Category: Uncategorized

$1 Trillion in WasteHealthcare Contracts and Digital Legos (Ep. 33)

$1 Trillion in WasteHealthcare Contracts and Digital Legos (Ep. 33)

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Ralph Weber welcomes back Dr. David Scheinker, Executive Director at Stanford Children’s Health and founder of SURF Stanford Medicine. Together, they tackle the inefficiencies buried in hospital-payer contracts and how lack of standardization drives up costs. Dr. Scheinker shares how his team uses operations research and optimization modeling to streamline care, reduce waste, and protect patients financially. Topics range from pediatric ICU efficiency to lessons from aviation and finance. Plus, why AI and LLMs could revolutionize hospital systems—if used wisely.

Schedule a FREE consultation with Ralph: bit.ly/47JjX6b

Guest: Dr. David Scheinker | LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-scheinker/

Host: Ralph Weber CEO of Route Three and host of The Benefit Whisperer podcast | Website: FixMyBenefitsNow.com | Email: Ralph@TheBenefitWhisperer.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphweber

 

Are PPO’s the Problem? Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know. (Ep. 32)

Are PPO’s the Problem? Here’s What They Don’t Want You to Know. (Ep. 32)

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In this episode, Ralph Weber is joined once again by compliance strategist Ann Lewandowski to dive deep into the unseen world of healthcare data, who owns it, who profits from it, and what most employer contracts don’t actually protect.

They break down the illusion of “transparency” in benefit plans, the legal blind spots of HIPAA, and the skyrocketing value of employee data in today’s AI-driven ecosystem. Ann shares how contracts that don’t explicitly restrict de-identified data sales could cost employers millions, and why plan sponsors must learn to read between the lines.

You’ll also hear how new privacy laws (like the California Consumer Privacy Act) could impact your plan, whether you realize it or not. If you’re an HR leader, CFO, or benefits broker still trusting your vendors without verifying what’s under the hood… this episode is your wake-up call.

00:00 Data-Driven Decision Making in Healthcare
04:03 Understanding Healthcare Data Management
04:47 The Role of AI in Healthcare
06:21 Navigating Healthcare Regulations and Privacy
07:13 Contracting with Third-Party Vendors
08:14 The Value of Data in Healthcare
11:02 The Limitations of HIPAA
12:49 Contract Clauses and Data Protection
15:47 The Importance of Data Breach Language
18:16 The Need for Independent Healthcare Consulting
19:50 Understanding Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and Rebates
23:08 Transparency in Healthcare Contracts

Host:
Ralph Weber
📧 ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com
📞 (832) 924-3330
🔗 fixmybenefitsnow.com

Guest:
Ann Lewandowski
Founder, Healthcare Rebel Alliance
📧 ann@hcrebelalliance.com
🔗 hcrebelalliance.com
🔗 linkedin.com/in/annlewandowski

 

Trust, But Verify: Why Your TPA May Be Selling Your Employees’ Data (Ep. 31)

Trust, But Verify: Why Your TPA May Be Selling Your Employees’ Data (Ep. 31)

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Ralph Weber welcomes back Ann Lewandowski to unpack one of the most overlooked threats in benefits: your data. This episode exposes how TPAs and PBMs can legally profit from “de-identified” plan data, why HIPAA offers false comfort, and what transparency should mean in 2025. If you’re a plan sponsor, this is essential listening.

00:00 The Importance of Trust in Benefits

02:35 Understanding Healthcare Operations and Compliance

05:12 Evaluating Individual vs. Group Health Plans

08:10 The Role of Fiduciaries in Employee Benefits

10:45 Identifying Misaligned Incentives

13:18 Trust but Verify: The Need for Transparency

16:08 Employee Trust and Data Privacy

18:56 Wellness Programs and Legal Risks

21:32 The Future of Wellness Litigation

24:16 Data-Driven Decision Making in Healthcare

Guest: Ann Lewandowski

Website: hcrebelalliance.com

Email: ann@hcrebelalliance.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/annlewandowski

 

Host: Ralph Weber

Website: FixMyBenefitsNow.com

Free Consultation: bit.ly/3WiO5zY

Email: Ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ralphweber/

 

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

Chris Deacon: $2B Scam Broker Kickbacks & PBM Profits Fiduciary Duties Exposed (Ep. 27)

Chris Deacon: $2B Scam Broker Kickbacks & PBM Profits Fiduciary Duties Exposed (Ep. 27)

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Guest: Chris Deacon, author of The Great American Healthcare Heist and former Director of Health Benefits, State of New Jersey.

Chris joins Ralph Weber to reveal how her team saved $2 billion, including $400M annually on pharmacy spend, by exposing PBM shell games, fixing contracts, and enforcing fiduciary duty.

📌 Topics:

  • How much waste is really in your health plan (30–40%)
  • Reverse auctions and pass-through PBMs explained
  • Why discount guarantees are often a scam
  • Contract terms every plan sponsor should demand

🎧 Listen now to understand how to stop paying for other people’s profits.

📘 Buy the book: The Great American Healthcare Heist

 🔗 Connect with Chris:https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdeaconc/

📬 Questions? ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com · fixmybenefitsnow.com

From ICU to Insider: Nurse Deb’s fight for Patient-Centric Care (Ep. 25)

From ICU to Insider: Nurse Deb’s fight for Patient-Centric Care (Ep. 25)

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Ralph Weber sits down with Nurse Deb Ault, a former ICU nurse who walked away from the bedside after a patient died due to profit-driven care. She now runs AIMM, a patient-centered care management firm with a 3% denial rate and Validation Institute–verified results. They talk PPO discount myths, P3CM, proactive navigation, and why DPCs are turning to AIMM to close the gap. If you’re tired of feeding a broken system, this one’s for you.

