The Business of Benefits Podcast

Hi Hello Labs Network
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For decades, employers have been fed a lie: “There’s nothing you can do to control healthcare costs.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The system is doing exactly what it was designed to do—profit off of HR, CFOs, and CEOs who believe that lie year after year.With 180 million Americans relying on employer-sponsored healthcare, it’s time to challenge the status quo. The Business of Benefits is your No BS, No Sales guide to the real solutions. No gimmicks—just the truth about how to take control, transform your benefits, and care for your most valuable asset: your people.Each episode dives deep into the data, exposing industry misalignments and inefficiencies that inflate costs while offering actionable strategies for designing financially sustainable, high-value benefits.Through eye-opening interviews with industry insiders, expert analysis, and real-world success stories, hosts Donovan and Chelsea pull back the curtain on the hidden flaws in the healthcare system. The result? An empowering roadmap for employers ready to break free from outdated models and unlock smarter, more sustainable benefits.If you’re tired of the same old sales pitch and ready to rethink benefits, reduce costs, and improve care—this podcast is for you. The truth is out there—are you ready to hear it?

  1. MAR 26

    74. Benefits Consultant Reacts to Shady Contract Clauses w/ Chelsea Ryckis

    Your health plan contracts are full of hidden traps and most employers never read them until it's too late. In this solo episode of The Business of Benefits, Chelsea Ryckis of Ethos Benefits pulls back the curtain on the most alarming contract clauses she's encountered in the last six to eight months. From undisclosed broker bonuses and spread pricing to termination traps and one-sided indemnification clauses, Chelsea breaks down exactly what to look for and what it actually means for your company. This episode is essential listening for any business owner, HR professional, or benefits committee member who wants to fulfill their fiduciary duty and protect their plan participants. What You'll Learn: - The six forensic lenses Ethos Benefits uses to review every vendor contract - How to identify hidden conflicts of interest and undisclosed compensation - Why your scope of services must be written down and what happens when it isn't - How to use KPIs and performance guarantees to hold vendors accountable - Why implementation guarantees matter more than service guarantees - How vendors use HIPAA as an excuse to block your access to your own data - The termination clause that forced a plan sponsor to pay a broker they'd already fired - Why the future of healthcare reform lives in contract language Connect with Chelsea Ryckis: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Ethos Benefits: https://ethosbenefits.com/ -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    33 min

  2. MAR 13

    73. From Peo to Independent Excellence: The GQR Wynden Stark Healthcare Story

    In this special episode of The Business of Benefits, we pull back the curtain on a real-life, multi-year healthcare strategy transformation. Join our hosts as they sit down with Connie Alvarez, Director of HR at Wynden Stark, to dissect the five-year journey of their self-funded health plan. This is a masterclass for any employer feeling trapped by rising premiums and lack of control. We explore the highs, the lows, and the unexpected curveballs—from navigating mergers and acquisitions to tackling the complexities of a fluctuating workforce in the healthcare staffing industry. Discover how Wynden Stark, with the guidance of Ethos Benefits, moved from a fully insured model to a custom, unbundled, self-funded plan, achieving over $3.7 million in savings in just two years. This case study reveals the power of a fiduciary approach, the critical role of data in negotiations, and how to build a plan that delivers both financial results and a superior member experience. If you want to learn how to take back control of your healthcare spend and become a true steward of your company’s benefits, this episode is a must-listen. What You’ll Learn The 5-year roadmap from a fully insured plan to a high-performing, self-funded model.How to navigate a 42% renewal increase and turn it into a -1.3% decrease.The power of carving out your Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) and the massive savings potential in Rx.Strategies for implementing an unbundled plan with an independent TPA and fiduciary PBM.How to use data and analytics to negotiate with carriers and stop-loss providers.The importance of member communication and advocacy in a self-funded environment.Innovative solutions like international pharmacy sourcing and spousal HRAs that drive down costs.How to maintain an excellent member experience even with major plan design changes.  -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.  HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    49 min

  3. FEB 26

    72. Future Proofing Your Health Benefits: A Case Study in Multi-Year Planning w/ Julia Watt

    In this session, Chelsea Ryckis and Julia Watt, Director of HR at Medical Technology Transfer (MTT), delve into a case study on "Future-Proofing Your Health Benefits." They discuss how MTT, a 125-employee company, achieved a 67% reduction in claims cost over three years through a multi-year strategic plan. This conversation offers a roadmap for employers of all sizes to move away from the traditional, reactive renewal cycle and adopt a proactive, data-driven approach to managing healthcare costs and fiduciary responsibilities. What you'll learn:How a small employer (125 employees) can implement innovative healthcare strategies often considered only for large corporations.The limitations of fully insured plans and the benefits of transitioning to level-funded and self-funded models.The importance of data transparency in understanding and controlling healthcare cost drivers.How to strategically unbundle your health plan and select vendors aligned with your company's best interests.The critical role of a fiduciary PBM in managing pharmacy costs, which are often a significant expense.Actionable steps to take control of your health plan, negotiate better terms, and reduce costs without compromising employee benefits.-------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    59 min

