Broken Benefits

In this episode of Broken Benefits, host Lee Lewis welcomes Kevin Cox, the founder of HTA and former Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of General Electric (GE). Kevin brings his vast experience from leading HR at one of the world’s largest companies to share his insights on the future of corporate benefits and human resources.

Together, Lee and Kevin discuss the broken aspects of traditional benefits systems and what it takes to revolutionize HR strategies for a new era. They explore how companies can create more value-driven, employee-centric benefits programs that improve both retention and productivity.

Key Takeaways:

• Lessons from Kevin’s time at GE and how they shaped his views on HR
• The future of benefits: How to break away from outdated systems
• Innovative strategies to create more impactful, employee-centric benefits
• The role of leadership in driving HR transformation and positive change

Tune in for a forward-thinking conversation with Kevin Cox as he shares his journey and vision for transforming HR and corporate benefits.

Chapters:

0:00 - Kevin's Statement

0:40 - Introducing Kevin Cox to the show

2:49 - The Role of CHRO's in Healthcare

6:29 - Addressing the Misalignment of Interests in Healthcare

9:48 - The Birth of Health Transformation Alliance

12:22 - The Challenges of Creating a Coalition

15:45 - Advocating for Better Employee Healthcare Experiences

20:28 - The Importance of Collaboration in Driving Change

25:04 - The HTA: Custodians of Member Companies' Money

30:40 - Engaging CHROs: Making the Most of Limited Time

33:45 - Setbacks: Dealing with Free Riders

49:28 - Paying for Value and Outcomes

51:20 - Succession Planning and Advice for CHROs

53:40 - Closing Remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In the latest episode of Broken Benefits, we are honored to welcome Barbara Wachsman, one of the luminaries of the industry who ran benefits at Disney. Responsible for hundreds of thousands of employees and a budget stretching well into billions of healthcare dollars. While there, Barbara formed one of the largest direct contracts with a major hospital system in America.

Beyond her professional work in HR and benefits, Barbara has also worked in hospital systems, private equity, in consulting, and more.

Join us as we delve into Barbara's fascinating story, exploring her challenges, triumphs, and the invaluable insights she's gained along the way.

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

0:40 - Introducing Barbara Wachsman to the show

2:05 - The Excitement and Challenge of Disney

3:20 - A Message from Catalyze Health

4:00 - Provider vs. Employer Side

9:30 - Pulling Accurate Data and Healthier Work Forces

12:40 - The Acquisition Era

15:15 - Hospital Systems and Commercial

20:10 - Risk Based Primary Care Model

29:40 - Advice on Direct Contracting

33:40 - A Message from Catalyze Health

34:15 - What Benefits Managers Should Do NOW

40:00 - Leverage Points To Press To Get What You Want

45:00 - Metrics To Be Aware Of

49:00 - A Right of Responsibility and HDPs

52:35 - What to Do About Changes in Primary Care

57:00 - How to get in touch with Barbara to Learn More

57:40 - Closing Remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In the latest episode of Broken Benefits, we are honored to welcome Shelly Carlin, the impactful Executive Vice President of the HR Policy Association and the Center On Executive Compensation. Beyond her advisory work, Shelly was the Senior Vice President of HR and Communications at Motorola.

Beyond her professional work in HR and benefits, Shelly is an advocate for UCLA Softball and currently works as the managing editor for D1Softball.

Join us as we delve into Shelly's fascinating story, exploring her challenges, triumphs, and the invaluable insights she's gained along the way.

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

0:40 - Introducing Shelly Carlin to the show

2:45 - The Common CHRO Myth

3:10 - A Message from Catalyze Health

3:50 - How Much CHRO's Focus on Healthcare

8:50 - Health Transformation Alliance and Collective Action

13:00 - How to Leverage Care

16:45 - Signs of Complexity and Areas for Improvement

20:10 - How CHRO's Can Make a High-Level Difference

29:00 - Getting Educated

34:06 - A Message from Catalyze Health

36:00 - Signaling What's Important Top Down

41:00 - Risk Shifting and The Negative Impact on Labor

45:00 - Lean In On Well Being

48:40 - Shelly's Hope for The Future of CHROs

51:50 - How to get in touch with Shelly to learn more

52:30 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In the latest episode of Broken Benefits, we are honored to welcome Sheila Savageau, the dynamic head of Benefits and Compensation at General Motors

February 2022, Sheila Savageau received a package on her doorstep for the 2022 Helen Darling Award, one of the most prestigious awards in health care, recently awarded to our company and health care team. But for Sheila, our company’s global health and well-being leader, it was much more than an accolade. 

“When I opened that box and looked at the award, I saw my daughter’s reflection,” she said. “And when I think about our journey as a family, I can’t help but to be emotional.” 

