Best of '25! AH048 - High-Cost Orphan Drugs, Securing Claims Data, and More, with Dr. Eric Bricker

We got the ball rolling in 2025 with this episode, and it ended up at the very top of the activity list, so we'll close out the year with it as well! Thank you, Dr. Eric Bricker for joining us in the studio for Episode 48 of the Astonishing Healthcare podcast. Known for his entertaining and educational videos covering all sorts of hot topics in and around healthcare and employer/employee benefits, Dr. Bricker and host Justin Venneri discussed the issues of high-cost drugs and access to claims data - two topics he covered on AHealthcareZ - Healthcare Finance Explained - that should [still] be top of mind for plan sponsors as pharmacy costs continue to rise.Dr. Bricker shared several ways employers, depending on their size and risk tolerance, may be able to navigate the challenge of rising pharmaceutical costs for orphan and other expensive drugs - including GLP-1s. He also explains how the RFP process can be used to secure the plan's claim data, which is necessary to meet fiduciary obligations. While every plan is unique, most plan sponsors face similar challenges that the traditional PBM model isn't flexible or aligned enough to solve.Lastly, Dr. Bricker expressed astonishment by the complacency out there, but he was right! The setup was perfect for an acceleration in the pace of change in 2025, and we see the momentum carrying over into 2026 - so, tune in to hear why, if you didn't catch Episode 48 the first time around.AHealthcareZ Reference VideosHigh Cost Orphan Disease Drugs ExplainedDo Employers Own Their Claims Data? It's Complicated.Related ContentAH030 - Plan Sponsors Need a Source of Truth; Get Your Data Now & Find It, with Jeff HoganHow to obtain Rx data and what to do with itAH093 - Health Benefits that Work for Everyone: Aligning Incentives & Focusing on Members’ Needs, with Susana Villegas SpillmanWhy Savings Don't Materialize: The Truth About Pharmacy Benefit Procurement eBook (Free)For more information about Capital Rx and this episode, please visit Judi Health - Insights.