Benefits with Friends - The Rise of the American Healthcare Consumer

There is probably no aspect of healthcare that has changed as dramatically over the last few years as insurance claims data. For every C-Suite leader or HR manager to justify their next rate increase, they must have the right amount of data at their disposal, gathered from the clients themselves. However, most employers do not have any access to this information.  Jacob Sheridan  of&nbsp...

Lou and Sims Tillirson will discuss the strategies and solutions that forward thinking HR teams are utilizing to keep their employees engaged and connected. HR leaders have to balance the time it takes to engage with members and the time they need to get stuff done. The extent of the remote work force today makes this even more challenging. Technology is great...when it works. So, what works and w...

Marshall Allen’s book, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win," shows individuals and employers how they can push back against the high cost of health care. It's led to Allen Health Academy, which takes the principles of the book and communicates them through an engaging series of health care literacy videos for consumers. The videos are currently in prod...

Emma Fox  is Partner and COO of  E-Powered Benefits . Her firm helps employers throughout the US customize health plans using alternative healthcare models that are capable of significantly enhancing benefits for members while at the same time lowering the cost by 20-40% (or more). The key is increasing awareness and resetting customer expectations through education. The current fee-for-...

This episode of Benefits with Friends will feature Patrick Moore, President of Axim Fringe Solutions. Patrick is an Emerging Star in the benefits arena nationally who recently retired from the United States Marine Corps. How ironic that he will be appearing on our show on the 247th Birthday of the US Marine Corps...Oorah! AXIM Fringe Solutions Group, LLC (AXIM FSG) is the nation’s first and only h...

Our host Lou *BOO* Bernardi and guest Nancy Giacolone discuss the Role of HR Leaders in the Post COVID era.

Lou and his guest Dave Chase discuss the Health Rosetta, high-performance health plans, the Quadruple Aim, and the results when a shift in mindset takes place that takes the attention off the insurance costs and places it on the quality of health care. 

Please join me and my guest Dale Sagen Vice President, Group Captive Solutions at Risk & Insurance Strategy Collective (RISC). Dale is responsible for leading and collaborating with benefit advisors and plan sponsors to develop and implement captive strategies for employers’ health & welfare plans. Dale has specialized in the support of successful self-funded health plans with the facilita...

Episode 19 of Benefits with Friends was the showdown of the century as the reigning Broker of the Year Josh Butler squared off against his buddy and rival Adam Berkowitz. Our host Lou Bernardi had to keep these two fierce competitors under control as they fought tooth and nail. Adam took off with a sizeable lead, but Josh came back and tied it up.  Who won?  You'll have to tune in to fin...

What You’ll Learn In This Episode This transcript is machine transcribed by  Sonix

My guest Eric Silverman of Voluntary Disruption and I discussed Marketing & Media for the Enrollment Win. Employers desperately need to reengage with employees in the post COVID era. The battle to attract and retain talent is real! DIS-RUP-TION, N. - a radical change in an industry (or) business strategy. "Words are very powerful things that have incredibly intense meaning. By simply changing...

EZaccessMD provides employers and employees alike with what they call the EZ Difference: comprehensive, convenient care that comes right to the doorstep. Their members can consult with a doctor in minutes and receive on-site assessment and diagnostics – all in under 2 hours. For the employee, this means no time spent traveling and sitting in waiting rooms, no money spent on a copay, and no added s...

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month, I can't think of a better guest to have on than CEO of Orriant and Founder of Aspirational Healthcare than Darrell Moon. Darrell is passionate about population health, behavioral health and can help employers address this very important topic.

Kelly D Webb of Exclusive Surgeries Solutions and Lou Bernardi discuss how employers that self-insure their group health plan can save significantly while at the same time improve outcomes and helping patients avoid unnecessary procedures and rampant infections that plague hospitals.    ESurgeries, as they are better known, contracts with the very best surgeons that perform thousands of...

Lou and Aaron had a great conversation on the topic of the 'Functionally Uninsured'. Managed Care's promise of enhancing care and controlling insurance costs clearly expired long away.  Instead, it was replaced with Pay More, Get Less and numerous flawed strategies.  Employers and their members fell victim to a health care and insurance system that on the surface seem broken.  A kee...

Dennis Hartin and Lou discussed the role mental health plays in benefits and what employers can do to help their most vulnerable employees.

Listen in as my guest Paul "Joey" Stone (Director of Strategic Partnerships- Burnalong) and I discuss Life, Wellness and Wellbeing. The Burnalong Difference BurnAlong is built on that simple yet industry-changing philosophy that if you want to help people achieve their health and wellness goals, the way to do it is to bring them: 1. Programming they find relatable and inspiring. 2. Social support...

The inaugural 'Battle of the Benefit Specialists' between advisors Cristy Gupton and Nancy Giacolone was an epic success.  These two benefit powerhouses showcased their in-depth knowledge of employer sponsored health plans at a level that was incredibly impressive. They went back and forth on topics ranging from medical cost trends, stop loss, pooling charges, claims corridors, population hea...

Rachel is the Director of Strategic Development for EHIM an independent Pharmacy Benefit Managemer (PBM) that helps self-insured medical plan sponsors eliminate the artificial costs that drive up claims and stop loss premiums. Rachel and I discussed stop loss, the importance of proper Drug Formulary structure, spread pricing on generic drugs, the impact of rebates on plan costs and members and so...

Episode 9 of Benefits with Friends will take a deeper dive into Price Transparency and the No Surprises Act of 2022. Dr. Kaplan and our host Lou Bernardi will discuss the opportunity both can have on the American Healthcare Consumer, Medical Providers and Group Health Plan Sponsors. Dr. Kaplan, a plastic surgeon, has a depth of knowledge on both subjects that is incomparable.  See how he help...

This episode of BwF featured Joana M. Ames (Ruano), Senior Sales Executive at Garner Health.   Garner's goal is to change how our healthcare system works at its core. Using a new approach to data science and novel financial incentives, they help patients identify the highest-quality doctors and help doctors improve how they practice medicine.    Garner is a next-generation benefits...

Listen as my guest Tim Ott of Roundstone and I discuss self funding, stop loss and medical group captives. Roundstone captive is an innovative and proven funding model that effectively shares risk and offers transparency, flexibility, and significant cost-savings over traditional fully-insured programs. Founded in 2003, Roundstone came together because of a shared belief in quality, affordable hea...

This episode of Benefits with Friends will feature Kari L. Niblack, Esq., CEO of ACS Benefit Services, LLC. ACS is an independent third-party administrator (TPA) and vital component to any High-Performance Health Plan. Lou and Kari discussed the core functions of a TPA and how the world of alternative funding is changing rapidly in the wake of price transparency and enhanced fiduciary responsibili...

This episode will feature my guest Michelle Bounce.  Michelle is the Chief Operating Officer of The J.P. Farley Corporation.   J.P. Farley is a premier Third-Party Administrator that is leading the way in the fight to rid employer sponsored group health plans of the artificial costs and hidden profit centers that plague the status quo.    J.P. Farley has over 40 years-experienc...

This episode featured my guests Kimberlee Langford, BSN RN CCM CRMT CPC and Crystal Kowalesky of Specialty Care Management. This dynamic duo help manage high-cost claims for the most vulnerable members resulting in enhanced care, lower OOP costs and improved outcomes. Specialty Care Management (SCM) provides an innovative risk solution that normalizes claim costs and brings them back under control...