Margin of Care

About Margin of Care

A podcast for healthcare advisors and benefits leaders exploring the economics, policy, and innovation shaping the future of employee health plans. Hosted by Kirk Czonstka and guests. Presented by Garner Health

Publisher

Margin of Care

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

10 Sept 2025

Latest episode

10 Feb 2026

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   10 Feb 2026

   Fertility, Menopause, and the Care Gap Employers Can’t Ignore

   Fertility and family-building benefits are changing fast, and they now reach far beyond pregnancy. In this episode, Kirk sits down with Dr. Asima Ahmad, Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of Carrot Fertility, to unpack what “high-quality care” really means across fertility, male factor support, perimenopause and menopause, and more. They dig into how employers can reduce friction, improve outcomes, and protect ROI by pairing people with the right providers, offering wraparound clinical and emotional support, and building a comprehensive experience that drives real engagement. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at garnerhealth.com

2. 

   27 Jan 2026

   Hard Truths for Clients

   Being a healthcare consultant has never been harder. Rising costs, private equity pressure, fragmented point solutions, and constant scrutiny from CFOs and executives have changed what clients expect from their advisors. In this live panel recorded at a recent event, seasoned consultants Chris Merrill (IMA), Rico Bocala (USI), and Scott Wood (Benefit Commerce Group, an Alera Group company) share hard-won lessons on managing trend conversations, navigating tough client moments, and maintaining trust when the answers aren’t easy. From telling clients what they need to hear (not what they want to hear) to narrowing bloated solution menus and proving ROI in a high-pressure environment, this episode offers a practical look at what it takes to stay relevant as a benefits advisor today. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at getgarner.com

3. 

   13 Jan 2026

   How Benefits Leaders Are Rethinking Cost, Care, and Trust in 2026

   Employers are being forced to make harder benefits decisions than ever before. Rising costs, high turnover, and uneven access to care have turned benefits strategy into a series of real trade-offs, not theoretical ones. Recorded live at Garner’s Strategic Advisors Summit in Park City, this episode of Margin of Care features Steven Reszczynski, VP of Benefits at Global Medical Response, and Courtney Rodriquez, SVP of People Success and Enablement at MarketStar. Together, they share how they are rebuilding benefits strategies in the wake of COVID while balancing employee experience, financial sustainability, and trust. The conversation covers how mental health has become a core cost driver, when narrow networks work and when they break down, why ER overuse remains so difficult to solve, and how GLP-1 coverage is forcing employers to rethink ROI in the face of high attrition. This is a candid look at how benefits leaders are navigating cost, care quality, and workforce expectations heading into 2026. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at getgarner.com

4. 

   6 Jan 2026

   The Real Problem With Benefits Utilization

   Employers aren’t short on benefits. They’re short on connection. In this episode of Margin of Care, Kirk sits down with Chad Cruse (chatgpt://generic-entity?number=0), VP of Ecosystem at Benefitfocus (chatgpt://generic-entity?number=1), to unpack why utilization remains one of the biggest failures in employer healthcare. Despite an explosion of digital health tools and point solutions, most employees still struggle to understand what’s available to them—or how to use it when they actually need care. Chad explains how rapid growth and capital inflows have fragmented the healthcare landscape, creating plenty of aggregators but very few true curators. He shares why benefits administration platforms are uniquely positioned to serve as year-round engagement partners, not just open-enrollment destinations, and how real-time data, smarter routing, and ecosystem design can drive meaningful behavior change. The conversation also explores what separates effective digital health partnerships from shelfware, why efficacy and long-term commitment matter more than flashy features, and how employers can move from offering benefits to actually helping employees use them. If utilization is the real ROI problem in healthcare, this episode lays out what it takes to fix it. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at getgarner.com

5. 

   16 Dec 2025

   How AI and Talent Are Reshaping Healthcare

   Healthcare is being reshaped by two powerful forces: rapid advances in AI and a fundamental shift in what leaders, operators, and employees expect from work. In this episode of Margin of Care, Kirk Czonstka sits down with Sonia Millsom, CEO of Oxeon and longtime healthcare operator, to unpack how talent, leadership, and technology are colliding in today’s healthcare market. Drawing on her experience across organizations like UnitedHealthcare, Iora Health, Best Doctors, and Maven Clinic, Sonia shares what she’s seeing from the front lines of executive search and investment. The conversation explores how resilience has replaced grit as the defining leadership trait, why clock speed and decision-making matter more than ever, and where AI is truly creating leverage versus hype. They also dive into what today’s talent market reveals about the state of healthcare, how benefits are evolving as a differentiator for attraction and retention, and why employers must rethink one-size-fits-all approaches in a multi-generational workforce. This episode is a candid look at how healthcare leaders can adapt, build resilient organizations, and make smarter bets on both people and technology in an era of constant change. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at getgarner.com

6. 

