Phia Group

Empowering Plans: P214 – Unpacking Weight Loss Drugs

On March 28, 2025
On this episode of the Empowering Plans podcast, attorneys Corey Crigger and Kendall Jackson discuss the hot button topic of weight loss drugs. Tune in to learn more about the latest advances in this space and the various coverage and exclusion options plans may pursue.

Empowering Plans: P213 – Error 304: Good Faith Negotiation Not Found

On March 13, 2025
Artificial intelligence may be changing the trajectory of the self-funded industry – but can it negotiate? In this episode of The Phia Group’s Empowering Plans podcast, attorneys Brian O’Hara and Jon Jablon break down real-life examples of AI-driven responses in the No Surprises Act’s Open Negotiations process that range from nonsensical to outright misleading, where negotiating with AI is like trying to haggle with a toaster. From missing claim numbers to automated counteroffers that make no sense, Brian and Jon discuss whether AI is making negotiations easier, or defeating the purpose of the statutory process to begin with. Tune in for an honest discussion of the pitfalls of AI in No Surprises Act negotiations.

Empowering Plans: P212 – Lewandowski v. Johnson & Johnson – Big win or warning?

On February 27, 2025
On this episode of the Empowering Plans Podcast, attorneys Brady Bizzaro and Cindy Merrell delve into the details of the Lewandowski v. Johnson & Johnson case. Is this case a big win for plan fiduciaries or a warning?

Empowering Plans: P211 – Network Adequacy Under MHPAEA

On February 13, 2025
Attorneys Kelly Dempsey and Bryan Dunton dive into the results of the 2024 MHPAEA Report to Congress. The EBSA and CMS have continued to improve their focus on network design and adequacy for group health plans. In this episode, Kelly and Bryan discuss how these parity problems manifest themselves in testing and what plans can do to resolve them.

Empowering Plans: P210 – Mental Health Parity: New Year, New Rules, New Lawsuits

On January 30, 2025
Attorneys Jen McCormick and Nick Bonds ring in the Lunar New Year by breaking down the ERIC v. HHS lawsuit in which an industry advocate challenged the federal regulators’ new Final Rules enforcing the MHPAEA and mental health parity rules. Could this case blaze a new path for challenging agency actions in a post-Chevron Doctrine world? Join us as we discuss the potential implications for group health plans.

Empowering Plans: P209 – 2025 Healthcare Hot Takes

On January 16, 2025
It’s a new year, and a new type of Empowering Plans podcast! In a world full of talking heads and 2-minute news cycles, hot takes have become the norm. This is true from mainstream news media to sports talk radio. Ron Peck and Corey Crigger throw their hat in the hot take ring by speculating on what some of the biggest news stories could be in 2025. From AI to RFK Jr, join Ron and Corey as they gaze into the crystal ball and make their bold predictions of what we will be talking about all year.

Empowering Plans: P208 – The Evolution of the Birth Control Benefits Mandate

On January 2, 2025
On today’s episode of the Empowering Plans podcast series, attorneys Kendall Jackson and Brian O’Hara discuss the Biden administration’s decision to withdraw proposed rules that would have expanded the birth control benefits mandate. Join us in our discussion of the mandate and how it has evolved throughout the Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations.

Empowering Plans: P207 – Denied Claims Beyond the Headlines

On December 19, 2024
On this episode of the Empowering Plans podcast series, attorneys Corey Crigger and Cindy Merrell discuss the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO, which fueled public outcry over denied claims.

Empowering Plans: P206 – Non-Preferred Carrier Fees: Incentives or Control?

On December 5, 2024
In this episode of the Empowering Plans podcast, attorneys Jon Jablon and Brady Bizarro delve into the details of a recent lawsuit where BCBS of Michigan, in its capacity as a TPA, is alleged to have engaged in anticompetitive practices for charging a fee to a group that chose a stop-loss carrier other than BCBS. This case is in its infancy as of December 2024, but we expect it to have noticeable effects on the stop-loss marketplace regardless of outcome. In this episode, Jon and Brady discuss those potential effects and how a holding either way could impact self-funding as a whole.

Empowering Plans: P205 – Lessons From a Florida IDR Case

On November 5, 2024
On this episode of the Empowering Plans Podcast, attorneys Ron Peck and Nick Bonds talk through a recent Florida case addressing judicial review of IDR determinations and highlight some of the key insights and takeaways for any entity subject to the No Surprises Act.

Empowering Plans: P204 – Nightmares on Self-Funded Street

On October 24, 2024
Join Attorneys Corey Crigger and Kendall Jackson on this Halloween edition of the Empowering Plans Podcast. Corey and Kendall take a look at topics that send shivers down the spine of the self-funded industry. How do you protect your plan from the scary cost of gene therapies? What will the rapidly advancing AI sector mean for you and your clients? What is the best trick or treat candy? Tune in to find the answers to these questions and many more on the Empowering Plans Podcast.

Empowering Plans: P203 – Gender-Affirming Care, Is it Covered?

On October 15, 2024
On this episode of the Empowering Plans Podcast, attorneys Jon Jablon and Cindy Merrell explore the changing landscape of several state and federal laws that affect coverage of gender-affirming care.

Empowering Plans: P202 – Senator Sanders: “Stop ripping us off.”

On September 26, 2024
Attorneys Brady Bizarro and Andrew Silverio discuss the recent senate committee hearing on GLP-1 drug pricing and strategies that self-funded employers are using to manage the extreme costs of these drugs while we wait and hope for congressional action.

Empowering Plans: P201 – Diving Into the Parity Pool: MHPAEA’s Latest Updates

On September 12, 2024
Regulators finally announced the long-awaited MHPAEA Final Rules on September 9, 2024. Many of these changes will directly affect group health plan design and modify the NQTL comparative analysis testing requirements - many of which will be significant for plans as they prepare for 2025. Join attorneys Jennifer McCormick and Bryan Dunton for their discussion on several critical considerations for plans as renewal season approaches.

Empowering Plans: P200 – Recognizing Our Blind Spots

On September 5, 2024
Dr. Marty Makary is a New York Times bestselling author, renowned Johns Hopkins surgeon, and globally recognized expert on medical research. In its most recent edition of the Empowering Plans podcast series (“Recognizing Our Blind Spots”), Dr. Makary was a special guest as he engaged in conversation with CEO Adam V. Russo about his new book, Blind Spots: When Medicine Gets It Wrong, and What It Means for Our Health, https://geni.us/blindspots. This is an episode jampacked with enlightening and engaging anecdotes that will leave you with new insight into commonly held assumptions about healthcare. After all, in order to fix the healthcare industry, people need to have access to correct information about modern medicine.