The EOB Podcast

Justin Leader and Julie Selesnick
  • 5.0 (18)
  • Medicine
  • Updated Biweekly

Healthcare benefits are broken. Confusing by design. Buried in fine print. Protected by jargon. The EOB Podcast (Explanation of Benefits) exists to rip the curtain back. Hosted by Justin Leader, founder of BenefitsDNA — a known disruptor in the healthcare benefits industry, alongside Julie Selesnick, Director, Legal & Compliance at Judi Group and Founder & Principal Attorney at Health Plan Legal Counsel, a non-conflicted resource for fiduciaries sound benefit choices. This podcast breaks down what’s really happening inside health plans, contracts, and EOBs… in plain English. This isn’t theory. This isn’t recycled talking points. And this definitely isn’t fluff. Each episode dives into topics like: What your EOB actually says (and what it doesn’t) Fiduciary responsibility & plan sponsor accountability Contract language, negotiations, and hidden incentives Why benefits cost what they cost — and how to fix it Real-world wins, failures, and lessons learned from the front lines The goal is simple: make healthcare benefits understandable, actionable, and harder to hide behind complexity. Along the way, Justin and Julie bring in “Friends with Benefits” — industry insiders, legal experts, and operators who are actively challenging the status quo and building smarter, more cost-effective benefit plans. If you’re tired of lip service… If you believe benefits don’t have to be this complicated… If you want real education you can actually use… Welcome to The EOB Podcast — where we keep it real, challenge the system, and explain benefits the way they should be explained.

  1. Jul 28

    AI Is Here. Hospital Networks Are Shifting. What's Next for Employers?

    Artificial intelligence is changing the way businesses operate. Hospital networks are battling over reimbursement rates. Healthcare policy continues to evolve. So what does all of this mean for employers sponsoring health plans? In this episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin Leader and Julie Selesnick break down some of the biggest headlines impacting employer-sponsored healthcare today. They discuss why hospitals and insurance carriers end up in network disputes, how employers can turn those disruptions into opportunities through direct contracting, and why rural hospitals face unique financial challenges. They also dive into the rapid rise of AI, sharing practical advice for employers, consultants, and healthcare professionals on using artificial intelligence responsibly while protecting sensitive data. Whether you're an employer, HR leader, broker, consultant, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this episode offers practical insights and actionable strategies you can apply today. In this episode: • Hospital network disputes and what they mean for employers • Direct contracting opportunities during network disruptions • Challenges facing rural hospitals • AI best practices for healthcare and employee benefits • HIPAA, data privacy, and AI security • Why AI should be your assistant—not your replacement • Current healthcare policy updates • Action leadership vs. thought leadership 👍 Like this video if you found it helpful. 💬 Leave us a comment with your thoughts. 🔔 Follow us for more conversations on employer-sponsored healthcare, benefits, compliance, and healthcare policy.

  2. Jul 14

    Who Watches the Watchers? The Hidden Problem in Employer Healthcare with special guest Darren Fogarty

    What does it take to make employer-sponsored healthcare actually work? In this Friends with Benefits episode, Justin Leader and Julie Selesnick welcome Darren Fogarty, Associate Director of Purchaser Value and Policy at Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH). The conversation covers fiduciary responsibility, ERISA, healthcare transparency, compensation disclosures, access to claims data, and why meaningful reform requires more than just new legislation—it requires employers to become informed purchasers. Whether you're an employer, consultant, attorney, or healthcare professional, this episode provides valuable insights into where employer-sponsored healthcare is headed and what organizations can do today to better serve their employees.

