HR Benecast
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.
Episodes
Drawing from Employers Health's book of business, Jack Sullivan and Hannah Whitesel sit down with host Mike Stull to examine today's key drivers of pharmacy spend, including GLP-1s, biosimilars and autoimmune conditions.
Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Health Care Headlines.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers Health.
Cost-plus pricing is gaining traction in pharmacy benefits, but how does it really compare to traditional PBM pricing? Madison and Mike cover drug pricing transparency, cost benchmarks, spread pricing and legislative changes impacting plan sponsors.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/
Sign up for our monthly newsletter at https://www.employe...
Recorded live at the 2026 Annual Benefits Forum, hosts Mike and Madison unpack the latest developments in health care legislation, PBM regulation and market trends in this extended episode.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/
Sign up for our monthly newsletter at https://www.employershealthco.com/#subscribe_cta
Ryan Siemers, founder of Aegis Risk, returns to HR Benecast to discuss the latest trends in medical stop loss insurance and what they mean for employers navigating today's self-funded health plan landscape. In this episode, Ryan breaks down current stop loss market cycles, the high-cost claim drivers impacting employer health plans and the legislative and regulatory developments influencing stop loss coverage.
In this episode of HR Benecast, host Mike Stull welcomes back Kevin Wenceslao, director of clinical solutions at Employers Health, to discuss how a clinical-first approach strengthens pharmacy plan performance. Kevin explains how the Employers Health clinical team works with clients and PBMs to deliver meaningful clinical insights and strategies.
Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Health Care Headlines.
In the latest episode of Health Care Headlines, Mike and Madison unpack what we know about recent federal health care developments and what they mean for plan sponsors.
Register for the Annual Benefits Forum at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/abf26/
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/
...Host Mike Stull is joined by ComPsych's manager of clinical programs, Erin Dubba, to tackle seasonal depression and workplace loneliness. Drawing on more than a decade of experience, Erin shares quick, practical insights on spotting warning signs at work and explains why seasonal affective disorder is more than just the winter blues.
Learn more from ComPsych and workplace loneliness in our webinars, Women's Well-Being: Nourish Your...
Mike and Madison break down the recent dismissal of the Johnson & Johnson ERISA case. They dive into the allegations of prescription drug plan mismanagement, what the ruling means for plan sponsors and how similar lawsuits are shaping the benefits landscape.
Read Madison's recent blog post on the case: ERISA Fiduciary Litigation Update – A Second Johnson & Johnson Dismissal
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch o...
In the last episode of 2025, host Mike Stull sits down with Employers Health's Madison Connor to discuss the year's biggest pharmacy benefit legislative headlines, cases and court rulings and what they mean for plan sponsors.
Watch or listen to Benefits Bites and Health Care Headlines.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers Health.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter here.
Join hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor as they break down the differences between price improvements, cost savings and cost avoidance. They explain how to identify real savings and understand the implications of different pricing models.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/
Sign up for our monthly newsletter at https://www.employershealthco...
Host Mike Stull is joined by MedImpact's Aprit Patel and Zach Johnson to discuss how this independent PBM is reshaping the landscape. They delve into MedImpact's history, unique approach to drug pricing and new GLP-1 and biosimilar offerings available for MedImpact clients.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at Events - Employers Health.
Sign up for our monthly newsletter here.
On the first episode of Health Care Headlines, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor unpack breaking developments in pharmaceutical tariffs, TrumpRx and how the current government shutdown could have an impact on the new tariffs.
Watch the Sightlines Series: PBM Fundamentals webinar at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/2025-sightlines-series-pbm-fundamentals/
Host Mike Stull sits down with Mandy Rhubin, senior director, pharmacy network audit at Optum Rx, to tackle one of health care's most costly challenges: fraud, waste and abuse (FWA). Mandy breaks down what FWA really means, shares real-world examples and dives into why plan sponsors play such a critical role in spotting and preventing it.
Watch or listen to Benefits Bites Episode 1 – PBM 101: Big Players, Mid-Market Movers and Indu...
Host Mike Stull discusses midyear pharmacy trends with guests Kevin Wenceslao and Jack Sullivan from Employers Health. They tackle significant trends in drug spending, the impact of PBM decisions and clinical management strategies to control costs.
Watch or listen to Benefits Bites Episode 1 – PBM 101: Big Players, Mid-Market Movers and Industry Disruptors
In this episode of Benefits Bites, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor dive into the basics of fiduciary responsibilities all plan sponsors should know. They discuss the definition of a fiduciary, the key responsibilities that come with this role and the importance of compliance with legal standards.
Register for upcoming Employers Health webinars or watch on demand at https://www.employershealthco.com/resource-center/events/
In the inaugural episode of Benefits Bites, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor discuss the current landscape of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), focusing on the dynamics of the big three PBMs, the role of mid-market PBMs and the impact of disruptors in the marketplace. They emphasize the importance of transparency in drug pricing and the need for employers to stay informed and adaptable in a rapidly changing industry.
On this episode of HR Benecast, host Mike Stull is joined by CVS Health's senior vice president of government and public affairs, Melissa Schulman. She discusses the complexities of the legislative process, key proposals that may resurface and the impact of state legislation on federal actions. She also addresses common misconceptions about PBMs and emphasizes the importance of employer advocacy in shaping drug pricing policies.
In the latest episode of HR Benecast host Mike Stull and Brandee Bell, senior benefits specialist at Designer Brands, discuss the importance of a clear, engaging and effective year-round benefits communication strategy. She shares insights on engaging employees using creative techniques and measuring results. She also provides real examples her team has used to improve open enrollment through effect...
Ever wonder how a drug gets approved? In this episode, HR Benecast host Mike Stull and Clinical Advisor Alexis Sova walk through the FDA approval process. They discuss the complexities of bringing new medications to market, the importance of efficacy and safety in drug trials and how to keep plan costs down as new drugs are launched.
It's annual review season at Employers Health — when clients meet with our team to hear how their pharmacy benefit plan is performing, what they should watch for in the future and plan changes to consider to reduce or minimize future pharmacy benefit costs. In the episode, we sit down with Devon Feriance and Tori Sinclair to hear the main themes they're seeing in these reviews, how employers are dealing with the onslaught of legisl...
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