Building a Defensible Appeals Process

PBM Reform: Make Way for Transparency

This week, Steven T. Boyd, Liviniti's EVP Business Development, joins Sally as they dive into one of the most significant shifts in pharmacy benefit management in decades, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026 (CAA 2026). With new requirements around rebate pass-through, PBM compensation, fiduciary accountability and reporting, CAA 2026 is causing opaque, decades-old PBM business practices to shift to the kind of transparency that the forward-thinking PBM, Liviniti, has long offered.

Building a Defensible Appeals Process

With the intensification of fiduciary scrutiny across the employee benefits landscape, self-funded employers are facing a new reality: the appeals process is no longer just an administrative function; it's a critical component of fiduciary responsibility.    This week, Sally is joined by Jennifer McCormick, Vice President, Consulting, and Ron Peck, Chief Legal Officer, of The Phia Group as they dive into the evolving legal and compliance challenges facing self-funded health plans. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment, they provide employers, brokers, TPAs, and advisors with the insight needed to confidently prepare and navigate their plans.

The Simple Button for Federal Tax Compliance

Federal tax compliance in employee benefits is not optional; however, it does not have to be complicated.    This week, host Sally Pace is joined by Sanju Sriram, CEO of Simple720, and Stuart Gibson, Tax Consultant, as they dive into one of the growing pain points in benefits administration - federal tax and reporting compliance.    With PCORI fees (Form 720), ACA reporting, Form 5500 filings, and Department of Labor requirements placing a significant burden on HR teams, Sanju and Stuart outline how the Simple720 solution works to turn hours and days of work into just a few minutes.

The Hidden Barriers Impacting Women's Care

This week, Sally is joined by Kristen Nicholson, Chief Operating Officer of Comfort Imaging, as they dive into the barriers women face when trying to access a crucial aspect of care.  Despite rapid advancements across healthcare, traditional mammography has remained stagnant for over 25 years, causing women to delay care due to discomfort and fear.  Kristen shares how Comfort Imaging is creating a better mammography experience for women with their innovative Koning Vera Breast CT Technology, designed to deliver faster, more accurate, and more comfortable screening. Combined with an individualized, guided patient experience, Kristen details how Comfort Imaging removes traditional barriers to care, motivating women to engage in crucial preventative care earlier and more consistently.

Together Health: Rethinking Primary Care

On this week's episode of The Granite List.Live, Sally is joined by Huy Tran, Founder and CEO of Together Health, and together they dive into the challenges of today's healthcare system as well as how to create a better path forward. Together Health explores what primary care should look like today—accessible, affordable, and built around real relationships. As a modern direct primary care model, Together Health delivers care in-person, in-office, and virtually, creating a more seamless experience for patients, clinicians, and employers alike.