Podcasts about Aetna

My guest this week is back for another episode adventure. He was one of my very first guests on The CMO Whisperer—Dave Edelman. A longtime thought leader in marketing and customer experience, Dave has amassed over 1 million followers on LinkedIn. Over the past 30 years, he's led strategy and digital marketing practices at BCG, Digitas, and McKinsey, and also served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Aetna. Today, he's an executive advisor and senior fellow at Harvard Business School, where he works closely with enterprise-scale companies and AI startups. His new book, Personalized Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, debuted at number four on USA Today's Bestsellers list. And just for kicks—he was recently named an AI Trailblazer by Adweek. 

Health Insurance is Rigged & Controlled by the Big Companies w/ Donvan Ryckis of Ethos Benefits   - AZ TRT S06 EP10 (272) 6-15-2025              What We Learned This Week Health Insurance is primarily run by the Big 4 - BUCA: Blue Cross United Healthcare, CIGNA, Aetna To Insurance Co's – Premium = Revenue, and they are not going lower profits, so no incentive to lower costs Health insurance employer group plans can be broken down into 4 Parts Network PPO is what people typically think of when they think of health insurance There have been revisions to the Healthcare Act passed in 2021   Guest: Donovan Ryckis, Ethos Benefits https://ethosbenefits.com/   https://ethosbenefits.com/documentary/ https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/   Our Ethos is Simple: Fiduciary First. Act in the best interest of those we serve—no matter the cost. ‘Ethos' represents the guiding principle, character, or spirit of a person or organization. It's the ‘why' that drives decision-making and fuel's purpose. Our Ethos is deeply rooted in the story of our Founder, Donovan Ryckis. Over a decade ago, Donovan, a fiduciary Series 65 securities advisor specializing in retirement and pension planning, was approached by a client facing a dire situation. The client's publicly traded broker claimed there was no solution for a staggering 37.5% health insurance renewal increase—a cost that threatened the business and its employees. With no prior experience in health insurance markets but guided by his unwavering fiduciary principles, Donovan took on the challenge. The result? He mitigated the risk entirely, delivering a solution 12% below the current rate. This allowed the business to thrive and ensured hundreds of employees wouldn't have to choose between basic necessities and skyrocketing health premiums. That moment sparked a revelation. The fraud, waste, and abuse Donovan had fought in retirement planning paled in comparison to the challenges in healthcare. He saw an opportunity to bring transparency and fiduciary principles to an industry in desperate need of change. Donovan pivoted his career, becoming one of the first fee-based health insurance advisors in the nation. By removing all conflicts of interest in broker compensation, he laid the foundation for what is now the leading innovative employee benefits agency in the country, delivering higher quality care at a significantly lower cost to employers nationwide.       Notes:   Ethos Benefits deals with employee benefits, with a primary focus on group health insurance   Per Donovan ‘Employee benefits are rigged'   Insurance company premium equals revenue. There is no incentive to lower cost, as it would lower profits.   ACA Obamacare passed in 2010, and it capped profits for insurance companies at 20%   Insurance Co's are working to expand their pool to make more profit   Health Insurance guarantees inflation keeps going up, so family of 4 could spend 35K a year   For a business, healthcare cost and employee benefits are a top 3 P&L expense   Ethos strategies can create a 30 to 40% reduction on premium impact to lower costs for a business   The HQ is in Florida, but they are a virtual office with agents and clients nationwide   Healthcare finance and delivery + Improving employee benefits     Seg 1   Donovan's bio, he was a financial advisor with a Series 65 license before he got into health insurance. Around 2014 he moved into health insurance seeing an opportunity for better service.   Typically you see agents who are working for the health insurance company and not really working for the employer companies they are selling to.   Health insurance is primarily run by the Big 4 – BUCA: Blue Cross United Healthcare, CIGNA, Aetna.   Health insurance employer group plans can be broken down into 4 Parts:   1.    TPA or third-party administrator 2.    Network PPO or HMO 3.    Pharmacy benefit RX 4.    Insurance that covers the caps the limits on the stop loss   PPO is your primary network and open on using referrals HMO is a non-preferred network typically has less offerings and tight on referrals   Ethos Benefits helps employers to break up the four parts of a group plan and customize   Network PPO is what people typically think of when they think of health insurance.   Network and the Big 4 health companies have a tighter deal with doctors and contract prices. A lot is pre-negotiated with a set of rates, which is the point of a PPO. This is where you get larger claims and they run in the system of healthcare.     Seg 2   Pay more for healthcare in the U.S. than the rest of the world   The biggest pharmaceutical companies are in the US Pharmaceutical companies in flight prices, and also set the prices They make money through spread pricing   Employers can actually pick up their own Pharma benefit and get the rebates that the big health insurance companies are not giving them   Healthcare system is a rigged game The fraud waste and abuse extremely high in health   401(k) and retirement benefit industry is actually tighter with more disclosure than the healthcare industry   Regulated better since the creation of the Securities Act in the 1930s and updates that ran through the 1970s and beyond with things like ERISA   There have been revisions to the healthcare act passed in 2021 - started in Jan.2022   Actions had 3 disclosures: ·         Brokers comp and bonus ·         Data with gag, clauses, and full access to data upon request ·         Benchmarking for drug cost     Further Notes via Google:   The revisions you are likely referring to are part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 (CAA). While the CAA was passed in late 2020, many of its provisions, including those related to transparency in healthcare, became effective on January 1, 2022.  The three key areas of disclosure you mentioned are directly addressed within these regulations: 1.            Broker's Compensation and Bonuses: The CAA amends ERISA Section 408(b)(2) and requires service providers, including brokers, to disclose specific information to group health plan fiduciaries. 2.            Data Transparency (Gag Clauses and Full Access to Data): The CAA prohibits gag clauses, which prevent plans from providing access to their data. It also requires health insurance carriers to attest annually to their compliance with this prohibition. Moreover, the Health DATA Act, a proposed bill, would further reinforce the right of employers to access their data and hold service providers accountable for non-compliance. 3.            Benchmarking for Drug Costs: The CAA includes provisions regarding pharmacy benefit and drug cost reporting, which aims to provide greater transparency and potentially lead to better benchmarking of drug costs. The Build Back Better Act, a separate piece of legislation, also included provisions for Medicare to negotiate drug prices, further impacting drug costs and potential benchmarking.  These revisions aim to increase transparency in healthcare pricing and empower consumers and employers to make more informed decisions about their healthcare coverage.    Seg 3   Ethos works with Employers to create business plans usually with a 3 to 5 year time horizon. The goal is long-term to lower healthcare cost.   Example would be a company with 100 employees with 50 to 80% of them on the health plan (does not include dependents).   Ethos wants to keep the demands of a company low, easy transition.   Ethos handles employee Qs and healthcare navigation. Ethos is full service.   Risk handled 1 of 4 ways - Reduce, avoid, retain, transfer - Transfer to insurance   Broker wants to transfer risk Company can control costs Careful not to have too much disruption with a switch to a new company   Ex - start with pharmacy part NDC National Drug Code Run report vs costs   Pharmacy benefit mgr   Pre packaged health plan Gets co approved pharmacy benefit Save 5 - 15% on costs (30%)   Separate - parts of group plan     Seg 4   Brokers comp - incentives from big insurance companies   Opening move - edit pharmacy benefit piece   State by state - regulators and rules   Employers / employees Know the network and PPO   Nationwide covers insurance part – Stop-loss Insurance   30-40 major stop loss companies Ex: Allstate Met Life Sun Life   Stop-loss insurance for group health plans acts as a financial safety net for self-funded employers, protecting them from large, unpredictable medical claims. It is a form of additional insurance.   Healthcare risk is incredibly predictable on group basis   Overall predictable w stats, actuarial analysis   Gag clauses look at dataset from current carrier   Prescription database sets   3rd party admin are less of a concern, lots of claims   Average of 18 claims per employee per year, includes dependents   Data - review AI Claims analytics software   AI claims analytics software is transforming how insurance companies handle claims by leveraging artificial intelligence and machine learning to analyze data, automate tasks, and improve decision-making.    30 - 40% reduction in premium w Ethos     Further Notes via Google: Group Medical Plans Breakdown of the common components of a comprehensive employer group health plan, particularly within the context of a self-funded model.  Here's a more detailed explanation of each part: 1.            TPA (Third-Party Administrator): A TPA is a company that provides administrative services for self-funded health plans. This includes processing claims, handling enrollment, and managing other administrative tasks that would typically be done by an insurance company. 2.            Network (PPO or HMO): This refers to the group of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers that the health plan contracts with to provide services to its members. The network defines where employees can go to receive care and often dictates the level of coverage they will receive (e.g., in-network vs. out-of-network benefits). ·                                             PPO (Preferred Provider Organization): Offers more flexibility, allowing members to see out-of-network providers, though with higher out-of-pocket costs. ·                                             HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Typically requires members to stay within the network for covered services, except in emergencies.                 Pharmacy Benefit (RX): This component manages the prescription drug coverage for the plan. It includes negotiating drug prices, processing claims for prescriptions, and managing the plan's formulary (list of covered drugs).                 Stop-Loss Insurance: This is a crucial element for self-funded employers. It protects the employer from catastrophic claim costs. If an individual employee or the entire group's claims exceed a certain threshold (the "attachment point"), the stop-loss insurance kicks in to cover the excess costs, limiting the employer's financial liability.  Additional Considerations: ·                     Data Access: Self-funded plans often provide employers with greater access to claims data, which can be used to analyze healthcare costs, identify trends, and implement strategies to improve employee health and manage costs. ·                     Benchmarking: Employers can use claims data and industry benchmarks to compare their plan's performance to similar organizations and negotiate better rates with providers and other vendors. ·                     Wellness Programs: Some employers offer wellness programs to encourage employees to adopt healthy behaviors and potentially reduce healthcare costs. ·                     Essential Health Benefits (ACA Compliance): Group health plans must comply with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which requires them to cover a list of essential health benefits, such as outpatient care, emergency services, hospitalization, and prescription drugs. ·                     Other Benefits: Group plans can also include other benefits, such as dental, vision, life insurance, and long- and short-term disability insurance.  Understanding these different parts is essential for employers to effectively manage their group health plan, control costs, and provide valuable benefits to their employees.      Investing Shows: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Investing-Stocks-Bonds-Retirement       ‘Best Of' Topic: https://brt-show.libsyn.com/category/Best+of+BRT      Thanks for Listening. 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This week's “How She Finds Purpose” insight comes from Phyllis Dealy. She says - “If you're always thinking about, oh, I could have made that decision or I should have done that, you're gonna miss the moment. So how can you be present for what's possible in this moment? And by holding on to that, number one, you can really tap into joy. Because in this moment, we can all choose to be joyful, and we can embrace what is right in front of us. And we have found a lot of power and clarity in that practice.” Phyllis Dealy and Meaghan Benjamin are the co-founders of Reinvent the World and Studio Reinvent, where they guide executives and teams to communicate with purpose, clarity, and impact. Phyllis is a serial entrepreneur and creator of The Awareness Factor, having worked with clients like PepsiCo, FridaBaby, Aetna, and Susan G. Komen. Meaghan is an executive communication coach with advanced degrees in speech and hearing science and psychology. She helps leaders strengthen their influence and connection using science-backed tools like storytelling, brain coupling, and conscious listening. Here are 3 reasons why you should listen to this episode: You'll hear how saying yes to small opportunities can open unexpected doors toward your purpose. You'll get real talk on how ambition and the desire for more is perfectly okay, even when others think you've “made it.” You'll pick up practical advice on how to create new connections and stay curious, even when you're not sure what your next move should be. Connect with Phyllis and Meaghan at: https://studioreinvent.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/studio-reinvent/   Would you prefer to watch or listen to the podcast on YouTube?Head on over to https://www.youtube.com/@leadershippurposepodcast   Want to connect? Connect with Dr. Robin on  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robinlowensphd/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinlowensphd Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/robinlowensphd/ Email: Robin@LeadershipPurposePodcast.com   Thank you for listening! Rate, review, & follow on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast player. Talk to you soon!   This episode was produced by Lynda, Podcast Manager for GenX Creative Entrepreneurs at https://www.ljscreativeservices.co.nz    

