In this special edition of The ASHHRA Podcast, co-hosts Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan sit down with three powerhouse voices from RxBenefits—Rhiannon Klein, Sarah Hearn, and Sarah McHale—to unpack the latest seismic shift in the 340B Drug Pricing Program and what it means for hospitals, health systems, and the communities they serve.

What’s at Stake?
HRSA’s newly announced pilot rebate model for 340B—initially affecting 10 IRA drugs—threatens to upend the way covered entities access drug discounts. Instead of receiving upfront savings, hospitals must now purchase at Wholesale Acquisition Cost (WAC) and then request rebates from manufacturers. That shift could mean:

• Increased administrative burden and FTE needs
• Delayed cash flow—up to 55 days before rebate funds are received
• Expanded manufacturer access to sensitive claims data
• Greater leverage for drug companies to deny rebates or restrict program access

Why Healthcare HR Leaders Should Care
This is more than a pharmacy or finance problem. The ripple effects of reduced 340B savings could force rural hospitals to cut services—or close entirely—impacting patient access, workforce health, and community stability.

Key Insights from the Conversation:

• How the rebate model could snowball to cover more drugs and further erode 340B benefits
• Why data transparency requirements may be a double-edged sword for covered entities
• The connection between Medicaid disenrollment under the “One Big Beautiful Bill” and loss of 340B eligibility
• The growing threat to rural healthcare sustainability, with hundreds of hospitals already at risk of closure

Call to Action:
The panel urges healthcare leaders to educate themselves, cross-collaborate internally, and engage in advocacy now. With HRSA accepting comments on the pilot program until September 2, there’s still a window to voice concerns—both formally and publicly.

Listen to Learn:

• The mechanics of HRSA’s rebate pilot and why it’s controversial
• The likely financial and operational impacts for hospitals of all sizes
• Advocacy strategies that have the power to influence policy outcomes

📢 This episode is a must-listen for healthcare executives, HR leaders, pharmacy directors, and policy advocates who want to protect access to affordable care and preserve the safety net for vulnerable populations.

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Simplify screening, credentialing & compliance with oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global. Built for healthcare HR leaders. Learn more & get started here: https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/

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In this powerful episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, Luke Carignan sits down with Kelly Martin, Vice President and CHRO at Texas Health Resources, to explore what it truly takes to lead large-scale HR transformation in one of the nation’s largest health systems.

With over 23 years at Texas Health Resources, Kelly has grown from an entry-level employee relations role to the organization’s top HR leadership position. Now, she’s spearheading a bold “HR Evolution”—centralizing transactional functions into a service center, building a competency-based career pathing system, and positioning HR as a true strategic partner to operations.

Kelly pulls back the curtain on:

• First-Year Retention Challenges – Why retention rates for new hires, especially nurses, remain a critical concern across healthcare, and how Texas Health is tackling it head-on.
• Recalibration Over Layoffs – How she managed to restructure over 180 HR roles without mass job loss, creating new opportunities and clear development pathways for her team.
• Balancing Technology and People – Implementing systems like ServiceNow while ensuring the human side of HR remains central to workforce engagement and culture.
• Partnering with Operational Leaders – Aligning HR goals with business outcomes to improve culture, engagement, and retention.
• Leading with Empathy and Accountability – Delivering tough messages with compassion and transparency while keeping focus on the future vision.

From building trust with leaders to forecasting workforce needs, Kelly shares the practical strategies and leadership mindset required to thrive in the evolving healthcare landscape. She also offers candid reflections on resilience, adaptability, and “playing offense” in HR rather than staying reactive.

Whether you’re a healthcare HR leader, executive decision-maker, or operations partner, this episode delivers actionable insights on workforce strategy, change management, and the critical role HR plays in organizational success.

📢 Quote to Remember:
"We cannot fail at this. It’s too big. And with the right team and leadership support, we won’t." – Kelly Martin

🎧 Tune in now to learn how bold vision, strategic alignment, and genuine care for people can transform HR into a driving force for healthcare excellence.

From our sponsors...

Unlock Pharmacy Plan Potential!

Your employees expect top-tier medical benefits, like comprehensive care access. But how can you balance these expectations against rising costs, across your full benefits portfolio? Did you know that hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions each year than other industries? How can you tell if all those prescriptions were needed, or if you could have had significant cost savings by filling at your own hospital pharmacies?

Contact RxBenefits today to learn more: https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZN

Simplify screening, credentialing & compliance with oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global. Built for healthcare HR leaders. Learn more & get started here: https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/

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In this powerful episode of The ASHHRA Podcast, co-hosts Bo Brabo and Luke Carignan sit down with Carrie O'Dell, Chief Human Resources Officer at Group Health Cooperative of South Central Wisconsin, for a candid and inspiring conversation about what it truly means to lead with courage, authenticity, and vision in today’s healthcare environment.

With over 25 years of progressive HR leadership, Carrie brings a grounded, people-first approach to shaping cultures that thrive, even in times of crisis. From redefining onboarding to confronting workplace trauma and burnout, her leadership philosophy is rooted in creating space for transparency, vulnerability, and action.

🔍 What You’ll Learn in This Episode:

🛠️ From Reaction to Reimagination
Carrie shares how her team moved from putting out fires to building long-term people strategies aligned with organizational values and why HR can’t sit back and wait for change.

💬 Communication as a Leadership Imperative
Carrie unpacks her team’s approach to courageous conversations, fostering an environment where listening, speaking up, and mutual trust are prioritized.

💡 HR's Role in Organizational Healing
Whether navigating the fallout of a tragic workplace incident or responding to systemic burnout, HR has a crucial role to play in helping teams heal. Carrie shares what worked, what didn’t, and why showing up matters.

🧩 Designing HR With Intentionality
From recruitment to retention, Carrie discusses how her team evaluates every process through the lens of employee experience, and how this mindset shift drives engagement and retention in the post-COVID healthcare era.

🌱 Personal Growth as a Leadership Tool
Carrie gets real about her own leadership evolution, stepping into uncertainty, managing self-doubt, and learning to lead with heart while driving measurable outcomes.

💬 Memorable Quote:
"People aren't just looking for a job anymore. They're looking for purpose, safety, and a place they can be heard. HR leaders have the power to build that."

🎧 Tune in now to hear how courageous HR leadership can shape the culture, resilience, and future of healthcare organizations across the country.

From our sponsors...

Unlock Pharmacy Plan Potential!

Your employees expect top-tier medical benefits, like comprehensive care access. But how can you balance these expectations against rising costs, across your full benefits portfolio? Did you know that hospital employees fill 25% more prescriptions each year than other industries? How can you tell if all those prescriptions were needed, or if you could have had significant cost savings by filling at your own hospital pharmacies?

Contact RxBenefits today to learn more: https://rxbene.fit/3ZaurZN

Simplify screening, credentialing & compliance with oneBADGEhealthcare from ISB Global. Built for healthcare HR leaders. Learn more & get started here: https://isbglobalservices.com/onebadgeunitedstates/ashhra/

Support the show