In the inaugural episode of Benefits Bites, hosts Mike Stull and Madison Connor discuss the current landscape of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), focusing on the dynamics of the big three PBMs, the role of mid-market PBMs and the impact of disruptors in the marketplace. They emphasize the importance of transparency in drug pricing and the need for employers to stay informed and adaptable in a rapidly changing industry.

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On this episode of HR Benecast, host Mike Stull is joined by CVS Health's senior vice president of government and public affairs, Melissa Schulman. She discusses the complexities of the legislative process, key proposals that may resurface and the impact of state legislation on federal actions. She also addresses common misconceptions about PBMs and emphasizes the importance of employer advocacy in shaping drug pricing policies.

This episode was recorded on July 30, 2025. Some legislative developments may have changed since the time of recording.

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In the latest episode of HR Benecast host Mike Stull and Brandee Bell, senior benefits specialist at Designer Brands, discuss the importance of a clear, engaging and effective year-round benefits communication strategy. She shares insights on engaging employees using creative techniques and measuring results. She also provides real examples her team has used to improve open enrollment through effective communication.

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Ever wonder how a drug gets approved? In this episode, HR Benecast host Mike Stull and Clinical Advisor Alexis Sova walk through the FDA approval process. They discuss the complexities of bringing new medications to market, the importance of efficacy and safety in drug trials and how to keep plan costs down as new drugs are launched.

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It's annual review season at Employers Health — when clients meet with our team to hear how their pharmacy benefit plan is performing, what they should watch for in the future and plan changes to consider to reduce or minimize future pharmacy benefit costs. In the episode, we sit down with Devon Feriance and Tori Sinclair to hear the main themes they're seeing in these reviews, how employers are dealing with the onslaught of legislative changes and, of course, GLP-1s and benefits trends for 2026.

When it comes to pharmacy benefits, no topics make headlines like GLP-1s and weight loss programs. On this episode of HR Benecast, Dr. Lia Rodriguez and Erin Bacon from CVS Health share what makes a clinical weight loss program really work. Listen to hear the latest obesity stats, obesity's link to other chronic conditions, the importance of lifestyle changes and more.

Our host, Mike Stull, talks with Employers Health's Senior Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and External Affairs Madison Connor as she covers the latest state and federal employee benefits and PBM legislation under the new presidential administration. Together, they'll cover proposed bills affecting anti-steering legislation including mail vs. retail, preferred pharmacy networks and more. They'll discuss how Rutledge vs. PCMA affects state pharmacy reimbursement laws, ERISA preemption and more. Finally, hear how the rule-making process under a new president could affect your benefit plans.

Cell and gene therapies (CGT) are widely considered a triumph of scientific innovation, focusing on providing cures for diseases rather than treatments. By 2030, it's predicted that over 100,000 U.S. patients will utilize some form of CGT. While CGTs are revolutionary, these therapies come with a giant price tag, leaving many employers wondering how they'll afford potential CGT use for their population.

In this episode, Employers Health's Mike Stull is joined by Drew Wilkins, managing director at Deloitte Consulting to discuss the major costs associated with CGTs, how companies can manage this costly class and how employers can prepare for its surge in the future.

In this episode of HR Benecast, Mike Stull and Eric Dublikar cover your pharmacy and employee benefits questions including:

• What's new in federal and state pharmacy benefit legislation.
• How Employers Health is working to help clients manage changes to their PBM plans.
• What the switch to biosimilars for Humira and Stelara means for plan sponsors.
• What impact GLP-1s are having on employer drug spend?
• Trends in GLP-1 coverage for weight loss.