If you'd like your question answered on next month's episode, call/text 469-213-6381 and leave us a voicemail/text.Each month on Last Month In Healthcare, producer Nathaniel joins me to discuss the previous month's podcasts, headlines, and listener-submitted questions. This month, we were joined in studio by Shawn Ferguson from Acrisure!This episode covers healthcare news from May 2025, including:- Trump's 'most favored nation' executive order- AI in the FDA- FDA's plan to review chemicals in our food supply- Prices for new drugs doubling in the last 4 years- Hospitals outsourcing minor surgeries- The DOJ lawsuit against Aetna, Elevance, and HumanaAnd we play a new game called the Macro Matchup, where Spencer and Shawn attempt to guess the calories, sugar, fat, and protein of 4 very unhealthy fast food items.Chapters: 0:00 - Intro1:01 - Healthcare Headlines18:21 - The Self-Funded Review31:29 - Macro Match-up (this month's game)38:06 - Ask Spencer AnythingSources: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/trump-most-favored-nations-drug-pricing-plan/747761/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-centers-deploy-ai-internally-immediately-2025-05-08/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fda-plans-review-chemicals-us-food-supply-official-says-2025-05-15/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/prices-new-us-drugs-doubled-4-years-focus-rare-disease-grows-2025-05-22/https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/innovation/healthcare-diversified-hospitals-are-outsourcing-minor-surgerieshttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/us-files-false-claims-complaint-against-three-health-insurers-2025-05-01/

If you'd like your question answered on next month's episode, call/text 469-213-6381 and leave us a voicemail/text.Each month on Last Month In Healthcare, producer Nathaniel joins me to discuss the previous month's podcasts, headlines, and listener-submitted questions. This month, we were joined in studio by Shawn Ferguson from Acrisure!This episode covers healthcare news from May 2025, including:- Trump's 'most favored nation' executive order- AI in the FDA- FDA's plan to review chemicals in our food supply- Prices for new drugs doubling in the last 4 years- Hospitals outsourcing minor surgeries- The DOJ lawsuit against Aetna, Elevance, and HumanaAnd we play a new game called the Macro Matchup, where Spencer and Shawn attempt to guess the calories, sugar, fat, and protein of 4 very unhealthy fast food items.Chapters: 0:00 - Intro1:01 - Healthcare Headlines18:21 - The Self-Funded Review31:29 - Macro Match-up (this month's game)38:06 - Ask Spencer AnythingSources: https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/trump-most-favored-nations-drug-pricing-plan/747761/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-centers-deploy-ai-internally-immediately-2025-05-08/https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fda-plans-review-chemicals-us-food-supply-official-says-2025-05-15/https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/prices-new-us-drugs-doubled-4-years-focus-rare-disease-grows-2025-05-22/https://www.healthleadersmedia.com/innovation/healthcare-diversified-hospitals-are-outsourcing-minor-surgerieshttps://www.reuters.com/sustainability/us-files-false-claims-complaint-against-three-health-insurers-2025-05-01/

June 13, 2025 In this episode, Ray, Mark, and Scott discuss recent denial issues from Aetna and Humana and offer some possible solutions. They also revisit a question covered in Episode #234: billing for amniotic tissue grafts during prostatectomy procedures, outlining strategies to address denials effectively.PRS Coding and Reimbursement HubAccess the HubJelmyto Coding and Reimbursement PageUpper Track Urothelial Cancer (UTUC) Coding and Reimbursement PageFree Kidney Stone Coding CalculatorDownload NowPRS Billing and Other Services - Book a Call with Mark Painter or Marianne DescioseClick Here to Get More Information and Request a Quote Join the Urology Pharma and Tech Pioneer GroupEmpowering urology practices to adopt new technology faster by providing clear reimbursement strategies—ensuring the practice gets paid and patients benefit sooner.https://www.prsnetwork.com/joinuptp Click Here to Start Your Free Trial of AUACodingToday.com   The Thriving Urology Practice Facebook group.The Thriving Urology Practice Facebook Group link to join:https://www.facebook.com/groups/ThrivingPractice/

In today's episode, I'm joined by Josh Patten, a seasoned leader with a diverse background, including a long tenure at Aetna and a deep experience in crisis leadership. We dive into the tension that many leaders face—the difference between leading authentically and being influenced by external expectations. Josh shares his struggles with leadership, the pressure to perform, and how he's navigating the gap between his core values and the demands of his role.The Tension of LeadershipJosh opens up about the struggles of leadership, particularly in high-pressure situations like layoffs and turnarounds. As someone who's often been in a crisis leadership role, Josh reflects on how he's consistently been able to lead others, but in doing so, he has lost track of leading himself. His candidness about feeling disconnected from his values provides a real, relatable moment for anyone in a leadership role who's ever felt the weight of leading others at the cost of themselves.The Disconnect Between Who We Are and What We DoJosh talks about the disconnect he feels between his core self—someone who thrives in vision, creativity, and inspiration—and the daily demands of his leadership position. Even though Josh is where he wanted to be five years ago, he finds himself exhausted and unfulfilled because of the gap between who he is and what he does every day. This reflects a struggle that many leaders face—being stuck in a position where they're thriving externally but feeling drained and unfulfilled internally.Struggling with the Need for MoreEven though Josh acknowledges the successes he's achieved, he constantly wrestles with the idea of wanting more. More impact. More growth. More engagement. He talks about the tension between feeling content with what he has and recognizing there is more he could do. This conflict of always striving for more while trying to appreciate the present moment is something that many leaders struggle with.Leadership and Personal GrowthJosh shares an important lesson: leadership isn't just about managing systems and teams—it's about knowing who you are and where you want to go. Being clear on your values and communicating those values to your team is essential for authentic leadership. Josh's personal story illustrates how his self-awareness and emotional intelligence have guided his journey, but also how challenging it can be to lead from a place of authenticity when there's external pressure to conform.The Struggle to Stay True to YourselfAs Josh reflects on the personal and professional tensions in his life, he shares that part of his struggle comes from wanting to be both a high-energy visionary and a calm, centred leader. This duality often leaves him feeling inadequate, as he tries to fit himself into roles that he believes others need him to fill. However, Josh ultimately realises that the key to overcoming this tension is not trying to change who he is, but to embrace his true self and lead authentically, even when it feels uncomfortable.The Importance of Healthy ConflictThroughout the conversation, Josh emphasises the importance of healthy conflict and being willing to rock the boat. He shares that his most effective leadership moments come when he leans into his natural ability to challenge the status quo. However, he also realises that, in corporate settings, this kind of leadership is often misunderstood as combative. The key takeaway here is that healthy conflict, when done with clarity and respect, can drive clarity and success within a team.Leading from Your Own ValuesIn the end, Josh and I reflect on how the best leaders are those who know their own values and are unafraid to lead from that place of authenticity. Josh's journey serves as a reminder that leaders need to focus not just on their external accomplishments, but also on how they show up authentically, making decisions aligned with their core values. Leadership isn't about being someone else—it's about owning who you are and leading others to do the same.Challenge for LeadersJosh's story is a powerful reminder for leaders to ask themselves: Am I leading authentically, or am I trying to fit into someone else's mould of what leadership should look like? Leaders must lean into their own strengths and values and trust that doing so will help create the type of leadership that attracts the right people and creates lasting impact.Resources Mentioned:Follow Josh on Instagram: @JoshPattenCoachJoin my free Leadership Training: Join me for a leadership session this month. Learn more at rockygarza.com/confidenceKey timestamps:00:00 Introduction to Leadership Challenges00:22 Meet Josh Patton: A Leader's Journey01:05 The Struggles of Crisis Leadership02:03 Balancing Personal and Professional Life03:42 The Pursuit of Potential and Contentment05:34 Defining Success and Happiness14:22 The Importance of Rest and Rejuvenation16:55 Finding Belonging and Self-Acceptance20:17 Leadership and Open Communication20:48 Balancing Leadership Styles at Work and Home21:21 Navigating Conflict and Accountability23:00 Embracing Your Leadership Strengths24:30 The Importance of Authenticity in Leadership25:41 Reflecting on Personal and Professional Growth26:46 Creating Value and Focusing on Strengths28:27 Overcoming Self-Doubt and Embracing Your Role31:13 Practical Tips for Effective Leadership39:03 Conclusion and Invitation to Leadership SessionTo join Rocky for his next free virtual event, go to https://rockygarza.com/beyondsuccessSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/trgs/donations

Some of the sickest Medicare Advantage patients ran into problems getting end-of-life care. Ultimately many patients switched to traditional Medicare, costing taxpayers billions, according to an investigation by the Wall Street Journal. This is one of many Medicare Advantage practices that is now under government scrutiny. Both Congress and Medicare agency head Dr. Mehmet Oz are pushing for reforms to curb tactics that can boost federal payments to private insurers. The Department of Justice is also investigating major private insurance companies UnitedHealth, Aetna, Elevance Health and Humana. Jessica Mendoza discusses the investigations with WSJ's Anna Wilde Mathews. Further Listening: -Medicare, Inc. Part 1: How Insurers Make Billions From Medicare  -A Life-or-Death Insurance Denial  Sign up for WSJ's free What's News newsletter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May News You Can Use Debt, DNA, and a Dose of AI Medical Debt Crisis: U.S. medical debt remains a major issue, contrasting sharply with other countries that barely recognize the concept. COVID Confusion: Vaccine policies in the U.S. have been overly broad, with other countries focusing on vulnerable populations; data is slowly shifting perspectives. AI and Privacy Fears: Genetic data breaches (like 23andMe) and a lack of oversight in AI regulation raise major privacy concerns. Healthcare Access Cut: CVS is pulling Aetna from the ACA marketplace despite soaring profits, leaving millions at risk of losing coverage. Diet and Wholesome Warnings: USDA reveals widespread protein deficiency; public urged to eat better—while staying wary of corporate overreach and digital privacy loss. To stream our Station live 24/7 visit www.HealthcareNOWRadio.com or ask your Smart Device to “….Play Healthcare NOW Radio”. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen

