Over 70 guests from seven states attended the MedBen 2025 Benefits Advisory Conference on January 30. Featuring some of the most respected names in the industry, this invitation-only event provided brokers with an extensive look at the state of benefits management – where it is today, what to expect in the future, and how to use the resources available to best help their clients.
MedBen President, COO & CPO Caroline Fraker opened the event with compliance updates, touching on telehealth for HDHPs, mental health parity, and gag clause prohibition guidance. She also reviewed changes to HIPAA guidance and highlighted litigation for self-funded employers to watch, including lawsuits involving PBMs.
“The need to understand the regulatory landscape is always crucial, but perhaps no more than it is now and will be going forward,” Fraker observed. “As always, MedBen is here to assist you and your clients.”
Other featured speakers at the conference included:
- Dr. Luke Burchard, Senior VP of Physician Services, Avandé
- Corey Crigger, Client Success Account Manager, The Phia Group
- Dr. Norm Kato, CEO, CMO and Chairman of the Board of Directors, Avandé
- Alex Negel, Integrated Partner Manager, HealthJoy
- Mike Remeika, President of Accident and Health Division, Skyward Insurance
- Marc Sweeney, Founder & CEO, Profero Team
Among the topics discussed at the event:
- Helping self-funded plans understand the No Surprises Act, with suggestions to improve protected claims processing.
- Overcoming health care system inefficiencies through targeted claims review by medical specialists.
- Better managing stop-loss ratios by choosing third party administration (TPA) over administrative only services (ASO).
- Moving pharmacy from “sick care” to health improvement by emphasizing lifestyle changes.
- Employing wellness as a corporate benefit strategy through a focus on individual member health needs.
- Navigating health care through a mobile technology experience that connects members to high-value care.
MedBen wants to thank our event sponsors – The Phia Group, Skyward Insurance, HealthJoy, Tokio Marine HCC, and Crum & Forster – for an event that attendees called “excellent” and “probably the best MedBen conference ever!” We look forward to doing it again in 2026!
For MedBen clients, we will announce 2025 MedBen University (MBU) events in an upcoming issue, so be on the lookout soon!