Be Health Connected

In this episode of  Be Health Connected , we sit down with Dr. Lisa Shah, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Twin Health, to discuss the powerful connection between metabolic health and cardiovascular disease. Together, we explore why conditions such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension continue to drive poor health outcomes in working-age populations, how personalized health...

In this episode of the Be Health Connected podcast, two leading health benefits experts, Wendy Smith of Mercer and Patti Wahl of Aon, come together for a candid conversation on the future of employer-sponsored healthcare. Former colleagues turned industry counterparts, Wendy and Patti discuss rising healthcare costs, delivery system transformation, direct contracting, point solutions, and the grow...

What does it take to build a workplace wellness strategy that actually works? In this episode, we sit down with Candace Rodman, Executive Director,  Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition , to explore how MOCAN is helping employers take a more strategic, evidence-based approach to improving employee health. From understanding today’s biggest opportunities—and common gaps—to leveraging proven...

In this episode, we are joined by two members of the Gateway Business Health Coalition Board of Directors, Linda Brady, Global Benefits: Healthcare & Well Being Strategy at Boeing and Kirsten Tidd, Manager of Health and Wellness at Spire. Join us as we reflect on how employers are using data, share insights and takeaways from the 2025 Annual Meeting, and look ahead to BHC’s priorities for 2026...

High-cost claims remain one of the toughest challenges for employer health plans. In this episode, Dr. Christine Hale, a nationally recognized physician leader with a track record of helping employers tackle their toughest healthcare challenges, reveals key takeaways from our employer workshop to help decode the data, manage complex cases, and drive smarter health spend.

It’s hard to believe, but it’s been a full year since Laurel Pickering stepped into her role leading the Gateway Business Health Coalition and our sister organization, the Midwest Health Initiative. Over the past 12 months, Laurel has brought fresh energy and strategic vision to the coalition, guiding our work in new and exciting directions while remaining deeply committed to our mission of improv...

During a recent tour of our membership, we asked employers about the top health conditions impacting their workforce. Every employer cited cancer among their top three concerns. With cancer affecting more people each year and treatment costs continuing to rise, the need for effective employer solutions has never been more urgent. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Rebecca Miksad, Chief Medical...

The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. Leapfrog collects and transparently reports hospital performance, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents, and infections. In this episode, we are joined by Jill Berger, Senior Advisor for Employer &am...

BHC actively monitors and testifies on bills that could potentially impact employer-sponsored benefits. We are dedicated to advocating on behalf of our employer members to lower health care costs while ensuring quality and access for members. In this episode, we discuss current policy topics at the state and federal levels that have the potential to impact employer sponsored benefits. To provide i...

In this episode we are joined by Dr. Bob Chestnut, who serves as the Chief Medical Executive Director at Cummins Inc. Dr. Chestnut leads the clinical operations strategy for over 70,000 employees in more than 190 countries and oversees the delivery of occupational health, primary care, and telemedicine. Through his work, Dr. Chestnut drives improved health care experiences for thousands of Cummins...

In this episode, we discuss chronic kidney disease, or CKD, the impact that CKD has on the American workforce, and how employers are uniquely positioned to help prevent late-stage CKD by increasing employee awareness and education and encouraging their employees to seek appropriate care for early identification. CKD occurs when the kidneys have been damaged over time, impairing their important fun...

In this episode, we are excited to recap our recent Annual Meeting, where nearly 300 healthcare and benefits leaders from across the nation came together to discuss how employers can drive meaningful change in health care. The energy in the room was palpable, and we left feeling truly inspired by the potential employers have to reshape the healthcare landscape for the better. Joining us in this ep...

In this episode, we have a compelling discussion focusing on weight management and medications. GLP-1s, are a class of medications generating a lot of buzz for their efficacy in weight loss and cardiometabolic outcomes. Through this conversation, we will explore the findings, eligibility criteria, supply challenges, cost management implications, and more. We'll also discuss the impact of GLP-1s on...

In this episode, we have the pleasure of sitting down with Dr. Marty Makary. Dr. Makary is a practicing surgeon at Johns Hopkins University and a New York Times bestselling author. Known for a couple of his key publications such as  Unaccountable  and  The Price We Pay , Dr. Makary is here to tell us about his new book release:  Blind Spots: When Health Care Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Ou...

In this episode, we sit down with the new President and CEO of the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition, Laurel Pickering. Laurel comes to the BHC with over 20 years of coalition experience and more recently worked for Centivo, focusing her efforts on health care and technology innovation to improve health outcomes and affordability. Laurel started with the BHC in early June and has already be...

Diabetes is a growing concern globally, with millions affected by its impact on health and quality of life. Employers play a pivotal role in promoting employee wellness and mitigating the risks associated with chronic conditions like diabetes. The National DPP lifestyle change program offers a structured, evidence-based approach to preventing type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes. In this epis...

In this episode, we're shedding light on a topic that impacts countless women's lives and the workforce at large – menopause in the workplace. Join us as we sit down with Katie Schubert, the President and CEO at the Society for Women's Health Research (SWHR), discussing the significance of menopause, its impact in the workplace, and what can be done to create more supportive workplace...

In this episode, we're pleased to be joined by Neil Goldfarb who is the President and CEO of one of our sister coalitions, the Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health. While GPBCH is widely known for its initiatives on obesity and diabetes prevention, in this episode, we'll discover their recent expansion into addressing another pressing concern – hypertension. Join us as we unco...

In this episode, you have the chance to listen to an exclusive excerpt from our latest Member Meeting on the topic of empowering individuals with chronic conditions. We are joined by Dr. Heidi Miller, the first Chief Medical Officer with the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, as she delivers a crucial call-to-action for employers aiming to enhance employee health. Tune in as we exp...

In the United States, chronic diseases take a heavy toll on individuals and businesses. The statistics are staggering. Six in ten adults have a chronic disease and four in ten adults have two or more. Conditions such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. They also account for a whopping 90% of the nation's $4.1 trillion annu...

Since 2001, St. Louis nonprofit BioSTL has laid the foundation for the region's innovation economy with a comprehensive set of transformational programs that elevate St. Louis’ leadership in solving important world challenges in agriculture, medicine, health care, and other technology areas. BioSTL’s recruitment arm, GlobalSTL serves as a navigator to St. Louis’ world-class corporate and innov...

Alzheimer’s Disease is a type of dementia that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. It is a condition that not only touches more and more lives every day, but also impacts the workplace, especially as employees are postponing retirement and continuing to work into their 70s. In this episode, we are joined by Rey Castuciano, who is the Diversity Equity & Inclusion Program Manager, with the A...

In 2002, employers called upon the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition to provide a pharmacy benefit group purchasing solution, to ensure transparency, accountability, and best-in-class pricing. Delivering health services in the St. Louis Area for over 30 years, Express Scripts has been a longstanding PBM partner of our Pharmacy Management Initiative since its inception.   The pharmacy benefi...

In 2021, the St. Louis Area Business Health Coalition welcomed CVS Health as a new PBM partner in our Pharmacy Management Initiative (PMI). A diversified health services company with more than 300,000 employees, CVS Health is addressing the country's most pressing health care needs through personalized, people-centered care. With prescription drug pricing and coverage continuing to be top of m...

In January, the Biden Administration announced its intent to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations related to the pandemic on May 11, 2023. With this news has come many questions surrounding the future of COVID-19 testing, vaccination, and treatment. As we await further federal, state, and local guidance, we are joined by Dr. Hilary Babcock, an Infectious Disease Phys...