In this must-listen episode of the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast, host Sean V. Bradley, CSP, and co-host LA Williams sit down with Shep Hyken, the internationally renowned customer service and customer experience expert, best-selling author, and keynote speaker, to explore the critical role exceptional customer experience plays in today's automotive industry. "They're not just comparing you to another dealer. They're going to compare you to the best experience they ever had." — Shep Hyken As the market navigates post-pandemic shifts and economic challenges like high interest rates and limited inventory, Shep shares actionable strategies that dealerships can implement right now to stand out. From customer engagement to loyalty-building techniques, Shep dives deep into what it takes to create an unforgettable experience at every customer touchpoint. "You must model the behavior you want others to do toward others." — Shep Hyken Listen in to hear why focusing on existing customers, embracing innovative tools like Podium, and modernizing your approach to customer service can lead to massive revenue growth. Are you prepared to elevate your dealership's customer experience and boost retention in today's competitive market? Tune in to find out how to turn service into a powerful driver of long-term success.   Key Takeaways: ✅ Enhancing customer retention is often more beneficial and cost-effective than solely focusing on acquiring new business. ✅ Leveraging technology and AI, such as Podium, can significantly improve customer interactions and streamline dealership operations. ✅ Maintaining a positive work culture among employees directly influences the quality of customer service delivered. ✅ Leading dealerships prioritize creating a seamless and consistent experience across all customer touchpoints, setting them apart in service delivery. About Shep Hyken ​Shep Hyken is a globally recognized customer service and experience expert, acclaimed keynote speaker, and New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestselling author. As the Chief Amazement Officer of Shepard Presentations, he has dedicated his career to helping organizations build loyal relationships with their customers and employees.​ Since founding Shepard Presentations in 1983, Shep has worked with over 1,200 clients, ranging from Fortune 100 companies to small businesses, across various industries including retail, healthcare, technology, and financial services. His client list includes notable organizations such as American Airlines, AAA, Anheuser-Busch, AT&T, Aetna, Abbott Laboratories, and American Express.​  Shep's dynamic presentations are known for their high energy, humor, and practical insights, often incorporating magic to engage audiences. He has been inducted into the National Speakers Association Hall of Fame for lifetime achievement in the speaking profession and holds the Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) designation.​ An accomplished author, Shep has written several bestselling books on customer service and experience, including "Moments of Magic," "The Loyal Customer," "The Cult of the Customer," "The Amazement Revolution," "Amaze Every Customer Every Time," "Be Amazing or Go Home," "The Convenience Revolution," and "I'll Be Back." His articles have been featured in hundreds of publications, and he is a regular contributor to Forbes.​ Shep is also the creator of The Customer Focus™ program, designed to help organizations develop a customer service culture and loyalty mindset. Through his work, he emphasizes that customer service is not just a department but a philosophy that should permeate every aspect of an organization.​   Navigating the Automotive Customer Experience: Embracing AI and Building Loyalty Key Takeaways Customer Satisfaction and Experience are Distinct: Understanding the difference and focusing on both can elevate a dealership from best in class to world class. Leveraging Existing Customer Relationships: Prioritizing current customer engagement and retention is more cost-effective and profitable than focusing solely on new lead acquisition. Artificial Intelligence as a Game-Changer: AI innovations are transforming the dealership landscape by enhancing customer interactions and streamlining operations. Enhancing the Customer Experience in Automotive Retail In the rapidly evolving automotive industry, dealerships must adapt their strategies to exceed customer expectations. Sean V. Bradley and Shep Hyken dive into the intricacies of customer satisfaction and experience, two interrelated yet distinct components that every dealership should master. According to Hyken, "The way that whole thing is handled, is it easy? Is it hassle-free?" Such questions underscore the need for seamless web interfaces and responsive sales teams to create an unparalleled service atmosphere. Customer experience encompasses every interaction a consumer has with a dealership, from visiting the website to consulting with a salesperson. For car dealerships aiming for world-class status, it's crucial to transcend industry standards and look outside the industry for inspiration. As Hyken wisely notes, "They're going to compare you to the best experience they ever had." This calls for analyzing experiences provided by leaders like Amazon and Walmart to ensure dealerships offer frictionless, memorable interactions that build long-term loyalty. Retention vs. Acquisition: The Loyalty Revenue Stream Prioritizing existing customers over acquiring new ones can seem counterintuitive, yet it's a strategic pivot that aligns with both customer retention and profitability. As discussed by Sean V. Bradley, focusing on your current customer base can lead to higher conversion rates and increased revenue. "NADA says that a prior customer is a 65% closing ratio and a much higher gross profit," he remarks, emphasizing a shift towards maintaining strong relationships with your existing clientele. Moreover, service departments play a pivotal role. With a "service customer to your point is seven times as likely to purchase a vehicle if they service a car," embracing service excellence not only ensures immediate customer satisfaction but also strengthens their connection to the brand, making them more likely to return for future purchases. The foundational principle is clear: solidify customer loyalty through consistent, exceptional service, thereby reducing churn and boosting long-term profitability. The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transforming Dealerships Artificial Intelligence (AI) is poised to reshape traditional dealership models by optimizing customer interactions and operational efficiencies. Shep Hyken highlights AI's potential in generating personalized and high-quality customer interactions. "AI needs to be smart enough to not give the wrong answer," Hyken advocates, outlining the balance between maintaining human oversight and deploying AI for scalable customer service solutions. Podium's AI-powered platforms offer tools that handle after-hours inquiries, schedule test drives, and maintain conversational consistency across multiple platforms, ensuring a seamless transition between digital and in-person interactions. In an age where most touchpoints before a sale are digital, embedding AI in CRM systems elevates customer experiences. As Bradley affirms, "If your AI is integrated with your CRM, if your AI is integrated with your online reputation strategy…it is next level." By streamlining these processes, dealerships can enhance engagement, nurture relationships, and ultimately drive more sales.   The automotive industry stands at a pivotal juncture where transformation is not just necessary but imperative. By understanding the nuances between customer service and experience, fostering robust relationships with existing customers, and embracing cutting-edge technologies like AI, dealerships can not only survive the intricacies of the modern market but truly thrive in it. The insights shared by industry experts provide a roadmap to not only meet but exceed customer expectations, ensuring loyalty and profitability in uncertain times.   Resources: Podium: Discover how Podium's innovative AI technology can unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive your dealership's sales to new heights. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   Dealer Synergy & Bradley On Demand: The automotive industry's #1 training, tracking, testing, and certification platform and consulting & accountability firm.   The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group: Join the #1 Mastermind Group in the Automotive Industry! With over 29,000 members, gain access to successful automotive mentors & managers, the best industry practices, & collaborate with automotive professionals from around the WORLD! Join The Millionaire Car Salesman Facebook Group today!   Win the Game of Googleopoly: Unlocking the secret strategy of search engines.     The Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast is Proudly Sponsored By: Podium: Elevating Dealership Excellence with Intelligent Customer Engagement Solutions. Unlock unparalleled efficiency and drive sales with Podium's innovative AI technology, featured proudly on the Millionaire Car Salesman Podcast. Visit www.podium.com/mcs to learn more!   Dealer Synergy: The #1 Automotive Sales Training, Consulting, and Accountability Firm in the industry! With over two decades of experience in building Internet Departments and BDCs, we have developed the most effective automotive Internet Sales, BDC, and CRM solutions. Our expertise in creating phone scripts, rebuttals, CRM action plans, strategies, and templates ensures that your dealership's tools and personnel reach their full potential.   Bradley On Demand: The automotive sales industry's top Interactive Training, Tracking, Testing, and Certification Platform. Featuring LIVE Classes and over 9,000 training modules, our platform equips your dealership with everything needed to sell more cars, more often, and more profitably!

Aramark Services v. Aetna Life Ins

JCO Editorial Fellow Dr. Lauren Shih and JCO Associate Editor Dr. Stephanie Wheeler discuss the ASCO 25 Simultaneous Publication paper "Use of Low-Value Cancer Treatments in Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare." Transcript The guest on this podcast episode has no disclosures to declare. Dr. Lauren Shih: Hello, and welcome to our 2025 ASCO annual meeting series where we cover some of the top JCO papers published simultaneously with their abstract presentations at this year's meeting. I'm your host, Dr. Lauren Shih, JCO editorial fellow, and I'm joined by JCO Associate Editor Dr. Stephanie Wheeler to discuss the Journal of Clinical Oncology article and abstract presentation "Use of Low-Value Cancer Treatments in Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare." Let's start with the relevance of the article. Dr. Wheeler, can you explain this to our listeners? Dr. Stephanie Wheeler: Thank you so much. Let's get right into it. So this article is really about understanding different types of Medicare plans and what we should expect to see in terms of their use of low-value treatments for cancer patients. So, as Medicare really is focused on trying to limit the use of low-value cancer treatments, we really need to better understand the drivers of variability. So we know that many cancer patients have multiple treatment options available to them. We also know that the vast majority of older adults beyond age 65 are insured by Medicare, and about half of them are on Medicare Advantage plans, which are serviced by private insurance. And private insurance companies in this case are receiving capitated payments for Medicare beneficiaries to manage their service utilization and reduce costs. So, with respect to Medicare Advantage versus the traditional fee-for-service Medicare, it's not really been known to what extent low-value treatments are differentially used by these types of plans for cancer patients. And so that was really the focus of this article. What the authors found is that across six different types of treatments, in general, the folks who were enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans had reduced use of low-value treatment. So that's a good sign for Medicare beneficiaries. And although the relative difference in that use was somewhat low, this translates to a significant number of Medicare enrollees across the country not receiving these low-value treatments. And of course, this translates to considerable savings at the society level. Dr. Lauren Shih: Are there any additional key results that we should review? Dr. Stephanie Wheeler: Yeah. So I'll tell you just a little bit more about the methods and also their findings. So they looked at six different low-value treatments, and this was in, again, 100% of national Medicare enrollees from 2015 through 2021. So the six low-value treatments that they examined were the use of G-CSFs among patients receiving low-risk chemotherapy and denosumab for those who had castration-sensitive prostate cancer. Then they also looked at four high-cost treatments, including using nab-paclitaxel instead of paclitaxel for patients with breast or lung cancer; second, adding bevacizumab to carboplatin plus paclitaxel for ovarian cancer; third, using brand-name drugs instead of generics when generics were available; and fourth, using biologics instead of biosimilars when biosimilars were available. And these are all, by the way, non-recommended treatments according to a variety of guidelines, including NCCN and ASCO's Choosing Wisely guidelines. So they used the Medicare claims data to examine use of these regimens. They also analyzed results by type of Medicare Advantage plan, whether people were enrolled in a health maintenance organization plan, or an HMO, or a preferred provider organization plan, or a PPO. They also looked at the largest Medicare Advantage insurers—including Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, Humana, and UnitedHealth—and limited their analyses to those that had complete encounter data. And what they found across the board is that the enrollees in Medicare Advantage plans generally had lower use of these low-value treatments. And the largest differences between Medicare Advantage and traditional Medicare plans were in the outcomes, including G-CSF use and using denosumab for castration-resistant prostate cancer, and then the combination of bevacizumab, carboplatin, and paclitaxel versus carboplatin and paclitaxel. And all of these had a change in use ranging from about 19% change to 24% change in use. This is significant as a field as we look at ways in which different plan organization can influence use of treatments, particularly given the excess cost of cancer care. This is something we really want to pay attention to. So I'd encourage folks to look more closely at the results by treatment type as well as the results by plan type to see a little bit more about what was going on across different plan types. Dr. Lauren Shih: Great. And are there any outstanding questions that need to be answered? Dr. Stephanie Wheeler: Yes, there always are, of course. I think the study has several strengths that are worth noting. First, they have 100% of Medicare enrollees, so there's national coverage there, which is, you know, quite outstanding. They also use an appropriate choice of analysis to help deal with some of the selection. So they use inverse probability of treatment weights, and they control for practice and county indicators to try to get some realistic adjustment for the selection that happens in terms of how patients are enrolled in different Medicare Advantage versus traditional fee-for-Medicare plans. These statistical approaches are a good idea, but they are limited by the observed variables that we can use for these kinds of adjustments. And so any unobserved—confounding or any unobserved factors that would influence selection in these plans aren't going to be captured well. So preferences, for example, that patients may have about different types of plans when they're insuring themselves and their families may not be captured. Second, the data that are used are only encounter data from those plans with complete records. That may mean that smaller Medicare Advantage insurers or those that don't have as comprehensive records are not included. So this may not be reflective of their practice patterns. And then third, of course, this only looked at six different low-value cancer treatments. It remains to be seen whether this kind of finding extends to other types of low-value cancer treatments, and that's an opportunity for future study. Finally, I would say that we don't exactly know why these patterns exist. It could be that Medicare Advantage plans have different approaches to prior authorization. They could have more in-house quality control and management to really understand, among their population for whom they're receiving Medicare Advantage payments, to really look at care quality and assess Choosing Wisely guidelines. We don't know exactly how that's playing out. And so we need additional data to really figure out what's working here and what are opportunities for future policy and payment innovations that can further reduce low-value care. Dr. Lauren Shih: Great. Thank you so much, Dr. Wheeler, for speaking to us about the JCO article, "Use of Low-Value Cancer Treatments in Medicare Advantage Versus Traditional Medicare." We really appreciate your insights. Dr. Stephanie Wheeler: Thanks for having me. Dr. Lauren Shih: Join us again for the latest simultaneous publications from the ASCO 2025 Annual Meeting. Please take a moment to rate, review, and subscribe to all ASCO podcast shows at asco.org/podcasts. Until then, enjoy the rest of ASCO 2025. The purpose of this podcast is to educate and to inform. This is not a substitute for professional medical care and is not intended for use in the diagnosis or treatment of individual conditions. Guests on this podcast express their own opinions, experience, and conclusions. Guest statements on the podcast do not express the opinions of ASCO. The mention of any product, service, organization, activity, or therapy should not be construed as an ASCO endorsement.

