Take Charge with HELPcare

HELPcare Clinic

Take Charge with HELPcare is your guide to taking charge of your health and your health care. If you're an employer paying for health insurance, it will help you Take Charge of Your Health Plan. And if you're a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, it will show you how you can Take Charge of Your Health Care Career. HELPcare LLC provides management services to HELP practitioners escape the hamster wheel to become owners of a HELPcare Clinic direct primary care (DPC) practice, and metabolic health coaching to help patients prevent or even reverse disease.

  1. Jul 30

    PT First Saves

    Musculoskeletal conditions—back pain, shoulder injuries, knee problems and similar issues—are among the largest drivers of employer health plan spending. But they may also represent one of the best opportunities to improve care while reducing costs. In this episode of Take Charge with HELPcare, Lee Aase talks with Brian McQuilkin and Jake Hoeppner of ActivePT in Rochester, Minnesota, about why physical therapy should often be the first stop for musculoskeletal problems. Brian and Jake explain how early access to physical therapy can help patients reduce pain, regain strength and return to normal activities—sometimes avoiding unnecessary imaging, injections, specialist visits or surgery. They also introduce ActivePT Direct, a direct-contracting model that enables employers to provide employees with timely, in-person physical therapy at $0 out of pocket. Employers pay when the service is used, while gaining an opportunity to reduce much larger downstream medical claims. The conversation covers: • Why physical therapy can produce outcomes comparable to surgery for some conditions• How faster access can prevent manageable problems from becoming expensive ones• Why Minnesota patients can often see a physical therapist without a referral• How ActivePT measures utilization, outcomes and potential return on investment• Why direct contracting can align the interests of employees, employers and providers Brian and Jake will also be among the presenters at the Building a Better Employer Health Plan workshop on August 5 in Rochester. Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-a-better-employer-health-plan-tickets-1988348798782?aff=oddtdtcreator Get in touch with Brian and Jake at: https://activeptandsports.com

  2. Jul 18

    Stop Buying Insurance. Start Buying Health Care.

    Most employers don’t really want to buy health insurance. They want to buy health care. In this episode of Take Charge with HELPcare, Lee Aase and Dan Hinmon talk with Matt Ohrt, Executive Director of the Free Market Medical Association and author of Save Your Company, Don’t Feed the Beast. Matt spent about 25 years in HR leadership, and he understands the frustration employers feel when health plan costs keep rising even after they’ve moved to self-funding. He shares how his work at Merrill Steel led him to realize that self-funding alone isn’t a strategy. Employers need to become active buyers of health care. The conversation focuses on Direct Primary Care as the foundation of a better health plan, the importance of transparent pricing, the problem with networks that limit buyer choice, and how employers can use direct relationships for services like imaging, physical therapy, chiropractic care and surgery. Matt also previews the Minnesota Chapter of the Free Market Medical Association event, Building a Better Employer Health Plan, where he will be the keynote speaker on August 5 in Rochester. This episode is especially relevant for HR leaders, CFOs, CEOs, business owners, public-sector leaders and brokers who are tired of the same old renewal cycle and want practical alternatives. Learn more about HELPcare Clinic at https://helpcare.health.

  3. Jul 11

    Better Benefits, Lower Costs: Mower County's First-Year Results

    Mower County set out to control rising health care costs without reducing benefits or shifting more expense to employees. One year later, combined medical and pharmacy spending had declined by nearly 7%, putting the county on track for approximately $500,000 in expected savings. Lee Aase and Dan Hinmon welcome back Colton Storla, vice president of employee benefits at North Risk Partners, to discuss Mower County’s first-year results. Colton explains how self-funding gave the county greater transparency and control—and why self-funding alone doesn’t guarantee savings. The results came from combining appropriate stop-loss protection with direct primary care through HELPcare Clinic, nurse navigation, pharmacy management and access to preferred high-value providers. The plan renewed with a low-single-digit increase despite experiencing a claim exceeding $1 million. More than half of the county’s covered population also engaged with HELPcare Clinic during the year. You’ll also hear how moving one employee’s injectable medication from a hospital setting to HELPcare Clinic reduced its cost from approximately $60,000 to a little over $20,000 while making care more convenient - and FREE - for the employee. Learn more about HELPcare Clinic at https://helpcare.health. Learn more and register for Building a Better Employer Health Plan on Aug. 5 in Rochester.

