Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
And fine tell me because I want to start and.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm fine.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
If you're at Michigan Stadium from the Ohio State Michigan game,
at some point, you will hear the student section sing
this song in one of the sweetest collegiate moments in sports. Yeah,
we love the band, but we've come to love this
because at one point during this song, when it's playing
through the speakers, the volume will be lowered and you
(00:44):
will hear just the student section singing at the top
of their voices. Mister Brightside, mister Andy Hetzel will be
(01:26):
with us in just a minute, and he is mister
Bright's side because he's going to talk about prescription drug
savings and the partnerships that lead to that. It's MPs.
I wonder what happens to the ozempic crowd at Thanksgiving dinner?
Do they eat much less? I imagine they would, but
I'm positive that ozempic wouldn't work for me. And the
(01:48):
real reason is that hunger is not the reason I eat.
It's emotional and I enjoy eating, and sometimes I think
about it as a way of comfort. If you go
to am I Blue daily, which I'm doing right now,
I'm going to learn more about it, because there is
an article there and a podcast too, how to deal
with what drives our emotional eating. Stress can cause over
(02:12):
eating and too much drinking too. For what it's worth,
those behaviors can lead to long term health issues. And
so the podcast is hosted by Chuck Katika, a Detroit legend,
and doctor William B. Croft, the medical director of behavioral
health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and they
talk about how to deal with what's driving emotional eating.
(02:34):
And I think I will listen to that today. I'm
reading it right now. You can take it however you like.
You can read it, you can listen to it atmiblue
Daily dot com. Maybe while I'm on the treadmill and
I get two for the price of one. I don't
know if you can get two for the price of
one drugs. But one of the things Andy Hetzel and
Blue Cross is working on is the ability to bring
(02:56):
down the cost of healthcare. He's with us right now
and we're thankful for it. Welcome back to the air waves.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Well, good morning, Michael Patrick, and happy Thanksgiving to you
and your staff, Tony Cuthbert, everybody there at your program,
your families and everybody listening right now. We hope you
have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday celebration and
eat well in moderation.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Somebody right now is listening and they're on the way
to the drug store, to the pharmacy, probably to pick
up what they need for the weekend. And that's been
our conversation and the cost of what they're paying for
and what Blue Cross is paying for when it comes
to drugs. And you're trying very hard, as I understand
it at Blue Cross to help us all, and we
have a part too and lowering those.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Costs absolutely, and we are thankful for the many wonderful
therapies that are coming from the drug industry. But unfortunately
that same drug industry has enormous power with regard to
how much those therapies cost. Drug Makers can price their
products as high as they want without any regulation at all,
(04:02):
and patent protection laws keep those prices in market without
competition for ten or even fifteen years, and so we
are struggling through that right now. Blue crosses drug claims costs,
that's the amount of money that we paid for our
members prescription drugs last year increased by fifteen percent in
(04:23):
one year, that's five times the rate of inflation. And
so what we're trying to do right now is we're
trying to innovate and bring some solutions to market. And
as you teed up, we are seeing some success there
trying to save our members and customers significant dollars on
these therapies that cost, in many cases thousands of dollars
(04:45):
per member per month.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Do you think, Andy Hetzel, that many of the people
who need prescription drugs need them on an ongoing basis?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh, they absolutely do. I'll include myself in that. More
than six in ten adults in the the United States
has an ongoing prescription and nearly three out of ten
is on four or more prescription medications. And again, those
medications can be quite pricey. Among the twenty most prescribed
drugs that Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Michigan paid for
(05:17):
in twenty twenty four, about half of them have list
prices above one thousand dollars per month. That is how
expensive the drug industry has made their products. And as
those products stay in market without competition, those prices add up,
and they're right now being felt downstream in the health
insurance premiums that small employers are paying that individuals are paying.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
And that is part of the reason why Blue Cross
is finding innovative ways to partner to lower those costs
for members and customers that you just mentioned. How are
you doing that?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
In many ways, we're partnering with twenty two other Blue
Cross and Blue Shield licensed companies around the country to
manufacture and distribute generic prescription drugs at a fraction of
the cost us that consumers typically would pay for the
brand name counterparts. One of those drugs, widely used as
a treatment for several types of cancer, is being made
available now for about fifteen hundred dollars less per month
(06:12):
than versions from other prescription drug manufacturers. That is just
one thing that we're doing. We're also introducing a biosimilar
right now to one of the most expensive drugs that's
been on our formula area, a drug named Humera, and
that biosimilar is saving our members more than ninety percent
off the list price of hume Era. And that is
(06:34):
just an example of the type of innovation that Blue
Cross is committed to bringing to market to address this
challenge to health insurance affordability.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Is there anything that we should know when we go
to the pharmacy to pick up our prescriptions in terms
of those biosimilars or generics that you talked about.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Couple of things. So our members should look at their benefits,
look at the drug list and make sure that the
drugs that they need are covered by their benefits. They
should talk to their doctors about generic equivalents to brand
name drugs that are being prescribed to them. Make sure
that you're asking your doctor is there a lower cost
alternative available? And then at the pharmacy, talk to the
(07:14):
pharmacist not only about the drug, but about the cost
and about generic alternatives if available.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Andy Hetzel, that we started off saying that you go
to MII blue Daily dot com for many, many, many
intriguing issues, and this is one of them there too,
So we appreciate that very much. I wanted to. I
hate to bring this up because this is the Michigan
Ohio State weekend and Michigan State's playing downtown Detroit against Maryland,
(07:42):
and the Lions of course playing downtown against the Packers.