Join us at the Seven Figure Medicare Agent Summit: https://sevenfiguremedicareagentsummit.com/On this episode of the Seven Figures or Bust podcast, we address the growing trend of non-commissionable Medicare plans and what it means for agents. With major carriers like Aetna, Cigna, and Elevance Health shifting certain Medicare Advantage and Part D plans to non-commissionable status for 2025, agents face new challenges in maintaining their income streams . We delve into strategies for navigating these changes, including diversifying your product offerings and ensuring compliance with CMS guidelines when discussing non-commissionable plansGets Leads from Lead heroes here: https://leadheroes.com/Learn more about getting your own VA with Hire Heroes here: https://app.hireheroes.com/signup?fpr=christian43Join our free private Facebook group for insurance agents: https://www.facebook.com/groups/551409828919739/Welcome to the Christian Brindle channel brought to you by Christian Brindle & Christian Brindle Insurance Services. This channel is here for the sole purpose of bringing training, tips, success stories, and personal development from Christian Brindle. Christian is a published author, hosts the ever popular Everything Medicare Podcast, and made six figures in the Medicare business by the time he was 25 years old.

 Welcome to another empowering episode of **We Go Boldly**, the podcast dedicated to celebrating women stepping into their power and living their most authentic lives! We're proud members of the Power Moms Network, where we uplift and empower mothers, fostering a community of support and mentorship for moms everywhere. This season, we're diving deep into what it means to take control of your life, break free from limiting beliefs, and intentionally craft your own narrative. We're featuring inspiring guests who share their wisdom, helping you rewrite your story with purpose and authenticity. --- Today's Guest: Russ Terry We're thrilled to welcome **Russ Terry** to the show! Russ is a renowned Coach, Motivational Speaker, and HR/Diversity Consultant who has coached over 1,000 professionals from leading companies like Microsoft, Google, and PwC. He's also delivered impactful talks at organizations including NASA, United Airlines, the FBI, Aetna, and L'Oréal. Russ specializes in:- Executive Coaching- Career Coaching- Confidence Building- Time Management- Self-Care He presents on 35+ topics, ranging from Coaching, Human Resources, Diversity, Leadership, Management Skills, Communication, Career Development, and the transformative power of Gratitude. Before coaching, Russ's diverse career included roles as a CPA, TV Anchor & Reporter, and Human Resources professional. He's also the author of a 4-part book series on Gratitude. --- In This Episode: - How to break free from limiting beliefs and become the author of your own story- Practical strategies for building confidence and managing your time- The importance of self-care and gratitude in personal and professional growth- Russ's unique journey and insights on leadership, diversity, and career transformation --- Don't Miss Out! If you're ready to step boldly into your power, this episode is packed with actionable advice and inspiration to help you take control of your narrative.  Subscribe, rate, and review We Go Boldly on your favorite podcast platform! Connect with us on social media and join the conversation using #WeGoBoldlyPodcast and #PowerMomsNetwork. **Resources Mentioned:**- www.goboldlyinitiative.com/weeklycircle- Keywords: Did you enjoy this episode? We would love to hear your thoughts and more about your personal development journey. Head to Apple Podcasts and then rate, review, and subscribe. This way you will get notified once a new episode goes live. Don't forget to find us and subscribe on YouTube too. CONNECT WITH RIELLY AND TOVAHInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/goboldlytogether/Website: goboldlyinitiative.com or https://we-go-boldly-podcast.simplecast.com/YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsPh8gu_ugJqvvnYiuRSyPQLinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/go-boldly-initiativePatreon: https://www.patreon.com/wegoboldlyFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoBoldlyTogetherPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/GoBoldlyTogether/

Navigating the Complexities of ACA & Medicare with Insights from Industry ExpertsDan and Mike Hardle dive into the latest developments impacting the insurance industry, discussing their recent travels and meetings with industry leaders. They offer a deep dive into the evolving landscape of ACA and Medicare, shedding light on Aetna's exit, the impact of expiring subsidies, and the slew of lawsuits affecting major players. Whether you're a seasoned pro or a newcomer, this episode provides critical insights and strategies to navigate the challenges and thrive in the ever-changing insurance market. Tune in to learn how to adapt, grow your business, and better serve your clients.Need to take your AHIP certification to sell Medicare Advantage plans? Use our official Agent Boost link to get started today. It's accepted by all major carriers and includes the $50 discount—bringing your cost down to just $125.

The future of senior care is here—and it's powered by technology, personalized support, and the strength of strategic partnerships. In this special episode, we're joined by three visionary leaders transforming the way seniors receive care: Dr. Ali Khan, Chief Medical Officer for Medicare at Aetna; Dr. Marc Watkins, Chief Medical Officer at Kroger Health; and Brian Urban, Head of Commercial Strategy and Population Health at Best Buy Health. Together, they explore how technology, access to nutrition, human-centered design, and collaboration can solve some of the most pressing challenges in senior care. Dr. Khan emphasizes building ecosystems that blend tech with human touch, from broadband infrastructure to virtual PT with language support. Dr. Watkins highlights the role of pharmacists and retailers in delivering smarter, more accessible care through food scoring systems and telehealth integration. Brian Urban explains how smart home devices, personal tech support, and AI are helping seniors live safely and independently—while reducing social isolation and hospital visits. From personalized nutrition to AI-powered care delivery, tune in to discover how these cross-industry leaders are taking bold action to build a more connected, compassionate future for aging adults! Resources:  Connect and follow Dr. Ali Khan on LinkedIn. Learn more about Aetna, a CVS Health Company, on their LinkedIn and website. Connect and follow Dr. Marc Watkins on LinkedIn. Learn more about Kroger on their LinkedIn and website. Connect and follow Brian Urban on LinkedIn. Learn more about Best Buy Health on their LinkedIn and website.