Five years ago, Sheila’s healthy 15-year-old daughter became chronically affected with seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. That life-changing moment made Sheila’s work in health care even more personal. 

“I am deeply passionate about people and all aspects of their well-being,” Savageau continued. “And that passion is lit by the fire of my daughter’s health care journey. I refer to it as ‘Jenna’s Journey.’” 

While advocating for her daughter’s health care, Sheila found her purpose. She was inspired to think about how she would do things differently. On many days, Sheila would sit in doctors’ offices or hospitals, pen and paper in hand, journaling about her experience and what she would change to deliver a health care option that could better support patients and their family members — their care advocates. 

Nearly seven years later, in partnership with GM’s Global Business Solution People Services, legal, finance and purchasing groups, our health care benefits team introduced ConnectedCare, a health care option that offers value-based medical care through a connected network of local providers who work together to deliver high-quality care, at the right time and place. 

Join us as we delve into Sheila's fascinating story, exploring her challenges, triumphs, and the invaluable insights she's gained along the way.

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

0:40 - Introducing Sheila Savageau to the show

1:36 - Sheila's Story from Her Perspective

5:06 - Partnerships and How To Navigate Them

15:20 - Patient Choice of Healthcare

22:43 - Providers and Employers

30:00 - The Importance of Trust

33:32 - Data to Spot Areas of Concern

38:44 - Where Changes Will Come From

43:29 - Ways to Build Trust

48:10 - Product Side Enrollment

52:12 - How to get in touch with Sheila to learn more

52:37 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In the latest episode of Broken Benefits, we are honored to welcome Elena Bueno-Gonzalez, the dynamic Vice President of Energy Marketing & Trading at Florida Power & Light. Elena's incredible journey from Venezuela to becoming a leading figure in the U.S. energy industry is nothing short of inspiring.

Arriving in the United States at the age of 21 and learning English as her second language, Elena's dedication and talent led her to excel in Mathematics. Her expertise and determination propelled her into the world of commodities trading, where she now oversees critical operations for one of the largest energy companies in the nation.

But Elena's accomplishments don't stop there. In a surprising career twist, she took on the challenge of managing Health and Welfare Benefits, achieving remarkable results in a short period. Her unique perspective and innovative approach brought significant improvements, showcasing her versatile leadership skills.

Join us as we delve into Elena's fascinating story, exploring her challenges, triumphs, and the invaluable insights she's gained along the way.

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

0:40 - Introducing Elena Bueno-Gonzalez to the show

1:56 - The big transition in her career and moving into Health and Welfare Benefits

5:06 - The first challenges Elena wanted to tackle in her new role

11:10 - Convincing other leaders she was the right person for the job

15:43 - Leveraging her relationship with the TPA to empower her people

19:32 - Negotiating with the networks

26:52 - Advice to someone in similar shoes

32:54 - Designing a plan that made it easy for people to find quality care

38:19 - Identifying the risks associated with your strategic decisions

42:55 - Embracing the awkward nature of going back to the incumbent option

48:06 - How to get in touch with Elena to learn more

48:50 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In this episode of Broken Benefits, we delve into the intricate world of health care solutions with a seasoned expert, Barbara Flitsch. With years of experience at the helm of a Fortune 500 health plan, Barbara brings invaluable insights into the challenges and opportunities within the industry.

Join us as we explore Barbara's journey, from her early days in the field to her current role at the helm of innovation. From navigating regulatory hurdles to addressing the evolving needs of consumers, Barbara shares firsthand accounts of the complexities inherent in managing a large-scale health plan.

Through candid discussions and real-world examples, Barbara sheds light on the strategies and tactics she employs to stay ahead in an ever-changing landscape. Whether it's implementing new technologies or fostering collaboration across departments, her approach offers a blueprint for success in an industry ripe for transformation.

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

0:40 - Introduction and overview on the topic of the day

1:32 - Barbara's background in Health Care and the impact employers have on American Health Care

4:25 - What health plans should be doing

8:25 - Pushing new innovations through despite pushback

16:42 - Tactics to improve communications and feedback

20:30 - Which key questions are more important than others?

27:40 - How to solve issues without a big staff or budget

34:35 - Some of the biggest risks in Barbara's career

40:01 - Health Care can be a game of inches

46:05 - Exciting endeavors Barbara is focusing on right now

48:28 - How to connect with Barbara online and learn more

49:10 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In this illuminating episode of Broken Benefits, we delve deep into the dynamic world of healthcare innovation with a true trailblazer, Pat Pitsch. As a distinguished Medical Benefits Expert, Pat brings a wealth of experience and insight to the table, offering a captivating narrative of her journey through the labyrinth of the healthcare industry.

Join us as we explore the challenges and triumphs that have defined Pat's career, and how she has fearlessly tackled obstacles to drive innovation in her field. From navigating complex regulations to revolutionizing traditional practices, Pat's story is a testament to the power of perseverance and innovation in the face of adversity.

