50. Cracking the Code on PBMs: Real Cost-Saving Strategies for Employers with Guest Rachel Strauss

If you've ever felt confused or frankly, duped by your pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), this episode is your wake-up call. Chelsea Ryckis sits down with the “PBM Princess” herself, Rachel Strauss, a 20+ year industry veteran and fierce advocate for transparency, to pull back the curtain on one of the most misunderstood (and most expensive) parts of your health plan.You’ll learn:- The origin story of PBMs and how it all went sideways  - The real story behind rebates and why “pass-through” doesn’t always mean what you think  - How vertical integration and offshore contracts allow PBMs to hide profits in plain sight  - 40 ways PBMs make money (and how to spot the red flags in your contract)  - Actionable strategies like international sourcing, manufacturer assistance, and 340B pricing that can drastically reduce costs without impacting employee experience  Whether you’re a CFO, HR leader, or CEO, this episode is packed with no-BS insights to help you finally take control of your pharmacy spend. Plus, don’t miss Rachel’s exclusive giveaway: the top 10 questions to ask your broker if you're serious about cutting costs.Connect with our guest Rachel:Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachelmstrauss/Connect with Chelsea and Donovan:Website: https://businessofbenefitspodcast.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethoseffectpodcast/Chelsea: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chelsea-ryckis-8508a192/Donovan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donovanryckis/Finished with the content? Claim your CE credit here: https://ideas.ethosbenefits.com/continuing-education SHRM: Ethos Benefits is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. HRCI: Ethos Benefits is approved to offer HRCI® recertification credits for this program. This program has been approved for 0.5 - 1 HR (General) recertification credit(s) toward aPHR®, PHR®, SPHR®, and GPHR® certification.