  4. FEB 12

    71. The Hospital Programs Your Broker Never Mentioned: 501(r) & Hospital Bill Review with Patrick Haig

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits, host Donovan Ryckis sits down with Patrick Haig, co-founder and CEO of Goodbill, to reveal the secrets of hospital billing that every employer needs to know. They dive deep into the world of 501(r), a little-known IRS regulation that requires nonprofit hospitals to offer financial assistance, and how it can dramatically reduce healthcare costs for both employees and plan sponsors. Patrick explains how Goodbill leverages this and other strategies to audit hospital bills, find errors (which appear in about half of all bills), and secure significant savings. This is a must-listen for any CFO, CHRO, or business owner looking to fulfill their fiduciary duty, contain rising healthcare costs, and provide real, tangible support to their employees—especially those on high-deductible health plans. What you’ll learn: - What 501R is and how it mandates financial assistance from 80% of hospital beds in the US. - The surprisingly high income thresholds that allow many employees to qualify for bill reductions or full waivers. - How to get refunds for hospital bills that have already been paid. - Why half of all hospital bills contain errors and how to find and correct them for savings of 20% or more. - How proactive bill review can be a powerful tool for employee advocacy and trust-building, not a punitive measure. - Practical steps for implementing a bill review and financial assistance program, whether you have a fully insured or self-funded plan. Time Stamps: 00:00 – Preview 01:16 - The Business of Benefits Intro 01:43 – Meet Patrick Haig 03:11 – What is 501R? 05:15 – For-Profit Hospitals and Financial Assistance 08:23 – Income Limits for 501R 12:00 – How Goodbill Reviews Bills for Errors 13:35 – Why Don't More People Know About 501R? 16:05 – The Bill Review Process 18:51 – Shocking Bill Review Results 22:09 – Fiduciary Duty and Overpaying for Healthcare 25:28 – Bill Review Thresholds and Inaccuracy Percentages 29:26 – Common Hospital Billing Errors 34:28 – Implementation and Integration of Goodbill 37:15 – Timing and Refunds for 501R 41:47 – Where to Find Patrick Haig -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    42 min

  5. JAN 29

    70. Redefining Benefits Leadership w/ Stephanie Porrino & Kristina Ewing

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits, host Chelsea Ryckis sits down with two trailblazing benefits leaders, Stephanie Porrino, Director of HR at Hendry Marine Industries, and Kristina Ewing, Director of Health and Wellbeing at Shoestring Valley Holdings at the Best of the Best Florida Healthcare Alliance event. Together, they share their journeys of transforming employer health plans through innovative strategies, data-driven decision making, and bold vendor partnerships, offering actionable insights for employers ready to take control of their benefits and deliver real value to their people. From self-funding and reference-based pricing to no-cost care alternatives and fiduciary governance, Stephanie and Kristina reveal how they navigated complex challenges, disrupted traditional models, and built multi-year benefits strategies that prioritize both financial sustainability and employee wellbeing. Time Stamps: 00:00 – Welcome to The Business of Benefits   01:02 – Introduction to Guests and Episode Overview   02:19 – Stephanie and Kristina’s Backgrounds and Company Profiles   04:10 – Stephanie’s “Aha” Moment: Discovering Healthcare Pricing Discrepancies   07:19 – Kristina’s Journey: Unbundling and Finding the Right Partners   09:31 – The Importance of Ownership and Advisor Switching   10:08 – Kristina’s Multi-Year Benefits Strategy Overview   13:26 – Overcoming Challenges: Member Education and Engagement   15:41 – Vendor Summit and Setting KPIs for Accountability   18:07 – Hendry Marine’s Roadmap to Reference-Based Pricing and Pharmacy Savings   20:54 – Increasing Preventive Care Utilization with Onsite Clinics   25:29 – Financial Performance and Savings Highlights from Shoestring Valley   27:15 – New Program Innovations and Plan Design Shifts at Hendry Marine   30:25 – Managing High-Cost Claimants and Spousal Coverage Strategies   32:53 – Incentivizing In-Network Utilization and Mental Health Support   33:21 – Compliance and Fiduciary Responsibilities: Leveraging CAA and ERISA   37:03 – Procurement Best Practices: Questions to Ask Vendors   41:32 – Fiduciary Governance: Committees and Due Diligence   43:55 – Addressing Disruption and Administrative Burden in Benefits Changes   46:13 – Q&A: International Pharmacy Programs Explained   47:33 – Q&A: Direct Primary Care and C-Suite Perspectives on ROI vs. Disruption   50:44 – Closing Thoughts on Employee Experience and Leadership Alignment   Guest Links: Stephanie Porrino  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieporrino/ Hendry Marine Industries: https://hendrymarineindustries.com/ Kristina Ewing LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristina-ewing-98aa9867/ Shoestring Valley Holdings: https://www.shoestringvalley.com/ Andersen Construction: https://www.andersen-const.com/ Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/businessofbenefitspodcast Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    51 min

