sponsored by TALON. For more information on price transparency or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

May 16, 2022 • 35min
Episode #15 Secrets to Engaging Brokers to Get Your Offering in Front of Self-Insured Employers
Every innovation that aims to improve healthcare costs, access, or outcome for self-insured employers can be pressure tested by the broker community and possibly vetted. Tune into this episode featuring Chris Fisher of BenefitsAlly, about the secrets to engaging brokers with your solution. Chris has done more than 125 messaging videos for different solutions to garner interest from brokers and has spent over 15 years working as a broker, TPA, and vendor selling in the self-insured employer space.
This episode was sponsored by Magellan Rx. For more information on engaging brokers or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Mar 28, 2022 • 44min
Episode #14 What are the Important Areas to Focus on in 2022 as Healthcare Moves Towards DPC
Dr. Makary, surgeon, public policy expert, and author of the book "Price we pay" talks passionately on this episode about how to bring disruption to the healthcare system. And how to go underneath the areas of focus to address the inappropriateness of care and the higher prices we pay for healthcare. What is ahead in 2022? How can you help shape the plans and programs to deliver value to your members?
This episode was sponsored by MedWatch. For more information on these or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Feb 28, 2022 • 34min
Podcast #13 How Mental Health Programs Can Help Employers and Employees
Post pandemic, mental health issues and substance abuse have reached a critical stage in our communities. Employers are asking, employee's families are experiencing a lot of challenges. Learn from Julie Meuller, an innovator in the self-funded space, who has put these mental health and substance abuse programs at her company and is helping 10s of other self-funded employers.
This episode was sponsored by Magellan Rx. For more information on mental health programs or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Jan 31, 2022 • 41min
Podcast #12 Why and How to Educate Employees About Price Transparency
In this episode, Ramesh goes to a higher level with the author of Never Pay the First Bill, Marshall Allen, to talk about how employers can educate their members about healthcare prices and the upcoming price transparency. This conversation provides a unique perspective on actions employers can take to leverage price transparency.
This episode was sponsored by The Phia Group. For more information on price transparency or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Dec 20, 2021 • 42min
Podcast #11 Finding the Cost Savings While Humanizing Care Navigation Programs
Care navigation programs are incredibly valuable in delivering a great experience for patients and significantly lower costs for employers. But why aren’t they the norm? Tune into this episode as our guest, Michelle Bounce, COO at J.P. Farley, a leading TPA, describes a life-changing personal encounter with our healthcare system, where she lost her child and faced the cold and impersonal healthcare system. And through this chilling experience, it has forever shaped and guided her desire to improve healthcare for all through an empathic care navigation model that treats the “human side of healthcare.” Michelle guides us through how TPAs can effectively turn care management on its head by simply “doing the right thing” and the cost savings follow suit.
This episode was sponsored by MedWatch. For more information on care navigation programs or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Dec 6, 2021 • 37min
Episode #10 How to Win Leveraging TPA Offering
If you are trying to leverage innovation to deliver high impact to self-insured employers, this podcast is a must-listen for you! Ashok Subramaniam, CEO and co-founder of Centivo, a forward-thinking TPA, answers some of the important questions of major disruptions in the industry around price transparency, unbundling of provider networks, stronger relationships between brokers and TPAs, and the areas of focus to clarify your true value to employers. He frankly outlines where the puck is going to be in 3 years time – you don't want to be there.
This episode was sponsored by WLT Software. For more information on these or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Nov 22, 2021 • 37min
Episode #9 Why Trust in Health Care Matters for Self-Insured Employers
Healthcare consumers don't trust our healthcare system. COVID-19 has brought this into sharp contrast. However, building trust is vital for effective care, reducing population risk, and driving down costs. Why should you care about building trust with employees and members on your self-insured employer plan? Listen to Kirti Mutakar, CEO of UnitedAg, a healthplan and TPA, on their approach to building trust with a difficult-to-reach employee population in the agri business, and the results this has delivered.
This episode was sponsored by AMPS. For more information on trust in healthcare or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.

Nov 8, 2021 • 40min
Episode #8 Technologies to Improve Customer Service and Member Interactions
TPAs are increasingly facing a challenge around customer service, stuck doing tactical interactions with members, and seeing churn from their customer support team. Employers want more from their benefits and the support to their employees. Technology can help - but how? What is available? How are big health plans leveraging data and technology? Come and find out from Vijay Bhatt, Deputy CTO at Harvard Pilgrim, a health plan that has grown rapidly.
This episode was sponsored by Zipari. For more information on improving customer service or other topics related to the self-funding industry, please visit HCAA.org.