Risk & Resolve

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, a healthcare leader from the Employers’ Forum of Indiana (EFI) breaks down why employers—not the system—must drive healthcare reform. Drawing from decades in HR and benefits at Ford, this conversation dives into rising healthcare costs, hospital price transparency, and the policy changes reshaping Indiana’s healthcare landscape. From RAND pricing studies to fiduciary responsibility laws, this episode reveals how employers can move from awareness to action—and finally take control of healthcare spending.

Main Talking Points

• Speaker’s background: 25+ years in HR and benefits at Ford, managing large-scale healthcare systems
• The reality: healthcare costs have exploded—from $7K per employee to $27K annually
• Where healthcare dollars actually go: hospitals (45%), physicians (32%), drugs (23%)
• Why employers historically failed to control healthcare costs—and the consequence
• The RAND Hospital Price Transparency Studies and what they revealed
• Shocking insight: Indiana employers pay ~300% of Medicare rates for hospital services
• The imbalance: hospitals overpaid, physicians underpaid
• How price transparency exposed systemic inefficiencies and sparked reform
• Creation of tools like Sage Transparency to help employers compare cost and quality
• Real-world case studies: Employers removing high-cost hospitals and saving millions, Direct contracting strategies driving better outcomes
• Indiana’s rise as a national leader in healthcare policy reform
• Key policy wins: Fiduciary responsibility for TPAs and PBMs, Anti-competitive contract bans, Claims data access and audit rights, Hospital price caps and transparency requirements
• The critical gap: policy exists—but employers must actually use it
• EFI’s role in translating complex policy into actionable employer strategies
• The challenge: benefits teams are overwhelmed and under-resourced
• Why employers must become active purchasers, not passive participants
• Top strategies for employers: Invest in advanced primary care (DPC, onsite, near-site), Steer employees to high-value providers, Optimize contracts and eliminate misaligned incentives, Direct contract with hospitals, Audit claims aggressively, Strengthen benefits teams
• The future: 2027 legislative focus on healthcare—and employers must be ready
• Core message: awareness isn’t enough—execution is everything

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Don Palmer and Greg Enas, co-founders of Citizen 7, to discuss male friendship, leadership, generosity, mentorship, and building movements instead of organizations. From entrepreneurship and business leadership to faith, community, and legacy, this conversation explores what it means to build men who build others.

Main Talking Points

• How Don Palmer and Greg Enas first met and built a decades-long friendship
• The origins of Citizen Seven and the vision behind it
• Why male loneliness and isolation are growing problems
• The difference between building an organization versus building a movement
• How authentic male friendships are formed shoulder-to-shoulder on mission
• The role of vulnerability, confidentiality, and accountability in friendships
• Why businessmen often struggle to cultivate deep relationships
• The power of “throwing the party” instead of waiting for an invitation
• Building intergenerational friendships and mentorship
• Why curiosity and asking good questions matter in relationships
• Creating opportunities for younger men to lead and carry the baton
• Faith, entrepreneurship, generosity, and civic engagement intersecting together
• How Citizen Seven encourages men to say yes to meaningful action
• The importance of play, fun, and shared experiences in building brotherhood
• Legacy, family, and finishing life well

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Thompson, founder of Nice Healthcare, shares a powerful story of tackling one of the hardest problems in modern society: healthcare. From his background in statistics to building a care model that delivers healthcare directly into patients’ homes, Thompson breaks down why the system is broken—and how simplicity, access, and aligned incentives can fix it. This episode explores innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of desire in solving massive, systemic challenges.

Main Talking Points

• Thompson’s background in statistics—and solving complex problems like authorship of ancient texts
• Why healthcare is one of the hardest problems—and why most fail to even define it correctly
• The core insight: outcomes are obvious (cost, access, poor health)—but the root problem is unclear
• The role of desire as the missing ingredient in solving large systemic challenges
• Personal catalyst: navigating a broken healthcare experience as a new parent
• The frustration of fragmented care, repeat visits, and lack of accountability
• The realization: healthcare is overbuilt, inefficient, and disconnected from patient needs
• Founding Nice Healthcare to simplify access, reduce friction, and improve experience
• The model: no clinics—care delivered via in-home + virtual visits (DoorDash-style healthcare)
• Eliminating common patient pain points: travel, cost confusion, insurance complexity
•  Why most people don’t need traditional healthcare infrastructure for everyday care
• Focus on the “many who fund the system”, not just the high-cost fe
• The importance of making healthcare easy, accessible, and perceived as a positive change
• Employer strategy: saving time + money while improving employee health
• Data-driven validation: measurable ROI and reduced total cost of care
• Entrepreneurial journey: risk, near failure, and the moment everything almost collapsed
• The emotional reality of building a company while risking personal financial stability
• Why small, simple changes can drive massive system-wide impact
• The future of healthcare: decentralized, accessible, patient-centered, and efficient 

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Tom Shevlot to explore a career shaped by leadership, risk, public service, and faith-driven impact. From senior roles at AT&T to serving on the Lawrence City Council, leading Life Centers, and joining the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Foundation Board, Tom shares how one act of generosity early in life became a lifelong call to pay it forward.

