HR Benecast artwork

HR Benecast

42 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago -

Learn about new trends, developments, and other topics of interest in the employee and pharmacy benefits worlds. During our monthly podcasts we'll answer your most frequently asked human resources and benefits questions.

Business Education employers pbm wellnessprograms benefits drugcosts employees grouppurchasing healthcarecoalition healthinsurance humanresources
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Episodes

Episode 42 - Fiduciary Duties: A Wakeup Call

March 13, 2024 20:39 - 33 minutes - 28.9 MB

Hear from employee benefits and compensation lawyer Jeff Zimon as he covers why fiduciary obligations are making headlines and what the Johnson & Johnson lawsuit means for plan sponsors. He discusses steps employers can take to ensure they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties, the importance of summary plan descriptions (SPDs) and the need for proper pharmacy benefit documentation. 

Episode 41 - The Latest in GLP-1s for Employers and Consultants

February 16, 2024 12:47 - 29 minutes - 19.3 MB

The first 2024 episode of HR Benecast features Courtney Keefe, Employers Health's resident GLP-1 expert. She'll share utilization, discontinuation and coverage trends for GLP-1s and anti-obesity drugs. Listeners will hear the latest on anti-obesity drug coverage under the pharmacy benefit, new drugs in the pipeline and how the big PBM's are managing drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound. 

Episode 40 - Stop Loss and Catastrophic Claimant Risk Management

December 15, 2023 16:50 - 35 minutes - 27.8 MB

On our last episode of 2023, we sit down with Ryan Siemers, founder and principal at Aegis Risk to cover all the intricacies of stop loss. As the costs of catastrophic claims continue to grow, reinsurance protection and medical stop loss are more important than ever. Listen to hear how costly gene therapies are impacting deductibles, potential health care industry changes could drive prices even higher and more.  To learn more about the Aegis Risk Medical Stop Loss Premium Survey visit htt...

Episode 39 - What Should Employers Know About Pharmacogenomics?

November 16, 2023 14:39 - 28 minutes - 25.3 MB

In this episode of HR Benecast, we're joined by Travis Baughn, vice president of clinical solutions at Optum Rx. Listen to hear how pharmacogenetics works and its importance for employers. He'll share what plan participants need to know, and how it can be used to reduce medical waste and long and complex medication journeys.  For additional resources on pharmacogenomics, please visit cpicpgx.org and pharmgkb.org. 

Episode 38 - Obesity and What it Means for Plan Sponsors

September 22, 2023 14:25 - 27 minutes - 24.5 MB

Nearly half of working Americans have obesity, raising the risk of Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke. Hear from George Huntley, founding member and CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council, about the importance of addressing obesity and the role it plays in employee retention. He'll share successful treatment options and the direct and indirect benefits for plan sponsors and their participants.   

Episode 37 - Diabetes Leadership Council

May 31, 2023 14:44 - 33 minutes - 31.2 MB

On the latest episode of HR Benecast we're joined by George Huntley, founding member and CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council. He shares how plan sponsors can develop a benefits strategy to help employees with diabetes and other chronic conditions, advice for PBM contract negotiations, the latest in PBM legislation and more. 

Episode 36 - Hypertension Awareness Month

March 28, 2023 20:59 - 30 minutes - 28.6 MB

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S.; nearly half the adults in our country have high blood pressure, putting them at risk for heart disease and stroke. April is hypertension awareness month, so we sat down with Jenn Roberts of Hello Heart to discuss how employers can reduce heart-disease-related costs while supporting their employees' heart health. Together, Jenn and our host, Mike Stull, will share the importance of lifestyle changes in managing heart health, best practi...

Episode 35 - Ask Mike Anything - Your Pharmacy Benefit Questions Answered

January 31, 2023 15:46 - 19 minutes - 14.7 MB

In our first episode of 2023 we answer your employee benefits and pharmacy benefit questions. Listen as we cover: The latest on rising insulin prices, What the launch of a Humira biosimilar means for payors and plan sponsors, How employers can combat exorbitant carve-out fees charged by some medical providers, The future of rebates, What employers can do to protect their pharmacy plan against the high costs of gene therapies, The ideal amount of time for a PBM finalist meeting, an...

Episode 34 - Clinical Checkup

December 09, 2022 17:25 - 31 minutes - 25.8 MB

Hear from Employers Health's Vice President of Clinical Solutions, Matt Harman, as he shares the clinical team's learnings at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Nexus conference, what the team's growth means for Employers Health clients, upcoming clinical strategies for self-insured employers and more. 

