Self-Funded With Spencer Spencer Smith

“In what other industry are you just not covered up with business if you're cheaper and better? This is America, for God's sake." - Keith Smith



This is a special episode with a special guest: Dr. Keith Smith from the Surgery Center of Oklahoma. Keith realized in the 1990s that the surgery system in America was exploitative and unfair, and decided to “rebel”, setting up a “parallel market” to sell surgeries direct to consumer at a listed price without any middlemen.  



The idea of a consumer knowing the price ahead of purchasing a service (and not being charged afterward!) seems fundamental and obvious in every industry in our country, but it’s a completely revolutionary way of doing business in the healthcare industry. I talked with Keith about what made him realize that there had to be a better way of doing business, what it was like to be such a trailblazer, and why publicly posting his prices on his website was such a big deal. 



If you want to hear an amazing conversation with a doctor who’s made real change in curbing price gouging in our industry, tune in this week on Self-Funded with Spencer with Dr. Keith Smith. 



Chapters:

00:00:00 Meet Dr. Keith Smith

00:00:20 Spencer’s Son’s ER Trip
00:05:53 Transparent Surgical Bundle Pricing
00:22:17 Setting Surgical Prices Over The Phone
00:24:30 Allowing The Market To Drive Prices
00:40:21 Empowering Consumers By Posting Prices Online
00:42:30 Incentivizing Informed Healthcare Choices
00:53:03 Teaching Consultants On This Model
01:06:34 The Return To Free Market Healthcare



Key Links for Social:



@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded



Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02



Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286



Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/



Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/



Key Words: 

#DirectPricingModel #HealthcareTransparency #BundledSurgicalProcedures #PackagedPricing #SelfFundedEmployers #ZeroDeductible #ConsultantsInHealthcare #FreeMarketHealthcare #HealthcareCostSavings #TransparentHealthcare #BetterHealthcareChoices #ConsumerCentricHealthcare #selffunded #podcast

Direct Pricing Model, Healthcare Transparency, Bundled Surgical Procedures, Packaged Pricing, Self Funded Employers, Zero Deductible, Consultants In Healthcare, Free Market Healthcare, Healthcare Cost Savings, Transparent Healthcare, Better Healthcare Choices, Consumer Centric Healthcare, self funded, podcast


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support

"No one wins alone. And you know what? You can't do it on your own." - John Butler



John Butler, from JB Benefits Consulting, joined the show this week to talk the big-picture future of health insurance. 



From AI sales tools to ICHRA plans to Health Sharing Plans, John Butler is constantly thinking about the future of this industry, and it was fun to hear about how his life experience as a consultant led him to where he currently is. 



John and I also focused on making Americans actually healthier and how that could shift us away from the current “sickcare” mentality into an actually health-focused healthcare system. 



Join us this week on Self-Funded as we focus on the future! 



Chapters:

00:00:00 Meet John Butler

00:02:48 Driving Awareness of Health Solutions in Businesses
00:08:29 Managing Insurance Benefits for Employer Clients
00:12:46 Revolutionizing Sales and Marketing with AI Voices
00:15:38 Regenerative Medicine: Healing with Stem Cells
00:18:11 Health Sharing: A Cost-Effective Employer Solution
00:24:08 Real-time Reimbursements and Efficient Healthcare Solutions
00:31:47 Customized Healthcare Benefits for Cost Efficiency
00:34:22 Innovative Healthcare Models for Cost-Effective Care
00:51:17 Health Sharing Communities Transform Healthcare Insurance
00:52:30 Real-time Reimbursement Health Sharing Plans



Key Links for Social:



@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded



Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02



Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286



Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/



Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/



Key Words: 

#MarketingAwareness #BrokerBusiness #AIinSales #StemCellHealthcare #EmployerCostSavings #HealthcareTechnology #EmployeeBudgetOptimization #CostSavingsStrategies #FutureHealthInsurance #HealthInsuranceInnovation #SelfInsurance #FullyInsuredPlan #selffunded #podcast

Marketing Awareness, Broker Business, AI in Sales, Stem Cells, Employer Cost Savings, Healthcare Technology, Employee Budget Optimization, Cost Savings Strategies, Future Health Insurance, Health Insurance Innovation, Self Insurance, Fully Insured Plan self funded, podcast


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support

"I don't believe that random doctors should treat random patients in ongoing continuity of care. I don't think that transactional care is good for patients, and I know it's not good for physicians." - Chris Mathew

The great Chris Mathew, Chief Growth Officer at Sniffle, joined me to talk about the future of Telehealth and the amazingly cost-effective ($15 a month!) benefits plan that Sniffle offers. 

Chris comes from an entrepreneurial family background, which pushed him to work at various startups over the years. Chris and I talked about why it was so important for him to be part of a startup even when he didn’t immediately see success, and how that drive led him to where he is today. 

Chris is really passionate about making the experience of healthcare better for both patients and physicians, and Sniffle’s “Aignosis”, an AI diagnosis tool, plays a big role in making doctor’s visits more effective and personal. 