Main Talking Points

• Tom’s early career in telecom during the rise of cellular technology
• The mentor who invested in his family and challenged him to “pay it forward”
• Taking career risks by leaving AT&T and later returning in a new leadership role
• Moving from corporate leadership into nonprofit ministry at Life Centers
• Serving on the Indianapolis Public Library Board during a difficult financial season
• Running for Lawrence City Council and helping stabilize city finances
• Leading through broken processes, budget challenges, and organizational messes
• The importance of being governed vs. helping govern
• Why service became a consistent thread through every stage of Tom’s career
• His passion for outdoor conservation and the Indiana DNR Foundation Board
• The difference between being “of value” and being “important”
• His current focus on protecting children through the Indiana Family Institute

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, industry leaders from Hancock Health and Conner Insurance explore a bold, community-driven healthcare model that aligns employers, providers, and patients around better outcomes and lower costs. Moving beyond the broken, fragmented system, this conversation dives into total cost of care, direct-to-employer partnerships, and how local innovation can transform entire populations. From wellness infrastructure to direct primary care and data-driven engagement, this episode offers a blueprint for building a more sustainable and effective healthcare ecosystem.

Main Talking Points

• The core concept: aligning employers and local health systems to create better outcomes and lower costs
• Why traditional healthcare fails: fragmentation, misaligned incentives, and lack of coordination
• The key shift from “price problem” → “total cost of care problem”
• Hancock County’s transformation: from low health rankings to top 4% nationally
• The “Infrastructure of Well-Being” model: integrating fitness, primary care, diagnostics, and education
• Direct-to-employer and direct-to-consumer healthcare models removing insurance friction
• Why engagement—not access—is the true currency of healthcare
• The role of direct primary care in driving early, proactive intervention
• How vertically integrated systems can control risk and improve outcomes
• The importance of local care delivery vs. consolidation of large health systems
• Why hospitals must innovate—or face consolidation or closure
• The role of data, EMR integration, and analytics in managing population health
• The power of community health needs assessments in shaping strategy
• Real-world example: GLP-1 programs paired with lifestyle interventions for sustainable outcome
• Employer perspective: shifting from passive buyers to active partners in healthcare delivery
• Financial insight: removing insurance complexity drastically lowers actual cost of care
• The importance of creativity and willingness to challenge the status quo
• Practical strategy: “land and expand”—start with one cost driver and scale

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with scholar, author, historian, and Museum of the Bible founding scholar Jerry Pattengale. Jerry shares his journey from poverty and homelessness to faith, scholarship, publishing, film, and global work preserving biblical history. From ancient manuscripts and the Museum of the Bible to the Life Wedge principle and finding purpose, this conversation explores truth, calling, risk, and building work with a long shelf life.

Main Talking Points

• Jerry’s childhood in rural Indiana, growing up poor but loved
• Becoming homeless as a teenager and finding work at Holiday Inn
• The church camp moment that led to his conversion and scholarship to Indiana Wesleyan
• How faith sparked his search for historical truth and ancient sources
• The professors and mentors who shaped his thinking, writing, and purpose
• The “Life Wedge” principle and how purpose guides long-term impact
• Why writing one publishable page a day became a lifelong discipline
• The challenge of getting published—and the rejection that later came full circle
• Jerry’s role as founding scholar for the Museum of the Bible
• The story behind choosing Washington, D.C. and building the museum
• Meaningful biblical artifacts, including early manuscripts and hidden texts
• His work on films and series like David: King of Israel and The Road to Emmaus
• The importance of saying no—even to major opportunities
• His desire to create work that lasts beyond his lifetime

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ricky Hancart and a panel of healthcare innovators unpack why employers feel stuck in a “pay and pray” system—and what it takes to break free. Featuring leaders across underwriting, pharmacy, surgical care, and finance, the conversation explores how strategic partnerships, data transparency, and aligned incentives can transform employer health plans. From skyrocketing cancer drug costs to bundled surgical pricing and smarter risk management, this episode delivers a practical blueprint for building a more predictable, sustainable healthcare strategy.