The Friday Five for May 9, 2025: Rite Aid Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Again Apple WWDC 2025 Dates & Rumors Discount Medicare Insurance Scam Alert Rueppel Recommends Books & Streaming Picks May 2025 Aetna Health Plans to Exit ACA Marketplace for CY 2026   Rite Aid Files for 2nd Chapter 11 Bankruptcy: Download the “Rite Aid Letter to Customers - May 5, 2025.” Restructuring.Ra.Kroll.Com, Kroll Restructuring Administration, restructuring.ra.kroll.com/RiteAid/Home-DownloadPDF?id1=MzM0MTA2Mg%3D%3D&id2=0. Accessed 6 May 2025. Grothaus, Michael. “Rite Aid Bankruptcy: What to Know about Store Closings, Prescription Transfers, Layoffs, Gift Cards, and More.” Fastcompany.Com, Fast Company, 6 May 2025, www.fastcompany.com/91329223/rite-aid-bankruptcy-2025-stores-closing-prescription-transfers-gift-cards. Arias, Pilar. “Rite Aid Files for Bankruptcy for Second Time in Less than 2 Years.” Foxbusiness.Com, Fox Business, 6 May 2025, www.foxbusiness.com/economy/rite-aid-files-bankruptcy-second-time-less-than-2-years. Powel, James. “Rite Aid Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Promises ‘smooth Transfer' of Prescriptions.” Usatoday.Com, Gannett Satellite Information Network, 6 May 2025, www.usatoday.com/story/money/retail/2025/05/05/rite-aid-chapter-11-bankruptcy/83467189007/. “Rite Aid Store Locater.” Riteaid.Com, Rite Aid, www.riteaid.com/locations/. Accessed 6 May 2025. Urie, Daniel. “Rite Aid Tells Vendors It ‘Has Generally Stopped Purchasing Goods and Services.'” Pennlive.Com, PennLive, 5 May 2025, www.pennlive.com/business/2025/05/rite-aid-tells-vendors-it-has-generally-stopped-purchasing-goods-and-services.html. Mills, Sean I. “What to Do with Your Prescriptions Now That Rite Aid Is Closing All Stores.” Romesentinel.Com, Daily Sentinel, 6 May 2025, www.romesentinel.com/news/rome-new-hartford-rite-aid-store-closings/article_98f2300b-600c-4937-b8d0-686ece8d36e9.html.   Apple WWDC 2025 Dates & Rumors: Lovejoy, Ben. “90% of People Shouldn't Buy the iPhone 17 Air, per Apple.” 9to5mac.Com, 9to5Mac, 6 May 2025, 9to5mac.com/2025/05/06/90-of-people-shouldnt-buy-the-iphone-17-air-per-apple/. Schroeder, Stan. “Apple Is Planning a New iPhone Launch Schedule, Report Claims.” Mashable, Mashable, 5 May 2025, mashable.com/article/apple-iphone-launch-schedule. “iOS 7 vs iOS 6 Side-by-Side Visual Comparisons.” Osxdaily.Com, OS X Daily, osxdaily.com/2013/06/11/ios-7-vs-ios-6-visual-comparison/. Accessed 6 May 2025. Christoffel, Ryan. “iOS 19: Three New Features Are Being Announced next Month.” 9to5mac.Com, 9to5Mac, 5 May 2025, 9to5mac.com/2025/05/05/ios-19-three-new-features-are-being-announced-next-month/. Clover, Juli. “iOS 19: Everything We Know.” Macrumors.Com, MacRumors, 5 May 2025, www.macrumors.com/roundup/ios-19/.   Discount Medicare Insurance Scam Alert: “Emerging Discount Medical Insurance Scams.” Ic3.Gov, Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3), 30 Apr. 2025, www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250430. Dimuro, Claudia. “FBI Alerts Public in Pa., beyond to Emerging Scam: Here's What to Know.” Pennlive.Com, PennLive, 5 May 2025, www.pennlive.com/life/2025/05/fbi-alerts-public-in-pa-beyond-to-emerging-scam-heres-what-to-know.html. Burman, Theo. “FBI Issues New Warning Over Health Insurance Scams.” Newsweek.Com, Newsweek, 6 May 2025, www.newsweek.com/fbi-issues-new-warning-over-health-insurance-scams-2068626.   Rueppel Recommends: Wynn-Williams, Sarah. “Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism.” Spotify, Flatiron Books, open.spotify.com/show/279JRLPYDjvmsS81C7SOzg?si=215e5504c3ea4510. Accessed 6 May 2025. Ridgely, Charlie. “Everything Coming to Netflix, Max, Disney+ & Other Streaming Services in May 2025.” ComicBook.Com, ComicBook, 30 Apr. 2025, comicbook.com/tv-shows/news/new-streaming-movies-tv-shows-may-2025-netflix-disney-max/. Bet-David, Patrick. “Your Next Five Moves: Master the Art of Business Strategy.” Spotify, Gallery Books, https://open.spotify.com/show/1mCTkhoZxUOH6iA9b8Dx2y?si=b11263c88e3a43ff. Accessed 6 May 2025. Bet-David, Patrick. Your Next Five Moves, Gallery Books, www.yournextfivemoves.com/. Accessed 6 May 2025.   Aetna Health Plans to Exit ACA Marketplace for CY 2026: Minemyer, Paige. “Aetna to Exit the ACA Exchanges in 2026.” Fiercehealthcare.Com, Fierce Healthcare, 1 May 2025, www.fiercehealthcare.com/payers/aetna-exit-aca-exchanges-2026. Pifer, Rebecca. “CVS Plans to Exit ACA Individual Exchanges, Strikes Wegovy Deal with Novo Nordisk.” Healthcaredive.Com, Healthcare Dive, 1 May 2025, www.healthcaredive.com/news/cvs-aetna-exit-aca-novo-nordisk-wegovy-deal/746833/. Japsen, Bruce. “CVS Plans To Exit Obamacare In 2026, Affecting 1 Million Aetna Members.” Forbes.Com, Forbes Magazine, 1 May 2025, www.forbes.com/sites/brucejapsen/2025/05/01/cvs-plans-to-exit-obamacare-in-2026-impacting-1-million-aetna-members/. How Plan Crosswalks Work in the ACA Marketplace: https://lnk.to/ASG664   Resources: 5 Myths About Selling ACA Health Insurance Plans: https://lnk.to/asg660  5 Things from the CMS 2026 MA and Part D Final Rule: https://lnk.to/asgf20250502  Agent Requirements for ACA Sales: https://lnk.to/ASG662 Learn How to Sell ACA Products During the Off-Season ft. Danica Stover: https://lnk.to/asg661  Leveling Up: From Chill Mode to Growth Mode ft. Christian Brindle: https://lnk.to/brindle2025   Follow Us on Social!  Ritter on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/RitterIM Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/ritter.insurance.marketing/ LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/ritter-insurance-marketing TikTok, https://www.tiktok.com/@ritterim X, https://x.com/RitterIM and YouTube, https://www.youtube.com/user/RitterInsurance     Sarah on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/sjrueppel/ Instagram, https://www.instagram.com/thesarahjrueppel/ and Threads, https://www.threads.net/@thesarahjrueppel  Tina on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/in/tina-lamoreux-6384b7199/   Not affiliated with or endorsed by Medicare or any government agency. Contact the Agent Survival Guide Podcast! Email us ASGPodcast@Ritterim.com or call 1-717-562-7211 and leave a voicemail.

In this episode, Jakob Emerson, Associate News Director at Becker's Healthcare, joins Scott Becker to discuss surprising Q1 trends in the insurance market, including the rise of niche health plans and challenges facing major players like UnitedHealth and Aetna. They also dive into a DOJ lawsuit against major insurers over alleged Medicare Advantage kickback schemes.

The United States Supreme Court rules against hospitals in an ongoing case about disproportionate share hospital payments. Aetna announces it will leave the healthcare exchanges. And, Novo Nordisk is partnering with telehealth companies to expand access to its GLP-1 drugs. Those stories and more coming up on today's episode of the Gist Healthcare Podcast. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Get access now to 7 Figure Medicare University:Lifetime access:https://sevenfigureu.com/​In this episode of Seven Figures or Bust, we delve into CVS Health's significant decision to exit the Affordable Care Act (ACA) individual insurance exchanges by 2026.This move will impact approximately 1 million Aetna members across 17 states, as the company shifts its focus toward more profitable sectors like Medicare and Medicaid. We discuss the implications for agents and clients, exploring how this strategic pivot could reshape the health insurance landscape.Gets Leads from Lead heroes here: https://leadheroes.com/Learn more about getting your own VA with Hire Heroes here:  https://app.hireheroes.com/signup?fpr=christian43Join our free private Facebook group for insurance agents: https://www.facebook.com/groups/551409828919739/          Welcome to the Christian Brindle channel brought to you by Christian Brindle & Christian Brindle Insurance Services. This channel is here for the sole purpose of bringing training, tips, success stories, and personal development from Christian Brindle. Christian is a published author, hosts the ever popular Everything Medicare Podcast, and made six figures in the Medicare business by the time he was 25 years old.

In this episode I introduce a new energy story to the show: Jericho Energy Ventures (TSX.V:JEV - OTC:JROOF - FRA:JLM).   I'm joined by Brian Williamson, CEO of JEV, for a comprehensive look at the company's evolution from conventional energy operations to next-generation infrastructure.   Key Themes Discussed: Oil & Gas Foundations: Jericho's portfolio includes low-decline, cash-flowing assets in central Oklahoma, developed with a long-term focus on existing infrastructure and equity partnerships. New Growth Path – Modular Data Centers: Leveraging stranded natural gas and fiber-optic proximity to power modular data centers—offering lower-cost, scalable alternatives to hyperscale builds. This initiative is positioned to address AI-driven demand and grid constraints. Digital Real Estate Model: Jericho aims to own and operate modular units, while tenants customize the compute side. Future plans include partnerships with nearby gas producers to expand this model across underutilized fields. Hydrogen Technologies: A secondary business line focused on industrial decarbonization, with near-term deployments including a boiler retrofit at a major university and a high-temperature alkaline electrolyzer solution through its Aetna subsidiary. Investment Outlook: With a current ~$55M market cap (CAD), Jericho is aiming to re-rate from a traditional microcap energy play to a tech-enabled infrastructure story, potentially attracting new investors and valuation multiples.   More questions for Brian. Please email me (Fleck@kereport.com) or comment below.    Click here to visit the Jericho Energy Ventures website to learn more about the company.

David Edelman, Executive Advisor and Senior Fellow at Harvard Business School, joined Jamie Flinchbaugh on the People Solve Problems podcast to discuss personalization and customer strategy in the age of AI. As the founder of Edelman Advisory Services, David brings over 30 years of experience as a thought leader in marketing, personalization, and technology. David emphasized that AI in personalization goes beyond marketing to transform the entire customer experience. He explained the distinction between mass customization of the 1990s and today's AI-powered personalization. While mass customization focused on modularity and customer selection, modern personalization uses proactive data analysis to anticipate customer needs and create new value. To illustrate this, David shared the example of Sysco, the food delivery company. Their app uses customer data to identify a restaurant's menu style, price points, geographic considerations, and purchasing patterns. Within 300 milliseconds of opening the app, Sysco can provide personalized recommendations, even suggesting new menu items that incorporate discounted ingredients from nearby warehouses. This approach has helped Sysco grow 50% faster than industry averages since launching the app. When discussing how the C-suite should approach AI and customer engagement, David noted that while organizational structures vary, many companies now designate someone to lead customer experience initiatives. This might be a Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Experience Officer, or Chief Digital Officer. He stressed that whoever takes this role must prioritize empowering customers rather than merely manipulating them or cutting costs. Companies growing fastest through personalization consistently start with the goal of addressing customer challenges. For executives who didn't grow up in the AI age, David recommends getting "hands dirty" with the technology. While having a strong sense of strategy remains essential, leaders need to pair this with understanding the art of the possible in AI. He shared his experience as CMO at Aetna, where he identified that customers struggled to understand their health insurance. By partnering with a digitally savvy team member, they implemented personalized videos explaining each member's specific plan. This resulted in 70% of people watching the videos and a 20% reduction in call center volume. David addressed the challenges of integrating AI with legacy systems and data quality issues. He explained that generative AI is increasingly able to integrate disparate databases, but organizations must still prioritize data as an asset. At Sysco, for example, salespeople must input detailed account information, including menus and prices, before receiving credit for signing a new customer. On the topic of data privacy, David noted that perceptions vary widely – "one customer's creepiness is another customer's 'wow'." He recommends small-scale, rapid-cycle testing to determine appropriate boundaries for different customer segments. David concluded with advice for leaders looking to explore AI: spend 15 minutes daily using Large Language Models as assistants, experiment with image generation capabilities, and challenge functional teams to improve throughput by 30% using AI – not to eliminate jobs but to scale operations and create new customer value. For more insights from David Edelman, visit his website at https://www.edelmanadvisoryservices.com, learn about his book "Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI", or connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveedelman/.

