Whether you are wanting to lose weight, prevent Type 2 Diabetes or both, you now can consider the class of drugs described as "glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists" that work by binding to GLP-1 receptors, which in turn results in lower blood sugar levels and A1C levels and are now being prescribed to reduce appetite and help with weight loss. But there is a high financial cost and you may need to stay on the drug for life. In this episode, I will discuss the latest on Ozempic and Wegovy and which is approved by the US Food and Drug Administration to treat diabetes and which to help with weight loss or to lower risk of cardiovascular disease. Then we contrast these drugs with the latest knowledge about the effectiveness of "Brisk Walking" as I bring you the latest health and well-being news in this Multi-Topic episode! I'm Cary Hall, America's Healthcare Advocate.Need help or have something to share?https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

The Sheriff’s here today: Our Health and the Health of our Communities Joining me in studio today is Cal Hayden. He is the sheriff of Johnson County, Kansas and we’ll be discussing our personal health and highlight issues that we're dealing with in our communities in this country and how they affect community health. Kansas City is halfway to everywhere. We're right in the middle of the country. So anywhere you go, you're going to go through Kansas City one way or another. I-35 is the artery interstate highway for trucking and transportation all the way from Mexico to Canada. And as a result, here in Johnson County we get a lot of activity especially now with border the way it is we're seeing a lot of nefarious activity centered around I-35 including human trafficking, drug traffic and almost anything you can think of that's illegal. As a result, the county jail has incarcerated citizens of from everywhere: a parole violation out of Russia, aggravated robbery out of Honduras, domestic battery from Kenya, and first-degree murder from India, murder from Kenya, Canada, the Philippines, aggravated arson, Guatemala, Azerbaijan, assault. It goes on and on. From the show: Cal Hayden: “What moves through our county? So, let's talk about fentanyl. There's an enormous amount of discussion going on in between the federal and state government and state governments and everything that's going on on the border for the majority of this is coming over. Fentanyl coming up through the I-35 corridor and then being dispersed out into the communities. And if it's not shipped, it's being mailed out. We're finding a lot in the US mail as well as UPS & FedEx. We take our dogs in and we'll run them up and down the lines and find lots of fentanyl. Also, they're trucking it in. Our officers will make stops on I-35. We've got cartel members here doing it. “ America's Healthcare Advocate, Cary Hall is broadcast on over 220 radio stations across the USA. Podcast S20 Ep8 This episode contains discussion specific to the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, but we feel it is of interest and potentially affects listeners across the USA. Learn more about Sheriff Cal Hayden: https://jocosheriff.org/public-information/sheriff-calvin-hayden https://www.calvinhaydenforsheriff.com From your Host, Cary Hall: Got an idea or need help with a problem? Send me a message! https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

If you’re a 1099 employee you are part of what’s called the GIG economy, and you know that finding good, affordable health insurance is difficult, if not impossible. In this episode of America's Healthcare advocate, I'll explore GigCare, offering a variety of affordable plans with doctor office copays, labs, x-rays, prescription drugs and major medical coverage, just like traditional employer sponsored healthcare plans have and GigCare provides access to one of the largest PPO networks of doctors and hospitals in Nebraska. Learn about this inovative plan from our expert guest Richard Haldeman: "So if you think about what we were trying to solve at Detego Health... a company that really wanted to develop products to address the needs of the market as opposed to just administering somebody else's plans. So we noticed right away two things. One is cost related to plan, meaning small employers as individual gig economy workers couldn't afford to have a plan that they could work with and there was really no products out there that addressed directly that segment of the market. So, you know, the largest segment of our market is the self-employed individual. So whether you're a computer programmer, web design web designer an Uber driver or if you have an Amazon delivery truck, one of the major concerns we heard from the market and everything we do is based on what we hear from the market is that there wasn't anything out there a decent plan for them." Learn more: https://gigcare.net/ 866-200-2513Have a question or topic? Send me a message: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Today my Spira Care guests are Dr. Becky Gernon, Department Vice President and Medical Director at Spira Care and Sharon Wilkinson who is the Clinical Performance manager at Spira Care centers as we discuss Spira Care’s integrated behavioral health component designed to see that patients’ needs are met both physically and mentally. This is a great episode, and we delve into how behavioral health, like physical health, affects all our lives and that even though we rarely look at it that way. and how Spira Care continues to be on the forefront of behavioral health care and reports to us that nearly 15% of all of their patients also had a visit with a BHC (Behavioral Health Clinician) in 2023.Ep: 2010Learn more by calling 833-605-6901 or visit SpiraCare.comI'm Cary Hall, and if you need help or have something to share, you can send me a message here:https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