   9 Dec 2025

   Managing Through Change: A Consultant's Perspective

   Benefits leaders talk about “cost” all day. Andrew Fondow argues cost is not the real problem. In this episode, Andrew and Kirk dig into why so many strategies stall, how to slow trend without drowning people in point solutions, and why real change starts with simple data, tight relationships, and helping members get to the right care at the right time. Key Takeaways 1. Cost is not the core problem Most teams react to a “cost problem” from the CFO instead of slowing down to define the real issue, the member story, and what behavior actually needs to change. 2. Relationships now matter more than secrets We are past the “trade secret” era. Every employer has access to similar data and tools, so trust, fit, and how well a consultant understands the client’s world matter more than ever. 3. Strategy needs to center on people, not only ROI Great advisors still care about savings, but they lead with impact on real people, real stories, and whether a program feels usable and human to HR, finance, and members. 4. The 2027 playbook is already taking shape Andrew sees three big focus areas: steering people to the right place for care, bringing care closer to members, and new ways to tackle drug costs like direct-to-pharma models. 5. The point solution era has to evolve Many strong solutions exist, but the current go-to-employer path is flawed. To last, more of these tools will need to plug into provider groups and health systems, not just HR buyers. 6. Simple, actionable data beats big reports Most reports are “nice to know” but do not move anyone to act. The winning use of data is simple: predict risk, reach out early, and guide people to better doctors before costs explode. 7. The best employers truly care about their people Andrew’s strongest clients build “professional intimacy” with employees, show real care, and get thanked for benefit changes. That trust makes behavior change much easier. Margin of Care is presented by Garner Health. Learn more at getgarner.com (http://getgarner.com/)

7. 

   2 Dec 2025

   Why Benefits Look Nothing Like They Did 20 Years Ago

   Benefits used to be simple and standardized. Today they’re complex, costly, and central to C-suite decision-making. In this episode, Eric Grossman breaks down how the benefits landscape has transformed over the last two decades, why employers can’t rely on old playbooks, and what leaders must do now to evaluate solutions, manage vendor overload, and actually move the cost curve. Eric shares practical guidance shaped by four decades in the field, and it’s some of the clearest, most actionable advice employers will hear this year. Learn more at getgarner.com

8. 

   25 Nov 2025

   The Steady Erosion of Healthcare Affordability

   Healthcare costs keep climbing, and employers are running out of room to maneuver. In this unreleased pre-launch episode, Kirk sits down with Aon’s Kevin Fyock and Kevin Smith to talk about the affordability crisis, why traditional strategies haven’t solved it, and where employers must go next. They break down rising trend drivers, the limits of value-based care, the explosion of point solutions, what AI can realistically do today, and how employers should think about network design, high-cost claimants, and total rewards strain heading into 2025. This one sets the tone for everything the podcast became: direct, practical, and deeply rooted in the employer point of view.

9. 

   18 Nov 2025

   Are We Ready for the Next Health Crisis? Former CDC Chief Weighs In

   What happens when the former head of the CDC sits down to break down the future of American healthcare for employers? In this episode of Margin of Care, host Kirk Czonstka speaks with Dr. Mandy Cohen, one of the most respected leaders in public health. Dr. Cohen shares what the pandemic changed for the better across the healthcare system, the risks employers face from major policy shifts like H.R. 1, and why the individual market is entering a dangerous cycle that will spill over into employer plans. She also explains how mental and physical health integration is finally becoming real, why global health investments matter for US employers, and why the path out of the cost crisis requires employers to build a stronger culture of health and trust inside their organizations. Dr. Cohen brings a rare combination of medical training, public sector leadership, and crisis-tested experience. This conversation gives employers a clear, unfiltered view of the policy and cost trends that will shape the next decade. Key Takeaways • Telehealth, data modernization, and cross-system collaboration were lasting improvements from the pandemic • The individual market is entering a severe risk pool spiral that will raise premiums and reduce coverage options • H.R. 1’s Medicaid changes will trigger major cost shifts into the employer market • AI is not lowering costs in the short term and may increase trend due to high investment and payer-provider dynamics • Employers must build a culture of health and trust to change behavior and manage long-term costs • Global health surveillance is essential for pandemic preparedness, and declining investments increase national risk

10. 

    11 Nov 2025

    How to Successfully Manage a Half-Billion-Dollar Healthcare Budget

    What does it take to manage a half-billion-dollar healthcare budget and keep costs flat year after year? In this episode of Margin of Care, host Kirk Czonstka talks with Brian Marcotte, former President and CEO of Business Group on Health and longtime benefits leader at Honeywell and Marriott. Brian shares how he balanced cost control with innovation—rolling all benefits costs into one budget, partnering with finance and procurement, and holding vendors accountable for outcomes. He also breaks down how employers can adopt outcomes-based pricing, improve vendor ROI, and make benefits strategy more relevant to employees through real-world use cases and clear communication. Key Takeaways: Why combining all benefits costs into one flexible budget drives better decision-making How close alignment with finance and procurement enables stronger ROI and vendor accountability Why outcomes-based pricing and performance guarantees are gaining traction How to use real employee scenarios to communicate value and increase engagement What employers should expect next as digital health solutions consolidate

11. 

