Trump's Tariffs and Their Impact on Your Company and Your Healthcare Costs

Written 4/10/2025.If you live anywhere in the world with internet or a TV, you know about the US’s imposing tariffs on just about everyone in the world.This will raise supply costs not just for your company, but also for the healthcare providers who source supplies outside of the United States.A double whammy.Robert’s Substack is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Even if you are a service business, the companies you take care of will feel the pinch and may not be able to provide as large of a contract with you as a result.The question is, what can you do about it – TODAY.The short answer is that you can make tweaks to your health insurance plan to reduce your overall costs by up to 10% without impacting your employees or existing contracts.First is a specialty drug overlay. This sits on top of your existing PBM contract and funnels all specialty medications through this company. Their job is to cut those costs between 50% and 100% through a variety of means, from 340b programs to international sourcing to expert consulting (drug deductibles, substitutions, step therapy, etc).Pharmacy is typically 20% - 30% of the expense on a health plan. You can cut that cost at least in half (high-cost medications are the majority of that cost). This means saving a minimum of 10% of your costs TODAY.Thanks for reading Robert’s Substack! This post is public so feel free to share it.BTW, if you use one of the three largest insurance brokers in the country, then you MUST look at programs outside of what they offer. They will say they do this (and they do), but their savings is nowhere near what an independent, fiduciary compliant specialty pharmacy can do. Don’t believe me? I will put 100% of my consulting fee at risk to prove it.There several other programs that immediately cut costs and even provide a better benefit to employees and their families.How about at home imaging that costs less than having it done somewhere else?How about virtual physical therapy to minimize workers’ compensation cases w/regards to muscular/skeletal issues? Employees are served immediately and don’t even need to leave their homes.In summary, there are many ways to reduce the cost burden of your health insurance plan immediately. You just need a brilliant consultant to point the way.If you want a 15-minute strategy session, click here. You can also arrange it via my Executive Assistant, Jessica at 800.913.2378 x103. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit rslayton.substack.com/subscribe