The Framework Already Exists. The Question Is Whether Anyone Will Use It

SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Rezul -- Ninety percent of health system markets in the United States are now classified as highly concentrated. The providers own the market, and they know it. Price signals do not work when one system controls the landscape. Market forces, left alone, will not fix what market failure built.

Peter Hayes spent more than 25 years navigating that reality from the buyer's side. As Director of Associate Health and Wellness at Hannaford Supermarkets, he managed one of New England's largest self-insured benefit plans before serving as President and CEO of the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, appointed by two governors to Health Care Reform Commissions. He no longer believes the market can solve this.

He sat down with host Vincent Catalano on the CLEARly Beneficial Podcast, released Tuesday, June 2, 2026.

More on Rezul News

• Guide Helps Homebuyers and Sellers Understand How Solar Panels Impact RE
• K2 Integrity Names Michael Kallabat Global Head of Investigations and Disputes
• Socialhose Eyes Southeast Asia and Rejects the Copy-Paste Expansion Playbook
• $40 Billion Global Market Value by 2030 Projected in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle or Other Drone Technology Sector, Growing at 9.2% Compound Annual Growth
• West Buckhead Luxury Estate Now Offered at $5.5 Million After $500,000 Price Reduction

What It Would Actually Take

Hayes came with a concrete agenda: rate caps on hospital growth, population-based health payments, a halt to vertical integration, and state-level regulatory action. Washington, he argued, is too compromised to lead.

"We have allowed so much vertical integration and it's too big to fail. Market forces will not work because 90% of health system markets are highly concentrated. They own the market."

This episode covered: why market forces have failed; rate caps and population-based payment models; the Consolidated Appropriations Act and plan sponsor liability; the 340B drug program and how an $82 billion revenue stream lost its public purpose; tax-exempt hospital status; and broker compensation reform.

The Wall Street Journal Called the Next Day

After an employee's knee replacement failed three times, became infected, and cost the plan over a million dollars, Hayes restructured the benefit. Employees who traveled to Singapore - where the procedure ran $10,000 with a one-year warranty - received full coverage, including travel for a significant other.

More on Rezul News

• Atlanta Luxury Expert Says Privacy Is Luxury Real Estate's New Status Symbol
• Tax Lien and Deed Group, LLC Announces Launch of Specialized Real Estate Investment Fund
• Andrew-Thomas Contractors Expands Local Fencing Resources with New Highlands Ranch Service Page
• Ian Black Real Estate hires building engineer
• Afiwi Capital Launches Co‑GP, Venture & Capital Stack Platform for Workforce Housing in OH, FL, GA

"The Wall Street Journal picked up the article. The next day I got calls from hospitals all across America." A Maine hospital asked to match the standards. They did.

When the Healthcare Purchaser Alliance of Maine, representing 60 percent of commercial lives in the state, began waiving cost-sharing for Leapfrog A or B rated facilities, Maine went from one of the most unsafe hospital markets in the country to national recognition for safety.

"Employers are getting sick of paying premiums at the level they're paying," Catalano added. "That cannot go to $2,000 a single in the next five years. I don't know where the revolt starts, but it will start."

Tune In to the Podcast

• Substack - https://clearlybeneficialpodcast.substack.com
• YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@CLEARlyBeneficialPodcast