  6. JAN 15

    69. Zero-Copay Generic Drugs & Six-Figure Savings w/ Trace Voshell

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits, host Donovan Ryckis sits down with Trace Voshell, Chief Revenue Officer at GoGoMeds, to expose one of the most overlooked cost drains in employer healthcare: generic drug inflation. While most employers focus on high-cost specialty medications, Trace reveals that generic drugs, covering 80-90% of employees on medication, are systematically overpriced by 30-60% through PBM spread pricing and hidden conflicts of interest. Trace pulls back the curtain on how PBMs profit twice (on adjudication and through ownership of mail order pharmacies), why brokers often block cost-saving solutions (hint: per-script kickbacks), and how employers can bypass these roadblocks even when they feel "handcuffed" to large carrier PBMs. With real case studies showing $45,000 to $140,000+ in annual savings, this episode proves that transparent cost-plus pharmacy pricing can deliver six-figure savings while offering employees zero-copay medications. What You'll Learn:  - Why generic drugs represent the biggest overlooked savings opportunity in pharmacy benefits  - How PBM "spread pricing" allows them to pocket the difference between what they charge you and what they pay pharmacies  - The shocking conflict of interest: PBMs owning their own mail order pharmacies and profiting twice  - Why brokers often block pharmacy savings solutions (per-script fees and backend compensation)  - Real case studies: How a 70-employee shop saves $45K annually and larger groups save $130K-$140K+  - The difference between GoGoMeds and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company  - How to bypass PBM roadblocks with direct-to-employer pharmacy arrangements  - The vague PBM contract language that enables systematic overcharging (and how to spot it)  - A 60-second ChatGPT hack to identify unfavorable terms in your PBM contract  - Why zero-copay generics are a powerful recruitment, retention, and employee trust-building tool  - How to implement mail order generic pharmacy mid-year without waiting for renewal -------------------------------- Get more on our guest Trace at: GoGoMeds https://gogomeds.com/GoGoClient/ LinkedIn: Trace Voshell https://www.linkedin.com/in/trace-voshell-34040b7a/ Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: The Business of Benefits Podcast Website: https://www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com Instagram https://www.instagram.com/businessofbenefitspodcast/ Chelsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    29 min

  7. 12/18/2025

    68. The Great American Healthcare Heist with Guest Chris Deacon

    In this episode, Donovan and Chelsea sit down with Chris Deacon, a nationally known healthcare reform advocate, attorney, and former director of the State of New Jersey’s massive public sector health plan. Chris pulls back the curtain on how public and private employers are getting overcharged, how procurement and politics protect the status quo, and why nonprofit hospital systems often behave like for-profit empires. They break down real examples of claims, hospital contracts, and “negotiated” rates that actually drive prices higher, not lower. You will hear Chris unpack key themes from her new book The Great American Healthcare Heist: Why We’re Paying More and Getting Less, including nonprofit hospital expansion, fully insured versus self-funded plans, the hidden incentives of carriers and PBMs, compensation conflicts in the broker/consultant world, and why most claim review processes are built to fail employers. They also dig into gag clauses, CAA 2021, weak fiduciary enforcement, and how plan sponsors can start demanding data, transparency, and true accountability from everyone at the table. If you are a CFO, HR leader, benefits advisor, or plan sponsor who suspects you are getting crushed by a broken system but are not sure what to do next, this conversation will both infuriate you and give you a playbook to start pushing back. Get more on our Guest Chris at: Website: versanconsulting.com Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cdeaconc/ -------------------------------- Whether you're an HR professional, CFO, CEO, or just tired of rising healthcare costs, this is your call to rethink benefits strategy and finally take control. Connect with Chelsea and Donovan: Website: www.businessofbenefitspodcast.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/ Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/ Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    54 min

