Welcome back to Relocalizing Health, the podcast where we delve into how communities across America are taking back control of their healthcare from corporate interests and transforming it into a force for genuine wellbeing and economic vitality. I’m your host, Dave Chase.

In today’s episode, we bring you a truly inspiring story of healthcare transformation, not spearheaded by a hospital exec, a government official, or a tech disruptor, but by an independent benefits advisor from Ohio who decided enough was enough. Bryce Heinbaugh joins us to share his journey, which began with a professional crisis of conscience after realizing how much money was being siphoned out of his community by a broken healthcare system.

Bryce opens up about his pivotal moment at a Health Rosetta conference, the challenges of being a change agent, and how he helped move Ashtabula City Schools from the brink of financial crisis to building a $7 million healthcare reserve. We’ll explore the practical steps he took to rebuild the local healthcare ecosystem, from partnering with direct primary care physicians and community pharmacists, to negotiating direct contracts with high-quality providers, even in a so-called “medical desert.”

Alongside Bryce, we’ll dig into the blueprint that empowered not just schools, but also local governments and private employers, to save millions while improving care for their people. We’ll discuss the national implications of this approach, the predictable pushback from entrenched interests, and why fostering local collaboration among advisors, clinicians, and civic leaders is crucial for lasting change.

If you’ve ever wondered how healthcare could become an economic engine rather than a drain, or what it takes to shift from Wall Street-driven models to community-owned health plans, this is the episode for you. Stick around for actionable insights, hard-earned wisdom, and a hopeful look at what’s possible when communities work together to reclaim their healthcare destiny.

Timestamps:

00:00 "Revolutionizing U.S. Healthcare Costs"

04:52 Epiphany of a Benefits Broker

07:07 Healthcare Innovation Journey

12:24 Community-Focused Healthcare Solution

17:02 "Leveraging Major Employers for Community Initiatives"

18:07 Analyzing Healthcare Spending Data

22:59 Orthopedic and Imaging Expansion Success

25:59 Healthcare Reform Sparks Local Controversy

29:52 "Decentralizing Healthcare from Wall Street"

31:49 Cut Out Middleman, Save on Prescriptions

37:16 "Zero-Cost Healthcare Impact on Communities"

38:44 Economic Impact of Healthcare Savings

43:35 "COHP Scorecard Assessment"

48:33 Space Collaboration Insights

49:44 Revolutionizing Healthcare Access

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/

Welcome to another episode of Relocalizing Health, the show where we explore inspiring stories of communities reclaiming healthcare and reshaping the system to serve people, not profit. In today’s episode, host Dave Chase takes us to Ashtabula County, Ohio, a region that transformed itself from a “medical desert” into a beacon of hope for what healthcare can look like when it’s community-powered and people-centered.

You’ll hear from three courageous local healthcare leaders: Dr. Brad Schneider, a primary care physician who broke out of the hospital “hamster wheel” to offer direct primary care; Maria Fowler, owner of one of the last independent pharmacies in town, standing strong against corporate chains and unfair pharmacy benefit managers; and Casey Billington, a nurse who helped co-found a revolutionary nurse navigation service that ensures every call is met with a real human; no AI, no runaround.

Together, they reveal the staggering ways in which their community-owned health plan is not only saving millions of dollars for local schools and governments, but also restoring compassion and genuine relationships in care. Through their candid stories, you’ll get a front-row seat to the “mafia-like” challenges of the current system, the heartbreak of patients forced to fundraise for life-saving treatments, and the joy of finally making the system work for the people it’s supposed to serve.

If you’re a civic leader, clinician, or anyone hungry for proof that healthcare can be both better and more affordable, this episode is packed with hope, practical strategies, and a vision of a future where community truly comes first. Let’s dive in!

Timestamps:

00:00 Relocalizing Health: Community Care Revolution

05:45 Rising Patient Load Challenges Doctor

08:01 Burnout as a Family Doctor

11:34 Challenges in Primary Care Access

14:04 Pharmacy System Challenges and Closures

20:10 Barriers to Healthcare Access

23:22 Transition to Direct Primary Care

26:39 Rapid Orthopedic Access Service

30:35 Delayed Doctor Appointment Crisis

34:10 Revolutionizing Healthcare Access & Savings

36:31 Advocating Self-Insurance for All Employers

40:48 Healthcare's Role in Retention & Recruitment

43:26 Direct Primary Care Revolution

46:37 Rethink Healthcare Deserts

51:26 Community-Oriented Business Models Discussed

54:08 Flexible Healthcare Model Success

57:12 Gratitude for Healthcare Professionals

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/

Welcome to Relocalizing Health, the podcast where we dive into how local communities can reclaim their healthcare dollars and shape healthier, more vibrant futures. In this episode, host Dave Chase sits down with the ever-insightful Esther Dyson - investor, writer, and founder of the 10-year Wellville project, for a deep conversation about what it really takes to create lasting health at the community level.

Kicking things off, Esther challenges us with a provocative comparison: we do a better job maintaining our cars than our own bodies. She and Dave explore why the true challenge in healthcare isn’t just about lowering costs, but making healthcare itself less necessary through prevention and social connection.

Esther shares the inside story of Wellville, reflecting on lessons learned from working far beyond the “tech fix” mindset and instead focusing on trust, social fabric, and local leadership. They discuss the importance of making “new mistakes,” the pitfalls of short-term thinking in both healthcare and corporate America, and how employers can - and do - become powerful agents for community well-being.

Together, Esther and Dave dig into everything from the power of data and the need for long-term investment, to the complicated dance between local action and national systems. Listen in for practical wisdom, hard-earned insights, and a dose of optimism about ways we can rebuild a healthier society from the ground up.

Timestamps:

00:00 "Reclaiming Healthcare Dollars Locally"

06:10 "Health X Prize Proposal"

09:32 Building Trust: A Decade's Insight

11:47 Collaborative Catalyst Metaphor

14:37 Preventive Healthcare Innovation

17:22 "Short-Term Focus Hurts Healthcare"

21:07 Transforming Community Through Health Initiatives

23:48 "Restoring Humanity in a Gig Economy"

28:55 Employer Healthcare Data Challenges

33:26 Healthcare Economy Dynamics

34:19 "Relocalizing Health Gratitude"

Learn More:

RosettaFest 2025 - https://rosettafest.org/

Health Rosetta - http://healthrosetta.org/

Nautilus - https://www.nautilushealth.org/

Kynexions - https://kynexions.com/

Dave Chase - https://www.linkedin.com/in/chasedave/

Podcast Website - https://relocalizinghealth.com/