  4. Mar 9

    Sara Persinger - Why 'Good Enough' isn't Good Enough

    Why do we wait until people are “sick enough” before helping them get healthy? In this episode of the Take Charge with HELPcare Podcast, Lee Aase and Dan Hinmon welcome Sara Persinger, DNP, one of HELPcare’s newest nurse practitioners. Sara shares her journey from growing up on a Wisconsin dairy farm to working at Mayo Clinic and ultimately finding her calling in relationship-based primary care. They talk about the difference between managing disease and pursuing optimal health, why the traditional system often misses early warning signs, and how the HELPcare model allows practitioners to spend the time needed to truly understand and help patients. Sara also shares a powerful story about how slowing down in a patient visit created space for a conversation that turned out to be far more important than the reason the patient came in. If you’ve ever felt rushed through a healthcare visit or wondered why prevention often comes too late, this conversation will give you a new perspective. It’s time to Take Charge of your health.

  5. Feb 23

    Meet Karen Popp, CNP

    What does it look like when a nurse practitioner with surgical experience, wound care expertise, and a deeply personal understanding of caregiving joins HELPcare? In this episode of Take Charge with HELPcare, Lee Aase and Dan Hinmon welcome Karen Popp, CNP, to the team — and to the podcast. Karen shares her journey from growing up on a Minnesota farm to working in orthopedic surgery, nursing homes, wound care, and solo primary care. She opens up about caring for her parents through Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s — and how that experience shaped her empathy, decision-making, and passion for adult and geriatric care. We also talk about: Why she was drawn to the Direct Primary Care model What surprised her most about HELPcare’s comprehensive lab panels The freedom of practicing medicine without insurance constraints Why 60-minute visits change the patient experience The power of collaboration among clinicians In the old system, care is rushed, testing is limited, and insurance drives decisions. In our model, membership means:More time.More thorough testing.Predictable costs.Real relationships. No surprise bills.Most of the care you need — covered. If you’ve ever felt like your care was fragmented or rushed, this episode will show you there’s another way. It’s time to Take Charge.

  6. 12/22/2025

    Listening to Your Body’s Whispers: Welcoming Dr. Dawn Jacobson to HELPcare Clinic Rochester

    What if your doctor could catch health problems while your body is still whispering instead of waiting until it’s shouting? In this episode of Take Charge with HELPcare, founder Lee Aase and co‑host Dan Hinmon introduce Dr. Dawn Jacobson, the newest physician joining HELPcare Clinic Rochester on January 6. Dr. Jacobson is board certified in preventive medicine and integrative and functional medicine. She blends advanced lab testing, lifestyle medicine, and a body–mind–spirit perspective to help patients prevent and even reverse chronic disease before it fully takes hold. You’ll hear Dr. Jacobson explain: What integrative and functional medicine actually are, in plain language How she uses expanded lab panels (often 70+ markers) to see what’s happening at the cellular levelWhat she calls the body’s “whispers” – subtle symptoms many people are told to ignore – and how she investigates them The four types of data she uses to guide care: labs, your daily habits, how you feel, and current medical evidence Why gut health, toxins, infections, hormones and lifestyle can all drive issues like fatigue, skin problems, joint pain, mood changes and more Her training in the Bredesen Protocol for dementia and Alzheimer’s prevention, and practical steps to start protecting your brain now How HELPcare Clinic’s direct primary care membership model gives her the time and flexibility to do deep preventive, root‑cause workDr. Jacobson will provide specialty integrative and functional medicine visits at HELPcare Clinic Rochester, building on the extensive lab testing already included in HELPcare Premier membership. If you’ve ever been told “your labs are normal” but you still don’t feel well, or you’re worried about long‑term brain health and dementia risk, this conversation will give you a hopeful, science‑based path to start taking charge. Learn more about HELPcare Clinic or explore membership at HELPcare.health.