💡 Guest Info:
 🔗 https://www.aim-m.com
🔗 LinkedIn: Deb Ault

🎙 Hosted by Ralph Weber
 📩 ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com
 📞 (832) 924-3330
 🌐 fixmybenefitsnow.com

Zero Cost, Zero Access: Canada, Cuba, North Korea and the Reality of Single-Tier Healthcare with Dr. Raymond Rupert (Ep. 24)

Zero Cost, Zero Access: Canada, Cuba, North Korea and the Reality of Single-Tier Healthcare with Dr. Raymond Rupert (Ep. 24)

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What happens when healthcare is free, but access is dangerously limited? In this episode of The Benefit Whisperer, host Ralph Weber is joined by Dr. Raymond Rupert, Canadian physician and founder of RCM Health, to pull back the curtain on Canada’s single-tier system.

They discuss:

  • The long and often life-threatening wait times for diagnosis, surgery, and specialty care

  • Why Canada, Cuba, and North Korea are the only countries in the world with true single-tier healthcare

  • How patients fall through the cracks without advocacy and second opinions

  • The psychological toll of delayed care on patients and families

  • What U.S. employers can learn before chasing the illusion of “free” healthcare

Dr. Rupert shares powerful real-world stories of patients who were saved by proactive navigation, global networks, and second opinions. Ralph connects the dots to U.S. employer-sponsored plans and explains why transparency, accountability, and competition are the real keys to reform.

If you’ve ever wondered what “zero cost, zero access” really looks like, this episode is a must-listen.

Connect: 📧 ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com | ☎ (832) 924-3330 | 🌐 fixmybenefitsnow.com

Guest: https://rcmhealthcare.ca/ | Dr. Raymond Rupert

Why Collateral Sucks (and Other Truths About Captives) with Phil Holowka, COO of Complete Captive (Ep. 22)

Why Collateral Sucks (and Other Truths About Captives) with Phil Holowka, COO of Complete Captive (Ep. 22)

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Captives are often pitched as the silver bullet for rising healthcare costs, but as Ralph Weber and Phil Holowka reveal, the truth is a lot messier. In this no-fluff episode, Phil, COO of Complete Captive, breaks down the real story behind collateral, risk pooling, and why most brokers are doing their clients zero favors.

We dig into:

  • Why collateral in most group captives is a trap

  • How bad structuring leads to massive leakage

  • What a clean, transparent captive should look like

  • How employers can finally take control of claims and cash flow

This is a must-listen for CFOs, HR leaders, and advisors tired of opaque promises and bloated renewals.

👉 Book a free consultation with Ralph: https://bit.ly/3T6TUz0

Visit fixmybenefitsnow.com
Email ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com
Call (832) 924-3330

Let’s keep pulling back the curtain.

Biblical Values in Benefits: Faith-Aligned Solutions for Christian Employers (Ep. 21)

Biblical Values in Benefits: Faith-Aligned Solutions for Christian Employers (Ep. 21)

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In this episode of The Benefit Whisperer, Ralph Weber talks with Ericka McPherson, Executive Director of Covenant Choice, a benefits organization designed for Christian employers who want to provide high-quality healthcare while staying true to biblical values. They unpack how Covenant Choice blends self-funded strategies, captive insurance, and legal protections through the Christian Employers Alliance to help faith-based organizations control costs and align benefits with their mission. Ericka explains how employers can exclude services that conflict with their beliefs, maintain flexibility in plan design, and even share in cost savings.

Whether you lead a church, ministry, or Christian-owned business, this conversation shows how to protect both your values and your bottom line without settling for the “one-size-fits-all” insurance model.

Connect:
📧 ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com | ☎ (832) 924-3330 | 🌐 fixmybenefitsnow.com
Guest: covenantchoice.org | Ericka McPherson
Related Resource: Christian Employers Alliance | christianemployersalliance.org

Are Captives Too Complex? Phil Holowka Says You’re Asking the WRONG Question

Are Captives Too Complex? Phil Holowka Says You’re Asking the WRONG Question

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Are captives really too complex, or are brokers just afraid you’ll start asking the right questions?

In this new episode of The Benefit Whisperer, host Ralph Weber sits down with Phil Holowka, COO of Complete Captive Management Services, to unpack the truth about group vs. single parent captives, and why most advisors aren’t telling their clients the full story.

From hidden expense loads to the illusion of control in traditional insurance arrangements, this conversation reveals how smart employers are reclaiming their healthcare spend, building their own insurance companies, and finally breaking free of the PPO hamster wheel.

🎯 Ideal for CFOs, CEOs, and benefits advisors who:

  • Want to cut waste without compromising care

  • Are tired of fully insured traps and half-baked “self-funded” solutions

  • Are ready to explore how single parent captives work, even with just 20 lives

💡 What you’ll learn:

  • The difference between governance and true control

  • Why most group captives offer limited transparency

  • How expense loads quietly drain 30–45% of your premium

  • What questions you must ask when evaluating a captive strategy

🔗 Learn more at FixMyBenefitsNow.com
📧 Ralph Weber: Ralph@thebenefitwhisperer.com | 📞 832-924-3330
🎙️ Guest: Phil Holowka | CompleteCaptive.com

Credits
Hosted by: Ralph Weber
Special Guest: Phil Holowka
Produced & Edited by: Kathrine Mowrey | GSD Consultants, LLC
Marketing & Distribution: GSD Consultants, LLC