Shows
ONLY HEALTHCAREGLP-1s: The Billion Dollar Dilemma in US Healthcare | Episode 20 with Deborah WilliamsIn 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 healthcare incentive structure.Key Topics Discussed:Explosive Market Growth & Cost Impact - GLP-1 scripts i...2025-07-2434 min
ONLY HEALTHCAREWhy Are Prescription Drugs So Expensive? | Episode 19 with Michael Navin & Dr. Randy VogenbergIn 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 companies set initial prices based on market research, differentiation analysis, and anticipated rebate demands f...2025-07-1024 min
ONLY HEALTHCAREWhy the US Spends the Most on Healthcare But Gets the Worst Outcomes | Episode 18 with Dr. Randy Vogenberg & Michael NavinIn 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 trillion in wasteful spending caused by middlemen, lack of transparency, and disconnected carePatient empowerment strategies – Practical steps individua...2025-06-1925 min
ONLY HEALTHCARESecrets to Solutions: How Real-Time Pricing Data Can Heal Healthcare“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 dismantling the infrastructure that hides healthcare pricing from consumers...2025-05-2045 min
ONLY HEALTHCAREBiosimilar Breakdown: Can Lower Drug Prices Survive the PBM Squeeze?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 PBMs and policy changes under the Inflation Reduction Act are reshaping access to lower-cost drugs.If you're an employer, payer, or pharma manufacturer navigating the biosimilar sp...2025-04-1835 minONLY HEALTHCAREConfronting the Affordability Crisis: Unmasking the True Cost of HealthcareJoin 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.Insights into technological advancements that could revolutionize how patients and plan sponsors view and manage healthcare expenses.Discuss the pivotal role of pr...2025-03-2020 minONLY HEALTHCAREClear Costs, Clearer Choices: Unpacking Trump’s Transparency Drive in HealthcareJoin 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 detailed explanation of the new directive and its expectations from healthcare providers and insurers. Impact on PBMs and Carriers...2025-03-0312 minONLY HEALTHCAREPolicy and Power: Dismantling Middleman Dominance in HealthcareJoin 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 public and industry stakeholders and how they align with the "Make America Healthy Again" agenda. Episode Highlights: 2025-02-2719 minONLY HEALTHCARERethinking Risk: Innovating Benefit Design for Whole-Person CareWelcome 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 healthcare. In this episode, you will learn: Innovative Risk Management: Explore how innovative financial strategies can mitigate risks fo...2025-02-1432 minONLY HEALTHCARENavigating the Future of Healthcare PolicyWelcome 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 healthcare providers to navigate and influence significant policy changes. His expertise includes advocating for better patient access and developing commercial strategies. Jayson's approach combines his...2025-01-2837 min