Garner Health

GLP-1s are reshaping treatment for obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular risk. But we're still only beginning to understand their long-term impact, clinically and financially. In this episode of Margin of Care, Dr. Vin Gupta, MD MPA shares where things are headed. Injectables are the current standard, but oral versions will become more common. That shift could make adherence easier and lower the price point, but it also raises new questions. How long should someone stay on the medication? When can we safely deprescribe? And what happens when patients begin demanding coverage for drugs we still don’t fully understand? Employers are at the center of this. They’re being asked to cover high-cost therapies, sometimes indefinitely, without the benefit of long-term data. The pressure is building, not just from manufacturers, but from media narratives, patient expectations, and policy trends. There’s no simple answer. But the decisions made now will define how sustainable this all becomes. Vin offers a thoughtful perspective on the future of GLP-1s and what employers should be thinking about next. Watch the full episode → https://lnkd.in/eW7hkz7m

Most Americans have no idea what their doctor actually costs. Chris Hogan said it best on the latest episode of Margin of Care: Ask someone what it costs to visit their doctor. They’ll say “$25” or “$50.” But that’s just their co-pay. The real price might be $200. Or $500. Or $1,000. So what happens when consumers are disconnected from cost? Prices rise. Fast. Chris Hogan breaks it all down here: https://lnkd.in/e_ECH2bU

Ellen Kelsay put it bluntly: costs aren’t just high. They’re unsustainable. In this episode of Margin of Care, you’ll hear:  – What the top drivers of costs are (from BGH's Employer Healthcare Strategy Survey)  – What solutions advisors and employers can push for  – Small changes that can help bend the curve Full episode: https://lnkd.in/gk4DVcWK

Healthcare is chaos — with employers, advisors, and patients left to navigate a system stacked with misaligned incentives and outdated structures. That’s why we created Margin of Care — a new podcast for benefit leaders about rethinking how we make healthcare work better for everyone. Margin of Care features candid, unfiltered conversations with the leading minds in healthcare. Hosted by Kirk Czonstka, we dig into the everyday decisions — and the flawed mechanisms behind them — that have led us to a crisis in cost, access, and quality. Our starting lineup of guests includes: • Ellen Kelsay on the drivers of cost and what to do about them • Vin Gupta, MD MPA on why employers are now the front line of public health • Lee Lewis on embracing smart disruption • Chris Hogan on fixing broken incentives You can find Margin of Care at https://lnkd.in/gMYURg7d or anywhere you get your podcasts. YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gDe4dbiQ Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gqBeczez Apple: https://lnkd.in/ghsCZyiB We can’t wait for you to listen/watch and let us know what you think!

Over the past few weeks, I’ve traveled nationwide, meeting with employers and brokers facing tough challenges. Last night in DC, I spoke with three brokers grappling with renewals exceeding 50%—one group of 500 employees faced a staggering 63% increase. If you’re in a similar bind, there’s still time to act. This week, we helped an employer slash their renewal by 48% while connecting their employees to top-quality providers in their network. Even better? Employees now have a path to $0 cost-sharing for medical expenses. Higher quality, lower costs—that’s our mission. Reach out if you need help. 📅 Quoting takes just 2 business days 🚀 Implementation is fast and seamless

When faced with a double-digit renewal, global sales solutions provider MarketStar didn’t just negotiate, they rethought their approach to managing healthcare spend. Join Courtney Rodriquez, SVP of People Success and Enablement at MarketStar, Chris Merrill, Senior Executive of Strategy and Engagement at IMA, and Kirk Czonstka, SVP of Strategic Alliances at Garner Health for a behind-the-scenes look at how they tackled a tough renewal year with a long-term strategy that delivered both cost and quality outcomes. This conversation will explore: • The tipping point that forced a change in strategy • How the team aligned across HR, finance, and broker partner to evaluate new options • What successful implementation looked like—with lessons learned along the way • The impact they’re seeing on costs, engagement, and outcomes today Whether you're facing a tough renewal this year—or advising clients who are—this session offers insight into a new way forward.

What do you do when a renewal comes in at 18%? Global sales solutions provider MarketStar faced this very dilemma years ago. But instead of cost-shifting or plan shopping, they took an innovative approach that was a win for both employees and the company. On August 19, join MarketStar’s Courtney Rodriquez, IMA’s Chris Merrill and Garner’s Kirk Czonstka for a behind-the-scenes breakdown of how they solved a brutal renewal. In this webinar, you’ll learn: • What forced MarketStar to make a change • How they aligned HR, finance, and leadership on a new direction • Lessons in implementation and change management • Real results: cost savings, engagement, and long-term strategy 📅 Tuesday, August 19 | 12pm PT / 3pm ET 📍 Sign up: https://lnkd.in/d2ymZG7v

Miss last week's webinar with Zoe & Kirk? Here are 3 takeaways from it: • Legacy cost control strategies are repeating themselves. Variable copay plans, centers of excellence, and ICHRAs mirror earlier models like provider designations and narrow networks. They still don’t solve for provider performance.    • These “new” models create more disruption than results. Garner’s analysis shows that while these plans attempt to steer behavior, most fall short in long-term cost control and member satisfaction.    • Provider quality is the lever that drives meaningful savings. A case study from the webinar showed a manufacturer reducing projected costs by over 50% after implementing Garner without disrupting the network.    The full session is now on demand. Watch it here: https://lnkd.in/ew8bN2q5

Not every alternative health plan is created equal. ICHRA? RBP? Captives? Variable copays? We’re breaking down which options actually work and which ones just add complexity and confusion. Join Zoe Greenburg and Kirk Czonstka on July 30 at 11 am PT / 2 pm ET as they walk through the good, the bad, and what benefits leaders should really be prioritizing. Free to attend → https://lnkd.in/e9_6Pnyg

Alternative health plans are everywhere, but which ones actually work? In our upcoming webinar, benefits leaders will get: • A clear breakdown of alternative plan options • Insights on common pitfalls • Guidance to help clients achieve better outcomes Join us on July 30 at 11am PT / 2pm ET