Do I remember correctly you went to Syracuse, didn't you? Yes, sir,
did you watch that Notre Dame Syracuse game last weekend?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I was actually out blowing leaves during that game, and
I was thankful for that something away from the TV.
We've had a challenge at the quarterback position this year.
Michael Patrick, our quarterback got hurt three games end of
the season and it hasn't been the same for Syracuse
University since then. So it's a down year. But we
will spring back. We'll be back in action next season
(08:15):
and hopefully on the upswing.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
If I remember Tony Cuthbert Notre Dame was up twenty
one to nothing without the offense scoring any points something
like that.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
We're not trying to rub it in or anything here.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I mean, my goodness, it.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Was extremely unique. But you have hope for the Bills
and they remain a challenge every week. And the NFL
is designed that way. It's supposed to be full of
parody and full of excitement, and so thank you very
much for the excitement you get us through the year.
And blowing leaves that's good therapy. We might have to
make an article about that Formiblue Daily dot com. Yard
(08:51):
work can feel great, not snow shoveling, though you have
to be careful with that when it comes to the
heart full of heart. As Andy Hatzel at Blue Cross.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
People can't have access to quality medical care without affordable
health insurance. At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we
understand increasing health insurance costs are becoming more of a
strain on the budgets of the businesses and people we serve.
Affordability matters. It affects real families, real decisions, and real care.
That's why at Blue Cross were dedicated to finding solutions
(09:22):
to learn about this critical issue in our efforts to
make healthcare affordable for all. VISITMI blue Daily dot com
slash affordability today.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Whether they are dough boys, comments, or even gremlins, Every
public school in Michigan is proud to be known for something,
and at the Michigan Lottery, we're proud to be known
for something too. Education. I'm Lottery Commissioner Susanna Screlli, and
one hundred percent of our profits go to support the
state School Aid Fund. Last year, the lottery contributed over
one billion dollars. So whatever hometown school you're from, we're
(09:52):
rooting for all of them. Michigan Lottery for Fun for schools.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Knowing your limits as always.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
The best back.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Dean Transportation is looking for compassionate people to join our
team of school bus drivers and attendants. Visit deanjobs dot
com to see all openings. Dean Transportation provides paid training
to obtain a commercial driver's license, increased starting pay, comprehensive benefits,
and flexible schedules with no weekend shifts, no experience needed.
(10:22):
Apply today at Dean jobs dot com and train for
back to school season. That's da n jobs dot com.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Change is bright. It's a clean energy future fueled by
fields of solar. It's led lighting in every home, and
Consumers Energy is making it happen with their industry leading
clean energy plan. This year, They're going all in on
their commitment to protecting the planet while serving nearly seven
(10:52):
million Michigan neighbors. Learn more and join the movement at
Consumers Energy dot com. Slash clean Energy
And fine tell me because I want to start and.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
I'm fine.
