The Uprising Show

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Welcome back to The Uprising Show. In this episode, we dive into the complex world of sponsor-carrier relationships with Carol Serbus, Director of Claims and Cost Management at TPAC Underwriters in Minnesota. With over 40 years of experience in the industry, Carol brings a wealth of insight into where plan sponsors are struggling, the challenges of consistent communication, and why the relationship with brokers and vendors often feels more confrontational than collaborative. She shares her thoughts on what separates proactive sponsors from the rest, the critical conversations that need to happen, and offers practical advice for controlling healthcare costs in today’s ever-changing landscape. Whether you’re a plan sponsor, broker, or just want to be a wiser healthcare consumer, this is a conversation you won’t want to miss.

Timestamps:

00:00 Career journey in insurance industry

04:03 Working with TPAs and brokers

07:51 Cost containment trends as signals

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

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Welcome back to The Uprising Show! In this episode, host Vivek sits down with Brett Chinn, Chief Intuitive Officer and advocate for high-performing professionals seeking to reconnect with their purpose. Brett shares insights drawn from years of working with clients on combining psychology, intuition, and strategy to help individuals and companies get unstuck. The conversation delves into the often-overlooked value of employee health benefits and how employers can leverage better communication, authenticity, and values to attract and retain top talent. Tune in as Brett reveals why treating health plans as an "afterthought" is a missed opportunity and how shifting mindsets can transform workplaces for the better.

Timestamps:

00:00 Helping high performers get unstuck

05:04 Responsibilities in Talent Acquisition

06:43 Importance of employee communication

11:15 Discussing employee retention factors

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

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Welcome back to The Uprising Show! In today’s episode, Vivek sits down with Ben John, VP of Sales and Partnerships at Self Fund Health, to dive deep into the complexities and opportunities of self-funded healthcare. Together, they explore why chaos is so prevalent in benefits purchasing, the critical role of partnerships, and what it really takes for employers to take control and drive meaningful change in their health plans. Ben John shares insights on the journey from confusion to clarity, the challenges of changing behavior in the workplace, and why real leadership buy-in is essential for success. Whether you’re an advisor, employer, or just curious about the healthcare revolution, this is an episode packed with candid advice, hard truths, and a vision for a better, more transparent future in healthcare.

Timestamps:

00:00 Shift from fully insured to self-funded

04:06 Understanding healthcare cost drivers

07:35 Employer leadership and cost savings strategy

13:11 Leadership buy-in for successful change

15:00 Improving healthcare with transparency

18:54 Appreciation and spreading education

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

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Welcome back to The Uprising Show! In today’s episode, Vivek sits down with Dr. Nicole Hemkes, owner and medical director of Advocate MD, to explore the world of direct primary care and how it’s transforming patient and provider experiences. Tired of the “rushed” and “factory line” style of traditional fee-for-service medicine, Dr. Hemkes shares her journey from burnout to building her own DPC practice in Madison, Wisconsin. We dive into why time and trust matter in healthcare, what employers often get wrong about quality care, and how giving patients real access to physicians can reduce costs, cut unnecessary referrals, and lead to better outcomes. Don’t miss Dr. Nicole Hemkes’ candid, rapid-fire takes on the chaos of employer healthcare and the most underrated fixes for better care. Tune in for an eye-opening look at what happens when doctors reclaim control over how they practice, and patients reap the benefits.

Timestamps:

00:00 Burnout and finding fulfillment

03:47 Importance of trusted primary care

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

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Welcome back to The Uprising Show! In today’s episode, host Vivek sits down with Jay Geier, founder and CEO of The Practice Growth Institute, who brings over 30 years of expertise in the medical and dental practice space. Together, they uncover the often-overlooked factors that determine a practice’s true value and discuss why less than 3% of doctors know what their business is worth before they sell it. Jay Geier shares insights on why two seemingly identical practices can sell for vastly different amounts, emphasizing the crucial role of owner independence and building scalable systems. Drawing from his extensive experience, Jay Geier explains how to attract new patients, create a referral-based practice, and prepare for an extraordinary exit — so you’re not just running a practice, but building a real business. Whether you’re a doctor thinking about selling someday, or simply want to maximize your practice’s potential, this episode is packed with actionable advice you can use to start making changes right now.

Timestamps:

00:00 Early business lessons and healthcare focus

05:34 Learning pay-per-task method

07:47 Discovering a phone system hack

11:33 Transforming Customer Experience in Dentistry

14:45 Planning for an extraordinary exit

17:07 Understanding business valuation basics

21:22 The importance of coaching and feedback

22:47 Training and developing team members

27:50 Importance of referral business

29:59 Targeting high-end clientele

32:34 Building a Strong Medical Team

36:01 Managing workaholism in healthcare workers

39:02 Focusing on patient experience

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

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In this episode of The Uprising Show, Vivek sits down with Mehul R. Agarwal, Founder and CEO of Health Compiler, to explore the complexities of healthcare data integration and the evolution of building tech-driven solutions for the industry. Mehul R. Agarwal shares his journey from founding a healthcare integration services company in 2019, through various pivots, to creating Health Compiler, a cutting-edge data platform focused on the self-funded and direct care healthcare models.

