High-deductible health plans have created "functionally uninsured" people who have insurance cards but can't access care due to high out-of-pocket costs, creating barriers to necessary healthcare and driving up long-term expenses. We discuss a solution with Tom Policelli of Paymedix. • Consumer confusion about benefits is the #1 issue, with affordability a close second • 45% of insured people avoided necessary care last year due to cost concerns • Nearly 30% of hospitals now require payment...
A 75-year legacy built on survival, relationships and faith continues to drive innovation at Conner Insurance, where CEO Ben Conner and his team focus on providing sound counsel during life's most significant moments. • Founded in 1949 by WWII veteran Henry Clay Conner Jr., whose 30 months surviving in Philippine jungles shaped core values of seriousness, relationships, and entrepreneurial spirit • Second-generation leadership of four Conner brothers emphasized shepherding the next generatio...
Jessica DeAngelo, Chief Hiking Officer at Hike to Become, shares how unplugging in nature revolutionizes business thinking and helps executives rediscover clarity and creativity away from digital distractions. • Former global sales director who transformed her life by committing to daily hiking after feeling overwhelmed by corporate demands and new motherhood • Created the Hike 31 Challenge based on four principles: Hike or walk, In nature, Keep tech off, Every day • Takes executive teams on...
Paid leave has transformed from a nice-to-have into a powerful retention and engagement tool for employers seeking to attract and keep top talent. Seth Turner of AbsintheSoft shares insights on how properly structured leave programs can create positive employee experiences that drive loyalty and productivity. • 86% of employees look for paid leave when job hunting, and 42% won't apply without it • Well-designed leave programs should address diverse workforce needs across life stages • Employ...
We explore the concept of time as our most precious resource with Andrew Hartman, founder of TimeBoss, who shares a framework for achieving results without overwhelm and burnout. • Andrew's journey began when work stress caused him to lose his sense of smell for six months • 77% of knowledge workers experienced burnout in the past year, up from 75% pre-COVID • The "always on" work culture has eliminated boundaries between professional and personal life • Most people treat time like credit in...
Recorded live at the Ascend Conference in Salt Lake City, David A. Saltzman sits down with Hans Kullberg, CEO and Founder of Avocado Health. Together, they explore how Avocado Health is solving one of the biggest challenges facing employers and employees alike: helping working parents get the right answers, right when they need them. Hans shares how his own journey as a father of five inspired him to build a text-first platform that provides parents with evidence-based guidance on everything ...
Recorded at the Ascend Conference in Salt Lake City, David A. Saltzman talks with Lorenzo Amaya, Vice President of Business Development at Integrated Source One. They explore the nationwide physician shortage, the challenges of quality care and timely access, and how innovative solutions like on-site, near-site, and mobile clinics are changing healthcare delivery for employers and employees alike. Lorenzo shares his journey from banking to telemedicine, and how Integrated Source One works to ...
Recorded live at the Ascend Conference in Salt Lake City, this episode of ShiftShapers features John Troutman, Vice President of Business Development at Mind Club America. Host David A. Saltzman and John discuss the “mutual mystification” surrounding mental health solutions—and how employers and advisors can start cutting through the noise with real access, real engagement, and real outcomes. From personal burnout to a professional mission, John shares how his experience as a former pastor he...
In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Reuven Shelef, CEO of Out of the Box Consulting and creator of the Untangling Complex Challenges methodology. Reuven shares why our brains default to negativity when faced with uncertainty—and how to move from emotional reactivity to clarity and action. With a blend of logic and emotional insight, Reuven helps leaders and teams understand how to recognize internal blockers, reframe stress, and break through stuck patterns—...
In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman talks with Ramesh Kumar, CEO and co-founder of zakipoint health. Ramesh shares how a personal mission to help his father navigate healthcare led to a professional pursuit: transforming overwhelming claims data into actionable insights for employers, advisors, and members. The conversation explores the evolution of predictive modeling, the growing importance of fiduciary responsibility in plan design, and how AI-powered platforms are help...
