The Pulse with Mary Delaney

Hosted by Mary Delaney

Business Management

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Episodes

Latest episode

Jul 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Alera Group’s podcast series, The Pulse, will help you keep pace with what’s trending in employee benefits. Every month, nationally recognized subject matter experts from the health and pharmacy industry and top academic and research institutions will provide data-driven insights while giving you actionable, scalable, strategies. If you are looking to reduce medical and pharmacy spend while driving better health outcomes, this podcast series is for you!

Listen to episodes

24 recent

August 19, 2026Episode 717 min

Absence isn’t just an HR issue anymore — it’s a business issue

In this episode of The Pulse in 15 , Mary Delaney sits down with Teri Weber to talk about the growing complexity of absence management—and why so many employers are feeling the impact across their organizations. From FMLA and ADA to evolving state leave laws, rising mental health–related absences, and hybrid work challenges, absence is hitting organizations from every direction. What used to be a compliance exercise is now directly impacting productivity, cost, manager effectiveness, and employee trust. In this quick 15-minute conversation, Teri focuses on what matters most right now: Where employers are most at risk What’s changed in the absence landscape Practical steps leaders should be thinking about this year If you’re navigating absence across your workforce, this is a conversation worth 15 minutes of your time.

July 15, 2026Episode 617 min

Reimagining Interventional Radiology: A Path to Lower Costs and Better Cancer Care

In this podcast, Dr. Joshua Dowell, a private practice pioneer in radiology care, explores the future state of interventional radiology and why moving these services away from hospital‑based setting represents a critical opportunity for the healthcare system. He discusses how alternative care models can meaningfully reduce costs, lower patient risk, and improve quality—particularly in cancer care. The conversation highlights how rethinking site‑of‑care decisions in interventional radiology can unlock a more sustainable cost structure while delivering better outcomes for patients. After listening to this podcast, participants will be able to: Explain the potential impact of shifting interventional radiology away from hospital‑based services, including implications for cost, access, and care delivery. Understand how alternative interventional radiology models can improve patient care and reduce risk, particularly through more appropriate care settings. Identify the drivers of improved cost structure when interventional radiology services move outside of traditional hospital environments. Recognize the path forward for improving cancer care through innovative interventional radiology delivery models.

June 17, 2026Episode 514 min

From Siloed Reports to Shared Insight: How Unified Data Drives Alignment at Kwik Trip

In this episode of The Pulse in 15 , Mary sits down with Bryan Trainor to discuss the value Kwik Trip has found in moving from separate, vendor-specific reports to having all their information in one place. Bryan shares how bringing data together into a single, transparent view has helped create clarity, reduce fragmentation, and better align goals and priorities across internal teams and vendor partners. The conversation highlights why data integration matters, how transparency changes the way partners work together, and how a unified view of information supports smarter, more coordinated strategy. Key Takeaways Understand the value of moving from siloed, vendor-specific reports to a unified view of information, and how a single source of truth supports clearer, more consistent decision-making. Explain how greater data transparency helps align goals and priorities across vendor partners, shifting conversations from isolated metrics to shared outcomes. Recognize how integrated data enables organizations to identify patterns, gaps, and opportunities that are difficult to see when information is fragmented. Describe how a transparent, comprehensive data approach can strengthen collaboration and support more coordinated strategy execution.

May 20, 2026Episode 453 min

Crisis in Care: Solving the Primary Care Puzzle for Employers – Part 3

Frontline Perspectives from Physicians & Benefits Leaders Building on our Part 2 session where carriers discussed what’s working, what’s falling short, and how employers can influence the trend, we’re now turning to the people closest to care delivery and benefit design. In Part 3, practicing physicians and respected benefits leaders will share practical, employer-ready strategies to stabilize access, improve outcomes, and control costs. What You’ll Learn: Why primary care is under pressure from administrative burdens and poor reimbursement to fragmented relationships and what it means for access and outcomes. How innovative models like direct primary care and team-based care are changing the game for both physicians and employers. What employers and benefits advisors can do to drive real change: from investing in primary care and reducing red tape, to building trusted partnerships with providers. The power of relationships in primary care and how continuity, trust, and a whole-person approach can lower costs and improve workforce health. If you’re tired of quick fixes and want to hear what really works in primary care—from the voices on the front lines, this conversation is for you.

April 15, 2026Episode 316 min

How a School System Created Sustainable Change: Improving Health, Delivering Employee Value, and Reducing Plan Spend

In this 15-minute episode, we’re joined by Roger McMichael , Associate Superintendent at Carmel Clay Schools , for a practical conversation on how objective, data driven strategy can create meaningful and sustainable change in a school system’s health plan. Roger shares how his team focused on improving employee health and experience while also achieving significant savings for the plan—without sacrificing value or access. His insights offer a real-world example of what’s possible when strategy, transparency, and long-term thinking come together. In this episode, you'll learn: How Carmel Clay Schools leveraged plan savings to reinvest in and expand service offerings How their members’ experience differs from others in the local community What success looks like for their organization—and the outcomes they’ve realized so far This episode is a must listen for HR leaders, benefits professionals, and executives looking for sustainable healthcare strategies that work for both their people and their bottom line.

