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Healthcare on the Rocks - Employee Benefits with a Twist

Healthcare on the Rocks - Employee Benefits with a Twist

Written by: Springbuk Inc.
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About this listen

We talk with employers, benefits advisors, technology innovators, and other experts in wellness, human resources, and healthcare."Healthcare on the Rocks" is a production of Springbuk. Imagine a world where every healthcare decision is backed and guided by data. Springbuk is the health data analytics solution that equips you with the insights and expertise you need to sharpen your benefits strategy, advance employee health, and contain costs. Unlike legacy data warehouses, we simplify data-driven decision-making with an intuitive user experience, predictive modeling, and curated action steps. Springbuk — a world of actionable health intelligence insight, at your fingertips. Visit springbuk.com to learn more.

© 2025 Springbuk Inc. Economics
Episodes
  • Decoding the Fine Print: How Hi Neo Makes Healthcare Make Sense

    Decoding the Fine Print: How Hi Neo Makes Healthcare Make Sense
    Apr 24 2025

    Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at 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
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    18 mins
  • Gut Check: Why GI Conditions Are Skyrocketing in Employer Healthcare Costs

    Gut Check: Why GI Conditions Are Skyrocketing in Employer Healthcare Costs
    Mar 10 2025

    Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at 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
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    18 mins
  • GLP-1s, CGMs, & The Future of Diabetes Care in Employee Health

    GLP-1s, CGMs, & The Future of Diabetes Care in Employee Health
    Mar 7 2025

    In this episode of Healthcare on the Rocks: Employee Benefits with a Twist, 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), 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 and other related resources
    • Connect with our co-hosts Brittany Hardaway and Rachael Baumgartner

    Have feedback, questions, or suggestions for show ideas? Send them to us at 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
    Show More Show Less
    22 mins
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