On this episode of the Empowering Plans podcast series, attorneys Jen McCormick and Nick Bonds talk through some of the pressures self-funded plans face from every direction -- rising member costs, PBM opacity, shifting coverage models, and instability in the individual market. The plans that respond well are those with clear governance and the ability to keep track of who decides, who communicates, who monitors, and who holds the risk. Containing costs requires a well-run plan; a well-run plan requires good governance.

On this week's Empowering Plans Podcast, attorneys Ron Peck and Nick Bonds discuss the growing popularity of alternative healthcare arrangements. What's driving interest in these alternatives? What financial pressures are fueling their growth? Can they deliver on their promise? In a landscape of ever-increasing healthcare costs, these arrangements often offer a more affordable alternative to traditional coverage, but in exchange plans and participants can be left holding more risk than they realize. Be informed before you roll the dice! The Phia Group is here to help.

In this installment of The Phia Group’s Empowering Plans podcast, attorneys Kendall Jackson and Jon Jablon break down the Medicare Secondary Payer Act and what it means for self-funded group health plans. From prohibited incentives to noncompliant plan language, and the surprisingly thin line between educating and encouraging employees about Medicare, this episode covers the compliance pitfalls that plan sponsors, TPAs, and brokers sometimes overlook when trying to be cost-conscious.