March 25, 2026Episode 217 min

Noise to Impact: Building an Employee Benefits Communication Strategy That Delivers

In this mini episode of The Pulse, Mary speaks with an employee communications expert about why benefits messages so often get lost and how employers can move from noise to real impact. The conversation highlights what effective benefits communication looks like today, common mistakes employers make, and how to measure whether messages are actually driving understanding and action. The episode wraps with practical advice on one high impact improvement employers can focus on this year, along with a brief look at how AI can strengthen benefits communication in realistic, meaningful ways. 4 Key Takeaways: Cutting through noise requires strategy, not more messaging. Effective benefits communication isn’t about sending more emails—it’s about delivering the right message, at the right time, in a way employees can actually absorb and act on. Impact matters more than activity. Open rates and clicks don’t tell the full story. Employers need to measure whether communication improves understanding, confidence, and decision making—not just whether messages were delivered. Complexity is the enemy of engagement. Overly technical language, inconsistent messaging, and one size fits all approaches are some of the biggest reasons benefits communication fails. Simplicity and relevance drive impact. Focus on one meaningful improvement—and do it well. Whether it’s simplifying content, improving timing, or better segmenting messages, one focused change can dramatically improve communication effectiveness when executed intentionally.

February 18, 2026Episode 152 min

Provider Quality: Fad or Imperative in Driving Improved Health Outcomes?

Are provider quality scores just another healthcare fad, or are they a critical tool for driving better health outcomes and maximizing your organization’s investment in employee benefits? In this episode, we cut through the noise to help employers understand what these scores really mean, how to identify high-quality providers, and how leveraging this information can lead to measurable improvements in workforce health and cost efficiency. Join us as we answer the questions employers ask most: Which provider quality metrics actually matter for my organization? How can I use provider data to improve employee satisfaction and health outcomes? What are the pitfalls of relying on certain scores, and how can I avoid them? How have other employers successfully used provider quality information to drive results? What practical steps can HR and benefits leaders take to integrate provider quality into their strategy? Whether you’re a benefits manager, HR leader, or executive, this episode will empower you to make informed decisions that benefit both your employees and your bottom line.

January 21, 2026Episode 642 min

Crisis in Care: Solving the Primary Care Puzzle for Employers – Part 2

In part two of our three part series on the mounting primary care crisis, we will continue our discussion from August on the impact on employers. Our panel of experts will provide insights into how carriers are addressing the shortage, as well as what they believe employers can do to help combat this crisis. In This Episode, You'll Learn: A carriers perspective on why we are facing such a crisis What strategies have been put in place to help reverse these trends What has worked effectively and where are efforts falling short How employers, the payors of healthcare, may be able to influence these trends This is a must-listen for HR leaders, benefits professionals, and executives seeking sustainable healthcare strategies that work for both their people and their bottom line.

October 15, 2025Episode 51 hr 3 min

Rethinking Fiduciary Duty in Employer Health Plans

As healthcare costs continue to rise and scrutiny around plan transparency intensifies, employers are under growing pressure to fulfill their fiduciary responsibility —not just to manage costs, but to ensure health plan decisions truly serve the best interests of their employees. In this compelling episode, we explore what fiduciary duty really means for employers in today’s complex benefits landscape. Experts break down the legal, ethical, and financial implications of being a plan sponsor—and what it takes to stay compliant, cost-conscious, and employee-centered. In This Episode, You'll Learn: What ERISA says about fiduciary obligations—and how it applies to health benefits Why fiduciary risk is rising, and what recent lawsuits mean for employers Common blind spots in benefits strategy that can lead to compliance issues Practical steps employers can take to protect themselves and support their workforce If you're in HR, finance, or on a leadership team making decisions about your company’s health plan, this episode is your essential guide to navigating your fiduciary role with confidence and clarity.

August 20, 2025Episode 41 hr 0 min

Crisis in Care: Solving the Primary Care Puzzle for Employers

The U.S. healthcare system is facing a mounting primary care crisis —marked by physician shortages, limited access, and rising costs. In this timely episode, we examine how the decline in effective primary care is not just a health issue, but a serious business concern for employers grappling with escalating healthcare expenses and workforce wellbeing challenges. Our expert guests unpack the systemic issues behind the crisis and explore what employers can do to strengthen access to quality primary care . You’ll hear practical insights into benefits design, provider partnerships, and policies that prioritize prevention, continuity, and cost control. In This Episode, You'll Learn: Why primary care is foundational to employee health and healthcare affordability The downstream impact of poor access on absenteeism, chronic disease, and claims What forward-thinking employers are doing to restore value to primary care Strategies to align health benefits with long-term business and employee health goal This is a must-listen for HR leaders, benefits professionals, and executives seeking sustainable healthcare strategies that work for both their people and their bottom line.