Dr. Ali Khan has spent his career at the intersection of medicine, public policy, and value-based care. He's also been at the forefront of some of the country's most innovative care delivery models—from Iora Health and CareMore to Oak Street Health and now Aetna, where he serves as Chief Medical Officer of Medicare at Aetna, a CVS Health company. In this episode, Keith Figlioli sits down with Dr. Khan for a conversation about Medicare's future—and what it will take to make the promise of better, more affordable healthcare a reality. A general internist by training, Dr. Khan's path into healthcare began with a deep curiosity about the broader systems shaping people's health. That curiosity took him from Harvard Kennedy School to the exam room to health plans and startups focused on reimagining the primary care experience for complex, underserved populations. Throughout his career, he's gravitated toward organizations trying to solve public-sector problems with private-sector solutions—building care models that prioritize trust, access, and long-term outcomes. Now at the helm of a Medicare Advantage program serving 4.2 million members, Dr. Khan brings a unique vantage point. In this conversation, he shares hard-earned lessons on care model design, what payers and providers need from each other, and why Medicare is at an inflection point. He makes a compelling case for a renewed focus on the fundamentals—not just risk adjustment or benefit design, but operational follow-through, last-mile care coordination, and culturally grounded team-based models that scale. Dr. Khan and Keith discuss: Building care models that hold up under pressure. From Iora to Oak Street, Dr. Khan has seen firsthand that delivering better outcomes at scale requires more than mission—it takes structural rigor. He unpacks four key dimensions—cultural, clinical, operational, and technological—and explains why lasting impact depends on aligning all of them. Whether it's equipping care teams to deliver in complex communities or building systems that can flex and scale, success hinges on getting the foundation right. Why affordability isn't enough—and where Medicare Advantage must go next. With over half of Medicare beneficiaries now enrolled in MA plans, Dr. Khan argues it's time to move beyond the value prop of supplemental benefits and zero-dollar premiums. The next chapter is about proving clinical excellence at scale. That means prioritizing follow-through over features—removing last-mile barriers, improving care coordination, and designing experiences people actually trust.  From transactional to transformative: the evolving role of health plans. Plans have long relied on contractual structures to drive change, but Dr. Khan believes that era is fading. To deliver on the promise of value-based care, plans must shift from passive administrators to proactive partners—investing in infrastructure, surfacing actionable insights, and enabling providers to succeed across Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial populations alike. Where AI meets care delivery. Dr. Khan reflects on the potential of AI to reduce clinical variation, improve medication management, and drive better follow-up for patients—especially those with chronic conditions. But he cautions that technology alone won't move the needle. To truly unlock AI's value in Medicare, plans and providers must embed it within human-centered systems, coordinate care in real time, and ensure new tools support—not replace—the relationships that matter most. As Dr. Khan notes, we're entering a “put up or shut up” era for Medicare Advantage, where scrutiny is high and proof points matter. Yet within that pressure lies opportunity—particularly for those willing to do the unglamorous work of identifying barriers, building connective tissue, and supporting clinical teams in the trenches.

Ken Gosselin calls in to discuss the big AETNA building in Hartford and how CVS has been struggling.

Medicare Advantage Minute: MA in the headlines...10 recent updates! Your Medicare Benefits 2024: Are routine eye exams covered? How about with diabetes? How about with macular degeneration? How about some correspondence from clients?  Brian wanted some details about the Medicare supplement application process. One important fact is that the insurance company will draw the initial premium right away on the date of approval. Also, after discussing the Medicare situation with friends, he confirmed a fact featured in Medicare for the Lazy Man: Many people are not told about the High Deductible Medicare supplement plan option. Their loss! Finally, an explanation of the fact that Aetna or any other supplement is almost immaterial. Medicare itself does the approvals, the Medicare supplement is just along for the ride. It makes very little difference what company sold you the plan. Contact me at: DBJ@MLMMailbag.com (Most severe critic: A+)                   Visit us on: BabyBoomer.ORG Inspired by: "MEDICARE FOR THE LAZY MAN 2025; Simplest & Easiest Guide Ever!" on Amazon.com. Return to leave a short customer review & help future readers. Official website: https://www.MedicareForTheLazyMan.com.

Sean Callahan sits down with Gene Canter from Aetna to discuss the unique relationship Aetna and Savoy bring broker partners in the Florida market and beyond. ✔ How Aetna is improving primary care access with strong networks, virtual care & CVS MinuteClinic ✔ Ways to make quoting & onboarding easier for brokers and employers ✔ How Aetna meets the unique needs of small businesses Want to partner with Aetna and Savoy? Contact our team today: https://www.savoyassociates.com/Group-Health-Plans

What do marine biology, massage therapy, and managing a Chamber of Commerce have in common? Moe's career journey.In this episode of Embrace the Squiggle, Colleen sits down with Moe Belliveau, the Executive Director of the East Hampton Chamber, for a conversation that's anything but linear. With Kristine away, Colleen dives into Moe's fascinating path, from dreaming of becoming a marine biologist, to drawing blueprints in architectural drafting, navigating the structure of corporate life at Aetna, building a massage therapy business from scratch, and ultimately leading her local Chamber of Commerce.Moe's story is a masterclass in reinvention. She shares how she leaned into uncertainty, took strategic risks, and embraced career pivots that may have seemed disconnected on paper- but made perfect sense in practice. Whether you're feeling stuck, curious about starting over, or simply love a good reinvention story, this episode will leave you inspired to follow your own squiggly path.

It's hard to overstate how consequential President Trump's “Liberation Day” tariffs have been for American economic policy. While the administration has paused the steep reciprocal tariffs it announced on trading partners other than China, a flat across-the-board 10% tariff remains. And China has raised tariffs on all U.S. goods to over 100% in retaliation.  Some economists fear this trade war could have a seismic impact across the American economy, including on clean energy. The exceptionally high tariffs on China in particular could have a significant bearing on clean tech products — things like batteries, solar panels, and wind turbines. So what are the possible outcomes? Do our trade deficits or national security imperatives necessitate this trade war? What would a turn away from globalization mean for efforts to confront climate change? And what does all of this mean for the future of industrial policy in the U.S.? This week, Jason Bordoff talks with Jason Furman about the flurry of Trump administration tariffs and how they could play out for the energy industry. Jason Furman is Aetna professor of the practice of economic policy at Harvard University. Prior to his appointment at Harvard, he served as a key economic advisor to President Obama, including as the chair of the Council of Economic Advisors. Jason played a key role in implementing the major economic policy initiatives of the Obama administration, including the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Affordable Care Act.  Credits: Hosted by Jason Bordoff and Bill Loveless. Produced by Mary Catherine O'Connor, Caroline Pitman, and Kyu Lee. Additional support from Trevor Sutton. Engineering by Sean Marquand. Stephen Lacey is executive producer.

Lawrence Ward will mark his first year as University of Hartford president in July. Ward sat down with the CBIA BizCast to discuss his journey to lead UHart, his first year, and his goals for the university. UHart is something of a homecoming for Ward, who grew up in Vernon and graduated from the University of Connecticut. Ward's career actually started in sales and marketing at Aetna. But said the “seeds for being an educator were first planted as a young child.” Ward said growing up, he looked up to his mother—a high school social studies teacher. With the help of several mentors, Ward shifted to consulting for an organizational training company, and ultimately becoming an associate dean at American University and a dean and vice president at Babson College. Ward said he was drawn to UHart's ethos of being a private university that works to serve the public good. He also said coming back to Hartford was a full-circle moment for his family. Ward's grandmother, who didn't have more than an eighth grade education, worked as a chambermaid to help put three children through school. “The only thing that makes my story possible, and that of my family, is the promise of higher education,” he said. “So it's really important, it's very personal, and it is a tremendous honor to come back as president.” Ward became president during a period of transition for the university. That includes post-COVID financial realities and the controversial decision to shift from Division I to Division III athletics. “I have a challenge of rebuilding confidence in this institution and rebuilding confidence in ourself organizationally,” he said. “That's a cultural challenge.” Ward said its been important to him to be present, engaged, and accessible to really understand the community. "I really prided myself on these first nine months, on doing exactly that," he said. "I have been really heartened by the university community's response to me and my leadership." Ward said his immediate goal is to make UHart a preferred destination for students and families. A big part of that is developing programs that prepare students for in-demand careers like nursing, robotics, and business. “We've got some really strong market-facing in-demand programs, and we need to match that with really high-quality student focused experience on campus,” he said. To do that, Ward said they are stepping up their efforts to engage with companies to create unique partnerships that will create career pipelines for students, benefitting the businesses and the university. Ward said as the university evolves, it's important they live up to their name and help lift up the Hartford community. “We feel as though we have a responsibility as a University of Hartford to be supportive,” he said. “Success for the region will mean success for the University of Hartford.” The CBIA BizCast is made possible through the generous support of Google. Please rate, review, and subscribe to the BizCast wherever you get your podcasts—we appreciate your support! If you have a story to tell, contact Amanda Marlow. Related Links: University of Hartford Website: https://www.hartford.edu/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/school/university-of-hartford/ Lawrence Ward on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lawrencepward/ CBIA Website: https://www.cbia.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cbia/

In this episode, Jane Brown, Vice President of Medicaid Strategic Support and Oversight at Aetna, discusses the evolving Medicaid landscape. She shares insights on improving connectivity, driving value-based care, and empowering both providers and beneficiaries through data and technology.

In this episode, Jane Brown, Vice President of Medicaid Strategic Support and Oversight at Aetna, discusses the evolving Medicaid landscape. She shares insights on improving connectivity, driving value-based care, and empowering both providers and beneficiaries through data and technology.

Jeff was joined by Anchorage resident Brandon Kennedy. They discuss a medical event his son Marcus had at the Mountain View Boys and Girls Club during a basketball game last August, his son's time at Alaska Regional Hospital, the start of the problems he had with Aetna when his son needed to go to a brain injury facility outside of Alaska, how his son eventually ended up at Shirley Ryan in Chicago, the insurance nightmare he has had to deal with since his son went to Chicago, and some of the help he and his family have gotten along the way. You can view the GoFundMe and more information here. 

Welcome to the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence.In today's episode, we're talking about the transformative power of personalization in health care marketing with David Edelman, author of "Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI," and former Chief Marketing Officer at Aetna. As health care continues to evolve, understanding and implementing personalized customer experiences becomes critical, especially as AI begins to shape patient engagement and expectations.David brings his vast experience and insights into why personalization is not just a marketing tool but a necessary strategy in the healthcare sector. He shares his journey and the lessons learned during his tenure at Aetna, providing a blueprint for how healthcare organizations can adopt AI-driven personalization to revolutionize patient interactions and increase satisfaction.We're diving deep into the principles of personalization, the role of AI in customer experience, and how healthcare brands can balance between personalization and privacy. David also discusses how personalization is taking shape in both B2B and B2C spaces and how essential it is for companies to align their entire organization around customer experience.Thank you for being part of the Health Marketing Collective, where strong leadership meets marketing excellence. The future of health care depends on it.Key Takeaways:Personalization as a Necessity in Health Care: David Edelman emphasizes that health care's inherently personal nature makes personalization more crucial than ever. Patients' experiences are deeply personal, involving complex health and social factors, and brands must tailor interactions to their unique needs to be effective.AI's Role in Personalization: AI offers unprecedented opportunities for personalizing healthcare experiences. By using AI to manage, analyze, and learn from vast quantities of data, healthcare brands can deliver more relevant and timely engagements, enhancing patient satisfaction and loyalty.Balancing Personalization and Privacy: David discusses the importance of respecting privacy while implementing personalization strategies. Through secure data handling, clear consent processes, and thoughtful communication strategies, health care organizations can effectively balance personalization with privacy concerns.Company-Wide Customer Experience Initiatives: Personalization and customer experience strategies must be company-wide. David illustrates that a comprehensive approach involving all departments—from marketing to compliance—is necessary to ensure success in delivering personalized customer experiences.Education through Personalization: One practical application of personalization is educational—David shares how Aetna utilized personalized video experiences to educate consumers about their health plans, significantly reducing misunderstandings, improving customer satisfaction, and cutting down on support calls.Join us for these valuable insights and be inspired to drive change and innovation in healthcare marketing.