In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Sally Pace, CEO of Connect Healthcare Collaboration and co-founder of The Granite List—a platform built to help benefits advisors compare point solutions with clarity and confidence. Sally shares how her background in storytelling and communication led to the creation of employee engagement strategies that bridge the gap between tech and human connection. From clinical and benefits advocacy to empowering advisors with transparen...
In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Dave Chase, co-founder of Health Rosetta, a movement that has become a national force in transforming employer-sponsored healthcare. Dave shares the deeply personal story that drove him to create Health Rosetta and the powerful framework that emerged—one focused on transparency, outcomes, and economic sustainability. The conversation explores how Health Rosetta empowers benefit advisors and employers to break free from the...
In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman speaks with Joanna Conti, founder and chairman of the nonprofit Conquer Addiction. Joanna’s journey began when her own daughter faced life-threatening alcoholism, prompting a years-long search for effective treatment—and an urgent realization: no one was measuring long-term success. Joanna shares the results of her groundbreaking research following over 100,000 addiction patients, and exposes the massive gaps in transparency, accountabil...
Why Reducing Variation = Better Outcomes In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Kate Grohall, co-founder and Vice President of Value-Based Solutions at Holista. Kate shares her powerful journey from working with patients in a teaching hospital to building a transformative platform focused on reducing variation in care, cost, and outcomes. She unpacks how Holista restores trust in the provider-patient relationship, leverages real-time communication tools to impr...
Why Are We Paying More for Worse Health? | ShiftShapers In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Helene M. Epstein—writer, speaker, and patient advocate behind the Substack series Patient No More. Helene dives deep into America’s epidemic of medical errors, misdiagnoses, and system failures. She breaks down why even the most advanced technology and training haven’t improved patient safety, how profit-driven healthcare puts patients at risk, and—most importantly—what in...
Rethinking PPOs: How High-Performance Networks Deliver Value | ShiftShapers In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman sits down with Scott Smith, founder and CEO of Logro Network, to discuss a revolution in health plan design: the nationally curated high-performance network. Scott unpacks the origins of PPOs, why the old “discount everything” approach is broken, and how a focus on total value—cost, quality, and outcomes—can transform employer health plans. You’ll learn how...
In Part 2 of our powerful conversation with David Contorno, president and founder of ePowered Benefits, we go beyond the strategies and structures of health plan design—diving into the real-life struggles that are shaping smarter, more compassionate solutions. Host David A. Saltzman and David Contorno discuss the realities of scaling direct primary care, creative ways to bridge care gaps, and the challenges of educating employers and advisors about fiduciary responsibility. But the heart of t...
What does “smart” health plan design look like in an industry packed with legacy thinking and rising costs? In Part 1 of a special two-part ShiftShapers interview, host David A. Saltzman welcomes back David Contorno, president and founder of ePower Benefits—and one of the industry’s most well-known disruptors. David pulls back the curtain on his journey from traditional insurance to innovative plan design, explaining why “business as usual” can’t fix the healthcare system. He discusses creati...
Understanding Trump's Executive Order on Drug Pricing | ShiftShapers In this episode of ShiftShapers, host David A. Saltzman welcomes Tiffany Ryder, emergency medicine PA, host of Healthcare Liberty Lab, and writer at Red Flag Hero on Substack. Tiffany breaks down President Trump’s executive order on drug pricing and what it could mean for patients, providers, and pharmaceutical companies. She explores key issues like most favored nation pricing, transparency in drug costs, and the role of PB...
🎧 Replay Episode: Rethinking Healthcare Costs with Direct Pay Models As healthcare expenses continue to rise and insurance premiums stretch beyond affordability, more Americans are exploring alternatives. In this replay episode, we're revisiting a powerful conversation with Dr. Jawad Arshad, CEO of WoW Health Solutions, on how direct pay models could reshape ambulatory care. Dr. Arshad breaks down the benefits, challenges, and potential of a direct pay approach — offering insights into a futu...