"There needs to be a whole new suite of solutions that are forward looking and proactive and real time, and we gotta go and build that." - Sasha Gribov

My guest this week, Sasha Gribov, founder of Milu Health, is on a mission to build the proactive, forward-looking solutions our healthcare system desperately needs. He joins the show to discuss how he's using AI to create an "early warning system" for health, moving our model from reactive to proactive.

Sasha breaks down the Milu model, which uses AI to analyze health records and claims data in real-time. He explains how this allows his team to predict the need for surgeries an average of 90 days in advance and proactively reach out to members via text (no app required) to guide them to the right, high-value solutions already in their health plan.

We also explore the future of AI in healthcare, why he believes it will "augment" doctors, not replace them, and how this proactive approach is the key to saving lives and finally lowering costs for employers.

Tune in for a look into the future of proactive healthcare!

Chapters:

(00:00:00) How AI is Predicting Catastrophic Claims (Before They Happen)

(00:04:15) Why We Must Integrate All Health Data

(00:10:23) The "Early Warning System" for Patients

(00:12:40) Why EMRs are the Key to Proactive Care

(00:31:57) Predicting Surgeries 90 Days in Advance

(00:08:04) Will AI Replace Doctors?

(00:59:47) Building a Proactive Healthcare System

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen/watch on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/

If you'd like your question answered on next month's episode, call/text 469-213-6381 and leave us a voicemail/text.

Each month on Last Month In Healthcare, producer Nathaniel joins me to discuss the previous month's podcasts, headlines, and listener-submitted questions. This month, we’re also joined by Kyle Minick!

This episode is a bit different than usual as we focus on the many issues our physicians are dealing with in 2025, from AI to burnout to compensation. And we play a new game called the Commercial Conumdrum, where Kyle and I try to guess what drug a pharmaceutical commercial is advertising, just based on the B-Roll and editing of them.

Chapters:

0:00 - Intro

1:25 - What's Going On With Our Doctors?

1:37 - Physician Stress Returns To Pandemic Levels

6:56 - Half Of US Healthcare Workers Plan To Switch Jobs

14:31- Physicians Working More, Compensated Less

15:38 - AI Scribes Reduce Physician Burnout

19:29 - Millions In US Live Where There Is No Telehealth/Internet

23:22 - Commercial Conundrum (this month's game)

34:20 - Self-Funded Review

41:36 - Ask Spencer Anything

Sources:

• https://youtu.be/XqrWU-BkKYc?si=E18CcR6cck7WaLcP
• https://youtu.be/bzYetKHGEv4?si=HHTFjFs1ZkFJRfq8
• https://youtu.be/LFif-BTYzys?si=04Z8ilxSis7SxKwS
• https://youtu.be/7M5LTlzot4o?si=HjQfsikvBlRQ6gSO
• https://youtu.be/ecq1k3VmEtE?si=yrZTF64P1pF-Hbly
• https://kffhealthnews.org/news/article/dead-zone-sickest-counties-slow-internet-broadband-desert-health-care-provider-shortage/
• https://www.medpagetoday.com/publichealthpolicy/workforce/117530
• https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/over-half-us-healthcare-workers-plan-switch-jobs-by-next-year-survey-finds-2025-09-15/
• https://www.healthcaredive.com/news/physicians-working-more-reimbursement-falling-kaufman/757406/
• https://medicine.yale.edu/news-article/ai-scribes-reduce-physician-burnout-return-focus-to-the-patient/

“Just because someone hasn't gone to the doctor in four years does not mean they're not a walking time bomb." - Garrett Jerue

My guest this week, Garrett Jerue, argues that the key to solving our healthcare crisis is to think differently and build a truly cohesive healthcare ecosystem. Driven by his personal experience battling cancer and navigating a fragmented system, Garrett has dedicated his career to designing benefits strategies that actually work for people.

In this episode, Garrett shares his playbook for building this ecosystem. We discuss the "Ticket Health" model he developed, which integrates direct primary care, transparent PBM partnerships, and robust care navigation into a seamless experience. He explains why treating members with dignity and choice, focusing on proactive care, and challenging the status quo are essential ingredients for success.

We also dive into the critical importance of mental health support and why employers need to view their health plan not just as an expense, but as a living, breathing organism that requires constant care and innovation.

Tune in to get Garrett and I’s insight on building a healthcare ecosystem that truly serves people.

Chapters:

(00:00:00) Building A Cohesive Healthcare Ecosystem

(00:10:24) How a $600k Cancer Bill Changed Garrett’s Life

(00:17:22) Why Healthcare Financing Needs a Rethink

(00:25:28) Treating Members with Dignity & Choice

(00:38:11) The Keys to a Transparent PBM Partnership

(00:43:45) Direct Primary Care: The Foundation of the Ecosystem

(00:50:26) Care Navigation: The Glue That Holds It Together

(00:59:07) Making Mental Health a Priority in the Ecosystem

(01:12:32) The "Think Different" Mindset for Healthcare Innovation

Key Links for Social:

@SelfFunded on YouTube for video versions of the podcast and much more - https://www.youtube.com/@SelfFunded

Listen/watch on Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1TjmrMrkIj0qSmlwAIevKA?si=068a389925474f02

Listen on Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/self-funded-with-spencer/id1566182286

Follow Spencer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/spencer-smith-self-funded/

Follow Spencer on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/selffundedwithspencer/