Ben Kaplan sits down with Mark Bertolini, CEO of Oscar Health and former head of Aetna, to break down one of the biggest healthcare turnarounds in recent history.Oscar Health was bleeding cash, fully dependent on the Affordable Care Act, and struggling to turn a profit. Within just 10 weeks, Mark uncovered $1.4 billion in hidden opportunities, restructured the business, and set it on a path to profitability for the first time ever.In this episode, Mark reveals:Why Oscar's original founders avoided hiring healthcare experts—and how that nearly doomed the company.How AI and large language models cut costs by 1400 basis points.The high-stakes reality of running a company that depends entirely on the U.S. government.His no-nonsense approach to leadership, from fixing broken businesses to out-negotiating industry giants like CVS.What most CEOs get wrong about running a business—and why courage and curiosity matter more than anything else.This is a must-listen for anyone in business, tech, or leadership, as Mark and Ben break down what it really takes to transform an industry built to resist change.

Megan Lowry, Marine Corps Veteran, Veteran Wellness Specialist, and citizen of the Muscogee Nation is our guest today on the Hoffman Podcast. Megan's story is one of hope. She held 'a kernel of hope' when she came to the Hoffman Process in 2015. As a Native American, Megan wasn't sure how she would navigate the week of the Process. She shares, "Being Native, there's things that we do to grieve and things that we never show and never talk about just, culturally, and so just bringing all of that to the Hoffman process, it was intimidating." Megan served our country in the Marine Corps and then in the Secret Service for President, George W. Bush and First Lady, Barbara Bush. The military was where Megan gained so much, yet it was a place that also caused her great harm. She grew and learned to "adapt and overcome," but she suffered both sexual and emotional abuse during those years. After leaving the service, she found herself having a difficult time. Then she was fortunate to meet Lee Lesser, founder of Veteran's PATH. Lee became a mentor to Megan, helping Megan find a path of healing path that included the Hoffman Process. Now a PhD student, Megan continues to heal her significant PTSD while bringing her many skills and wisdom to serve as the commander of the Muscogee Creek Nation women's honor guard and support Veterans in finding healing and well-being. For her dissertation, Megan intends to highlight the need for a blend of healing modalities, such as talk and recreational therapies, and ties to the community to give you purpose. Megan says, "It's not just one thing or another, it's a blend of so many things, of so many pieces to create the human experience." Content warning: This episode references sexual assault, emotional trauma, and suicide. If you or someone you know is considering suicide, you can call the US National Suicide Prevention Program at 800-273-8255 or message the crisis text hotline at 741741. If you are a veteran, you can also reach out to the Veterans Crisis Line. More about Megan Lowry: Megan is a Marine Corps Veteran who served as a military police officer and presidential security. She resides in Oklahoma on the Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation with her family, caring for her aging mother and two special needs stepdaughters. Her partner builds hot rods! Megan is also serving as the commander for the Muscogee Creek Nation women's honor guard, where they are asked to travel the country providing tribal veteran representation for ceremonies. Megan received her sociology degree and her Master's in Social Work. She is working on her PhD in Psychology while also working full-time as a Veteran Wellness Specialist. She covers the state of Oklahoma for Aetna and is also on the national leadership team for veterans and native resource groups. Megan has 10 dogs, 7 chickens, 2 ducks, a pig named Pumba, and a bunny named Iggy Hop. In her free time, Megan likes to garden, be outside, cycle, and meditate.  As mentioned in this episode: Mvto - "Thank you." in Muscogee Creek •   More on the Muscogee Creek language Read and watch more about Megan and her life at the University of Tulsa website. Lee Lesser •   Sensory Awareness Retreat •   Veteran's Path Secret Service, Serving President George W. Bush and First Lady, Barbara Bush •   Interview with Megan about the process of applying to the Secret Service •   Megan received the Marcy Lawless Service Award Marine Corps Military Police •   Military Sexual Trauma PTSD - Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Conex Box Muscogee Creek Nation Reservation Muscogee Creek Nation women's honor guard Suicide in the Military Veteran's Mental Health Congresswoman, Jackie Speier Invisible Wounds Documentary Vanessa Guillen Service dog, Therapy dog,  vs. Emotional Support dog PTSD Dysregulation "It's literally...your ordinary brain trying to cope with an extraordinary situation, and that is human.

Today's episode features David Edelman, Harvard Business School fellow and author of Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI. David shares his career journey from consulting at BCG to leading digital transformation at Digitas, McKinsey, and Aetna. He explains why personalization is more than just a marketing tactic—it's a strategic tool to enhance customer experience and drive business growth. The discussion explores real-world examples from Starbucks, Spotify and Aetna, highlighting both the opportunities and challenges of AI-driven personalization. David also introduces the Personalization Index, detailing five key dimensions that separate industry leaders from laggards. Finally, he offers insights on how companies can use AI and data to improve customer engagement and financial performance. [01:14] David's Career Journey [04:33] The Importance of Personalization [08:36] Personalization in Customer Experience [14:46] Motivation Behind Writing the Book[16:39] The Personalization Index and Its Dimensions[23:13] Unlocking New Opportunities with PersonalizationConnect with DavidLinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/daveedelmanWebsite: www.edelmanadvisoryservices.com

Sandra Cho and Brian Tanquilut break down CVS Health's (CVS) earnings. Sandra calls the report a “huge sigh of relief” after a big drop last year. She says boosting Aetna's profitability will be key to CVS's business. Brian discusses the guidance, saying “there's a lot of excitement about the turnaround” CVS is going through.======== Schwab Network ========Empowering every investor and trader, every market day.Subscribe to the Market Minute newsletter - https://schwabnetwork.com/subscribeDownload the iOS app - https://apps.apple.com/us/app/schwab-...Download the Amazon Fire Tv App - https://www.amazon.com/TD-Ameritrade-...Watch on Sling - https://watch.sling.com/1/asset/19192...Watch on Vizio - https://www.vizio.com/en/watchfreeplu...Watch on DistroTV - https://www.distro.tv/live/schwab-net...Follow us on X – / schwabnetworkFollow us on Facebook – / schwabnetworkFollow us on LinkedIn - / schwab-networkAbout Schwab Network - https://schwabnetwork.com/about

Richard Feifer, MD, Chief Medical Officer of InnovAge, joins Eric to explore the transformative potential of the PACE (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly) model. Richard shares compelling stories and strategies showcasing how PACE integrates medical, physical, social, and emotional care to improve outcomes for seniors and individuals with complex needs. Listeners will gain insights into: The unique interdisciplinary care team (IDT) approach and how it delivers personalized, efficient care. Innovations in reducing hospitalizations and shifting care to home-based settings. Lessons on advanced care planning and end-of-life support that prioritize patient goals. Operational strategies for managing costs while maintaining exceptional patient experiences. Richard explores the economic and practical sustainability of the PACE model, providing actionable insights for healthcare leaders aiming to replicate its success.   About Richard As a physician executive with broad healthcare industry experience, Dr. Richard Feifer helps organizations achieve their fullest potential in an ever-changing environment. Rich is a board-certified internist with clinical experience in primary care, geriatrics, and urgent care medicine.  As a health system leader, he has also developed expertise in population health management, value-based payment models, clinical analytics, and technology-driven healthcare transformation.   Rich has dedicated his career to improving the quality and efficiency of healthcare and the health of populations he has served. Most recently, as executive vice president and chief medical officer of Genesis HealthCare, he led one of the nation's largest skilled nursing and long-term care providers, operating over 400 facilities in 25 states in 2019. As president of Genesis Physician Services, a Genesis subsidiary with over 450 physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants in 2019, he navigated the successful transition to value-based care delivery. In that capacity, he also launched and served as chief medical officer of the only national accountable care organization focused on nursing home residents, LTC ACO.   Prior to joining Genesis, Rich was Aetna's chief medical officer of National Accounts, leading the department of Clinical Consulting, Strategy, and Analysis, which helped large employers improve the health and productivity of their employees and dependents. Before Aetna, Rich served as vice president of Clinical Program Innovation and Evaluation at Medco, where he was responsible for the organization's portfolio of care enhancement programs.   A graduate of Brown University and the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Rich received his master's in health services management from Columbia University. He is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Connecticut and a board member of the Accreditation Commission on Health Care.    About InnovAge Our passion and mission is to help frail seniors age in their own homes with dignity. InnovAge has done this through PACE for more than 30 years.    As the largest provider of the Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) based on participants served, InnovAge is dedicated to expanding this successful program to serve as many seniors as possible nationwide. In some communities, like Philadelphia, PACE is known as Living Independence for the Elderly.    With InnovAge's Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE), older individuals have a team of healthcare professionals focused on providing all the connected care they need. This helps seniors live at home for as long as possible, instead of going to a nursing home or other care facility. 

Terry Brooks is joined by Kelly Pullen, Executive Director of the Aetna Better Health® of Kentucky's Supporting Kentucky Youth (SKY) program. We hear more about the long term impacts of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the role Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) has in mitigating adversity. Terry and Kelly also reflect on the SKY program's ACEs prevention and intervention efforts and how all Kentuckians can play a role in preventing adversity and promoting resilience building among children. Aetna Better Health of Kentucky is the signature sponsor of the 2024 Kentucky KIDS COUNT Data Book and the Making Kids Count podcast. Visit AetnaMedicaidKY.com/choose to learn more about their health care benefits and programs designed with your family's wellbeing in mind.

Howie and Harlan discuss health and healthcare headlines, including misaligned incentives keeping medicine from its mission, burdensome out-of-pockets costs, ultraprocessed foods, and serving the growing population of cancer survivors effectively. Links: Vivek Murthy's parting letter to America “Surgeon General Urges Americans to 'Rethink How We're Living Our Lives' in Closing Letter to the Country (Exclusive)” Discontent with the Health System in the United States “View of U.S. Healthcare Quality Declines to 24-Year Low” “What We Know About the UnitedHealthcare C.E.O.'s Killing and the Suspect” “Killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO brings resentment of the health care system to the fore” “Out‐of‐Pocket Annual Health Expenditures and Financial Toxicity From Healthcare Costs in Patients With Heart Failure in the United States” Bird Flu “First Bird Flu Death in U.S. Reported in Louisiana” “First H5 Bird Flu Death Reported in United States” “H5N1 Bird Flu” “Eyeing Potential Bird Flu Outbreak, Biden Administration Ramps Up Preparedness” “What is the HMPV virus in China? The human metapneumovirus and its symptoms, explained.” “Respiratory Virus Activity Levels” Alcohol and Cancer “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” “The cardioprotective association of average alcohol consumption and ischaemic heart disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis” “Alcohol Exposure and Disease Associations: A Mendelian Randomization and Meta-Analysis on Weekly Consumption and Problematic Drinking” “No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health” Cancer Survivorship “Prevalence of cancer survivors in the United States” Cancer Survivorship: Cancer.Gov Ultra-Processed Foods “Trans fat” “Low-Grade Inflammation and Ultra-Processed Foods Consumption: A Review” “The Power RFK Jr. Would Have Over Food” Lawsuits: "Bad Behavior" on the Physician side “Sixteen Cardiology Practices to Pay a Total of $17.7M to Resolve False Claims Act Allegations Concerning Inflated Medicare Reimbursements” “CVS-owned insurer Aetna sues Radiology Partners alleging multiphase ‘fraud scheme'” Jimmy Carter  “Jimmy Carter, Peacemaking President Amid Crises, Is Dead at 100” Learn more about the MBA for Executives program at Yale SOM. Email Howie and Harlan comments or questions.