  7. 11/25/2025

    Navigating the Open Enrollment Minefield

    Open enrollment is more complicated—and more important—than ever. In this episode of Take Charge with HELPcare, Lee Aase sits down with licensed insurance expert Kelly Connaughty of HealthMarkets to break down the seismic shifts happening in Medicare Advantage, MnSure exchange plans, and the individual insurance market. Kelly has great experience guiding individuals and families through the enrollment process, including many HELPcare Clinic members, and he brings a clear, practical perspective to issues affecting Minnesotans this year. In this episode, you'll learn: Why major Medicare Advantage plans are disappearing across SE Minnesota How Mayo Clinic’s network changes affect your coverage options What rising premiums and the 2026 subsidy “cliff” mean for families How recent HSA enhancements open new opportunities to save Why Bronze plans now pair better than ever with Direct Primary Care Real-life examples of families saving thousands by switching smart Why working with a MnSure assister costs nothing—and can save you a lot Whether you're reviewing your current plan, exploring HELPcare Clinic membership, or just trying to understand your choices, this episode gives you the tools to navigate open enrollment with confidence. Hosted by:Lee Aase, HELPcare Founder Dan Hinmon Guest:Kelly Connaughty, Licensed Insurance Agent, HealthMarkets

  8. 11/11/2025

    Take Charge: HELPcare Clinic Coming to Albert Lea

    🎉 Big news for Albert Lea! In this special episode of Take Charge with HELPcare, host Lee Aase joins co-host Dan Hinmon to share an exciting announcement: HELPcare Clinic is expanding to Albert Lea, Minnesota, with a brand-new clinic opening in early 2026! Lee tells the inside story of how everything came together — from discovering the perfect location in Skyline Plaza (the former VA outpatient clinic space) to connecting with two talented nurse practitioners who will be joining the HELPcare team. You’ll also hear why this expansion means so much to the community. After years of frustration with limited local healthcare options — including the closures of Mayo Express Care and MercyOne — HELPcare is stepping in to provide something truly different: affordable, unhurried, relationship-based primary care that helps members take charge of their own health. Lee and Dan also preview the upcoming HELPcare Community Kickoff event on Wednesday, November 20 at 6:30 p.m. at Wedgewood Cove Golf Club in Albert Lea. The free event will feature: A documentary screening of It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Healthcare Introductions to HELPcare’s new practitioners Real stories from current HELPcare members Details on a special early-bird membership offer 💚 HELPcare Clinic’s direct primary care model is all about putting people first. Members enjoy unlimited primary care for a flat monthly fee, longer visits, and lab testing included — all without insurance hassles or surprise bills. Whether you’re in Albert Lea, Austin, or anywhere looking for a better healthcare experience, this episode explains how HELPcare is helping members truly take charge of their health. 🎟️ Reserve your free ticket for the community kickoff at helpcare.health📍 Learn more about HELPcare Clinic – Albert Lea Episode highlights: Why HELPcare Clinic is expanding to Albert Lea How direct primary care empowers patients What makes HELPcare’s membership model unique Details on the community kickoff event Real stories from members who’ve experienced the HELPcare difference Keywords: HELPcare Clinic, Albert Lea healthcare, direct primary care, Lee Aase, Take Charge podcast, healthcare innovation, Minnesota primary care, affordable healthcare

See All (35)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Take Charge with HELPcare is your guide to taking charge of your health and your health care. If you're an employer paying for health insurance, it will help you Take Charge of Your Health Plan. And if you're a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant, it will show you how you can Take Charge of Your Health Care Career. HELPcare LLC provides management services to HELP practitioners escape the hamster wheel to become owners of a HELPcare Clinic direct primary care (DPC) practice, and metabolic health coaching to help patients prevent or even reverse disease.

Information

  • Creator
    HELPcare Clinic
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    35
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © HELPcare Clinic
  • Show Website
    Take Charge with HELPcare