Episode 33 - Diabetes Leadership Podcast

October 25, 2022 10:00 - 30 minutes - 27.4 MB

On this episode of HR Benecast we hear from George Huntley founding member and CEO of the Diabetes Leadership Council. Listen to hear how the Diabetes Leadership Council works to reduce overall spend for employers and those living with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Episode 32 - Excellence in Benefits Winner

September 13, 2022 10:00 - 27 minutes - 21.9 MB

Hear from 2021 Excellence in Benefits Award Winner Chris vanNatta, manager of human resources and global benefits at The Timken Company. He shares the importance of relationships, responsiveness and passion when working in benefits and manufacturing. Hear his tips for success in benefits.  The Excellence in Benefits Award, presented annually by Employers Health, seeks to recognize an individual who has made meaningful impact in the field and/or delivery of employee benefits. Nominations fo...

Episode 31 - AccessHope - Fighting cancer with everything we know™

August 23, 2022 13:21 - 24 minutes - 21.5 MB

In this episode, we're joined by Brian Beran, vice president of channel partner sales, at AccessHope, a company that offers cancer support services as an employee benefit to employers and their health care affiliates. Hear how AccessHope connects members and their treating oncologists to the renowned expertise of National Cancer Institute (NCI)–Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers. AccessHope currently serves over 3 million plan members through more than 80 employers including 21 of the F...

Episode 30 - The Client Solutions Difference

March 31, 2022 13:31 - 25 minutes - 38.2 MB

Hear from Senior Vice President of Client Solutions, Zach Hostetler as he shares how the Employers Health client solutions team has grown, what that growth means for clients and what the team is doing to help employers tackle rising health care and pharmacy benefit costs. 

Episode 29 - Ask Mike Anything - Your PBM Questions Answered

December 16, 2021 20:40 - 21 minutes - 32 MB

In this new feature, we ask our host and Chief Strategy Officer, Mike Stull, some of the pharmacy and other benefits-related questions we hear frequently from our listeners. Listen in for his insights on rebate chasing, the middle man's impact on PBM, copay accumulator programs, what ongoing market consolidation means for employers and much more! 

Episode 28 - A Look at Biosimilars and the Employee Benefits Plan

November 10, 2021 21:24 - 20 minutes - 36.7 MB

Our host, Mike Stull, recently sat down with Michelle Wang, senior pharmacy management consultant at Milliman, one of the world's largest independent actuarial and consulting firms. Listen as she explains the importance of biosimilars for plan sponsors, the potential savings opportunities for plan sponsors and their participants and what employers/plan sponsors can do to take advantage of these opportunities. 

Episode 27 - Employer Health and Productivity with Kelly McDevitt

September 24, 2021 13:45 - 36 minutes - 60.9 MB

We recently sat down with Kelly McDevitt, president of the Integrated Benefits Institute, a health and productivity research non-profit. She shares details and findings on IBI's latest employer research studies covering employee mental health, virtual care and workplace program measurement.  Listen to hear how employers are addressing the quality of virtual care, COVID's impact on preventative care, long-term effects of working from home, return to work programs and more. . 

Episode 26 – A Conversation with Nanette Oddo of Truveris

July 20, 2021 20:09 - 30 minutes - 51.3 MB

In this episode, Employers Health's Chief Strategy Officer, Mike Stull, is joined by Nanette Oddo, chief strategy officer at Truveris. A well-known player in the employee and pharmacy benefits industry, Truveris is an advocate for employers, providing a single source of objective truth for pharmacy benefits.  Listen in as these leaders in the pharmacy benefit management industry discuss what differentiates the various PBMs and how employers and their plan participants may benefit from rece...

Episode 25 - Cannabis in the Workplace

April 19, 2021 20:22 - 27 minutes - 44.9 MB

On this episode of HR Benecast we are joined by Mark Bolton, senior director of public policy and senior legal counsel at Greenwich Biosciences and Employers Health's Vice President of Clinical Solutions, Matt Harman.  Together, they share the findings of a recent employer roundtable on cannabis in the workplace. They'll cover employers' top concerns regarding coverage of cannabis under the employee benefit plan, the process of taking a cannabis drug through the FDA approval process, what ...

Episode 24 - 2020 Excellence in Benefits Winner Theresa O'Callaghan

March 11, 2021 17:00 - 22 minutes - 42.3 MB

Hear from 2020 Excellence in Benefits Award winner Theresa O'Callaghan. As the executive director of benefit programs and corporate human resources at Kaman Corporation, she shares how she got her start in employee benefits and Kaman's innovative efforts to make a difference in plan participants' lives. Plus, hear how the organization's executive leadership team plays a crucial part not only in her success as a benefits professional, but also to the organization's overall benefit plans. 

