The Business of Benefits Podcast Podcast By Hi Hello Labs Network cover art

The Business of Benefits Podcast

The Business of Benefits Podcast

By: Hi Hello Labs Network
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 For decades, employers have been fed a lie: “There’s nothing you can do to control healthcare costs.” This couldn’t be further from the truth. The system is doing exactly what it was designed to do—profit off of HR, CFOs, and CEOs who believe that lie year after year.With 180 million Americans relying on employer-sponsored healthcare, it’s time to challenge the status quo. The Business of Benefits is your No BS, No Sales guide to the real solutions. No gimmicks—just the truth about how to take control, transform your benefits, and care for your most valuable asset: your people.Each episode dives deep into the data, exposing industry misalignments and inefficiencies that inflate costs while offering actionable strategies for designing financially sustainable, high-value benefits.Through eye-opening interviews with industry insiders, expert analysis, and real-world success stories, hosts Donovan and Chelsea pull back the curtain on the hidden flaws in the healthcare system. The result? An empowering roadmap for employers ready to break free from outdated models and unlock smarter, more sustainable benefits.If you’re tired of the same old sales pitch and ready to rethink benefits, reduce costs, and improve care—this podcast is for you. The truth is out there—are you ready to hear it?Copyright Hi Hello Labs Network Economics Leadership Management & Leadership Personal Development Personal Success
Episodes
  • 52. Why Bryan Orr Said Goodbye to Traditional Health Insurance—and Won

    52. Why Bryan Orr Said Goodbye to Traditional Health Insurance—and Won
    May 29 2025
    This week's episode dives deep into real-world strategies for transforming health plans—rooted in fiduciary responsibility, transparency, and measurable outcomes.

    In this powerful episode, the team sits down with Bryan Orr, CEO of Kalos Services, live from the 2025 Florida Health Care Alliance conference. Bryan shares how he radically redesigned his company’s health plan—cutting costs by 42% below national benchmarks while slashing employee cost share by more than half.

    With 10 kids and a 400-person team, Bryan had every reason to care deeply about healthcare outcomes. His story is a masterclass in bold leadership, data-driven decisions, and building trust from the top down. Listeners will hear how Kalos implemented direct primary care, reference-based pricing, pharmacy cost control, and transparent network replacements—all while maintaining employee satisfaction and dramatically improving access to care.

    From free baby deliveries to $80,000 skin grafts reduced to $2,000, this episode proves what’s possible when employers stop playing defense and start demanding better.

    If you're an employer, HR leader, or benefit advisor tired of double-digit premium increases and vague justifications, this episode is your wake-up call—and a roadmap for action.

    Key Topics:
    • Fiduciary-driven health plan design
    • Transparent pricing and plan accountability
    • Direct primary care and local care access
    • Employee communication and leadership trust
    • Real-world savings and improved outcomes

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    30 mins
  • 51. Your Benefits, Your Risk: Why Fiduciary Duty Can’t Be Ignored

    51. Your Benefits, Your Risk: Why Fiduciary Duty Can’t Be Ignored
    May 16 2025
    In this high-impact episode of The Business of Benefits Podcast, we're cutting through the legal jargon and post-lunch drowsiness to bring you the most engaging conversation you’ll ever hear on fiduciary compliance. Hosts Chelsea and Donovan Ryckis pull back the curtain on what it really means to be a fiduciary under ERISA, especially in today’s healthcare landscape, where misaligned incentives are costing employers and employees big.

    Chelsea shares her personal journey from NCAA athlete to healthcare advocate after a traumatic brain injury exposed the broken realities of the American health system. Donovan breaks down the parallels between fiduciary standards in financial services and the gaping lack of those same protections in health benefits—until now.

    From health plan lawsuits and PBM fraud to RxDC reporting and compensation disclosure, this episode arms employers with the truth, the data, and the questions you must start asking.

    You’ll learn:
    • What fiduciary duty actually looks like in practice (and in court)
    • Why the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 is a game-changer for employer-sponsored plans
    • How to identify and eliminate conflicts of interest across your benefit ecosystem
    • What brokers aren’t telling you—and why that matters
    • Practical steps you can take today to realign incentives and protect your people

    Stick around for the debut of special guest Bryan Orr, whose real-world results show what’s possible when employers take back control.

    If you’re ready to rethink your role, reclaim your data, and radically improve your health plan decisions, this one’s for you.

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    39 mins
  • 50. Cracking the Code on PBMs: Real Cost-Saving Strategies for Employers with Guest Rachel Strauss

    50. Cracking the Code on PBMs: Real Cost-Saving Strategies for Employers with Guest Rachel Strauss
    May 1 2025
    If you've ever felt confused or frankly, duped by your pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), this episode is your wake-up call. Chelsea Ryckis sits down with the “PBM Princess” herself, Rachel Strauss, a 20+ year industry veteran and fierce advocate for transparency, to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood (and most expensive) parts of your health plan.

    You’ll learn:
    - The origin story of PBMs and how it all went sideways
    - The real story behind rebates and why “pass-through” doesn’t always mean what you think
    - How vertical integration and offshore contracts allow PBMs to hide profits in plain sight
    - 40 ways PBMs make money (and how to spot the red flags in your contract)
    - Actionable strategies like international sourcing, manufacturer assistance, and 340B pricing that can drastically reduce costs without impacting employee experience

    Whether you’re a CFO, HR leader, or CEO, this episode is packed with no-BS insights to help you finally take control of your pharmacy spend. Plus, don’t miss Rachel’s exclusive giveaway: the top 10 questions to ask your broker if you're serious about cutting costs.


    Connect with Rachel: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmstrauss/

    Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:
    Website: www.ethoseffectpodcast.com
    Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/
    Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis
    Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/
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    58 mins
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