In this episode of Only Healthcare, host Randy Vogenberg welcomes William Sarraille, retired senior partner from Sidley Austin's healthcare practice and nationally recognized expert in US healthcare law. As both a legal authority and rare disease patient himself, Bill exposes how the 340B drug discount program has evolved from a modest safety net initiative into an $80 billion profit machine that enriches hospitals while burdening employers and devastating patients with medical debt. With 30 ...
In this episode of Only Healthcare's Risk Series, hosts Michael Navin and Randy Vogenberg welcome Tom Sondergeld, managing partner of TS Consulting Group with over 30 years in healthcare benefit consulting and former senior advisor to McKinsey & Company. As a national leader in benefit design strategy and cancer survivor who has personally navigated the healthcare maze, Tom provides both professional expertise and patient perspective on the explosive growth of ultra-high-cost therapies th...
In this episode of Only Healthcare's Risk Series, hosts Michael Navin and Randy Vogenberg welcome Drew Wilkins, Managing Director at Monitor Deloitte with over 20 years of consulting experience in corporate strategy and innovation. As an expert in access and health with deep expertise in life sciences, Drew reveals how cell and gene therapies are fundamentally breaking America's employer-sponsored healthcare system—not through gradual cost increases, but through unpredictable "lightning strik...
In this episode of Only Healthcare, hosts Randy Vogenberg and Michael Navin welcome Tamara Thomas, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Urban Health Today, for a candid discussion about the consumer perspective on America's broken healthcare system. Drawing from her extensive background in health disparities coverage and a shocking revelation from an insurance executive years ago, Tamara exposes the fundamental conflict between profit motives and patient care. With her unique lens as both a healt...
In this episode of Only Healthcare, hosts Michael Navin and Dr. Randy Vogenberg welcome two healthcare transformation pioneers: Dave Chase, co-founder of Health Rosetta, and Steve Ditto, compliance advisor and founder of Ditto and Associates. Together, they reveal how employers can slash healthcare costs by 50% or more while improving employee benefits through strategic procurement and fiduciary compliance. With decades of experience in healthcare technology and benefits consulting, Dave and ...
In this episode of Only Healthcare, hosts Michael Navin and Dr. Randy Vogenberg welcome guest Deborah Williams, a leading healthcare strategy and policy expert, to explore the explosive growth and complex economics of GLP-1 medications like Ozempic and Wegovy. With her extensive background working on Medicare Part D legislation and with major pharmaceutical companies, Deborah breaks down how these breakthrough diabetes and weight loss drugs exemplify everything wrong with America's heal...
In this episode of Only Healthcare, hosts Michael Navin and Dr. Randy Vogenberg dive deep into one of America's most pressing healthcare questions: Why are prescription drugs so expensive? Michael, a leading expert in biotech market access and commercialization strategies, unpacks the complex web of pricing decisions, negotiations, and middleman systems that drive up drug costs for patients and employers alike. Key Topics Discussed: Drug Pricing Fundamentals - How pharmaceutical comp...
In this episode of Only Healthcare, we tackle the fundamental question: Why does the US spend more on healthcare than any other country yet rank last in outcomes? Key Topics: The cost-outcome paradox – How $12,000 per capita spending leads to worst-in-class life expectancy and preventable death rates among developed nationsSystem misalignment – Why emergency care dominates over preventative care, driving up costs while reducing effectivenessAdministrative waste – The $600 billion to $2...
“Trillions of dollars are working against transparency.” In this explosive episode of the Only Healthcare Podcast, hosts Michael Navin and Randy Vogenberg, PhD, sit down with Mark Galvin, CEO of Talon Health, to expose the powerful forces fighting to keep healthcare costs opaque—and why that’s costing you more than you realize. Whether you're an employer, patient, policymaker, or provider, this episode is your wake-up call. Mark, a seasoned tech disruptor, unveils how Talon Health is di...
Featured Guest: Stan Mehr — Editor of Biosimilars Review & Report, healthcare journalist, and market strategist with decades of expertise in biosimilars, pharma reform, and drug pricing dynamics. https://biosimilarsrr.com/about/ In this critical episode, we explore the evolving biosimilars landscape, pricing transparency, and the tangled web of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) with biosimilars expert Stan Mehr. From inflated rebates to private-label manipulation, Stan sheds light on how P...
