Episode 39 - What Should Employers Know About Pharmacogenomics?
Release Date: 11/16/2023
Episode 50 - Annual Review Season
HR Benecast
It's annual review season at Employers Health — when clients meet with our team to hear how their pharmacy benefit plan is performing, what they should watch for in the future and plan changes to consider to reduce or minimize future pharmacy benefit costs. In the episode, we sit down with and to hear the main themes they're seeing in these reviews, how employers are dealing with the onslaught of legislative changes and, of course, GLP-1s and benefits trends for 2026.
info_outline
Episode 49 - CVS Weight Management Program
HR Benecast
When it comes to pharmacy benefits, no topics make headlines like GLP-1s and weight loss programs. On this episode of HR Benecast, Dr. Lia Rodriguez and Erin Bacon from CVS Health share what makes a clinical weight loss program really work. Listen to hear the latest obesity stats, obesity's link to other chronic conditions, the importance of lifestyle changes and more.
info_outline
Episode 48 - New and Noteworthy Biosimilars
HR Benecast
Biosimilars have been around for nearly a decade, but with Humira's list price of around $7,000, biosimilars for the drug are making an incredible splash in the pharmacy industry. With several biosimilars already launched in 2025 and more in the pipeline, many plan sponsors are wondering how to navigate the integration of these products into their pharmacy benefit strategies. In this episode, Employers Health's chats with, head of clinical pharmacy at IPD Analytics to discuss all things biosimilars, including how biosimilar launch dates and pricing are determined, cost...
info_outline
Episode 47 - State and Federal Benefits Legislation Under a New Administration
HR Benecast
Our host, , talks with Employers Health's Senior Vice President, Regulatory Compliance and External Affairs as she covers the latest state and federal employee benefits and PBM legislation under the new presidential administration. Together, they'll cover proposed bills affecting anti-steering legislation including mail vs. retail, preferred pharmacy networks and more. They'll discuss how Rutledge vs. PCMA affects state pharmacy reimbursement laws, ERISA preemption and more. Finally, hear how the rule-making process under a new president could affect your benefit plans.
info_outline
Episode 46 - Cell and Gene Therapy
HR Benecast
Cell and gene therapies (CGT) are widely considered a triumph of scientific innovation, focusing on providing cures for diseases rather than treatments. By 2030, it’s predicted that over 100,000 U.S. patients will utilize some form of CGT. While CGTs are revolutionary, these therapies come with a giant price tag, leaving many employers wondering how they’ll afford potential CGT use for their population. In this episode, Employers Health’s is joined by , managing director at Deloitte Consulting to discuss the major costs associated with CGTs, how companies can manage this...
info_outline
Episode 45 - Ask Mike Anything - Your Pharmacy Benefit Questions Answered
HR Benecast
In this episode of HR Benecast, and cover your pharmacy and employee benefits questions including: What's new in federal and state pharmacy benefit legislation. How Employers Health is working to help clients manage changes to their PBM plans. What the switch to biosimilars for Humira and Stelara means for plan sponsors. What impact GLP-1s are having on employer drug spend? Trends in GLP-1 coverage for weight loss.
info_outline
Episode 44 - Pharmacy Benefit Rebate Credit
HR Benecast
This episode features Employers Health Chief Operating Officer, . He joins our Chief Sales Officer, to discuss pharmacy benefit rebate credits and why they exist. They'll cover how rebate credits are calculated, how long we can expect rebate credits to be around, how Employers Health is working to validate the value of the rebate credits and more.
info_outline
Episode 43 - Pharmacy Benefits Legislation
HR Benecast
In this episode, we're joined by Madison Connor, senior vice president of regulatory compliance and external affairs at Employers Health. She will share the latest in state and federal PBM legislation. Hear who's behind many of the recent PBM legislative initiatives, how PBMs like CVS and Optum Rx plan to handle these newly-proposed state laws and discover how employers can prepare for these new requirements.
info_outline
Episode 42 - Fiduciary Duties: A Wakeup Call
HR Benecast
Hear from employee benefits and compensation lawyer Jeff Zimon as he covers why fiduciary obligations are making headlines and what the Johnson & Johnson lawsuit means for plan sponsors. He discusses steps employers can take to ensure they are fulfilling their fiduciary duties, the importance of summary plan descriptions (SPDs) and the need for proper pharmacy benefit documentation.
info_outline
Episode 41 - The Latest in GLP-1s for Employers and Consultants
HR Benecast
The first 2024 episode of HR Benecast features , Employers Health's resident GLP-1 expert. She'll share utilization, discontinuation and coverage trends for GLP-1s and anti-obesity drugs. Listeners will hear the latest on anti-obesity drug coverage under the pharmacy benefit, new drugs in the pipeline and how the big PBM's are managing drugs like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
info_outlineIn this episode of HR Benecast, we're joined by Travis Baughn, vice president of clinical solutions at Optum Rx. Listen to hear how pharmacogenetics works and its importance for employers. He'll share what plan participants need to know, and how it can be used to reduce medical waste and long and complex medication journeys.
For additional resources on pharmacogenomics, please visit cpicpgx.org and pharmgkb.org.