Join us this week for a conversation on making doctor’s and patient’s lives better, and learning just how Sniffle can offer so many amazing benefits for just fifteen dollars a month. 

Chapters:
00:00:00 Meet Chris Mathew
00:08:09 Entrepreneurial Success Through Resilience and Perseverance
00:14:20 Student Debt Impact on Physicians
00:18:42 Real-time Savings with Sniffle Rx Platform
00:30:05 Seamless Virtual Consultation Experience with Sniffle
00:36:03 Personalized Diet Plans Using AI Technology
00:45:36 Virtual Healthcare Network for Behavioral Wellness
00:57:07 The Future of Sniffle

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words: 
#Entrepreneurship #HealthcareChallenges #AIHealthcare #TelehealthInnovation #VirtualCare #AIIntegration #PrescriptionProcess #BehavioralHealth #EmployeeBenefits #ResilienceInBusiness #ContinuityOfCare #MentalHealthAwareness #selffunded #podcast
Entrepreneurship, Healthcare Challenges, AI Healthcare, Telehealth Innovation, Virtual Care, AI Integration, Prescription Process, Behavioral Health, Employee Benefits, Resilience In Business, Continuity Of Care, Mental Health Awareness, self funded, podcast

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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support

Does bone-on-bone contact always lead to pain? What's the best way to get good, new solutions in the hands of brokers? How many MSK surgeries are really necessary?


Chris Hamilton, Heidi Ojha, and Mark Testa joined me in studio to answer those questions and many more in this special bonus episode of Self-Funded with Spencer, The MSK Roundtable.



Key Links for Social:



@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded



Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02



Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286



Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/



Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support

"I always knew there was more. I always knew there was a different dimension to what this personnel or HR thing was." - Monica Panetta

Monica Panetta, Chief People Officer at ParetoHealth (a show sponsor and the company I work for), joined me for an evening podcast in studio as we talked all things HR/People, starting with why the industry has moved away from saying HR.

Monica’s so well-versed in the field that she actually started the HR program at her college as she was attending it, and the curriculum is still taught today. We talk how she got started in the field, how the field has evolved post-COVID, and how she made her way to Pareto.

Join us this week to find out a bit about Pareto, and a lot about what it means to be a Chief People Officer.

Chapters:
00:00:00 Meet Monica Panetta
00:01:38 Employee-Centric Leadership: How HR Has Evolved
00:02:38 Transitioning From “HR” to “People”
00:05:00 Getting Started In HR
00:13:16 Monica’s Career Journey
00:21:31 Strategic Benefits Management As An HR Employee
00:23:31 Empowering Employees Through Mental Health Support Programs
00:24:32 Promoting The EAP Program Internally
00:40:13 Recognizing Every Employee’s Journey
00:41:39 Cultural Compatibility Evaluation In The Hiring Process

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

Key Words:
#ChiefPeopleOfficer #HRterminology #CareerExploration #FinancialAcumen #EmployeeAssistancePrograms #UtilizationStrategies #EmployeeExperience #Onboarding #CultureFitAssessment #HRroles #WorkplaceWellness #JobSatisfaction #selffunded #podcast
Chief People Officer, HR terminology, Career Exploration, Financial Acumen, Employee Assistance Programs, Utilization Strategies, Employee Experience, Onboarding, Culture Fit Assessment, HR roles, Workplace Wellness, Job Satisfaction, self funded, podcast


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support

 "I think the more questions the employer asks, and just the deeper that they're willing to think about this and have already thought about it, the more they're able to buy into this mission." - Russell Pekala





Russell Pekala, co-founder of Yuzu Health, joined me in studio for this week’s episode focused on controlling pharmacy costs and emergency claims. 





Yuzu Health is a startup in the TPA space aiming to change how the claims process work. Rather than having the member get care and then deal with lowering costs after the fact, Yuzu pre-adjucates claims when possible, issuing a credit card to members to pay for care and avoiding huge bills on the backend. 





In addition to the claims talk, Russell and I chatted about his Harvard days, what founding a dating app was like, and the ramen-related health accident that pushed Russell into the healthcare startup space. 



Chapters:



0:00 - Meet Russell Pekala



5:53 - Working On A Dating App At Harvard
08:26 - The Art and Science of Stop Loss Insurance
18:47 - Yuzu's Innovative Startup Health Insurance Solution
20:44 - How Did Yuzu Get Started?
21:45 - Improving Healthcare Transparency and Accessibility with Yuzu
28:48 - Navigating Pharmacy Costs with SmithRX
32:51 - Revolutionizing Emergency Claims in Healthcare
39:26 - Employers Seeking Alternative Healthcare Approaches
54:26 - Revolutionizing healthcare through predictive wearables





Key Links for Social:



@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286



Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/



Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/



Key Words: 



#healthcare #healthinsurance #startups #technology #costcontrol #pharmacy #employers #predictivedata #wearables #futureofinsurance #selffunded #podcast

healthcare, health insurance, startups, technology, cost control, pharmacy, employers, predictive data, wearables, future of insurance, self funded, podcast


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Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/spencer-harlan-smith/support