Healthcare on the Rocks - Employee Benefits with a Twist

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at podcast@springbuk.com [podcast@springbuk.com]. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening! Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside [http://www.westayoutside.com/]

Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at podcast@springbuk.com [podcast@springbuk.com]. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening! Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside [http://www.westayoutside.com/]

In this episode of Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist [https://www.springbuk.com/podcast], hosts Brittany Hardaway and Rachael Baumgartner sit down with Dr. Janet Young, Clinical Analytics Advisor at Springbuk, to unpack a growing challenge for employers: the rising costs of diabetes care.  ‍Dr. Young shares that diabetes-related spending has surged by 38% over the past three years—far outpacing other chronic conditions. A major driver? The skyrocketing use of GLP-1 agonists, medications originally developed for diabetes but now widely used for weight loss.  > "More than 40% of members with type 2 diabetes filled a prescription for GLP-1s last year—double the rate from four years ago," she notes.  While these medications offer powerful benefits, including improved glucose control and cardiovascular protection, their costs continue to climb, creating tough decisions for employer-sponsored health plans. As employers strategize for the future, Dr. Young emphasizes three key priorities: tracking diabetes trends, proactively addressing prediabetes, and ensuring equitable access to care. The conversation also explores the expanding role of continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) beyond type 1 diabetes patients. These devices, which eliminate the need for fingersticks, are gaining traction among insulin-dependent type 2 diabetics and could have broader applications—potentially even helping prediabetic individuals prevent disease progression.  Dr. Young also highlights the stark disparities in diabetes treatment based on social determinants of health (SDOH) [https://www.springbuk.com/health-intelligence/sdoh], with more vulnerable populations less likely to access newer medications and monitoring tools.  > Key Takeaways * Diabetes costs are rising fast – Diabetes spending jumped 38% over three years, driven largely by the rising use of GLP-1 agonists. * GLP-1 medications are in high demand – More effective than older treatments and linked to weight loss, GLP-1s are now used by over 40% of type 2 diabetics. * CGMs are expanding beyond insulin users – Real-time glucose tracking is gaining popularity and could play a role in prediabetes prevention. * Social determinants of health matter – Diabetes rates double in high-vulnerability populations, yet these groups have less access to newer treatments. * Employers should focus on three things – Monitor diabetes trends, tackle prediabetes early, and reduce treatment disparities. > Stay in Touch! * Connect with Janet Young on LinkedIn * Get the complete 2025 Employee Health Trends report [https://www.springbuk.com/registration/eht25] and other related resources * Connect with our co-hosts Brittany Hardaway [https://www.linkedin.com/in/brittany-e-hardaway-mol-mba/] and Rachael Baumgartner [https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachael-baumgartner-54258814/] Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at podcast@springbuk.com [podcast@springbuk.com]. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening! Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside [http://www.westayoutside.com/]

Insights from Employee Health Trends 2025 with subject matter expert Nicole Belles, Sr. VP of Product at Springbuk. Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at podcast@springbuk.com [podcast@springbuk.com]. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening! Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside [http://www.westayoutside.com/]

In this episode of Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist, Rob Lehane, co-founder and CEO of LeapHealth, explores the financial and logistical challenges of specialty infusion therapies—a critical yet often misunderstood aspect of employee healthcare. Drawing on his extensive experience in healthcare and benefits innovation, Rob highlights how LeapHealth is transforming the landscape with a focus on cost-saving and patient-centered solutions. Rob explains that specialty infusion drugs account for a small percentage of employee use but drive disproportionately high healthcare costs. He shares, "Over half of the specialty drug spend comes from just 2% of employees using infusion therapies." LeapHealth addresses this imbalance by moving care from expensive hospital settings to patient homes, making treatments not only more cost-effective but also far more convenient.  The episode unpacks LeapHealth’s transparent pricing model, which eliminates drug markups and aligns care delivery with the needs of both employers and employees. Key Takeaways From the Episode Include: * Specialty infusion drugs are a major cost driver, often due to inefficient care settings. * LeapHealth’s in-home infusion model provides a safer, more convenient alternative to hospital-based care. * Transparent pricing eliminates unnecessary markups, saving employers significant costs. * Employers can take actionable steps, like exploring site-of-care strategies and direct provider contracts, to better control infusion therapy expenses. * Supporting employees with chronic conditions enhances productivity, satisfaction, and overall health outcomes. Stay in Touch! Connect with Rob Lehane on LinkedIn or Visit LeapHealth Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at podcast@springbuk.com [podcast@springbuk.com]. Please rate and review us on your favorite podcast platform, and share it with your friends and colleagues. We appreciate you and thank you for listening! Theme music: "Overboard" by Stay Outside [http://www.westayoutside.com/]