  3. Jun 30

    Financial Domination, Prohibited Transactions & The Future of Employee Benefits

    In this episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin and Julie break down one of the biggest developments in the employee benefits industry: the growing wave of litigation surrounding voluntary benefits, excessive compensation, and fiduciary responsibility. With a fifth lawsuit now filed against a major employer and consulting firm, the conversation explores what these cases mean for brokers, employers, and anyone responsible for managing employee benefit plans. The discussion dives into ERISA safe harbors, prohibited transactions, compensation disclosures, and why transparency is quickly becoming one of the most important responsibilities in healthcare benefits. Topics include: 🔹 The latest voluntary benefits lawsuits and what they allege 🔹 Why ERISA safe harbor protection is harder to achieve than many believe 🔹 Prohibited transactions and hidden compensation risks 🔹 What employers should expect from their advisors and vendors 🔹 The future of compensation disclosures under CAA 2026 🔹 The growing importance of fiduciary liability insurance 🔹 The Northwestern "financial domination" case and its potential impact on health plan design 🔹 Best practices for transparency, prudence, and fiduciary governance Justin and Julie also share real-world stories from the industry, explain how hidden commissions continue to surface, and discuss why employers should treat healthcare purchasing like every other major business decision: ask questions, demand transparency, and know exactly what you're paying for. If you're an employer, broker, benefits consultant, HR leader, or healthcare fiduciary, this episode is packed with practical guidance on navigating an increasingly complex regulatory and litigation landscape. 🎙️ Subscribe to The EOB Podcast for honest conversations about healthcare benefits, ERISA, fiduciary responsibility, transparency, and the future of employee-sponsored healthcare.

  4. Jun 16

    Jessica Brooks Woods | Trust, AI, Collaboration & The Future of Healthcare

    In this special Friends with Benefits episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin and Julie sit down with Jessica Brooks Woods, healthcare leader, executive, and Founder of the newly launched Health Intelligence Network (HIN). This episode was filmed April 16, 2026. Jessica has spent her career bringing together employers, policymakers, consultants, innovators, and healthcare leaders to tackle some of the industry's biggest challenges. In this conversation, she shares the personal experiences that shaped her mission, why collaboration is the key to meaningful healthcare transformation, and how AI may fundamentally change the way we solve healthcare's most complex problems. The discussion covers: 🔹 The story behind launching Health Intelligence Network (HIN) 🔹 Why healthcare doesn't have an information problem—it has a cohesion problem 🔹 Trust as healthcare's biggest challenge 🔹 AI's role in the future of healthcare and benefits consulting 🔹 Why collaboration beats competition when solving healthcare problems 🔹 The power of employer coalitions and collective action 🔹 Healthcare innovation, transparency, and leadership 🔹 Building businesses that create impact while remaining profitable One of the most memorable takeaways: "We're not lacking information. We're lacking cohesion." Whether you're an employer, benefits professional, consultant, healthcare executive, entrepreneur, or simply interested in the future of healthcare, this episode offers a refreshing perspective on leadership, innovation, and creating meaningful change. 🎙️ Subscribe to The EOB Podcast for conversations that pull back the curtain on healthcare benefits, costs, transparency, and the future of healthcare.

  5. Jun 2

    The PBM Industry Is Cracking: FTC Settlements, New Rules & Fiduciary Risk

    This episode was filmed on March 19, 2026. The healthcare benefits industry is changing faster than it has in years... In this episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin and Julie break down the growing pressure facing Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), including the FTC settlement involving Express Scripts, new Department of Labor transparency proposals, the impact of CAA 2026, and emerging fiduciary litigation that could reshape the healthcare benefits landscape. Topics include: • FTC action against PBMs and what it means for employers • Spread pricing, rebate retention, and hidden compensation • The proposed DOL PBM transparency rule • Why fiduciary responsibility is becoming impossible to ignore • Direct contracting and the future of employer-sponsored healthcare • The role of transparency in reducing healthcare costs • What employers should be doing right now to protect their plans Justin and Julie also discuss why healthcare affordability has become a bipartisan issue, how employers can gain leverage during contract negotiations, and why simply accepting the status quo is no longer a viable strategy. If you're an employer, HR leader, CFO, advisor, benefits professional, or healthcare industry stakeholder, this episode is packed with practical insights on where the market is heading next. Because one thing is becoming increasingly clear: The healthcare industry is changing, and employers need to be ready.

  6. May 20

    The EOB Podcast Live! with Shawn Gremminger at Elevated Insights Summit 2026

    This episode got a little… theatrical. 🎭 In the first-ever LIVE episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin and Julie are joined by Shawn Gremminger, President & CEO of the National Alliance of Healthcare Purchaser Coalitions, for a deep dive into one of the biggest issues in healthcare today: 👉 Why employers still struggle to access their own data 👉 How PBMs and carriers use opaque contracts 👉 And why healthcare pricing still feels intentionally confusing Through a mix of live skits, audience interaction, sarcasm, and real policy discussion, the episode breaks down: • Shared savings programs • Contract transparency • PBM reform and data access • Employer fiduciary responsibility • Hospital pricing and pharmacy spend • ERISA preemption • Why employers are finally pushing back Shawn shares insights from working with employer coalitions representing more than 90 million Americans and explains why this moment feels different than years past. One major takeaway: 👉 Employers are no longer willing to blindly trust the system. And yes… there’s also a fake Kohl’s rebate program skit.

