Advanced Strategies

Advanced Benefits Strategies

Advanced Benefits Strategies is an Employer Learning course for leaders and benefits professionals evaluating sophisticated employer health-plan strategies. Across 17 modules, you will explore direct provider contracting, group captives, AI-powered analytics, international drug sourcing, pharmacogenomics, employer coalitions, gene therapy risk management, and health equity through an employer decision-making lens.

17 modules13h of content5.5 certificate hoursCertificate of completion

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What You Will Learn

Learning objectives for this course.

Structure direct hospital and provider contracts achieving Medicare-plus pricing

Evaluate and implement group captive arrangements for employers with favorable claims history

Apply AI predictive modeling and NLP to identify high-risk members and improve care management ROI

Design international drug sourcing programs with 50–80% savings on brand medications

Implement pharmacogenomic testing programs that prevent failed medication cycles

Build employer coalition strategies for aggregated purchasing power

Prepare employer health plans for gene therapy and cell therapy financial exposure

Design health equity programs that reduce disparities and improve population health outcomes

Build a 3-year advanced strategies roadmap with phased implementation

Evaluate advanced employer health-plan strategies with clear governance and implementation priorities

Who This Course Is For

This course is designed for the following roles.

HR and benefits leaders at large employers seeking advanced strategies

Self-funded plan sponsors evaluating sophisticated cost-management approaches

Benefits professionals supporting employer decision-makers

Course Modules

17 modules · 85 lessons

Direct Contracting: Bypassing the Carrier Middleman

Build direct relationships with hospitals and physician groups to achieve Medicare-plus pricing.

5 lessons · 50 min

Captive Insurance: Group Captives and Single-Parent Structures

Master captive insurance structures — from group captives for mid-market employers to single-parent captives for large employers.

5 lessons · 50 min

Advanced Analytics and AI in Benefits Management

Leverage predictive modeling, machine learning, and AI to identify risk and drive proactive interventions.

5 lessons · 50 min

International Drug Sourcing: Legal Frameworks and Employer Programs

Navigate the legal and operational landscape of international drug sourcing programs for high-cost medications.

5 lessons · 45 min

Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine in Benefits

Apply pharmacogenomic testing to reduce medication failures, adverse events, and wasted pharmacy spend.

5 lessons · 45 min

Employer Coalitions and Collective Purchasing Power

Leverage employer coalitions to achieve large-employer pricing and direct contracting opportunities.

5 lessons · 45 min

Gene Therapy and Cell Therapy: Managing Million-Dollar Treatments

Prepare for the gene therapy wave — understand the clinical landscape and financial risk management strategies.

5 lessons · 50 min

Health Equity and DEI in Benefits Design

Design benefits that address health disparities and advance equity across your workforce.

5 lessons · 45 min

Reference-Based Pricing: Advanced Implementation and Management

Implement and manage reference-based pricing programs that deliver 30–40% hospital savings with minimal member disruption.

5 lessons · 50 min

Advanced Stop-Loss Structures: Aggregate, Lasers, and Captive Integration

Master advanced stop-loss structures that optimize risk transfer while minimizing premium cost.

5 lessons · 50 min

Level-Funded Plans: Advanced Design and Optimization

Go beyond the basics of level-funded plans — optimize design, carrier selection, and renewal strategy.

5 lessons · 45 min

TPA Selection and Management: The Operational Core of Self-Funding

Select and manage a TPA that delivers accurate claims adjudication, strong networks, and transparent reporting.

5 lessons · 45 min

Health Plan Litigation Risk: ERISA Fiduciary Liability

Understand the growing wave of ERISA fiduciary litigation against employers and how to build a defensible plan.

5 lessons · 45 min

Benefits Technology Stack: HR Tech, Benefits Admin, and Data Integration

Build a modern benefits technology stack that integrates data, automates administration, and improves member experience.

5 lessons · 45 min

The Strategic Advisor Practice: Building a Premium Advisory Business

Transform your practice from transactional broker to strategic advisor — and command fees that reflect your value.

5 lessons · 50 min

The Future of Employer Benefits: Trends Shaping the Next Decade

Anticipate the forces reshaping employer benefits and position your practice to lead through the transformation.

5 lessons · 45 min

Samaritan Fund: Employee Hardship Assistance Programs

Design and administer a tax-advantaged employee hardship fund — covering IRS Section 139 disaster relief, 501(c)(3) fund structures, governance requirements, and peer-to-peer giving programs.

5 lessons · 40 min

Earn Your Certificate

Complete all modules, pass the module quizzes, and score 80% or higher on the 50-question final exam to earn your certificate of completion and 5.5 certificate hours.