They say that 40 cents of every $1 that’s paid for Primary Care services goes to the relationship between the Insurance company and the Doctor. So we're going to talk about a different model of primary care today. It's an alternative. It's something different, and I'm intrigued by it. And I think you will be, too. It's a model that obviously is working well because they continue to expand the number of clinics they have here in the KC Metro, and you'll find similar value based primary care throughout the USA. My experts this episode are Troy A. Burns, MD, a pioneer in healthcare reform. He was among the first to adopt the new Direct Primary Care model that fixes many of the problems with our broken healthcare system. Dr. Burns is joined by Angela Prato, M.D., who joined ProPartners Healthcare in 2018. Learn more about ProPartners Health Care: ProPartnersHealthCare.com or call 913-451-4776 Have an idea, or an issue you need help with? Send me a note or submit a topic here: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us This is S20 Ep 4 and I'm Cary Hall, America's Healthcare Advocate.

My guests are Medicare and Medicare Advantage experts! Joining me from RPS Benefits by Design are Carolee Steele, who is the Director of Medicare, and Maria Ahlers, Chief Operating Officer, Employee Benefits at RPS Benefits By Design. Together, they offer Medicare Advantage plans from every carrier out there that has a Medicare Advantage plan: Blue Cross, Aetna, Humana, United… they all have zero premium plans. Hear how they can help ensure you find the right plan that fits your needs with allowances for dental, vision, hearing and even transportation via a debit card that are built into the Medicare Advantage plans. Did you know, the “extra benefits” that are built into the Medicare Advantage plans is how the carriers compete with each other? That’s important and they tell us why. And, most people start with comparing prescription benefits. Find out why that matters.Ep 2006 Terms used in this episode: Simply Blue plan the Blue Cross of Kansas City RPS Benefits by Design: 877-385-2224 https://www.rpsbenefitsbydesigninc.com/ Primary Care: Spira Care: https://spiracare.com/ Primary Care: CenterWell https://www.centerwell.com/ Medicare Part B Medicare Part D Medicare Advantage PlansI'm Cary Hall. Contact me if I can help you: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Today we visit with CenterWell Market President Drew Hare and back for a second visit is Dr. Stephanie Ikeme. I am a fan of the CenterWell model for Senior Primary Care and I think you will find this to be a fascinating episode as we investigate what makes CenterWell so amazing. CenterWell Senior Primary Care features a care team approach that helps each patient live a healthier, happier life by supporting the mind, body and spirit. As a result, our patients frequently mention how they don't feel rushed when they come in for an appointment. They feel like they can be heard. Our returning guest, Dr. Stephanie Ikeme, is the regional medical director for CenterWell Senior Primary care. If you are a senior or if you are the care giver to a parent or relative who is, this episode is for you! While we discuss the Kansas City market specifically, the information is for all seniors in the US who are seeking a better level of primary care. For those outside of Kansas City, CenterWell is in 26 states currently and it is well worth it to see if they operate near you. Learn more about CenterWell by calling 816-640-8522 or visit http://seniorfocusedkansascity.com Do you have a problem I can I help you with? Let me know by sending an email: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us Thank you! -Cary Hall