Main Talking Points

• The core problem: healthcare as the most unpredictable and uncontrollable line item on the balance sheet  
• Why traditional plans feel like a losing game: “good year → rates go up, bad year → rates go up more”  
• The shift from reactive “pay and pray” to proactive, strategic health plan design
• Building a custom health plan using modular, adaptable components (the “Lego” approach)
• The importance of control, transparency, and protection for employers
• How underwriting actually works: identifying risk drivers and aligning solutions to reduce claims
• The biggest emerging cost threat: cancer and high-cost specialty drugs (J-codes)
• Price variation shock: the same drug costing $250K vs. $1M depending on facility
• TrueRx’s “TrueCodes” strategy: moving infusions to lower-cost, patient-friendly settings
• Real patient impact: home infusions, improved quality of life, and reduced employer spend
• Welbridge Surgical model: transparent, bundled pricing with 50% lower costs
• Why zero-dollar (zero-tier) care drives employee adoption and better outcomes
• The power of steerage: guiding patients to high-quality, lower-cost care options
• The role of TPAs and integrated partners in simplifying complexity for employers
• Case study: Process Alliance’s shift after a 50% premium increase
• The importance of curiosity, leadership buy-in, and willingness to challenge the status quo
• Balancing cost control with employee experience and access to care
• The Conner “Pathway” framework: moving from reactive to intentional healthcare strategy

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Marcus Hall, President and Partner of California Closets Midwest, to explore his journey from small-town Indiana to entrepreneurship, leadership, and building a values-driven business. Marcus shares lessons from failed ventures, what he learned from sports, software, and mentorship, and how Threefold and California Closets became the right platform for meaningful growth. From disciplined routines and leadership through questions to sobriety, family, and fatherhood, this conversation is a thoughtful look at what it means to build a business—and a life—with purpose.

Main Talking Points:

• Marcus’s roots in Sweetser, Indiana, and his early years playing basketball before transferring to Ball State
• His first career stop with the RCA Tennis Championships and how sports became a conduit for relationships and opportunity
• The community leadership examples he observed from leaders like Kevin Martin and Jim Morris
• His entrepreneurial itch, early side hustles, and what failed ventures taught him about focus
• The move from sports marketing to software during the ExactTarget growth years
• How mentorship and discernment led him away from bad acquisition targets and toward the right opportunity
• Why Threefold became the right fit: faith alignment, operational support, and shared values
• What California Closets actually does beyond closets—from home offices to garages to pantries
• Marcus’s leadership philosophy: ask better questions, listen deeply, and empower great people
• The role of reading, discipline, and morning routines in shaping how he leads
• His commitment to intentional fatherhood with his twin daughters
• The life-changing decision to pursue sobriety and how that reshaped everything that followed

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, it breaks down the exploding cost of GLP-1 medications and why many organizations are spending millions on diabetes care—with little improvement in health outcomes. Featuring leaders from American Senior Communities and Northwind, this conversation explores a bold, mandatory program that combines medication, coaching, and accountability to drive real health improvements. From behavior change to data-driven strategy, this episode challenges the “medication-first” mindset and reveals what it actually takes to reverse chronic conditions at scale.

Main Talking Points

• The wake-up question: Are we spending millions on medications while employees remain sick?
• Why diabetes medication costs can be 10x higher than any other condition category  
• The decision to carve out diabetes care and implement a mandatory, managed program
• How Northwind’s model removes barriers: cost, access, complexity, and fragmentation
• The power of combining medication + health coaching + accountability
• Why “mandatory” can actually be the most compassionate approach to employee health
• The reality of behavior change: why people resist—and how to move them anyway
• Key KPIs that matter: engagement, risk reduction, GLP-1 utilization, and cost per patient
• Results that matter: improved A1Cs, reduced high-risk populations, and lower overall spend
• The hidden dangers of GLP-1 overuse and “set-it-and-forget-it” prescribing
• Why medication alone is insufficient—and often just masks the problem
• The long-term risk: how today’s solutions could create future health and cost issues
• Communication strategy at scale: reaching a fragmented workforce effectively
• Real-world impact: helping patients move toward remission—not just management
• Why sustainable health requires behavior change—not just prescriptions

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Dr. Burrer, founder of Valor Direct Primary Care, to unpack what’s broken in modern healthcare—and how direct primary care (DPC) offers a radically different approach. From his journey through corporate medicine to building a patient-first practice, Dr. Burrer shares insights on insurance-driven care, physician burnout, AI in medicine, and why relationships—not systems—should define healthcare. This episode challenges conventional thinking and offers a hopeful vision for the future of medicine.

Main Talking Points:

• Dr. Burrer’s journey from Boston to becoming a family physician—and living out his childhood dream
• How experiences across hospitals, private practice, urgent care, and corporate systems shaped his perspective
• The evolution (and dysfunction) of insurance-driven healthcare: from doctor control → insurance control → patient burden
• Why traditional medicine often prioritizes billing and compliance over patient care
• What Direct Primary Care (DPC) is and how it flips the model back to doctor–patient relationships
• The economics of DPC: fewer patients, deeper care, and aligned incentives
• Physician burnout and why many doctors are leaving the traditional system
• The hidden cost of “7-minute visits” and loss of meaningful doctor-patient relationships
• How DPC enables proactive care, real access, and personalized medicine
• The role of AI, data, and skepticism in modern healthcare decision-making
• Dr. Burrer’s shift from atheist to Christian—and how that reshaped his approach to medicine and care
• Why worldview matters in both science and medicine
• The importance of having a doctor who knows you—not just your chart
• The risks and rewards of leaving a stable system to build something better