HR Benecast

In one of our most anticipated episodes, Mike sits down with Judi Health's senior vice president of national business development, Nick Van Hook, to discuss StarkRx. Together, they cover Judi Rx's role in StarkRx and how this new model solves many employers' greatest pharmacy benefit challenges. Learn more about StarkRx here .  Watch or listen to  Benefits Bites and Healthcare Headlines .  Registe...

In this episode of Benefits Bites, Mike and Madison unpack the pricing tactics that can make one PBM bid appear more competitive than another, from rebate credits and claim exclusions to specialty drug rebucketing and list management. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at  https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/ Sign up for our monthly newsletter a...

Mike sits down with CVS Health's Josh Fredell, senior vice president, PBM payor and life science solution, to discuss how one of the most well-known names in the pharmacy industry approaches biosimilars, formulary strategy and clinical management. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Healthcare Headlines.  Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers He...

In this episode of Healthcare Headlines, Mike and Madison cover the FTC's settlement with CVS Caremark. They'll share the good and the bad, how it impacts insulin pricing, what it means for plan sponsors and more. Check out other podcast episodes at  Employee Benefits Podcast | Employers Health . Sign up for our monthly newsletter  here . Find additional helpful benefits strategies and resources a...

Host Mike Stull is joined by Lizzi Corll, AVP, benefits at Bath & Body Works, to discuss how her team handles open enrollment for a large, diverse workforce, including strategies for keeping employees engaged, planning and measuring success. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Healthcare Headlines.  Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers Health....

Claim adjudication and claim reconciliation are critical — but often misunderstood — components of pharmacy benefit management. In this episode of Benefits Bites, Mike and Madison break down how these processes work, why they matter for plan sponsors and how recent legislative and regulatory changes are reshaping rebate and price guarantee requirements. Register for upcoming Employers Health webin...

Mike sits down with Zerigo Health's chief platform officer, Tim Raducha-Grace, to discuss how Zerigo is helping patients achieve clearer skin, improve adherence and reduce reliance on high-cost therapies. Tim shares how one year of Zerigo's treatment can cost less than a single month of many advanced dermatology medications and what that could mean for employers looking to improve outcomes while m...

Mike and Madison discuss TrumpRx's expansion to include more than 600 generic drugs, Optum Rx's latest pharmacy transparency announcement and what potential Federal Trade Commission action against PBMs could mean for plan sponsors. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/ Sign up for our monthly newsletter at ht...

Host Mike Stull sits down with this year's Excellence in Benefits Award winner, Doreen Hull, to discuss her impactful work in employee benefits. After more than a decade as Midwest Public Risk's benefits services director, Hull reflects on the importance of risk pools, evolving benefits strategies and what's ahead in pharmacy care. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Healthcare Headlines.  Regis...

Drawing from Employers Health's book of business, Jack Sullivan and Hannah Whitesel sit down with host Mike Stull to examine today's key drivers of pharmacy spend, including GLP-1s, biosimilars and autoimmune conditions. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Health Care Headlines.   Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers Health. Sign up for our mon...

Cost-plus pricing is gaining traction in pharmacy benefits, but how does it really compare to traditional PBM pricing? Madison and Mike cover drug pricing transparency, cost benchmarks, spread pricing and legislative changes impacting plan sponsors. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/ Sign up for our monthl...

Recorded live at the 2026 Annual Benefits Forum, hosts Mike and Madison unpack the latest developments in health care legislation, PBM regulation and market trends in this extended episode. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at  https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/ Sign up for our monthly newsletter at  https://www.employershealthco.com/#subscri...

Ryan Siemers , founder of Aegis Risk , returns to HR Benecast to discuss the latest trends in medical stop loss insurance and what they mean for employers navigating today's self-funded health plan landscape. In this episode, Ryan breaks down current stop loss market cycles, the high-cost claim drivers impacting employer health plans and the legislative and regulatory developments influencing stop...

In this episode of HR Benecast, host Mike Stull welcomes back Kevin Wenceslao , director of clinical solutions at Employers Health, to discuss how a clinical-first approach strengthens pharmacy plan performance. Kevin explains how the Employers Health clinical team works with clients and PBMs to deliver meaningful clinical insights and strategies. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Health Care...

In the latest episode of Health Care Headlines, Mike and Madison unpack what we know about recent federal health care developments and what they mean for plan sponsors.  Register for the Annual Benefits Forum at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/abf26/   Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at  https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/e...

Host Mike Stull is joined by ComPsych 's manager of clinical programs, Erin Dubba, to tackle seasonal depression and workplace loneliness. Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Erin shares quick, practical insights on spotting warning signs at work and explains why seasonal affective disorder is more than just the winter blues. Learn more from ComPsych and workplace loneliness in our webina...

Mike and Madison break down the recent dismissal of the Johnson & Johnson ERISA case. They dive into the allegations of prescription drug plan mismanagement, what the ruling means for plan sponsors and how similar lawsuits are shaping the benefits landscape. Read Madison's recent blog post on the case: ERISA Fiduciary Litigation Update – A Second Johnson & Johnson Dismissal Register for upcoming E...

In the last episode of 2025, host Mike Stull sits down with Employers Health's Madison Connor to discuss the year's biggest pharmacy benefit legislative headlines, cases and court rulings and what they mean for plan sponsors. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Health Care Headlines.  Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at  Events - Employers Health. Sign up for ou...

Join hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor as they break down the differences between price improvements, cost savings and cost avoidance. They explain how to identify real savings and understand the implications of different pricing models. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/ Sign up for our monthly newslett...

Host Mike Stull is joined by MedImpact's Aprit Patel and Zach Johnson to discuss how this independent PBM is reshaping the landscape. They delve into MedImpact's history, unique approach to drug pricing and new GLP-1 and biosimilar offerings available for MedImpact clients. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers Health. Sign up for our monthly news...

On the first episode of Health Care Headlines, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor unpack breaking developments in pharmaceutical tariffs, TrumpRx and how the current government shutdown could have an impact on the new tariffs. Watch the Sightlines Series: PBM Fundamentals webinar at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/2025-sightlines-series-pbm-fundamentals/   Register for up...

Host Mike Stull sits down with Mandy Rhubin, senior director, pharmacy network audit at Optum Rx, to tackle one of health care's most costly challenges: fraud, waste and abuse (FWA). Mandy breaks down what FWA really means, shares real-world examples and dives into why plan sponsors play such a critical role in spotting and preventing it. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites Episode 1 – PBM 101: Big...

Host Mike Stull discusses midyear pharmacy trends with guests Kevin Wenceslao and Jack Sullivan from Employers Health. They tackle significant trends in drug spending, the impact of PBM decisions and clinical management strategies to control costs. Watch or listen to Benefits Bites Episode 1 – PBM 101: Big Players, Mid-Market Movers and Industry Disruptors Register for upcoming Employers Health we...

In this episode of Benefits Bites, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor dive into the basics of fiduciary responsibilities all plan sponsors should know. They discuss the definition of a fiduciary, the key responsibilities that come with this role and the importance of compliance with legal standards. Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthc...

In the inaugural episode of Benefits Bites, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor discuss the current landscape of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), focusing on the dynamics of the big three PBMs, the role of mid-market PBMs and the impact of disruptors in the marketplace. They emphasize the importance of transparency in drug pricing and the need for employers to stay informed and adaptable in a rap...