Are provider quality scores just another healthcare fad, or are they a critical tool for driving better health outcomes and maximizing your organization’s investment in employee benefits? In this episode, we cut through the noise to help employers understand what these scores really mean, how to identify high-quality providers, and how leveraging this information can lead to measurable improvements in workforce health and cost efficiency.

Join us as we answer the questions employers ask most:

• Which provider quality metrics actually matter for my organization?
• How can I use provider data to improve employee satisfaction and health outcomes?
• What are the pitfalls of relying on certain scores, and how can I avoid them?
• How have other employers successfully used provider quality information to drive results?
• What practical steps can HR and benefits leaders take to integrate provider quality into their strategy?

Whether you’re a benefits manager, HR leader, or executive, this episode will empower you to make informed decisions that benefit both your employees and your bottom line.

In part two of our three part series on the mounting primary care crisis, we will continue our discussion from August on the impact on employers. Our panel of experts will provide insights into how carriers are addressing the shortage, as well as what they believe employers can do to help combat this crisis.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• A carriers perspective on why we are facing such a crisis
• What strategies have been put in place to help reverse these trends
• What has worked effectively and where are efforts falling short
• How employers, the payors of healthcare, may be able to influence these trends

This is a must-listen for HR leaders, benefits professionals, and executives seeking sustainable healthcare strategies that work for both their people and their bottom line.

As healthcare costs continue to rise and scrutiny around plan transparency intensifies, employers are under growing pressure to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility—not just to manage costs, but to ensure health plan decisions truly serve the best interests of their employees.

In this compelling episode, we explore what fiduciary duty really means for employers in today’s complex benefits landscape. Experts break down the legal, ethical, and financial implications of being a plan sponsor—and what it takes to stay compliant, cost-conscious, and employee-centered.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What ERISA says about fiduciary obligations—and how it applies to health benefits
• Why fiduciary risk is rising, and what recent lawsuits mean for employers
• Common blind spots in benefits strategy that can lead to compliance issues
• Practical steps employers can take to protect themselves and support their workforce

If you're in HR, finance, or on a leadership team making decisions about your company’s health plan, this episode is your essential guide to navigating your fiduciary role with confidence and clarity.

The U.S. healthcare system is facing a mounting primary care crisis—marked by physician shortages, limited access, and rising costs. In this timely episode, we examine how the decline in effective primary care is not just a health issue, but a serious business concern for employers grappling with escalating healthcare expenses and workforce wellbeing challenges.

Our expert guests unpack the systemic issues behind the crisis and explore what employers can do to strengthen access to quality primary care. You’ll hear practical insights into benefits design, provider partnerships, and policies that prioritize prevention, continuity, and cost control.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• Why primary care is foundational to employee health and healthcare affordability
• The downstream impact of poor access on absenteeism, chronic disease, and claims
• What forward-thinking employers are doing to restore value to primary care
• Strategies to align health benefits with long-term business and employee health goal

This is a must-listen for HR leaders, benefits professionals, and executives seeking sustainable healthcare strategies that work for both their people and their bottom line.

In this episode of the Pulse, we will explore the powerful connection between an organization’s culture and environment and employee mental health. Beyond traditional EAP services, we’ll discuss how improving workplace culture, physical spaces, and social connections can boost resilience, reduce anxiety and depression, and create a stronger sense of belonging.

Mental health service usage increased 17% in 2024 and 62% since 2020. Don’t miss this opportunity to discover new ways to support your team and improve employee mental health.

Our Guests:

Andrea Davis, Director of Wellbeing at The Alera Group

Sara Johnson, PhD. Co-President & CEO at Prochange Behavior Solutions and Senior Research Fellow at HERO (Health Enhancement Research Organization)

Joan M. Troester, MBA, CEBS, SPHR, Senior Assistant Vice President, Deputy CHRO at The University of Iowa

Guests will:

• Explore the influence of resiliency and a sense of belonging on mental health
• Uncover strategies employers can put in place to improve a sense of belonging
• Examine the factors that impact resiliency, much like we would focus on improving diet for better cardiovascular health

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in pregnancy-related complications. This trend has persisted. In this episode, we’ll explore the factors contributing to this ongoing issue and discuss strategies to help reverse the trend.

Panelists will:

• Take a closer look at the data surrounding pregnancy with complications
• Explore treatment patterns, coding practices and potential revenue-driven care decisions within hospital systems
• Uncover strategies to optimize maternal health programs and proactively reduce complications before pregnancy begins

This episode includes guest speakers:

Cindy Basinski, MD, OBGYN, Founder of Basinski and Juran, MDs, LLC

Morgan F McDonald, MD, FACP, FAAP, National Director for Population Health at Milbank Memorial Fund

Join us for Part 2 of our insightful podcast series dedicated to improving outcomes for those affected by substance use disorders. In this episode, we'll explore effective early intervention strategies and the essential steps for building a robust support structure. Additionally, we’ll discuss how employers can ensure compliance with Mental Health Parity laws while reducing unnecessary medical expenses that contribute to wasteful spending.

Panelists will discuss:

• Strategies for enhancing early treatment of substance use disorders to prevent progression to catastrophic care.
• Publicly available resources to help identify the most appropriate treatments and high-quality care options.
• Provisions in current carrier contracts that enable them to retain a percentage of costs as revenue, while limiting access to in-network providers.
• Understanding the Mental Health Parity laws and your obligations as a health plan provider.

This episode includes guest speakers:

Kirsten Suto Seckler, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Shatterproof

Danielle Capilla, JD, SVP of Compliance and Operational Strategy for Alera Group's Employee Benefits division

Lisa Kugler, Psy.D., SVP for Shatterproof’s Treatment Atlas team

Substance use disorders related to alcohol and drug addiction are having a heavy emotional and financial toll on the workplace. It’s estimated that addiction costs employers upwards of $81 billion per year and employers struggle with how to provide the correct care. Finding in-network providers is challenging and health plans are paying a significant amount in out of network fees and “Shared Savings” that the carrier then takes.

Tune into this episode of The Pulse as we examine the health plan impacts of substance abuse, including uncovering why so many facilities are not in network, what the carriers’ role is in this issue and how employers can create better strategies.

Panelists will discuss:

• The advantages and disadvantages of an addiction treatment center setting up in-network contracts.
• How the laws related to Mental Health Parity influence employers and health plan decisions.
• How claims for these services are handled when out of network and who may be winning in that negotiation.
• How employers can improve their strategy to supporting the needs of their plan members

This episode includes guest speakers:

Tim Clement, VP of Federal Government Affairs at Mental Health America.

Chris Deacon, JD, Principal/Founder VerSan Consulting

Damon Eisenbrey, Partner, Arnall Golden Gregory LLP

Kirsten Suto Seckler, Chief Marketing & Communications Officer at Shatterproof