Reversing Type 2 Diabetes: Banner|Aetna's Groundbreaking Approach Host: Megan Antonelli Guest: Dr. Robert Groves Join them for an enlightening conversation with Dr. Robert Groves, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Banner|Aetna. They will explore the innovative partnership with Virta Health, which has led to remarkable outcomes in Type 2 diabetes reversal and sustainable weight loss. Dr. Groves will share insights on how this personalized, nutrition-first approach is transforming lives, reducing medication dependence, and setting new standards in diabetes care. Find all of our network podcasts on your favorite podcast platforms and be sure to subscribe and like us. Learn more at www.healthcarenowradio.com/listen/

Today's thought of the day enters on the power of selfless service, emphasizing that everyone possesses the capacity to contribute positively to others' lives. It defines a "heart full of grace" as virtuous and compassionate, suggesting that serving others cultivates both personal growth and spiritual connection. The author encourages readers to embrace service with love and compassion, prompting reflection on motivations and expectations surrounding acts of kindness. Finally, the text connects serving others with finding meaning and purpose in life. When you do something for someone else, what kind of expectations do you have of how that other person should react to your help?What are some of the hidden gems in a life of servitude towards our fellow man?Do you ask yourself some of the important questions about life? If not, how long will you wait? --- Recorded by: Felipe Khristopher Blue, LCAS, LCMHCA, CCS, CCTP, CMNCS, C-DBT Executive Director of More Than Therapy 201 W Main Street Suite 316 Durham, NC 27701 Office: 1-919-729-6300 Business Mobile: 1-919-679-2263 Do you want/need therapy and live in NC or SC? Do you have Aetna insurance? Quest Behavioral Health? Carelon Behavioral Health? Anthem EAP - Bank of America? Let's schedule a consultation to assist you with your personal goals. (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist, Certification in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy)

The thought of the day presents a reflective meditation on perspective, contrasting optimistic and pessimistic viewpoints with a more analytical, engineering-like approach. It explores the author's personal experiences of shifting between these perspectives, emphasizing the power of choosing gratitude and appreciating life's blessings. The meditation encourages self-reflection on how one interprets challenges, suggesting that difficulties often offer valuable lessons and opportunities for growth. Finally, it proposes that our happiness hinges less on avoiding hardship and more on constructively interpreting life's lessons. Do you see the glass as half empty or half full? Are you afraid that a half-empty glass will soon be gone, or are you glad that you have half a glass of something to enjoy? How do the "half-empty" people affect you when you're around them? Are their views generally positive? Is it realistic to expect that all of our glasses should be full all the time? --- Recorded by: Felipe Khristopher Blue, LCAS, LCMHCA, CCS, CCTP, CMNCS, C-DBT Executive Director of More Than Therapy (A 5013C Program of the FAEJ Foundation) 201 W Main Street Suite 316 Durham, NC 27701 Office: 1-919-729-6300 Business Mobile: 1-919-679-2263 Do you want/need therapy and live in NC or SC? Do you have Aetna insurance? Quest Behavioral Health? Carelon Behavioral Health? Anthem EAP - Bank of America? Let's schedule a consultation to assist you with your personal goals. (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist, Certification in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy)

Take time today to help one another. How often do you commit small, seemingly insignificant acts to help others? What are the effects of those acts?If courtesy is contagious, can it be also that helping acts are contagious?If we serve others, do you think that those others will be more likely to serve in their turn? Do you think that we can serve others by allowing them to serve us?How often do we reject the help of others who would be more than glad to help us? Felipe K. Blue, LCAS, LCMHCA, CCS, CCTP, CMNCS, C-DBT Executive Director of More Than Therapy 201 W Main StreetSuite 316 Durham, NC 27701 Office: 1-919-729-6300 Business Mobile: 1-919-679-2263 www.morethantherapy.org Do you need a therapist? Do you have AETNA insurance? Do you work at Duke? Are you a doctor? Nurse?

 My guest today is David Edelman. David's the former CMO of Aetna, and he's currently a senior lecturer in marketing at Harvard Business School. I've known David well over 10 years and we had an absolutely fascinating conversation focussing initially on AI and and the customer experience.One of David's recent HBR articles was "Customer Experience in the Age of AI" which are two topics that are very near and dear, at least they should be, for every marketer of the world. I hope you enjoy my conversation. 

New bipartisan legislation in Washington aims to break up pharmacy benefit managers after years of scrutiny on PBMs from Congress and the FTC. Health care insurance executive Mark Bertolini is now CEO of Oscar Health, and he spent years leading Aetna and CVS Health. Today, he reflects on American health care, his vision for an improved system, and his own security detail in the wake of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson's murder. In a wide ranging and very personal conversation, Bertolini shares his experience with 18 years of chronic pain and the treatment that changed his life. Plus, Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) is explaining his edited Spotify wrapped, and Elon Musk is inching closer to trillionaire status, thanks to a new Tesla stock milestone.   Mark Bertolini - 17:42 In this episode:Becky Quick, @BeckyQuickJoe Kernen, @JoeSquawkAndrew Ross Sorkin, @andrewrsorkinKatie Kramer, @Kramer_Katie Preroll 00:00ad 1 14:28ad 2 36:18TRT 36:44

Welcome to the What's Next! Podcast with Tiffani Bova.    I have the pleasure of welcoming David Edelman to the show today. He is a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, an executive advisor and board member to brands and technology providers, and an advisor to BCG. Previously, David was chief marketing officer at Aetna and has worked with dozens of companies on personalization, AI, and agile marketing at BCG and Digitas. Forbes has repeatedly named him one of the Top 20 Most Influential Voices in Marketing and Ad Age has named him a Top 20 Chief Marketing and Technology Officer. David is also the co-author of a new book called Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, which has recently become a USA bestseller.    THIS EPISODE IS PERFECT FOR… anyone who wants to learn how to deliver true personalization at scale.    TODAY'S MAIN MESSAGE… customer experience is imperative to business success, but personalization remains elusive for many organizations. In this conversation, David offers his playbook on making personalization a core business strategy for organizations of any size. He also shares a detailed walkthrough of the Five Promises of Personalization.    Key Takeaways: If you consider personalization a strategic goal, you need to be able to measure it. Compensation is often too abstract of a metric. Instead, David recommends using measures of business performance.  If you can't make your product simpler, you need to educate your customers. The customer experience should be getting better and better over time.    WHAT I LOVE MOST… David's points about thinking about the flow of company interaction. Remember that when customers get bombarded, they tend to tune out. David says, “Less is more, but less that's smarter is even more.”   Running Time: 32:37   Subscribe on iTunes   Find Tiffani Online: LinkedIn Facebook X   Find David Online: LinkedIn    David's Book:  Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI  

Why do many of us spend so much time counting others blessings or comparing ourselves to others?What purpose do such actions serve?What are some ways we can focus more on our own blessings and less on those of others that seem better than our own? Recorded by: Felipe Khristopher Blue, LCAS, LCMHCA, CCS, CCTP, CMNCS, C-DBT Executive Director of More Than Therapy 201 W Main Street Suite 316 Durham, NC 27701 Office: 1-919-729-6300 Business Mobile: 1-919-679-2263 www.morethantherapy.org Do you want/need therapy and live in NC or SC? Do you have Aetna insurance? Quest Behavioral Health? Carelon Behavioral Health? Anthem EAP - Bank of America? Let's schedule a consultation to assist you with your personal goals. (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist, Certification in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy)

Is thankfulness dependent upon others or could it truly be a way to live?Do you pray before meals? If so, why?What are some things you could say grace for right now? Recorded by: Felipe Khristopher Blue, LCAS, LCMHCA, CCS, CCTP, CMNCS, C-DBT Executive Director of More Than Therapy 201 W Main Street Suite 316 Durham, NC 27701 Office: 1-919-729-6300 Business Mobile: 1-919-679-2263 www.morethantherapy.org Do you want/need therapy and live in NC or SC? Do you have Aetna insurance? Quest Behavioral Health? Carelon Behavioral Health? Anthem EAP - Bank of America? Let's schedule a consultation to assist you with your personal goals. (Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist, Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate, Certified Clinical Supervisor, Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, Certified Mental Health & Nutrition Clinical Specialist, Certification in Dialectic Behavioral Therapy)

Dave Edelman is a sought-after advisor on digital transformation and marketing, a professor, and an author. He teaches marketing at Harvard Business School and advises top executives on AI and personalization. Dave began his career as a young consultant at the Boston Consulting Group, where he coined the term “Segment-of-One Marketing.” Dave also guided Aetna (now part of CVS Health) as CMO through its transformation into a digitally oriented, customer-centric brand. Recognized multiple times by Forbes as one of the “Most Influential CMOs in the World” and by AdWeek as one of the “Top 20 Marketing and Technology Executives,” Dave has attracted over 1.1 million followers to his LinkedIn blog. His upcoming book, Personalized: Customer Strategy in the Age of AI, will be published by Harvard Business Press in October.On today's show, Alan and Dave discuss Dave's upcoming book and the importance of personalization for companies. They delve into the '5 Promises of Personalization,' exploring how effective personalization can transform a company's brand and value proposition over time. They also examine the key conditions required for successful personalization marketing, and how the personalization index can be used to assess and enhance a company's personalization practices. Additionally, they discuss how personalization can unlock the growth potential of AI.In this episode, you'll learn: The 5 Promises of Personalization and how they can add value to your companyHow AI can enhance personalized marketingTips around building trust, a key component to personalizationKey Highlights: [01:40] Dave's passion as a jazz player & how it parallels business[03:35] How Dave got into personalization[07:13] Why this book and why now? [09:03] Conditions needed for personalization [13:33] The 5 promises of personalization [18:40] Digging deeper into “Reach Me” [23:10] How trust factors in [25:33] How do you get better at “Delight Me”[28:44] Evolving your value proposition[32:00] Experience of your past that defines you[34:05] Advice to younger self[35:12] A topic that you and other marketers need to learn more about[36:27] Trends or subcultures others should follow[38:18] Largest opportunity or threat to marketers todayLooking for more?Visit our website for the full show notes, links to resources mentioned in this episode, and ways to connect with the guest! Become a member today and listen ad-free, visit https://plus.acast.com/s/marketingtoday. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.