Healthcare on the Rocks - Employee Benefits with a Twist

In this light-hearted yet informative episode, Chrissy Krampert, Chief Strategy Officer at Jellyvision, shares the fascinating journey of Jellyvision, from its quirky beginnings in educational content and gaming to becoming a leader in healthcare benefits education with ALEX, their flagship product.

She explains how ALEX leverages behavioral science and technology to simplify complex healthcare decisions for employees, turning confusion into clarity. Chrissy highlights how Jellyvision’s tools help employees make smarter healthcare choices, ultimately saving employers significant costs. "We want to go to where there is furrowed brow and bring it to peace of mind," she says, encapsulating their mission.

The discussion delves into the practical impacts of ALEX, from employees proposing to it during open enrollment to Jellyvision’s strategic use of claims data to offer personalized healthcare advice. Chrissy emphasizes the importance of building trust and engaging employees with humor and simplicity.

The episode also covers Jellyvision’s future plans, including their partnership with Springbuk to enhance data-driven decision-making and the integration of AI for more precise recommendations. "We're able to establish that trust and guide an employee throughout the year to making better decisions," Chrissy notes, showcasing the influence of their innovative solution.

Key Takeaways:

• Behavioral Science: ALEX uses behavioral science to engage employees, helping them understand and utilize their benefits effectively.
• Cost Savings: ALEX helps employers save on healthcare costs by guiding employees to choose and use the best-fit plans.
• Personalization: The integration of claims data and AI allows for tailored healthcare guidance, enhancing the employee experience.
• Engagement and Trust: Jellyvision builds trust through humor, simplicity, and personalized interactions, making healthcare decisions less daunting.

Quotes:
"We want to go to where there is furrowed brow and bring it to peace of mind." - Chrissy Krampert
"People would rather do their taxes while cleaning their bathroom before they'd want to pick a benefits plan."

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Chrissy Krampert on LinkedIn
• Visit Jellyvision
• Learn more about the Springbuk Activate Partner Marketplace and get other related resources
• Get the complete 2024 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources
• Connect with our co-hosts Nicole Belles and David Pittman

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at [email protected].

Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening!

Produced by David Pittman

Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside

In this engaging episode of "Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist," hosts Jennifer and David invite two guests from PHM, Natalya Gertsik and Tommy Axford, to discuss innovative strategies for managing employee benefits, with a particular focus on cancer care.

Natalya, specializing in population health risk management and biopharmaceuticals, sheds light on the actionable guidance PHM provides for optimizing cancer care. Tommy, with his actuarial background, emphasizes the importance of focusing on the small subset of cases that drive a significant portion of healthcare spending.

The conversation delves into the complexities of cancer treatment, including the challenges of adopting precision medicine and the necessity of personalized care plans that consider the unique needs and preferences of each patient.

Key takeaways from this discussion include:

• The importance of striving for precision medicine in targeting cancer treatment.
• The vital role of personalized medicine, considering the patient's personal preferences, cultural background, and socioeconomic factors, highlighting the need for a more holistic treatment plan.
• Innovative solutions like PHM's Clear Cancer Care Management Solution, part of the Springbuk Activate Marketplace, which offers employers and their advisors data-driven ways to connect with partners who can address specific healthcare needs, particularly in managing high-cost cancer treatments.
• Real-life success stories that illustrate the life-changing impact of creative and personalized cancer treatment strategies, emphasizing the potential for significant improvements in patient outcomes.

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Natalya Gertsik and Tommy Axford on LinkedIn
• Visit PHM
• Learn more about the Springbuk Activate Partner Marketplace and get other related resources
• Get the complete 2024 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources

Connect with our co-hosts Jennifer Jones and David Pittman

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at [email protected].

Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening!

Produced by David Pittman

Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside

In this episode of "Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist," Dr. Nora Lansen, Chief Medical Officer at Elektra Health, discusses an often overlooked but crucial aspect of women's health: menopause. Dr. Lansen, a board-certified family physician with extensive experience in women's health, sheds light on the complexities of menopause and its impact on women in the workplace.

Dr. Lansen explains that menopause is not just a moment in time, but a journey spanning 20 to 25 years of a person's life, including perimenopause and post-menopause. The conversation reveals staggering statistics from Elektra's workplace survey, such as "one in three women reported that menopause negatively impacts their work performance" and "20 percent of women have left or considered leaving a job because of menopause symptoms."