Speaker 3 (00:23):
If you're at Michigan Stadium from the Ohio State Michigan game,
at some point, you will hear the student section sing
this song in one of the sweetest collegiate moments in sports. Yeah,
we love the band, but we've come to love this
because at one point during this song, when it's playing
through the speakers, the volume will be lowered and you
(00:44):
will hear just the student section singing at the top
of their voices. Mister Brightside, mister Andy Hetzel will be
(01:26):
with us in just a minute, and he is mister
Bright's side because he's going to talk about prescription drug
savings and the partnerships that lead to that. It's MPs.
I wonder what happens to the ozempic crowd at Thanksgiving dinner?
Do they eat much less? I imagine they would, but
I'm positive that ozempic wouldn't work for me. And the
(01:48):
real reason is that hunger is not the reason I eat.
It's emotional and I enjoy eating, and sometimes I think
about it as a way of comfort. If you go
to am I Blue daily, which I'm doing right now,
I'm going to learn more about it, because there is
an article there and a podcast too, how to deal
with what drives our emotional eating. Stress can cause over
(02:12):
eating and too much drinking too. For what it's worth,
those behaviors can lead to long term health issues. And
so the podcast is hosted by Chuck Katika, a Detroit legend,
and doctor William B. Croft, the medical director of behavioral
health at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, and they
talk about how to deal with what's driving emotional eating.
(02:34):
And I think I will listen to that today. I'm
reading it right now. You can take it however you like.
You can read it, you can listen to it atmiblue
Daily dot com. Maybe while I'm on the treadmill and
I get two for the price of one. I don't
know if you can get two for the price of
one drugs. But one of the things Andy Hetzel and
Blue Cross is working on is the ability to bring
(02:56):
down the cost of healthcare. He's with us right now
and we're thankful for it. Welcome back to the air waves.
Speaker 2 (03:02):
Well, good morning, Michael Patrick, and happy Thanksgiving to you
and your staff, Tony Cuthbert, everybody there at your program,
your families and everybody listening right now. We hope you
have a very happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday celebration and
eat well in moderation.
Speaker 3 (03:20):
Somebody right now is listening and they're on the way
to the drug store, to the pharmacy, probably to pick
up what they need for the weekend. And that's been
our conversation and the cost of what they're paying for
and what Blue Cross is paying for when it comes
to drugs. And you're trying very hard, as I understand
it at Blue Cross to help us all, and we
have a part too and lowering those.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
Costs absolutely, and we are thankful for the many wonderful
therapies that are coming from the drug industry. But unfortunately
that same drug industry has enormous power with regard to
how much those therapies cost. Drug Makers can price their
products as high as they want without any regulation at all,
(04:02):
and patent protection laws keep those prices in market without
competition for ten or even fifteen years, and so we
are struggling through that right now. Blue crosses drug claims costs,
that's the amount of money that we paid for our
members prescription drugs last year increased by fifteen percent in
(04:23):
one year, that's five times the rate of inflation. And
so what we're trying to do right now is we're
trying to innovate and bring some solutions to market. And
as you teed up, we are seeing some success there
trying to save our members and customers significant dollars on
these therapies that cost, in many cases thousands of dollars
(04:45):
per member per month.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
Do you think, Andy Hetzel, that many of the people
who need prescription drugs need them on an ongoing basis?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Oh, they absolutely do. I'll include myself in that. More
than six in ten adults in the the United States
has an ongoing prescription and nearly three out of ten
is on four or more prescription medications. And again, those
medications can be quite pricey. Among the twenty most prescribed
drugs that Blue Cross, Blue Shield of Michigan paid for
(05:17):
in twenty twenty four, about half of them have list
prices above one thousand dollars per month. That is how
expensive the drug industry has made their products. And as
those products stay in market without competition, those prices add up,
and they're right now being felt downstream in the health
insurance premiums that small employers are paying that individuals are paying.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
And that is part of the reason why Blue Cross
is finding innovative ways to partner to lower those costs
for members and customers that you just mentioned. How are
you doing that?
Speaker 2 (05:51):
In many ways, we're partnering with twenty two other Blue
Cross and Blue Shield licensed companies around the country to
manufacture and distribute generic prescription drugs at a fraction of
the cost us that consumers typically would pay for the
brand name counterparts. One of those drugs, widely used as
a treatment for several types of cancer, is being made
available now for about fifteen hundred dollars less per month
(06:12):
than versions from other prescription drug manufacturers. That is just
one thing that we're doing. We're also introducing a biosimilar
right now to one of the most expensive drugs that's
been on our formula area, a drug named Humera, and
that biosimilar is saving our members more than ninety percent
off the list price of hume Era. And that is
(06:34):
just an example of the type of innovation that Blue
Cross is committed to bringing to market to address this
challenge to health insurance affordability.
