The Hidden Networks Driving Healthcare Costs

The Hidden Networks Driving Healthcare Costs

June 17, 2026

About this episode

The episode explores how various healthcare entities influence costs and competition in the healthcare system.

In this episode of Healthcare Happy Hour, host David Saltzman sits down with Jim Jusko, chief strategy officer at Excel Health Plans, to explore how hospital systems, provider networks, and pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) shape healthcare costs, competition, and consumer choice behind the scenes. Jim discusses the impact of consolidation, limited transparency, and anti-competitive practices on employers and consumers, while highlighting policy and market-based solutions that could improve affordability, increase competition, and create a more transparent healthcare system. He also shares his vision for a healthcare marketplace that better aligns incentives for employers, providers, and patients.

People in this episode

Host: David Saltzman

Guest: Jim Jusko

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Excel Health Plans

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