Short #37 - The Trade Skills Gap a Manifesto

Short #37 – The Trade Skills Gap a Manifesto

January 15, 2019

This is a voice over audio presentation of the article of the same title on the HVACRschool.com website

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In this unique episode of the HVAC School podcast, Bryan interviews Donovan Ryckis, CEO of Ethos Benefits, diving deep into the complex world of healthcare financing and employee benefits. Ryckis shares his journey from financial advising to becoming a healthcare benefits consultant, driven by a mission to expose and transform the inherently problematic healthcare system.

The conversation reveals the stark inefficiencies in traditional healthcare models, where insurance companies and healthcare providers often prioritize profit over patient care. Ryckis explains how most employers have been led to believe they cannot control healthcare costs, accepting annual increases as inevitable. By applying a fiduciary approach—similar to financial advising—Ethos Benefits helps companies like Kalos dramatically reduce healthcare expenses while maintaining or improving employee care.

A key highlight of the discussion is the innovative strategies Ethos implements, such as negotiating directly with healthcare providers, exposing pharmacy benefit manager markup, and implementing direct primary care. These approaches not only reduce costs but also provide employees with better, more personalized healthcare experiences. The podcast demonstrates that by taking a transparent, data-driven approach, companies can create win-win healthcare solutions that benefit both the organization and its employees.

Key Topics Covered:

Healthcare financing vs. traditional insurance models
Pharmacy benefit manager markup and hidden costs
Negotiating medical claims and reducing excessive billing
Direct primary care and its benefits
Strategies for controlling healthcare expenses
Importance of transparency in healthcare pricing
The documentary “It’s Not Personal, It’s Just Healthcare”
Challenges in the current healthcare system
Empowering employees through better healthcare options

Learn more about Ethos Benefits at https://ethosbenefits.com/ and the Ethos Effect Podcast at https://www.ethoseffectpodcast.com/.

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