Speaker 3 (06:42):
Is there anything that we should know when we go
to the pharmacy to pick up our prescriptions in terms
of those biosimilars or generics that you talked about.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
Couple of things. So our members should look at their benefits,
look at the drug list and make sure that the
drugs that they need are covered by their benefits. They
should talk to their doctors about generic equivalents to brand
name drugs that are being prescribed to them. Make sure
that you're asking your doctor is there a lower cost
alternative available? And then at the pharmacy, talk to the
(07:14):
pharmacist not only about the drug, but about the cost
and about generic alternatives if available.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Andy Hetzel, that we started off saying that you go
to MII blue Daily dot com for many, many, many
intriguing issues, and this is one of them there too,
So we appreciate that very much. I wanted to. I
hate to bring this up because this is the Michigan
Ohio State weekend and Michigan State's playing downtown Detroit against Maryland,
(07:42):
and the Lions of course playing downtown against the Packers.
Do I remember correctly you went to Syracuse, didn't you? Yes, sir,
did you watch that Notre Dame Syracuse game last weekend?
Speaker 2 (07:55):
I was actually out blowing leaves during that game, and
I was thankful for that something away from the TV.
We've had a challenge at the quarterback position this year.
Michael Patrick, our quarterback got hurt three games end of
the season and it hasn't been the same for Syracuse
University since then. So it's a down year. But we
will spring back. We'll be back in action next season
(08:15):
and hopefully on the upswing.
Speaker 3 (08:17):
If I remember Tony Cuthbert Notre Dame was up twenty
one to nothing without the offense scoring any points something
like that.
Speaker 1 (08:25):
We're not trying to rub it in or anything here.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
I mean, my goodness, it.
Speaker 3 (08:27):
Was extremely unique. But you have hope for the Bills
and they remain a challenge every week. And the NFL
is designed that way. It's supposed to be full of
parody and full of excitement, and so thank you very
much for the excitement you get us through the year.
And blowing leaves that's good therapy. We might have to
make an article about that Formiblue Daily dot com. Yard
(08:51):
work can feel great, not snow shoveling, though you have
to be careful with that when it comes to the
heart full of heart. As Andy Hatzel at Blue Cross.
Speaker 5 (09:00):
People can't have access to quality medical care without affordable
health insurance. At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we
understand increasing health insurance costs are becoming more of a
strain on the budgets of the businesses and people we serve.
Affordability matters. It affects real families, real decisions, and real care.
That's why at Blue Cross were dedicated to finding solutions
(09:22):
to learn about this critical issue in our efforts to
make healthcare affordable for all. VISITMI blue Daily dot com
slash affordability today.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
Whether they are dough boys, comments, or even gremlins, Every
public school in Michigan is proud to be known for something,
and at the Michigan Lottery, we're proud to be known
for something too. Education. I'm Lottery Commissioner Susanna Screlli, and
one hundred percent of our profits go to support the
state School Aid Fund. Last year, the lottery contributed over
one billion dollars. So whatever hometown school you're from, we're
(09:52):
rooting for all of them. Michigan Lottery for Fun for schools.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
Knowing your limits as always.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
The best back.
Speaker 6 (10:00):
Dean Transportation is looking for compassionate people to join our
team of school bus drivers and attendants. Visit deanjobs dot
com to see all openings. Dean Transportation provides paid training
to obtain a commercial driver's license, increased starting pay, comprehensive benefits,
and flexible schedules with no weekend shifts, no experience needed.
(10:22):
Apply today at Dean jobs dot com and train for
back to school season. That's da n jobs dot com.
Speaker 4 (10:30):
Change is bright. It's a clean energy future fueled by
fields of solar. It's led lighting in every home, and
Consumers Energy is making it happen with their industry leading
clean energy plan. This year, They're going all in on
their commitment to protecting the planet while serving nearly seven
(10:52):
million Michigan neighbors. Learn more and join the movement at
Consumers Energy dot com. Slash clean Energy
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