Episode
69. Zero-Copay Generic Drugs & Six-Figure Savings w/ Trace Voshell
- Published
- Jan 15, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1742
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Summary
In this episode of The Business of Benefits, host Donovan Ryckis sits down with Trace Voshell, Chief Revenue Officer at GoGoMeds, to expose one of the most overlooked cost drains in employer healthcare: generic drug inflation. While most employers focus on high-cost specialty medications, Trace reveals that generic drugs, covering 80-90% of employees on medication, are systematically overpriced by 30-60% through PBM spread pricing and hidden conflicts of interest. Trace pulls back the curtain on how PBMs profit twice (on adjudication and through ownership of mail order pharmacies), why brokers often block cost-saving solutions (hint: per-script kickbacks), and how employers can bypass these roadblocks even when they feel "handcuffed" to large carrier PBMs. With real case studies showing $45,000 to $140,000+ in annual savings, this episode proves that transparent cost-plus pharmacy pricing can deliver six-figure savings while offering employees zero-copay medications. What You'll Learn: - Why generic drugs represent the biggest overlooked savings opportunity in pharmacy benefits - How PBM "spread pricing" allows them to pocket the difference between what they charge you and what they pay pharmacies - The shocking conflict of interest: PBMs owning their own mail order pharmacies and profiting twice - Why brokers often block pharmacy savings solutions (per-script fees and backend compensation) - Real case studies: How a 70-employee shop saves $45K annually and larger groups save $130K-$140K+ - The difference between GoGoMeds and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company - How to bypass PBM roadblocks with direct-to-employer pharmacy arrangements - The vague PBM contract language that enables systematic overcharging (and how to spot it) - A 60-second ChatGPT hack to identify unfav…