TPA: The Quarterback of Self-Funded Plans with Brian Olsen, Partner, Employee Benefits at Sterling Seacrest Pritchard

This episode features an interview with Brian Olsen, Partner of Employee Benefits at Sterling Seacrest Pritchard. Brian is an experienced Client Advisor specializing in creative employee benefits strategies to mitigate risks of health plans for companies ranging from 50 to 5,000 employees. His expertise resides in data management solutions and analysis, pharmacy cost containment, and complex contract negotiations. 

In this episode, Sasha and Brian discuss the intricacies of working in the TPA space, the importance of clinical data in managing healthcare costs, and how to advise clients on network selection, PBMs, and stop-loss insurance strategies.

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“The TPA is the quarterback for a client's self-funded plan. Pulling together all the different players: the PBM, the stop-loss, the broker, the client. Making sure everybody is working as one to execute the plan for the self-funded health benefits. The biggest benefit is a client's flexibility as they're coming to design that game plan. What kind of network do we want to use? How do we want to pay certain types of claims?” – Brian Olsen

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Episode Timestamps:

*(01:40): Brian’s career journey  

*(05:49): Understanding the TPA model

*(12:42): Pharmacy benefit management insights

*(18:02): Non-ERISA business and transition challenges 

*(26:27): Importance of clinical data insights

*(30:07): Brian’s advice for those new to the industry

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Links:

Connect with Brian on LinkedIn

Email Brian

Connect with Sasha on LinkedIn

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