Our topic today is a different primary care model that is centered on Seniors. CenterWell Senior Primary Care features a care team approach that helps each patient live a healthier, happier life by supporting the mind, body and spirit. Or, as our guest Dr. V says: “One of the things patients frequently mention to me is they don't feel rushed here. They feel like they can be heard. I think that's important because when you feel like you can't express yourself, you're not going to bring things that are of concern to you to the forefront.” Our goal with this episode is to help you feel happier and healthier everyday and my expert guest: Vinod Naidu Velakaturi, MD from CenterWell Senior Primary Care in the Kansas City Metro. ---Are You Someone's Care Giver: CenterWell can make a big difference? Not only do they provide transportation, but there are other things that might be something for mom, or dad or for a grandmother or grandfather. Learn More about CenterWell:https://seniorfocusedkansascity.com/ (816) 640-8522 America’s Healthcare Advocate, Season 20, Episode 02 ---Other contact information: RPS Benefits by Design, Carolee Steele and Maria Ahlers: (877) 385-2224 https://www.rpsbenefitsbydesigninc.com/ Need help or have something to share? Contact Cary Hall: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us Senior Care Consulting, Steve Kuker 913 945 2800 seniorcareconsulting.com

Stop reading fiction on the internet and listen to these 2 doctors explain who should take these vaccines and who is a greater risk, like seniors and toddlers.Our experts will get you ahead of the curve, so that you know going into cold and flu season what your risks are and what you should be doing, whether you've got infants, toddlers, children that are teenagers, or whether you're a seasoned citizen and someone at greater risk.My guests are Dr Tracy Stevens M.D., a board-certified cardiologist with Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants and is on staff at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri, and Dr Sarah Boyd, MD, who is board certified in Infectious Diseases, Member of IDSA, SHEA, HIV medicine association and has practiced at Saint Luke's North Hospital since 2007.Dr. Stevens is the Julia Irene Kauffman Endowed Chair for Women’s Cardiovascular Health, the Ben D. McCallister, MD, Community Ambassador, and a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine.Read more about these doctors:https://doctors.saintlukeskc.org/provider/Tracy+L+Stevens/1458158#provider-details-experienceandhttps://doctors.saintlukeskc.org/provider/Sarah+E+Boyd/1458542Can I help? Contact me here:Contact Cary Hall, America’s Healthcare Advocate:https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

The America's Healthcare Advocate Winter Multi-Topic Show has fascinating details, takes and closer looks at The mRNA Breakthrough, Nobel Peace Prize and "Unprecedented Vaccine Development" RSV's Winter Surge -How Loneliness is Tied to Death Rate Nikki's "The 3rd Rail" of Healthcare Entitlements: Medicare Advantage Regular Exercise Mitigates the Effects of COVID 19Ep 1940I'm Cary Hall. Join me for part one of our Winter Multi-Topic Series! If you have a topic or a problem that I can help with: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Claire Benson’s health insurance was abruptly cancelled when she tried to update her information in her healthcare.gov account.Claire bought her insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace and after the policy was in place, she was asked in an email from healthcare.gov to update her account to reflect her married name and provide documents. She needed help logging in and called the 1-800 number for help. The navigator on the other end of the phone reviewed her policy, and encouraged her to update pregnancy information, too. So, Claire clicked “yes” and revealed her pregnancy.As first reported by KCTV5 Investigative Reported Angie Ricono: “I was just following instructions,” said Benson, “speaking to the person who answered the phone at Marketplace, trusting that she would tell me what I needed to know and guide me in the right direction.” Benson’s health insurance was immediately terminated.Angie offered Claire several ways to deal with this including getting me on the case to advocate for her.In this episode, Claire and I discuss her terrifying journey and offers this story to anyone finding themselves in this situation.Ep 1941Have an issue? Send me a message and let’s talk: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