Throughout our conversation, Pat shares invaluable lessons learned and strategies for thriving in an ever-evolving landscape. We explore the importance of embracing scrutiny as a catalyst for growth, and how it can fuel innovation by challenging the status quo. Drawing from her own experiences, Pat offers practical insights on harnessing feedback and criticism to drive meaningful change and propel the healthcare industry forward.

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

1:05 - Welcoming Pat Pitsch to the show

2:48 - Working as part of a Berkshire Hathaway company

4:24 - Getting multiple employers to come together in a unified sense

10:36 - How benefits leaders can get more involved and make a difference in their organization

13:52 - What can be done to rally employers together

20:48 - Paying too much in rebates throughout the year

30:54 - How to educate a massive employee base who doesn't want to be educated

34:51 - What years four and five look like after implementing changes

41:13 - When diagnosis and surgeries don't align

44:27 - A story of Pat fixing a big issue during her career

47:18 - How to get in touch with Pat to learn more

48:00 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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On the latest episode of Broken Benefits, we're thrilled to welcome a true expert at her craft. Candace Jodice, Former CVS Health Executive, brings over 20 years experience managing a health plan of over 300,000 people and expenditures in excess of $4 billion annually.

We dive into the intricacies of managing benefits inside of a PBM, as well as the importance behind leveraging the data to generate the highest level of value for those inside a health plan.

Enjoy!

Chapters:

0:00 - Cold open

1:48 - Welcoming Candace Jodice to the show

4:49 - How contracts are structured when you're essentially negotiating with yourself

8:28 - How do you become an educated consumer of medical care

13:19 - Being able to see new products and programs coming about before others

21:28 - Dealing with a situation when 'everyone is an expert'

27:42 - How Candace measured if her benefits were being appreciated or enjoyed

32:17 - The importance of flexibility within your health plan

40:11 - The market optimization strategy that Candace leveraged

44:50 - Analyzing your data and drawing important details

48:19 - Advice to a new benefits leader to make a quick impact

52:20 - How to connect with Candace online

53:00 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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On the latest installment of Broken Benefits, we're joined by an esteemed guest, Jason Parrott. With a wealth of experience as a Former Benefits Executive at both Boeing and AT&T, Jason provides unique perspectives and valuable insights into the complex world of healthcare management.

Tune in as Jason delves into the challenges and triumphs of overseeing billions in healthcare spending, sharing stories from his dynamic career in two of the largest corporations in the world. From navigating the intricacies of employee benefits to implementing innovative solutions, Jason offers a behind-the-scenes look at the decisions that shape the well-being of thousands of individuals.

Enjoy!

Chapters:

0:00 - Introduction and welcoming Jason to the show

2:06 - The highlights and rewarding moments from Jason's career

4:18 - Developing strategies around medical spend for each year

6:43 - A culture of productivity and curbing spend

8:25 - How Jason got started and learned how to play 'the numbers game' effectively

13:50 - Focusing on costs instead of quality

17:31 - How employers can work with today's system to demand higher quality for employees

22:28 - Designing a brand-new health plan, so people didn't hate it

27:09 - Examining the successes from other Fortune 50 companies

32:06 - Advice for smaller employers

39:41 - The three things you need to have in your medical RFP

47:20 - The bottomline to improve the cost vs quality issue

50:15 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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In this thought-provoking episode of Broken Benefits, we take a journey into the world of corporate healthcare innovation with a true trailblazer, Erik Sossa, the former Vice President of Global Benefits and Wellness at PepsiCo, Inc. Join us as we explore the remarkable initiatives he spearheaded during his tenure that defied the status quo and redefined what is possible in the realm of employee wellness and healthcare.

Erik Sossa's impressive career at PepsiCo was marked by a relentless pursuit of groundbreaking solutions for the company's healthcare and benefits programs. With a reputation for pushing boundaries and challenging conventions, he led the charge to create a healthier, more engaged, and productive workforce.

Get your notepad ready because this episode is packed with helpful takeaways for your own benefits team!

Timecodes:

0:04 - "I never followed protocols"

0:30 - Background information on Erik Sossa

1:20 - Welcoming Erik Sossa to the show

2:02 - Testing new concepts in healthcare

3:53 - The big ideas Erik was able to test during his time at PepsiCo

13:01 - Creating an ROI preemptively within your RFP

17:23 - Stepping into the unknown as a benefits manager

25:12 - How to handle change or disruption on a large scale

32:21 - Consumerism became an easy way out for employers

37:00 - The biggest wins of Erik's career

43:21 - Carriers continue to trip over themselves trying to figure out Erik's solution

49:50 - How to get in touch with Erik to learn more and connect

51:00 - Closing remarks

Connect with Lee Lewis:

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