Relentless Health Value

In this episode of Relentless Health Value we follow up on the topic of employer inertia discussed with Lauren Vela in episode 406, turning our focus to third-party administrators (TPAs), administrative services only (ASOs), and health plans. Elizabeth Mitchell from the Purchaser Business Group on Health (PBGH) joins us to discuss the roles of TPAs and ASOs, highlighting the gap in the market for independent, efficient TPAs not owned by health plans. We also delve into the trend of direct contracting between employers and providers to enhance access, quality, and outcomes. Bottom line, right now, there’s a gap in the market. What is needed are indie TPAs who are effective and efficient and not owned by a health plan because, if history is any predictor of the future, the second the TPA gets owned by a health plan, the TPA sort of ceases to be a TPA and becomes a health plan. The conversation today with Elizabeth Mitchell pretty quickly gets into the shift toward direct contracting between employers and provid