  7. May 12

    Jamie Greenleaf | Healthcare Fees Are Hidden… And Employers Are at Risk

    What if the biggest risk in your healthcare plan… is something you can’t even see? In this episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin and Julie are joined by Jamie Greenleaf, Co-Founder of Fiduciary in a Box, to break down one of the most important (and overlooked) issues in healthcare benefits today: 👉 Fiduciary responsibility — and why most employers aren’t prepared for it Drawing from decades of experience in the retirement space, Jaime connects the dots between what happened with 401(k) plans… and what’s now unfolding in healthcare. Because the pattern looks familiar: • Hidden compensation • Lack of transparency • Vague or missing contracts • And employers being held responsible anyway The conversation dives into: Why healthcare is following the same path as retirement plans What “reasonable compensation” actually means under ERISA How lack of disclosures creates real legal risk Why litigation may drive change faster than regulation The dangers of indirect compensation and conflicted advice And how employers can start building a defensible fiduciary process One of the biggest takeaways? 👉 If you can’t explain what you’re paying… you probably can’t defend it. This episode is a must-watch for employers, HR leaders, CFOs, and benefits advisors trying to navigate an increasingly complex and high-risk environment.

  8. Apr 20

    PBM Transparency Rule Sparks Chaos | Inside the DOL Comment Storm

    This one couldn’t wait. In this episode of The EOB Podcast, Justin and Julie break down the proposed Department of Labor rule on PBM transparency — and the flood of industry responses submitted before the comment deadline. With over 500+ submissions from carriers, PBMs, employers, and other stakeholders, the conversation reveals a clear divide: 👉 Those pushing for more transparency 👉 And those… pushing back hard For the first time, the proposed rule would require PBMs to disclose all compensation — including rebates, spread pricing, administrative fees, and more — before a contract is signed. So why the resistance? Justin and Julie dig into real comment letters from major players in the industry, breaking down: Common arguments against the rule (and what they really mean) Why “this is too complex” keeps coming up What employers are being told vs. what they actually need How transparency impacts fiduciary responsibility And where this could go next Along the way, they call out contradictions, questionable logic, and a few moments that are… unintentionally hilarious. Because when it comes to healthcare benefits: understanding how money flows isn’t optional — it’s the whole game.

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5
out of 5
18 Ratings

About

Healthcare benefits are broken. Confusing by design. Buried in fine print. Protected by jargon. The EOB Podcast (Explanation of Benefits) exists to rip the curtain back. Hosted by Justin Leader, founder of BenefitsDNA — a known disruptor in the healthcare benefits industry, alongside Julie Selesnick, Director, Legal & Compliance at Judi Group and Founder & Principal Attorney at Health Plan Legal Counsel, a non-conflicted resource for fiduciaries sound benefit choices. This podcast breaks down what’s really happening inside health plans, contracts, and EOBs… in plain English. This isn’t theory. This isn’t recycled talking points. And this definitely isn’t fluff. Each episode dives into topics like: What your EOB actually says (and what it doesn’t) Fiduciary responsibility & plan sponsor accountability Contract language, negotiations, and hidden incentives Why benefits cost what they cost — and how to fix it Real-world wins, failures, and lessons learned from the front lines The goal is simple: make healthcare benefits understandable, actionable, and harder to hide behind complexity. Along the way, Justin and Julie bring in “Friends with Benefits” — industry insiders, legal experts, and operators who are actively challenging the status quo and building smarter, more cost-effective benefit plans. If you’re tired of lip service… If you believe benefits don’t have to be this complicated… If you want real education you can actually use… Welcome to The EOB Podcast — where we keep it real, challenge the system, and explain benefits the way they should be explained.

Information

  • Creator
    Justin Leader and Julie Selesnick
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    The EOB Podcast

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