What if the solution to rising healthcare costs isn’t more complexity… but more structure? In this episode of The EOB Podcast, Friends with Benefits Episode 2, Justin and Julie sit down with David Balinski, Founder & CEO of Wire Health, to challenge one of the biggest assumptions in healthcare:

👉 Should hospitals be treated like utilities?

From unpredictable pricing to lack of transparency and inefficient administrative systems, this conversation breaks down why the current healthcare model isn’t working — and what it might take to fix it.

David shares a bold perspective on how regulating hospital pricing could:

• Reduce extreme cost variation Improve access to care
• Shift competition toward quality and outcomes
• Eliminate billions in administrative waste
• Create a more sustainable system for employers and patients

The episode also dives into:

• Why healthcare lacks a true free market
• The illusion of price transparency
• How networks impact pricing and access
• The inefficiencies in claims processing and repricing
• Why employers and employees are both feeling the financial strain

If you’re an employer, HR leader, CFO, benefits advisor, or simply someone trying to understand why healthcare feels so broken… this episode connects the dots. Because when pricing doesn’t make sense… the system doesn’t either.