Joe Grogan sits down with James Gelfand, president and CEO of The ERISA Industry Committee (ERIC), to break down the future of employer-sponsored insurance and the challenges shaping healthcare policy. They discuss how rising healthcare costs affect both employers and employees, the evolution of health savings accounts, and why direct primary care and telehealth represent major shifts in employer benefits.

The conversation highlights the growing crisis in mental health, the impact of hospital consolidation on costs and quality, and the political battles over healthcare reform. Gelfand explains why employer-sponsored insurance remains a critical safety net and what changes are needed to bring more transparency, value, and balance to the healthcare system.

In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan is joined by Ryan Long, Capitol Hill veteran and senior research fellow at the Paragon Institute, to unpack two big health policy debates: the 340B drug discount program and the enhanced ACA premium tax credits. Ryan explains how 340B drives higher drug spending, hospital consolidation, and rising premiums, while often benefiting wealthier hospitals over safety-net providers. He also breaks down why the temporary ACA subsidies are set to expire in 2025, the fraud and enrollment issues they’ve created, and what both parties are gearing up for as the fight continues.

In this episode of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with healthcare entrepreneur and advocate Dutch Rojas to unpack some of the most pressing and misunderstood issues in American healthcare. From his unconventional path from accounting into healthcare to his outspoken advocacy for physician-owned hospitals, Rojas brings a fresh, unapologetic perspective to how we can break through the gridlock of consolidation and outdated policy. Rojas makes the case for why charity care is often used as a business strategy rather than genuine community support, and explains how site-neutral payments could dramatically lower costs for patients and employers alike. He also outlines how innovations like a healthcare commodities exchange could finally deliver the price transparency Americans deserve, and the competition the system desperately needs.

Join host Joe Grogan for an exclusive masterclass with Dr. Robert Burns, James Joo-Jin Kim Professor of Health Care Management at the Wharton School. A nationally recognized expert on the U.S. healthcare system, Dr. Burns unpacks the complex forces driving healthcare costs.

With a background in sociology, anthropology, and decades of research, Dr. Burns reveals why so many healthcare reforms fail, what policymakers and business leaders get wrong, and how the U.S. healthcare ecosystem really works behind the headlines. If you’ve ever wondered why American healthcare is so expensive, and what can actually be done about it, this episode is a must-listen.

Critics have been quick to attack the One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB), but how much of what you’ve heard is true? In this episode, Joe Grogan sits down with Brian Blase to set the record straight on the bill’s health policy reforms and why they matter. From Medicaid funding changes to the role of provider taxes, Brian and Joe break down the bill’s impact, debunk common myths, and explore what’s next for U.S. healthcare policy. They cover how work requirements, eligibility reviews, and a focus on value could transform the system.

Paragon Institute Myth-Busting Series on OBBB: https://paragoninstitute.org/issue-library/obbb-myths-and-facts/

Brian Blase X: https://x.com/brian_blase?lang=en

In this episode of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Sean Spicer, former White House Press Secretary and host of The Sean Spicer Show. Spicer shares his experiences from working in various political roles, his thoughts on Republican strategies for the midterms, and the challenges of communicating healthcare policies. The discussion also delves into the differences between legacy media and new media, highlighting the need for self-reflection within traditional news outlets.

Stephen Parente, former White House Chief Economist for Health Policy and current Minnesota Insurance Industry Chair of Health Finance and Associate Dean at the Carlson School of Management, joins host Joe Grogan to discuss the state of healthcare transparency. They dive into the pros and cons of price transparency, the impact of the No Surprises Act, challenges for insurers and providers, and what transparency means for healthcare costs and future policy. Parente also hosts the On Background podcast, where he explores key issues in health finance and public policy.

In this episode of DC EKG, host Joe Grogan sits down with Dan Troy, former Chief Counsel of the FDA and a nationally recognized expert on healthcare law and the First Amendment. They explore Troy’s unique journey from free speech litigator to one of the FDA’s top legal voices, examining how the agency regulates what drugmakers, doctors, and companies are allowed to say—and what they’re not. The conversation dives into the legal boundaries of off-label promotion, the impact of direct-to-consumer advertising on patient care, and the growing tension between innovation and regulation in the pharmaceutical industry. Troy also offers his perspective on the Inflation Reduction Act and its potential chilling effect on drug development, underscoring the need for bipartisan support in shaping healthcare policy.

In this episode, Michael F. Cannon, the Cato Institute’s Director of Health Policy Studies, dives into the policy decisions that shaped Medicare and fundamentally distorted the U.S. health insurance market. From how tax incentives nudged Americans into employer-sponsored plans to the unintended consequences that left many seniors uninsured, Cannon breaks down the government’s role in creating systemic challenges in health care. He also explores how tax policy has long been used as a tool to mandate certain health behaviors, and what a less distorted, freer market might look like. If you want to understand the policy roots behind today’s health care complexities, this conversation is a must-listen.

In this conversation, Joe Grogan interviews Peter Pitts, a former FDA associate commissioner and current president of the Center for Medicine and the Public Interest. They discuss the role of FDA advisory committees, the importance of transparency in regulatory processes, and the intersection of vaccination and nutrition in public health. Pitts emphasizes the need for better dosing guidelines for obese patients and the significance of user fees in ensuring predictable FDA reviews. The conversation highlights the challenges and opportunities within the FDA and the broader healthcare landscape.