Welcome to the very first episode of "Patients Win," where we dive deep into the realities of the American healthcare system through the eyes of those on the front lines and behind the spreadsheets. Host Todd Miller brings together Dr. Jonathan Bushman, a physician turned healthcare reformer, and Troy Reichert, a benefits strategist who’s had enough of watching numbers win while people lose.
In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, Dr. Bushman and Troy share personal stories that pushed them to take action, from frustrating patient encounters to seeing companies and families buckle under skyrocketing health insurance costs. Together, they dissect how complex metrics, insurance premiums, and corporate decisions can distance healthcare from its true purpose: serving the patient.
You’ll hear about their partnership, the birth of Primed Healthcare, and how they’re rewriting the script to put patients and their choices first. Discover why the answer to every healthcare decision should begin and end with one question: Did the patient win? If you’re frustrated with the system or simply curious about new ways forward, this episode will challenge everything you thought you knew about healthcare and show you why patient advocates like Dr. Jonathan Bushman and Troy Reicher are refusing to stay silent any longer.
Timestamps:
00:00 "Frustrations with MRI Scheduling"
05:04 "Putting Patients Over Profit"
09:13 "Integrity vs Metrics in Care"
11:59 "Healthcare vs. Free Market Dynamics"
14:57 Healthcare Renewal Frustrations Persist
16:37 Healthcare Renewal Options Lacking
20:48 Learning Health Plans Through Mentorship
25:14 Educator Meets Clinician in Denver
27:29 Fractional Chief Medical Advisor Role
30:00 Pre-certification Denial Controversy
35:26 Troy's Exceptional Reputation
39:18 Navigating Relationships Respectfully
40:06 "Patients: Pawns or Beneficiaries?"
44:07 Strengthening Local Healthcare Systems
48:06 "Improving Healthcare Benefits & Costs"
50:44 "Unique Value in Direct Care"
54:38 "Reshaping Healthcare Experiences"
Patients Win Podcast: How Prime Healthcare Is Putting Patients First
The inaugural episode of the "Patients Win" podcast brought together Dr. Jonathan Bushman and benefit strategist Troy Reichert for an engaging conversation about healthcare’s most pressing issues. Hosted by Todd Miller, this episode dives deep into the problems facing patients and employers alike, and highlights how Prime Healthcare is reshaping healthcare by prioritizing people over profits.
The Real Problem: Patients as Pawns in the Healthcare System
Dr. Bushman began the episode by sharing a personal anecdote that underscored the brokenness of the current healthcare system. Even as a physician, he encountered enormous barriers and unexpected costs when trying to schedule a simple MRI for his shoulder. He was quoted as saying, “The patient was meant to be the beneficiary of the system rather than become the pawns of the system.” He paid $425 cash for an MRI outside of his own health system, a fraction of the $1,135 his insurance would have estimated.
This story sparked a pivotal career change for Dr. Bushman, leading him to launch his direct primary care practice. His goal was clear: “I have never worked for someone other than a patient. They pay my paycheck. They are my boss.”
Healthcare Metrics and Quality: Who Decides?
One impactful theme discussed is the use of metrics to evaluate care. Dr. Bushman described how new pay incentives linked to quality metrics (like mammogram and colonoscopy rates) disrupted his patient relationships. “She now represented a hickey in my metrics, and she may actually be helping to prevent me getting my full paycheck because now it looks like I'm providing lower quality care,” he stated. This system puts physicians in a difficult position, forcing them to view patients through the lens of statistical targets rather than individual needs.
Both Dr. Bushman and Troy Reichert agreed that real healthcare quality is defined by relationships and patient outcomes, not just financial metrics or spreadsheet data. Troy Reichert emphasized, “At the end of every spreadsheet, at the end of every one of those numbers, is a person, is a family, is a husband, is a wife, is a child. Those are people that are impacted by our decisions.”
The Rising Cost of Care and Its Human Impact
The episode revealed the devastating impact of rising insurance premiums. Troy Reichert highlighted, “It's not unrealistic to see 20 and 30 and 40% increases in premiums just this year. And how is a company supposed to afford that?” Medical debt remains the leading cause of bankruptcy, showing just how disconnected traditional health insurance is from patient well-being.
During renewal season, employers are often faced with tough choices and limited options. “They're left with a bad or worse choice. And what kind of choice is that? That's a terrible position to put these folks in,” Reichert noted.
Prime Healthcare’s Solution: Consulting and Advocacy
Both guests discussed how Prime Healthcare is rewriting the story for patients. The company consults with employers on their benefit plans, conducts audits, and provides a fractional chief medical advisor. Dr. Bushman explained, “Every employer that's spending any decent amount of money needs that clinical voice at the benefits table. They need to be part of that discussion.” This approach brings the focus back to the people who rely on these plans, advocating for patient choice and well-being.
Ensuring Patients Have Choices
Both Troy and Jonathan agreed that the most important takeaway for business leaders and patients alike is the power of choice. Troy stated, “I want them to understand that there's a broad world of choices out there. Once they get used to these types of plans and their choices, they love it because they understand they're going to get care.”
The Call to Curiosity and Advocacy
Dr. Bushman concluded the episode with a key message for patients: “When you're curious, you start thinking. That's what everyone has to start doing again, is thinking and recognizing that there are solutions, there are answers, there are options.” By empowering patients to ask questions and seek alternatives, Prime Healthcare aims to create a future where quality care is the norm, not the exception.
The Future of Healthcare: Redefining Success
The podcast closes with a vision for the future. Both Dr. Bushman and Troy Reichert hope to see a world where patients have real access, affordable care, and satisfaction with their benefits. As Troy put it, “We want to help people get the right care at the right time so they don’t compound their problems.”
Tune in to "Patients Win" for more inspiring discussions on how healthcare can truly serve people, families, and communities. Remember, behind every policy and benefit, there is a person. The goal is simple: did the patient win?
Show Website - https://thepatientswin.com/
Primed Healthcare - https://primedhealthcare.com/
Troy Reichert - Show Host - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/troy-reichert-67606b5/
Dr. Jonathan Bushman - Show Host - LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-bushman-do-106821191
Media Partner - TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/
“Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”