Join us as we examine the heart of the healthcare affordability crisis. In this episode, Michael Navin and Randy Vogenberg, PhD discuss the hidden costs exacerbating healthcare access and decision-making. Listen in as they set the stage for a compelling conversation about healthcare's lack of price transparency and how this obscurity fuels an ongoing affordability crisis. Key Discussion Points: Examining how opaque pricing impacts patient decisions and the healthcare system.Insigh...
Join Michael Navin in this insightful brief episode of the "Ask The Expert" series on The Only Healthcare Podcast. In this episode, Michael dives into President Trump's recent executive order to enforce drug price transparency across the United States. Issued on February 25, 2025, this mandate directs federal agencies to ensure that hospitals and insurers disclose actual healthcare costs, building on a 2019 initiative. Episode Highlights: Understanding the Executive Order: A d...
Join hosts Michael Navin and Randy Vogenberg, PhD as they discuss more on the pivotal healthcare policy changes under the Trump administration. This episode delves into the fresh legislative adjustments affecting PBMs, the impacts of new Medicare reports, and advancements in gene therapy and R&D. It also discusses the broader implications of these policies on healthcare costs, accessibility, and the expansion of IVF coverage. Tune in for a critical analysis of what these changes mean for ...
Welcome to another insightful episode of "The Only Healthcare Podcast," where we unpack the demand for change in risk management for employers within commercial insurance and benefit design. In this episode, our host, Dr. Randy Vogenberg, is joined by Rajiv Sood, the founder of Sood Health Advisors. With over 30 years of experience spanning healthcare, clinical settings, insurance, and InsureTech, Rajiv brings a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective on managing financial risks in healt...
Welcome back to "The Only Healthcare Podcast." This episode delves deep into the evolving landscape of healthcare policy in 2025. Hosted by Randy Vogenberg, PhD we are joined by special guest Jayson Slotnik, a seasoned health policy expert from Health Policy Strategies, LLC. Jayson Slotnik is a prominent figure in health policy consultation, with over 15 years of experience at Health Policy Strategies, LLC. He works with government agencies, manufacturers, patient advocacy groups, and health...
Join us on the "Only Healthcare Podcast" as we dive into the transformative discussions from the recent Clinical Pathways Congress in Boston with Dr. Randy Vogenberg. Discover the latest trends in clinical practice, payment models, and policy shaping healthcare's future. What You’ll Learn: Insights on Clinical Practice Changes: Understand the new dynamics in clinical pathways affecting patient care and how healthcare providers are adapting to these changes.Impact of Benefit Design on Care: Ex...
In this episode of The Only Healthcare Podcast, co-hosts Michael Navin and Dr. Randy Vogenberg, PhD, welcome esteemed guest Tonya Vyhlidal, a senior consultant with over 25 years of experience in building comprehensive health and wellness programs. Together, they dive deep into the components of employer and biopharmaceutical manufacturer collaboration and the benefits it holds for all stakeholders involved. Key Highlights: The Current Landscape: Understanding why collaboration be...
In this enlightening episode of The Only Healthcare Podcast, hosts Michael Navin and Dr. Randy Vogenberg, PhD, dive deep into the crucial need for employer-manufacturer collaboration in the commercial healthcare market exploring: Data Transparency: Why both employers and manufacturers must share data to create more informed, efficient, and impactful benefit plans.Equitable Access: The challenges and opportunities in balancing network limitations, production costs, and patient affordability.Wh...
In Episode 7 of the Only Healthcare Podcast, co-hosts Michael Navin and Dr. Randy Vogenberg, PhD, are joined by Zak Kornblum, a pharmacy consultant with expertise in navigating the complexities of employer-PBM relationships. Together, they discuss the critical need for employer-pharmaceutical collaboration to drive transparency, improve data access, and enhance patient outcomes. Key discussion points include: The challenges employers face when relying solely on PBMs for data and transparency....
In this episode of the Only Healthcare Podcast, we sit down with Dr. Randy Vogenberg, PhD, to discuss the rising influence of state-level healthcare legislation and how employers must adapt to ensure their healthcare plans align with changing regulations. With over 270 pieces of healthcare legislation in 45 states, employers must understand how these changes may impact fully-funded and self-funded plans under ERISA. Dr. Vogenberg also dives into the evolving landscape of patient-centered care...