With so many people Turning 65 Every Day, we check in with America's leading Senior Care Consultant and give you everything you need to know about senior care for your spouse, your parent, a grandparent or sibling... anyone needing help finding care.Whether it be an assisted care living facility, nursing home or care in the home, Steve Kuker knows it all. How to choose a facility and the pitfalls of using a "Free" placement service, finding safety and abuse records on every facility as well as help with home care scenarios and how to make the best decision. Excerpt from this episode. Our expert guest, Steve Kuker:“In the first step when I meet with someone is to conduct a geriatric care assessment. It's a proprietary geriatric care assessment to answer all of the big questions.• What level of care do we need?• What type of care• Our payment method• Location parameters, and• personal preferences and needs "So those are the big five. We also uncover other issues or needs as well during this consultation. But that's our starting point. And now I know exactly what that person needs. Then I research the entire market and identify our top options. The next step is we actually go out and tour those facilities together and I conduct a performance audit at each place.--I've been an administrator of nursing homes and assisted living facilities and I look at this differently, I think, than most people”. Background:Steve Kuker, Senior Housing Expert, Senior Care Expert, Franchisor, Radio Broadcaster-------------------------------------------------Plus, in our 3rd segment, Steve discusses how you can start a Senior Care Consulting franchise yourself using his same model and tried and true practices. To learn more about becoming a franchise partner:https://www.seniorcareconsulting.com/franchising.html OFFER from Steve: A free home care provider screening tool and it's a list of 30 or 35 questions. It's a really good list and I'll just send it out free of charge. Just call or send me an email and I'll reply sending it to you for free. Senior Care Consulting913-945-2800 Learn more:https://www.linkedin.com/in/stevekuker/https://www.seniorcareconsulting.com/Need help or have a question? Contact me, Cary Hall:https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Our expert guest is Ron Miller, who is Sr. FEP Sales Consultant & Labor Liaison at Blue KC. Ron is here to fill you in on everything you need to know during FEP Open Enrollment and has important details regarding Blue KC, FEP (The Federal Employee Program) and how to get covered, when to start and what to do in our 2024 edition.The FEP Blue Show is Episode 1934 of America's Healthcare Advocate, Cary Hall.Learn more by calling 1-800-411-BLUEOr visit: https://www.fepblue.org/SQM Certification: https://www.recognisingexcellence.co.uk/sqm/

It's open enrollment for ACA, which starts in the month of November. On our BlueKC ACA Show we're going to talk about all the plans and we've got some really great information to share with you in the show! November 1st is going to be the start of open enrollment for ACA. It is going to end on January 15th, maybe (we will explain).My ACA Experts Ryan Roth and Sheri Blankenship from BlueKC join me on this episode to get you the information you need if you are looking for an ACA healthcare policy. They can help you find subsidies based on income projections that can significantly lower your cost and will examine how an ACA policy can include Spira Care, and hear about BlueKC networks like, Blue Select Network, Blue Select Plus Network and Preferred Care Blue Network, and what could be available to you.You can go to healthcare.gov and try and figure this out on the marketplace portal, but please listen to this episode first.While this information covers the Kansas City Metro, this episode of America's Healthcare Advocate has information and resources you can apply throughout the USA.Ep 1933 BlueKC ACA ShowTopics include:BlueKC reduction of ACA Healthcare rates by 4.3% in Missouri and 10.1 in Kansas, ACA, Affordable Care Act, Obamacare, BCBS, Spira Care, In Network, Blue Select Network, Blue Select Plus Network, Preferred Care Blue Network, Children's Mercy, income projection, subsidy, HSA, Co-pay, Telehealth, virtual care, Open Enrollment, individual or family insurance, Blue 365, Mindful by Blue KC, behavioral health, Livongo, diabetes management, glucose meter, lancets, test stripsLearn Morehttps://www.bluekcforyou.com/Find this episode podcast here:https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/podcastsHave an issue, concern or question? Contact me, your host and Healthcare Advocate, Cary Hall:https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

My guests are John Massey, President, Mak Booher, VP and Danny Spencer, Treasurer and their 501(3)(c) nonprofit "ZuZu's Petals".This extraordinary charity organization brings the spirit of Christmas to underprivileged communities by providing festive decorations, food and gifts.Find out how they started, what they have accomplished and how you can help right now.We offer this episode nationally, even though Zuzu's Petals is local to the Kansas City metro, because they are a stellar example of transparency in the operation of a charitable organization, and I encourage you to find this kind of transparency in any charity you support that is local to you.Look into Zuzu's award-winning transparency:https://www.guidestar.org/profile/shared/f86605e8-1730-47a2-8b7f-0346ddf468b0Click here to donate:https://zuzus-petals.org/donate-todaykcchristmas.org

