Tag: PBM reform

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

Podcast episode thumbnail for The Benefit Whisperer featuring Dr. Don Berwick. Text reads: "The $5 Trillion Lie: Why U.S. Healthcare Fails Us ALL – With Guest Dr. Don Berwick." Includes headshots of Dr. Berwick and host Ralph Weber with Route Three branding and a microphone.
The $5 Trillion Lie: Why U.S. Healthcare Fails Us All With Guest Dr. Don Berwick (Ep. 12)

The $5 Trillion Lie: Why U.S. Healthcare Fails Us All With Guest Dr. Don Berwick (Ep. 12)

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In this powerful episode of The Benefit Whisperer, host Ralph Weber is joined by legendary health policy expert Dr. Donald Berwick, former CMS administrator, Harvard-trained pediatrician, and co-founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, for a candid and urgent conversation about what’s really broken in American healthcare.

Dr. Berwick pulls no punches as he exposes the systemic greed, institutional profiteering, and regulatory loopholes that continue to drive costs up while delivering subpar outcomes. From Medicare Advantage overpayments and PBM manipulation to private equity’s quiet takeover of hospitals and autism care, Berwick breaks down how a system designed to heal has become a $5 trillion machine that transfers wealth from the poor to the rich.

They also discuss the global models that prove a better way is possible, and why American employers, lawmakers, and voters must step up if we want real reform. If you’ve ever felt that our healthcare system isn’t working for you, this episode is essential listening.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Healthcare Reform

01:01 Dr. Berwick’s Journey in Healthcare

03:34 The Impact of Profit-Seeking in Healthcare

06:25 Defining Greed in Healthcare

10:27 Healthcare as a Human Right

14:28 The Role of Legislation and Public Activism

18:38 Aligning Incentives with Patient Outcomes

20:57 Employer Responsibility in Healthcare

22:48 Global Perspectives on Healthcare Systems

24:31 Myths About Choice in Healthcare

26:54 Urgent Changes Needed in Congress

28:09 The Role of AI in Healthcare

34:11 Reflections on Leadership Changes in Healthcare