Episode 23 - Looking Back on Pharmacy Benefits in 2020 and What's to Come for Employers

February 12, 2021 16:23 - 24 minutes - 33.2 MB

Discover what we're hearing from self-insured employers throughout the country including: How COVID changed their employee benefits strategy in 2020. Specialty management and other high-cost issues faced by employers. What employers are focusing on and the challenges they're anticipating in 2021. Listeners will also hear an update on the Employers Health client solutions team's growth and how they work with the EH clinical pharmacists as an extension of the benefits team.  

Episode 22 - Pharmacy Benefit Strategies with Mike Zucarelli of CBIZ

December 21, 2020 15:49 - 35 minutes - 40.2 MB

In this episode, Mike Zucarelli clinical pharmacist and national pharmacy practice lead for CBIZ and host Mike Stull discuss the impact of specialty medications on employers’ budgets and the strategies being adopted in the marketplace such as copay maximizer programs and specialty prior authorizations.

Episode 21 - Checking in with Christian Moreno - Senior Vice President at Lockton Dunning Benefits

November 12, 2020 17:20 - 34 minutes - 39.7 MB

Join us as Mike Stull talks with Christian Moreno to hear his insights on the current state of employee benefits. Hear the newest trends and top priorities he's seeing from employee benefits professionals; how wellness, disease management, utilization, specialty and COVID-19 all play into stop loss management; and other health benefit developments. 

Episode 20 - A Check in with Right Direction

October 15, 2020 20:27 - 22 minutes - 25.5 MB

Hear from Right Direction co-director, Sean Godar, as he shares the latest developments and updates on Right Direction, a high-impact, turnkey initiative that raises awareness about depression and other mental health conditions in the workplace. He shares how employee benefits and HR professionals can utilize the initiative to provide free resources, tools and expert guidance on workplace mental health to help create a healthier and more engaged workforce. Right Direction is an initiative ...

Episode 19 - Special Guest Tracy Spencer of Pharmaceutical Strategies Group

August 17, 2020 20:52 - 38 minutes - 49 MB

We recently interviewed Tracy Spencer, senior vice president of employer groups and strategic clients at Pharmaceutical Strategies Group, a leading pharmacy intelligence and technology company. In this episode Tracy shares opportunities for employers in the PBM marketplace, the latest plan design trends and developments including copay programs, needs-based programs and more.     

Episode 18 - Health Care Ate My 401(k)

July 29, 2020 16:32 - 32 minutes - 37.6 MB

In this episode listeners will hear from Peggy West, director of compensation and benefits at Formica, and Rocke Blair, managing director at Sheridan Road Advisors, a HUB International Company, as they share how they've worked proactively to help employers and employees realize both the economic and health benefits of treating health and retirement benefits as one.

Episode 17 - Pharmacy Benefits Q&A

June 09, 2020 16:20 - 26 minutes - 43.7 MB

In this episode we'll cover questions from the audience including the affects of COVID-19 on the PBM industry, how pharmacy rebates work, how minimum rebate guarantees are determined and some of your most frequently asked questions about specialty pharmacy. 

Episode 16 - Clinical Update on Gene Therapy and what it means for patients and employers

February 13, 2020 20:44 - 19 minutes - 22.8 MB

We speak with Kelsey Dieters, a clinical pharmacist at Employers Health as she updates us on gene therapy, the latest in specialty pharmacy. She'll share what these drugs are, how they can help patients and what employers can do to mitigate the risk of these drug's often high price tag.  If you'd like to learn more about gene therapy and what it could mean for your organization's employee benefit plan, join us March 18 at the PBM Conference where Matt Harman and Kelsey Dieters, from the EH...

Episode 15 - Account Management and Employer Challenges in 2020

December 17, 2019 20:11 - 35 minutes - 40.7 MB

Hear from Vice President of Account Management, Zach Hostetler, as he shares with our host what we’re hearing from member organizations including what they are focused on and benefit challenges they are anticipating in 2020 and beyond. He’ll also provide an update on our growing account management team and the resources they provide to member organizations and their benefit teams.

Episode 14 - Market Check and Pricing Improvement Analysis

August 28, 2019 12:44 - 26 minutes - 30.2 MB

Dave Uldricks, vice president, PBM contracting and strategy, joins us to cover changes in the pharmacy benefit management industry and how they affect plan sponsors and their participants. Listeners will learn about the uniqueness of the Employers Health Annual Market Check and its importance in remaining competitive. 

Episode 13 - Special Guest Rachelle Firestone of Kenan Advantage Group

June 26, 2019 19:41 - 19 minutes - 22.6 MB

In this episode our host, Mike Stull, will share a special announcement about a new PBM offering for Employers Health members. Hear from 2019 Excellence in Benefits Award Winner Rachelle Firestone as she shares what makes her career in employee benefits so rewarding and what she sees as the biggest challenge for benefits professionals today. Also, don't forget to submit the keyword to enter to win a $50 Visa gift card. 