Did you know Goodwill offers Career Programs and Employment Services? My guests today from Goodwill are Anita Davis, Chief Mission Officer and Karen Altenhofen, Director of Workforce Development and they are both from Goodwill of Western Missouri & Eastern Kansas and I’ll bet you had no idea about the services they offer to both those in need of a job and employers looking for skilled workers: We talk about their program: “Certified Manufacturing Associate Certification”, based on Tooling U-SME (Society of Manufacturing Engineers) and how they have partnered with Missouri Enterprise, which is the Manufacturing Traders Association in Missouri to train people to be basic, very skilled, professional entry level laborers on a manufacturing floor who manufacturers know that they can upskill and train them from there. There's all of this new technology like AI and machine learning and coding, but people just don't know about it. So, we learned about it and we created a program called “Bridge to Technology” that is just that. Bridge to Technology is cohort based because for most people, they have a lot of barriers and they do need motivation. It's just that collaboration with other people that are like them that helps to inspire and motivate them to complete training for skilled positions. And the hope is that once they get a taste, they will want to go on and continue in some of the other certifications that we have through the partners that you see getting a badge with IBM or a Grow with Google certification and project management or data analytics. Ep 1935 Learn more about Goodwill: 816-842-7425 https://www.mokangoodwill.org and https://www.mokangoodwill.org/mission/programs-and-services/certified-manufacturing-associate-certification I’m your host Cary Hall, America’s Healthcare Advocate and my goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort and you can message me at: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

Understand all the Options from United Healthcare, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Aetna, Cigna and Humana.Ep 1929 Reviews all the plans, plan changes and some amazing new Coverage Options for 2024. Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15th through December 7th, 2023 for the 2024 coverage season..Our Certified Medicare Experts receive at least 40 hours of training to achieve AHIP Medicare Certification. Today joining us are Carolee Steele, Director of Medicare and Consumer Services at RPS Benefits By Design and Maria Ahlers, PHR, who has more than 19 years of experience in benefits administration.Episode Excerpts:Cary Hall: “Each year it is so important to review your Medicare health and drug coverage to make sure it's still fits your needs and finances, and this is a time if you want to make a change.I can't emphasize that enough because we're going to give you some specific examples of changes that have been made, some of them good, some of them not so good to all the providers coverage for 2024 that you that you're going to want to know about. That’s the reason that Carolee says you need that review is to see if, hey, you know, what you've got is great, everything's fine”.“So let's just start with comparing original Medicare to Medicare Advantage or original Medicare to Medicare Supplement. Let's just talk about that because you hear this all the time, ‘Well, I've got Medicare. I don't need to do anything else’".Carolee Steel: “Oh, yes, you do”.Cary Hall: “And why is that?”Carolee Steel: “Medicare A and B and B only covers about 80% of all services. So, if you have $100,000 medical occurrence, you're kind of on the hook for that $20,000. And there is no out-of-pocket on that, which is really a scary thing”.So that's what we're going to do today. We're going to talk about that and we're going to bring that information to you so you can make a decision”.RPS Benefits by Design can advise you nationwide for Medicare Enrollment, do a policy review and handle all insurance needs at 913-385-2224 & https://www.rpsbenefitsbydesigninc.com or https://www.facebook.com/RPSBenefitsByDesignI’m your host Cary Hall, America’s Healthcare Advocate and my goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort and you can message me at: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

