In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek welcomes back Dave Gillis, Managing Director, Medical Stop Loss; Joe Parrilli, Chief Business Officer, Health Solutions; and Kevin Hallen, Managing Director, Health Solutions, for a live Ask Us Anything session following the three-part Health Captive Fundamentals series. Together, they answer real-world questions from employers and advisors, covering key topics such as eligibility, customization, reporting, and stakeholder involvement.

The discussion highlights how captives operate in practice — emphasizing flexibility in plan design, transparency through financial and claims reporting, and a more collaborative, strategic approach to managing healthcare costs. The group also addresses common misconceptions, explains how captives integrate with existing health plans, and explores how employers, Chief Financial Officers, and consultants play a more active role in ongoing performance.

In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Kevin Hallen, Managing Director, Health Solutions at Captive Resources, to conclude a captive education mini-series focused on captive structure. Kevin explains how health captives function as member-owned insurance vehicles within a self-funded model supported by stop-loss coverage and a shared reinsurance layer. He outlines how risk is structured across layers and explains the differences between pooled and risk-reward models. The conversation also explores how governance through board participation provides transparency and control, how captives help stabilize renewals and reduce exposure to market volatility, and why structure plays a key role in long-term performance. Kevin emphasizes the importance of education and alignment, highlighting how employers can evaluate whether a captive structure fits their goals, risk tolerance, and overall healthcare strategy.

In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Joe Parrilli, Chief Business Officer, Health Solutions at Captive Resources, to continue a captive education mini-series focused on traditional versus captive stop loss. Joe explains stop loss as protection against catastrophic claims and outlines how the captive model differs by providing greater transparency into premium allocation, risk sharing, and financial performance. The conversation addresses common misconceptions around pricing, highlights how captives are structured to break even with the potential return of surplus, and emphasizes the importance of managing total healthcare spend. Joe also explores how captives shift the focus from an annual shopping stop loss to a more strategic, long-term approach to controlling costs and improving outcomes.

In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Dave Gillis, Managing Director, Medical Stop Loss at Captive Resources, to kick off a captive education mini-series focused on transitioning from fully insured to self-funded health plans. Dave breaks down the foundational components of self-funding, including third-party administrators (TPAs), provider networks, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), while explaining how captives provide a more structured and supported path into this model.

The conversation addresses common misconceptions about risk, outlines how stop-loss and risk-sharing help stabilize costs, and highlights the value of transparency in understanding true healthcare costs. Dave also explores why pharmacy is often a key starting point and how employers can take a phased, strategic approach to managing spend over time. A practical discussion on gaining control, improving outcomes, and building a more sustainable health plan.

In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Kris Atkins, President of Cancer CARE for Life & INTERLINK, and Ashley Urzendowski, MSN-L, RN, CCM, of Cancer CARE for Life & INTERLINK, to explore the growing impact of cancer on employer health plans. With decades of oncology and transplant experience, Kris and Ashley share how specialized cancer management supports employees through one of life’s most difficult diagnoses while helping employers manage rising costs.

The conversation covers high-cost oncology drugs, site-of-care optimization, evidence-based treatment review, Centers of Excellence coordination, and the critical role of early detection and prevention. Through real patient stories, they illustrate how the right oversight can prevent unnecessary treatment, reduce complications, and improve return-to-work outcomes. A powerful discussion on delivering compassionate, clinically sound cancer care that protects both people and the plan.

In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Dr. Mary O’Connor, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Vori Health, to unpack the challenges and opportunities in musculoskeletal care. Drawing on decades of experience in academic medicine and healthcare innovation, Dr. O’Connor explains how traditional healthcare incentives often drive overutilization of imaging and surgery — especially in spine and orthopedic care — without always improving patient outcomes. The conversation explores why a digital-first, physician-led, multidisciplinary model can help patients get better without surgery, while still ensuring timely access to advanced care when it’s truly needed. From appropriate MRI use and integrated physician-PT visits to behavior change, sleep, and movement, the episode highlights how smarter MSK care can improve employee health, reduce unnecessary procedures, and lower employers' costs. A thoughtful discussion on delivering better care by putting patients — and value — first.

In this Season 2 kickoff episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek welcomes behavioral scientist and workplace health expert Dr. Claire Muselman for a focused conversation on leadership, wellbeing, and workplace culture. As organizations enter 2026 and navigate burnout, hybrid work realities, and rising mental health needs, the discussion reframes well-being not as a program but as a leadership responsibility. From the energy leaders bring into the workplace to boundaries around email, meetings, and PTO, Dr. Claire explains how everyday behaviors shape employee health, engagement, and trust. The episode explores why modeling healthy habits matters more than policies, how movement and visibility reinforce connection, and why benefits only work when leaders actively use and normalize them. A practical, insight-rich conversation for leaders looking to build healthier people, stronger cultures, and more resilient organizations in the year ahead.

In this year-end episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek breaks down the most significant trends shaping self-funded employer strategies in 2025 — and what’s ahead for 2026. From the surge in high-cost claims to the evolution of virtual primary care, fiduciary risk, GLP-1 sustainability, PBM transparency, and the growing strength of captives, Maddison highlights what’s officially “in,” what’s outdated, and how employers are shifting from reactive oversight to proactive protection. She also recaps expert insights from the year’s top episodes and reveals the topics listeners want to hear next, including cost containment, captives, compliance, and employee well-being. A fast, insightful guide for employers seeking clarity, innovation, and smarter health plan strategies heading into 2026.

In Part 2 of their conversation, Captivating Health Insights host Maddison Bezdicek welcomes back Adam Russo, Co-Founder and CEO of The Phia Group, to discuss fiduciary responsibility—one of the most overlooked and misunderstood obligations for self-funded employers. Russo explains why employers, not TPAs or brokers, ultimately bear the legal responsibility for final-level claim decisions—and how failing to understand this can lead to lawsuits, reputational damage, and regulatory exposure. He shares real-world stories that reveal just how complex claim decisions have become in an era of AI-driven reviews, million-dollar claims, and mounting audit pressure. Russo also explains how Phia’s fiduciary model (PACE) helps employers ensure compliance, transparency, and fairness—protecting both the plan and its members. His message is clear: awareness, data, and expert support are key to staying compliant, compassionate, and protected.