Month: October 2025

The PBM Princess: From Rebate Myths to Deception, How PBMs Hide True Rx Costs (Ep. 30)

The PBM Princess: From Rebate Myths to Deception, How PBMs Hide True Rx Costs (Ep. 30)

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On this episode of The Benefit Whisperer, Ralph Weber interviews Rachel Strauss, the “PBM Princess,” to expose how pharmacy benefit managers manipulate contracts, rebates, and definitions to extract margin from employers. They break down contract landmines, phony transparency language, weak audit clauses, and the real story behind “100% pass-through.”

If you’re an employer, broker, or benefits leader struggling to contain pharmacy costs, this episode is your roadmap to fighting back.

00:00 Understanding Pharmacy Benefits and PBMs

01:17 Contract Landmines and Definitions

03:58 Rebates and Their Implications

06:24 Guarantees and Risk in PBM Contracts

09:56 Audit Rights and Transparency

15:37 The Illusion of Pass-Through Pricing

18:39 Prior Authorization and Cost Management

23:06 Navigating High Deductible Health Plans

26:46 The Need for Transparency in Healthcare Pricing

Guest:
Rachel Strauss • rachelmstrauss.com
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/rachelmstrauss
Email: rachel@rachelmstrauss.com

Host:
Ralph Weber • ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com
Phone: (832) 924-3330
Website: fixmybenefitsnow.com

Schedule a FREE consultation with Ralph: https://calendly.com/ralph-weber-routethree?utm_source=blubrry&utm_medium=emails&utm_campaign=ep30&utm_id=podcast
What If You Could Pay the Hospital with a QR Code? (Ep. 29)

What If You Could Pay the Hospital with a QR Code? (Ep. 29)

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A trillion dollars.

That’s how much the U.S. loses every single year, not on doctors or medicine, but on the billing chaos of healthcare.

In this episode, Ralph Weber unveils something quietly revolutionary: Noverasys. It’s not just a payment system, it’s a reset button for healthcare costs. One where hospitals get paid instantly, patients stop drowning in surprise bills, and employers finally get transparency and control.

You’ll hear how a $240 prescription became $46 in seconds…why hospitals secretly love cash… and what happens when the patient, not the insurer, becomes the payer. This isn’t theory. It’s happening. And it could change everything.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

  • Why traditional insurance payment rails waste billions, and how Noverasys eliminates that inefficiency
  • Real-world examples of instant-pay models saving employers and employees thousands of dollars
  • How QR-code payment systems make healthcare transactions faster, cheaper, and cyber-secure
  • The hidden opportunity for employers to give employees lower costs and more choice while protecting their bottom line
  • And more!

Resources:

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