My guest for Ep 1932 is Mr. Gavin Quinnies, Chairman and CEO of US Health Center. Gavin is trained in engineering and management systems and started his career developing artificial intelligence, automated process planning, and intelligent networks in the aerospace industry where he developed industry-leading health, safety, IT, quality, sales, and productivity management systems. • He implemented his first incentive-based wellness program in 1992 resulting in a 4:1 ROI. Before co-founding US HealthCenter, Ep 1932 Show Excerpt: Cary Hall: “So the headline here is Employers Health Plan Costs to Swell. Health Insurance costs are climbing at the steepest rate in years, some with some projecting the biggest increase in more than a decade will wallop businesses and their workers in 2024. Costs for employer coverage is expected to surge 6.5% for 2024. Such a boost could add sickness economy to the price tag for employer sponsored plans that already average more than $14,600 a year for each employee. Employers worry the hike will signal a new trajectory, with health costs resuming their rapid upward march through the 2000s. All right. So there have been multiple articles in the Wall Street Journal and other newspapers and other publications about this. That's why I have Gavin Quinnies is on here today.. So, Gavin, let's just start with an overview of U.S. health and the predictimed.com program. Now, you know, I've been on your website, spend a fair amount of time up there. Just talk about your company and what you consider your mission and how you it how you came to put all this together. Gavin Quinnies: “Well, our mission is easy to start with. It's to reduce health care costs and improve quality of life through the deployment of science technology and as with any significant problem, you can't just solve it with a single answer. So technology is a piece of advocacy, meaning individuals working with other individuals. And of course, the science is what helps us know who and how and where and why to deploy the technology. And in the advocacy, my experience in coming out of aerospace engineering with a risk minded philosophy approach to problem solving and and then having to run my own businesses and in the early nineties we started bringing to our manufacturing facilities that that I was that I was running as a as a operations person in charge of safety and quality and, and technology and, and production”. This is a very special, informative and hopeful episode tha I think you will enjoy. If you would like to connect with Gavin Quinnes about your company health insurance, visit https://www.predictimed.com or call 877-322-7398. I’m your host Cary Hall, America’s Healthcare Advocate and my goal is to enable you to become the expert for your own healthcare management, saving you time, money, and effort and you can message me at https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

BlueKC Medicare Advantage Kickoff Show with our 3 experts on hand to explain the new plans available to you and tell you whether it makes sense for you or not. This show is important to you because you want to make sure they have the best coverage possible with the most benefits possible. The first plan we discuss is the HMO plan Blue KC Secure with $0 premium, $0 deductible, $0 PCP co-pay. We also will tell you about The Blue Benefits BundleThe Valor plan for Veterans that allows keeping VA prescription benefits yet with a Medicare Advantage plan. We also discuss the Spira Care centers: SpiraCare.com Learn more. Details at https://www.medicarebluekc.com and by calling 833 957-7720 Our experts today are Barron Roberts, Manager of Medicare and Individual Sales at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City; Angie Sutton, Blue KC Broker Development and Engagement Leader and Barb Bins, Broker Development and Engagement Manager at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City Contact me, Cary Hall, America's Healthcare Advocate: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-us

We have an epidemic of homelessness in this country and the way the municipalities and government are addressing it isn't working. My guest, Kelly Welch, CEO of Sheffield Place in Overland Park, Ks is a model for empowering families to heal from the severe, chronic and continuous trauma they have experienced and for healing, turning their lives around and taking the first step in the process of self-sufficiency. You've heard me talk on my open topic shows about the homeless crisis in this country. I don't care if you're in San Francisco, Kansas City, San Diego, Portland, Oregon, Saint Louis, Missouri. It doesn't really matter where you are in the country. today we find there are solutions, and the solutions revolve around groups like those who run Sheffield Place that are taking the initiative and doing something that works and works very well.A little bit about Sheffield Place in 2022, they served 143 families, 111 in residential and 32 in aftercare, an outpatient, 184 children and 327 individuals. It's pretty impressive what they do, and Kelly has led this agency for more than a dozen years and the agency has grown from serving 20 families to now serving 150 families every year. Also under her leadership, Sheffield Place has implemented an intensive program of services to empower the homeless mothers and children. And that's really key here. They don't just take in homeless people, they take in mothers and children.Ep 1931Learn more: (816) 483-9927https://www.sheffieldplace.orghttps://www.linkedin.com/company/sheffield-placeContact me: https://www.americashealthcareadvocate.com/contact-usCary Hall, HIA Network, AHARadioShow