The Pulse with Mary Delaney

In this episode of The Pulse in 15 , Mary sits down with Bryan Trainor to discuss the value Kwik Trip has found in moving from separate, vendor-specific reports to having all their information in one place. Bryan shares how bringing data together into a single, transparent view has helped create clarity, reduce fragmentation, and better align goals and priorities across internal teams and vendor p...

Frontline Perspectives from Physicians & Benefits Leaders Building on our Part 2 session where carriers discussed what’s working, what’s falling short, and how employers can influence the trend, we’re now turning to the people closest to care delivery and benefit design. In Part 3, practicing physicians and respected benefits leaders will share practical, employer-ready strategies to stabilize...

In this 15-minute episode, we’re joined by Roger McMichael , Associate Superintendent at Carmel Clay Schools , for a practical conversation on how objective, data driven strategy can create meaningful and sustainable change in a school system’s health plan.  Roger shares how his team focused on improving employee health and experience while also achieving significant savings for the plan—without s...

In this mini episode of The Pulse, Mary speaks with an employee communications expert about why benefits messages so often get lost and how employers can move from noise to real impact. The conversation highlights what effective benefits communication looks like today, common mistakes employers make, and how to measure whether messages are actually driving understanding and action. The episode wra...

Are provider quality scores just another healthcare fad, or are they a critical tool for driving better health outcomes and maximizing your organization’s investment in employee benefits? In this episode, we cut through the noise to help employers understand what these scores really mean, how to identify high-quality providers, and how leveraging this information can lead to measurable improvement...

In part two of our three part series on the mounting primary care crisis, we will continue our discussion from August on the impact on employers. Our panel of experts will provide insights into how carriers are addressing the shortage, as well as what they believe employers can do to help combat this crisis.  In This Episode, You'll Learn: A carriers perspective on why we are facing such a cr...

As healthcare costs continue to rise and scrutiny around plan transparency intensifies, employers are under growing pressure to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility —not just to manage costs, but to ensure health plan decisions truly serve the best interests of their employees.  In this compelling episode, we explore what fiduciary duty really means for employers in today’s complex benefits land...

The U.S. healthcare system is facing a mounting primary care crisis —marked by physician shortages, limited access, and rising costs. In this timely episode, we examine how the decline in effective primary care is not just a health issue, but a serious business concern for employers grappling with escalating healthcare expenses and workforce wellbeing challenges. Our expert guests unpack the syste...

In this episode of the Pulse, we will explore the powerful connection between an organization’s culture and environment and employee mental health. Beyond traditional EAP services, we’ll discuss how improving workplace culture, physical spaces, and social connections can boost resilience, reduce anxiety and depression, and create a stronger sense of belonging.  Mental health service usage increase...

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in pregnancy-related complications. This trend has persisted.  In this episode, we’ll explore the factors contributing to this ongoing issue and discuss strategies to help reverse the trend.  Panelists will:  Take a closer look at the data surrounding pregnancy with complications  Explore treatment patterns, coding practices and potential revenue-d...

Join us for Part 2 of our insightful podcast series dedicated to improving outcomes for those affected by substance use disorders. In this episode, we'll explore effective early intervention strategies and the essential steps for building a robust support structure. Additionally, we’ll discuss how employers can ensure compliance with Mental Health Parity laws while reducing unnecessary medica...

Substance use disorders related to alcohol and drug addiction are having a heavy emotional and financial toll on the workplace. It’s estimated that addiction costs employers upwards of $81 billion per year and employers struggle with how to provide the correct care. Finding in-network providers is challenging and health plans are paying a significant amount in out of network fees and “Shared Savin...

GLP-1 medications have been a tipping point in exposing the role that PBM’s have over controlling prescription drug access and cost. Not all PBM’s are created equal and most drive what is easiest and most profitable for the PBM.  It’s critical that employers play an active role in controlling their health plan strategy to support improved health outcomes and health plan investments. Tune into this...

There’s been a lot of hype around the Blue Zones documentary on Netflix and how following these principles can help you live a full, active life until 100. But did you know these theories can also help you breathe life into your health plan by creating an employer community that is productive, healthy and sustainable? In this episode, we will explore how the Blue Zones theories translate into impr...

It's time for Employers to ensure they safeguard their interests and shield themselves with robust contracting language.  Carrier and vendor agreements are often crafted by their legal teams to safeguard the interests of the vendors, which may not always align with the needs of the employer. Far too often, employers have simply accepted these standard contracts, granting vendors the authority...

At least 80% of healthcare spend is influenced by our habits, environment and approach to caring for ourselves. Employers invest over $51 billion each year in vendors to empower individuals in making informed choices and alleviating strain on the healthcare system. Unraveling the genuine needs of the population proves to be an intimidating task, and addressing those needs presents an even greater...

The utilization of GLP-1s has skyrocketed since entering the market. Tune into this latest podcast of The Pulse to discover how you can effectively implement GLP-1 medications while improving the health of your population and lowering the financial impact. This episode includes guest speakers: Denise Fields PharmD, Population Health Pharmacist Robin Rankin, RPh AVP, Clinical Pharmacy, AEC-RX, An A...

The threat of higher cost cases looms as new therapies are brought to market.  Certainly, there are advances in healthcare that everyone wants to enjoy. Employers need to make sure their monies are not wasted so they can afford to support their people. What can and should employers do to protect their budgets? Did you know that many carriers pay for catastrophic care as a percentage of billed char...

One specialty medication can change the performance of a plan. Employers and Advisors are always trying to solve for if a medication should be limited to the PBM or the health plan and then if on the health plan we find significant differences between delivery of those medications. Unfortunately, the answers to solve this are not a one size fits all. Join us as we explore how to evaluate your solu...

Most people choose their providers based off a recommendation from friends or other providers. Every person wants to make sure they are utilizing a top provider, but the definition of quality varies by every oversite strategy. In this podcast we will explore the components to consider related to quality, and how access to that information should help support your health plan. We will debate differ...

Research shows that only 1 in 5 people are successful in maintaining their resolutions, creating sustainable improved performance, or maintaining significant weight loss.  Join us as a panel of experts explore why these attempts fail and how employers can support long-term success.

Obesity related medications are supposed to have the largest impact on pharmacy spend next year. Taking a pill to control weight sounds too good to be true. Listen in as 3 healthcare providers debate, educate and create some best solutions to drive improved weight management. What you will learn from this session: Understand the financial and disease burden influence correlated with obesity Unders...