    4 Nov 2025

    Millions Are Losing Coverage: What Employers Need to Know About H.R. 1

    When 15 million people lose healthcare coverage and more than a trillion dollars in federal funding disappears, every employer feels the impact. Host Kirk Czonstka talks with Patricia Boozang, Senior Managing Director at Manatt Health, about the sweeping effects of H.R. 1—from coverage losses and premium increases to new Medicaid work requirements. They discuss what these changes mean for employer-sponsored coverage, workforce wellbeing, and how businesses can prepare for the shifts ahead. Key Takeaways: 15M people could lose coverage under H.R. 1, pulling $1T+ from the healthcare system. Employers can expect higher premiums and cost-shifting from public to private coverage. Medicaid work requirements (2027) will hit lower-income and hourly employees hardest. Employers should help workers navigate eligibility, maintain predictable schedules, and engage with state Medicaid agencies. Digital health, AI, and innovation can help offset rising costs and preserve access to care. 00:00 – Intro: The cost of losing coverage 01:10 – What’s inside H.R. 1 (“The One Big Beautiful Bill”) 03:30 – How 15M coverage losses impact employers 06:40 – Medicaid work requirements and 2027 changes 09:40 – What employers can do right now 12:55 – ACA marketplace shifts and premium hikes 15:20 – The trillion-dollar funding gap 18:00 – Rethinking affordability and innovation 20:45 – The rural health impact and digital care solutions 22:50 – Final thoughts: Why employer action matters

12. 

    28 Oct 2025

    The Care Gap that Most Employers Are Missing

    Liana Douillet Guzmán, CEO of FOLX Health, joins to discuss how traditional benefits models fail LGBTQIA+ employees and what leading employers are doing to fix it. She breaks down why inclusive care in name only isn’t enough, how FOLX is redefining access through affirming digital care, and why closing this care gap is good for people and business.

13. 

    21 Oct 2025

    The Next Era of Digital Health: A VC’s Perspective

    Digital health is entering a new era — one where informed consumers, smarter technology, and outcomes-based models reshape how care is delivered and funded. In this episode, Lee Shapiro of 7wire Ventures shares what he’s seeing across the industry, how employers are adapting, and why the next generation of startups will look different from those of the past.

14. 

    14 Oct 2025

    Why Employers Are Still Flocking to Hybrid Care

    With telemedicine waivers for Medicare enrollees expiring and the federal government investing in rural health, a strong telehealth strategy has never been more important. Danish Nagda, CEO and co-founder of Rezilient Health, talks with Margin of Care about the hybrid care model of the future -- and why physician quality is a core metric for improving primary care.

15. 

    29 Sept 2025

    Rethinking the Economics of Care

    Healthcare consumerism is broken. On this episode of Margin of Care, Chris Hogan of Benefit Commerce Group argues that consumers are, at best, accidentally stumbling into quality health care — and that the industry has to better direct people to the right doctors. Subscribe to never miss an episode here: https://www.getgarner.com/margin-of-care-podcast

16. 

    29 Sept 2025

    From vaccines to whole-body MRI scans: How employers should be thinking about prevention

    Employers are now seen as the most trusted source of information. Dr. Vin Gupta argues in this episode of Margin of Care that employers should lean into their power and solve the pain points of health care utilization. With a different communication strategy, employers can make significant changes. Subscribe to never miss an episode here: https://www.getgarner.com/margin-of-care-podcast

17. 

    29 Sept 2025

    Healthcare’s Costs Crisis—and How to Fix It

    It’s no secret that health care costs are skyrocketing, but new research from the Business Group on Health indicates a 54% compounded increase over the last decade. On this episode of Margin of Care, the group’s president and CEO, Ellen Kelsay, reveals why health care costs are getting out of control — and how cell and gene therapy is a part of the puzzle. Subscribe to never miss an episode here: https://www.getgarner.com/margin-of-care-podcast

18. 

    29 Sept 2025

    How the Most Innovative Employers Are Embracing Disruption

    Large employers aren’t the only ones who can do direct contracting. In this episode of Margin of Care, Lee Lewis of the Health Transformation Alliance breaks down the ways small and mid-sized employers can be more nimble and drive better health outcomes for their covered lives, all the while managing costs. New approaches aren’t out of reach. Subscribe to never miss an episode here: https://www.getgarner.com/margin-of-care-podcast

19. 

    10 Sept 2025

    Margin of Care Trailer

    A podcast for healthcare advisors and benefits leaders exploring the economics, policy, and innovation shaping the future of employee health plans. Hosted by Kirk Czonstka and guests. Subscribe to never miss an episode here: https://www.getgarner.com/margin-of-care-podcast

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Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

5 ratings

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.