  8. 12/11/2025

    67. How One Employer Broke The Renewal Cycle: A Case Study

    In this episode of The Business of Benefits, Donovan Ryckis guest starred on a Be More Than a Fiduciary Podcast episode with Eric Dyson of 90 North Consulting and Brenda Kruse of Axiom Healthcare Services. Together, they break down how employers can finally escape the renewal treadmill, create a 3–5 year benefits strategy, and apply fiduciary principles to healthcare. Brenda shares Axiom’s transformation... from repeated renewal frustration to achieving a 13% premium decrease, lowering deductibles, expanding benefits, and reducing employee out-of-pocket costs by 27–38%. Eric and Donovan dig into why the healthcare system fails employers, how to identify misaligned incentives, and why transparency and governance are the keys to long-term success. They also explore PBM dysfunction, compensation conflicts, the four components of a health plan, and why employers must act as true stewards of their healthcare dollars. What You’ll Learn: What’s really behind recurring renewal increases How Axiom achieved a 13% premium decrease while improving benefits Why data transparency directly drives better outcomes Why PBM strategy is the fastest path to meaningful savings The four structural pillars of every health plan How to build and follow a multi-year health plan strategy Fiduciary responsibility explained for employer health plans How to identify and correct misaligned broker/consultant incentives Practical governance tools: fiduciary committees, 408(b)(2), comp review What responsible healthcare stewardship looks like for employers Eric Dyson — 90 North Consulting LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-dyson/ Website: https://90northconsulting.com/ Podcast: Be More Than a Fiduciary Brenda Kruse — Axiom Healthcare Services LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenda-kruse-2078386/ Website: https://www.axiomhealthcareservices.org/ Donovan Ryckis — Ethos Benefits LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/ Website: https://www.ethosbenefits.com/ Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@thebusinessofbenefits Timestamps: 00:00 – Preview 00:38 – Title Intro: The Business of Benefits   01:00 – Episode Overview: Axiom’s journey & fiduciary crossover   02:08 – Guest Introductions   03:53 – Axiom Healthcare Services: Who they are 04:39 – How Axiom Met Ethos Benefits   05:10 – Early Challenges & The Broken Renewal Cycle   05:52 – Ethos’ Approach: Strategy over sidestepping   06:44 – Building a Multi-Year Plan 07:16 – The Renewal Turnaround (13% decrease)   08:26 – Lowering Costs for Employees 09:19 – Why Data Matters in Healthcare Strategy   10:50 – Making Data Simple for Decision Makers 12:27 – Pharmacy Benefits: The 60% Cost Problem   13:25 – PBM Conflicts & Misaligned Incentives   15:25 – Fixing PBM First: High-Return, Low-Friction Changes 16:27 – Member Experience: What Improves   17:37 – Understanding the Four Parts of a Health Plan   18:20 – Increasing Competition & Transparency 19:46 – Compensation Transparency & Fiduciary Responsibility   20:35 – Forming a Fiduciary Committee   22:53 – Industry Conflicts & Broker Incentives 25:07 – 408(b)(2) Disclosures & Reasonable Arrangements   26:22 – Why Compensation Alignment Matters   27:15 – Advice to New Advisors & Consultants   27:50 – Advice to New Benefits Managers   29:18 – Raising the Standard of Care in Healthcare   31:11 – Internal Alignment: How Employers Improve Outcomes   32:27 – A Better Approach: Curiosity Over Judgment   33:10 – What “Good Healthcare Stewardship” Means   34:28 – Ethos Healthcare Documentaries   35:20 – Closing Remarks & Episode Wrap -------------------------------- Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.

    36 min
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About

For decades, employers have been fed a lie: “There’s nothing you can do to control healthcare costs.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The system is doing exactly what it was designed to do—profit off of HR, CFOs, and CEOs who believe that lie year after year.With 180 million Americans relying on employer-sponsored healthcare, it’s time to challenge the status quo. The Business of Benefits is your No BS, No Sales guide to the real solutions. No gimmicks—just the truth about how to take control, transform your benefits, and care for your most valuable asset: your people.Each episode dives deep into the data, exposing industry misalignments and inefficiencies that inflate costs while offering actionable strategies for designing financially sustainable, high-value benefits.Through eye-opening interviews with industry insiders, expert analysis, and real-world success stories, hosts Donovan and Chelsea pull back the curtain on the hidden flaws in the healthcare system. The result? An empowering roadmap for employers ready to break free from outdated models and unlock smarter, more sustainable benefits.If you’re tired of the same old sales pitch and ready to rethink benefits, reduce costs, and improve care—this podcast is for you. The truth is out there—are you ready to hear it?

Information

  • Creator
    Hi Hello Labs Network
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    75
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Hi Hello Labs Network
  • Show Website
    The Business of Benefits Podcast

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