Together, they dive into the major disconnects healthcare organizations face, especially the challenges in bridging claims and clinical data, and the importance of making data truly actionable for providers, brokers, and employers. The conversation covers the art of pivoting in a startup, lessons learned from failed productization attempts, the necessity of deeply understanding customer needs, and the impact of artificial intelligence on the future of healthcare practices. Mehul R. Agarwal also offers valuable insights for clinicians looking to leverage data for better outcomes and efficiency, while discussing his vision for the company and the evolving landscape of data-driven healthcare.

Timestamps:

00:00 Pivoting from Health Platform

06:00 Healthcare data integration challenges

09:12 Balancing cost and quality in healthcare

11:15 AI reducing admin tasks in healthcare

13:38 Focusing on customer-driven growth

17:50 App improves lab test communication

19:51 Refreshing memory on info

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

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In this episode of The Uprising Show, we sit down with Kimberly Carleson, CEO of US Beacon, to uncover the hidden truths behind healthcare billing and the fight for transparency. Kimberly shares her personal journey, sparked by her husband's stage 4 cancer diagnosis and their firsthand experience with the flaws in the healthcare system. She reveals what drove her to take full ownership of US Beacon and make it her mission to tackle rampant overbilling. Listeners will learn why most employers are in the dark about their own benefit costs, the myths surrounding claims review processes, and the crucial steps every plan sponsor should take to bring genuine oversight into their health plans. Kimberly’s candid insights expose the misaligned incentives in the system, the secret world of hospital overcharges, and her vision for a future where billing transparency is the rule — not the exception.

Timestamps:

00:00 Buying 100% of U.S. Beacon

04:09 Reviewing company payment plans

06:34 HR moved from business side

11:48 Impact of DPC on providers

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of The Uprising Show, we sit down with Jonathan Baran, Co-Founder and CEO of Self Fund Health, to explore the evolving landscape of self-funded healthcare plans for employers. Jonathan shares his journey from identifying Wisconsin’s persistent healthcare cost crisis to launching Self Fund Health, a company focused on empowering employers to take control of their health plan expenses. We dive deep into the chaos of the current system, the misaligned incentives at play, and the cultural and mindset shifts employers need to make, moving from simply purchasing insurance to actively buying and managing healthcare. Jonathan candidly discusses the education gaps facing employers, the obstacles posed by industry intermediaries, and why true transformation requires ownership and culture change, not just new point solutions. Whether you’re an HR leader, business owner, or healthcare professional, this conversation will give you an inside look at the challenges and opportunities awaiting those brave enough to challenge the status quo and reclaim control over healthcare costs.

Timestamps:

00:00 Explaining health plan models

05:47 Buying Affordable Healthcare Strategies

07:40 Understanding employer challenges in healthcare costs

13:02 Managing Healthcare Costs Like Steel

14:59 Understanding Self-Funding in Healthcare

19:09 Focus on movement, not sales

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The Uprising Show! In this episode, we sit down with Madeline Smith, founder and CEO of MADDRS LLC, Making a Difference, Directing Real Strategy, to explore the transformative power of collective action within the healthcare industry. Madeline describes the organized chaos behind industry summits, the importance of creating a collaborative, sales-free space for innovation, and her hopes for the movement’s growth over the next few years. She shares her vision for democratizing information, bringing in voices from the legal and regulatory side, and motivating attendees to enact real change. Madeline also discusses her three-part book series, designed to educate employers, empower patients, and guide industry insiders, all aiming to arm individuals with the knowledge and tools needed to challenge the status quo in healthcare. Stay tuned as we unpack frustration into motivation and discover how small changes by many can reshape an entire industry.

Timestamps:

00:00 Balancing healthcare and event planning

04:55 Writing book to guide industry

Buy Madeline's Book -

Saltytxk - https://www.saltytxk.com/product-page/mofo

Amazon - https://www.amazon.com/Whole-Lotta-this-MoFo-Navigating-ebook/dp/B0BLDMZ3NF

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”

Send us Fan Mail

Welcome to The Uprising Show! In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Adam McCall, a family physician from Northwest Arkansas, owner of Advanced Primary Care, and co-founder of OneStone Physician Advisory Group. Dr. McCall shares his journey from aspiring general surgeon to becoming a passionate advocate for family medicine and advanced primary care. We explore why he believes the current healthcare landscape is in a state of chaos, how employers hold the power to drive real change through self-funded health plans, and what challenges and opportunities exist for companies seeking to provide better care for their employees. Tune in for an insightful discussion on quality, cost, and the future of healthcare as Dr. McCall emphasizes the importance of community, transparency, and truly understanding the needs of both patients and employers.

Timestamps:

00:00 Discovering a passion for obstetrics

04:44 Rethinking Healthcare with Self-Funded Plans

06:47 Understanding Employee Healthcare Costs

12:02 Importance of broker relationships

13:11 Impact of health benefits on employees

17:19 Attending Self Fund Summit

The Uprising Show Website: https://theuprisingshow.com/

Vivek Nanda's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/viveknanda1/

Vivek Nanda's Twitter: https://x.com/vickks

TopHealth Media Website: https://tophealth.care/

“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”