Episode 12 - Special Guest Bruce Macrae of CVS Health

September 26, 2018 12:58 - 34 minutes - 39.9 MB

Learn about the latest in pharmacy innovations at CVS Health including real-time benefits, other technological advances and how members benefits from the long standing relationship between Employers Health and CVS Health. 

Episode 11 - Employers Health Pharmacy Residency Program

August 09, 2018 01:20 - 26 minutes - 30 MB

Learn how employers will benefit from Employers Health's new pharmacy residency program from Director of Pharmacy, Matt Harman, along with Kevin Wenceslao, pharmacy resident. They'll share the benefits of an on-site flu clinic, trends in pharmacy benefits and more. 

Episode 10 - HR and Benefits Guest Speakers Carol Harnett, Pam Little and Bernie Knobbe

May 03, 2018 19:42 - 24 minutes - 28.2 MB

Hear from guest speakers Carol Harnett, a speaker, writer and health / disability consultant and from Pam Little, president/CEO of Blue Communications, and Bernie Knobbe, VP of global benefits at AECOM, as we join them live at the Health and Benefits Leadership Conference. They'll highlight what attendees can expect from their presentations at the upcoming Employers Health Innovations in Benefits Conference. 

Episode 9 - Addressing Teen Suicide from an Employer Perspective

March 23, 2018 18:10 - 22 minutes - 25.9 MB

Hear from Doug Nelson, vice president of compensation and benefits, at The Timken Company as he shares how the company is stepping forward to raise awareness of teen and adolescent suicide.

Episode 8 - 2017 Year in Review

January 29, 2018 14:11 - 47 minutes - 54.2 MB

In this episode you'll hear from our CMO, Mike Stull, as he looks back on 2017 and shares what's ahead for the PBM industry in 2018. And, our host, Marcas Miles, will share real world examples of how employers use Right Direction to address depression in the workplace. 

Episode 7 - Right Direction

August 21, 2017 19:52 - 13 minutes - 15.2 MB

Employers Health's Marcas Miles shares details, on Right Direction, a free initiative to help employers reduce the stigma around depression in the workplace. 

Episode 6 - Benefits Accelerator, Communicating with Employees

June 20, 2017 18:59 - 20 minutes - 23.8 MB

Employers Health's Marcas Miles talks with CEO Chris Goff about a new benefits strategy available to members and Marcas answers a listener's question about communicating with employees. 

Episode 5 - Employers Health 2016 Update

February 08, 2017 17:31 - 22 minutes - 26.7 MB

Employers Health CMO Mike Stull updates benefits professionals on pharmacy trend, pricing models and what we've seen in terms of pharmacy benefits for 2016. 

Episode 4 - Fiduciary Duties

November 22, 2016 20:15 - 19 minutes - 21.9 MB

Our November episode, features special guest, Garrett Brown, JD, associate counsel at Employers Health as he fills us in on fiduciary duties and related responsibilities of plan sponsors. 

Episode 3 - Drivers of Pharmacy Trend, Trend Update, PBM Marketplace and upcoming events

September 29, 2016 15:07 - 22 minutes - 25.4 MB

Hear from Employers Health's Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Stull, on topics including the drivers of pharmacy trend, an update on pharmacy trend for the first half of 2016, news and notes on the PBM marketplace and more. Mike will also provide an update on upcoming Employers Health events and how your organization can benefit from them. 

Episode 2 - Specialty Pharmacy, Private Exchanges and more

August 15, 2016 19:12 - 24 minutes - 28.5 MB

Listen to learn from Employers Health's Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Stull, and his guest, Matt Harman, Director, Clinical Pharmacy Strategies. Matt will discuss specialty drugs and what employers can do to manage costs. We'll also cover the various types of private exchanges and what we can expect from them. We'll share the importance creating a positive working environment through wellness programs. Finally, we'll highlight one of our featured vendor partners, Delta Dental.

Episode 1 - What is a Market Check and Pricing Improvement Analysis

July 07, 2016 13:26 - 21 minutes - 25.5 MB

Listen to learn from Employers Health's Chief Marketing Officer, Mike Stull, what a Market Check and Pricing Improvement Analysis is, how it works and what it means for your business. In this episode, we'll cover PBM contracting, the various vendors including CVS Caremark, OptumRx, the various aspects of pharmacy benefits and more. We'll also highlight one of our featured vendor partners, ComPsych, and its GuidanceResources EAP.