It seems like artificial intelligence (AI) has been hyped by every news outlet on the planet recently. We may look back at 2023 as the year AI received as much press as when the internet forced its way into the public consciousness as a transformational global communications and information network. (more…)
Obesity is clearly a national problem that impacts employee health and productivity, as well as health plan costs. Enter the wave of pricey new GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes medications ꟷ a cost driver for plan sponsors and potential panacea for members. (more…)
Transparency is a hot topic these days. Americans are searching for transparent drug pricing, transparent hospital pricing, transparent broker revenue, and more. Vendors are lining up to address this issue. Sometimes that’s responding to legal mandates for reporting. Sometimes it’s sales spin to meet market demand. And sometimes it’s actually a few companies that do business differently.
This is clearly an issue that most corporate health plan managers want to address. But how does a corporate buyer tell the difference between real transparency and the so-called variety? (more…)
“If you build it, they will come.” The iconic phrase from 1989’s baseball-themed film may be seared into our collective consciousness, but typically falls short when applied in the real world.
In this case, we’re specifically speaking of point solutions that have been added to enhance existing benefit programs. A point solution is typically offered by a new, innovative company looking to fill a gap in the healthcare system. (more…)
October is American Pharmacists Month ꟷ a celebration of the invaluable work done by pharmacists and the vital role that they play in society. So, go hug your favorite pharmacist! [Wait a second. Check that. It may not be appropriate.]
How about we just take a moment to reflect on and appreciate the pharmacists who have played important roles in our lives. For me, that means giving a shout-out to Kelly Prymicz and Lucia Vescera ꟷ two PharmDs that I am so grateful to be able to work with each day. (more…)
One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over my long career has been the role an advisor can play in helping health plan sponsors embrace a fiduciary mindset. This means employers taking on the widespread lack of transparency and prevalence of conflicts of interest for the benefit of their employees/plan members.
All too often, plan sponsors assume they have little opportunity to control or reduce their healthcare spend. They accept the status quo and do not challenge brokers who are receiving financial incentives to keep them in poorly managed arrangements with specific insurers. (more…)