Dr. Lansen describes how Elektra Health is working to "smash the menopause taboo" by providing comprehensive, virtual care for women experiencing menopausal symptoms. The episode explores various ways employers can support their menopausal workforce, from hosting educational events to offering Elektra's services as a covered benefit.

Key takeaways from the episode include:

• Menopause is a long-term journey, not just a single moment, affecting women for 20-25 years
• Common menopausal symptoms like brain fog and memory issues can significantly impact work performance
• Many women feel unsupported by their employers during menopause
• Employers can benefit from supporting menopausal employees, who are often at the prime of their careers
• Addressing menopause care can help prevent other health issues that become more prevalent during midlife

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Nora Lansen on LinkedIn
• Visit Elektra Health
• Learn more about the Springbuk Activate Partner Marketplace and get other related resources
• Get the complete 2024 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources

Connect with our co-hosts Brittany Hardaway and David Pittman

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at [email protected].

Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening!

Produced by David Pittman

Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside

In this episode, guests Tommy Axford and Dr. Natalya Gertsik from Private Health Management (PHM), talk about clinical trials and cancer care. They discuss why employers struggle with cancer-related costs and how clinical trials can be both medically beneficial and cost-effective. The conversation centers on the unique challenges cancer presents as a complex set of diseases rather than a single condition with standard solutions. Dr. Gertsik highlights a story about "Peter," who was given three months to live but achieved complete remission through a clinical trial identified by PHM. As Peter recounts, "It has now been a dozen years that I have been in remission from what was an original death sentence."

The discussion explores barriers to clinical trial access, including the vast number of trials available and various patient, provider, and institutional challenges. With specialty oncology medications averaging $65,000, clinical trials sponsored by pharmaceutical companies can offer significant cost savings for employers. Dr. Gertsik, "Most of the benefits employers are putting in place work for 95 percent of their population, but they don't work as well for the sickest and most expensive 5%."

Key Takeaways:

• Cancer's complexity requires sophisticated solutions beyond traditional benefits
• Clinical trials can provide cutting-edge treatments while reducing employer costs
• Major access barriers include provider time constraints and complex qualification criteria
• Solutions need to focus on the 5% of employees who represent the highest healthcare costs
• Employers need partners who can address all cancer types comprehensively

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Tommy Axford and Dr. Natalya Gertsik on LinkedIn
• Visit Private Health Management (PHM)
• Download PHM’s report on clinical trials and cancer
• Learn more about the Springbuk Activate Partner Marketplace and get other related resources
• Get the complete 2024 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources

Connect with our co-hosts Brittany Hardaway and David Pittman

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at [email protected].

Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening!

Produced by David Pittman

Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside

In this episode of "Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist," hosts Nicole Belles and David Pittman sit down with Bill Snyder, CEO of Cylinder, to discuss the growing crisis of gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and their significant impact on the workforce. Bill provides a detailed overview of how Cylinder, a company recently rebranded to reflect its mission of prioritizing gut health, is tackling these issues with innovative and personalized care solutions. The conversation highlights the staggering costs associated with GI diseases, amounting to $136 billion annually, and underscores the importance of preventive care and data-driven strategies for employers.

Bill explains how Cylinder's tech-forward approach, coupled with personalized human touch, offers comprehensive care for GI conditions. The discussion also delves into the broader implications of GI health on overall well-being, touching on correlations with diabetes, cancer, and mental health. Bill's insights into the prevalence of GI conditions, the role of diet, and the benefits of personalized treatment plans provide a compelling narrative on why employers should prioritize GI health solutions. Notable quotes from Bill include, "Digestive health is certainly having a moment," and "We wake up every day with our mission of revolutionizing digital health gut first on our mind."

Key Takeaways:

• GI diseases cost $136 billion annually, more than heart disease or mental health.
• One in four Americans suffer from a chronic GI condition, impacting workplace absenteeism and productivity.
• Cylinder offers a tech-enabled, personalized approach to GI care, integrating dieticians, gastroenterologists, and digital therapeutics.
• Improved GI health can lead to better overall health, reducing costs and improving quality of life.
• Employers see high participation and engagement with Cylinder’s solutions, reporting significant cost savings and improved health outcomes.

Stay in Touch!

• Connect with Bill Snyder on LinkedIn
• Visit Cylinder Health
• Learn more about the Springbuk Activate Partner Marketplace and get other related resources
• Get the complete 2024 Employee Health Trends report and other related resources

Connect with our co-hosts Nicole Belles and David Pittman

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at [email protected].

Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening!

Produced by David Pittman

Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside