Welcome to Relocalizing Health with Dave Chase. In this episode, we explore what happens when a clinical leader takes health care into their own hands for both their patients and their employees. We'll meet Tim Spooner, a physical therapist who, in 1990, opened a single clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona with the conviction that the right care, at the right time, can transform lives. Thirty-five years later, Tim leads Arizona's largest private PT practice, operates clinics across Arizona and Texas, and runs Solveglobal, a company that's reshaping how employers nationwide address musculoskeletal health.
But Tim's story doesn't stop with clinical excellence. Frustrated by skyrocketing premiums, opaque data, and decreasing reimbursements, he set out to redesign his company's health plan from the ground up. In the process, he redirected money typically lost to the old system back into his people, offering benefits like tuition reimbursement, direct primary care memberships, and robust musculoskeletal solutions. His efforts not only earned national recognition but also inspired other PT practices to follow suit.
Today, we'll dive into Tim's journey of leadership and innovation, the challenges he faced, and how his blueprint for change is empowering others to reclaim health care, making it more transparent, effective, and people-focused. Stay tuned as we learn what it truly means to "walk the talk" in health care and why the proof is in the room.
Timestamps:
00:00 How Tim Spooner got started
03:28 Discovering rising healthcare costs
08:06 High hospital markup example
13:14 Regenerative medicine success stories
15:36 Proactive healthcare and early intervention
19:57 Challenges for healthcare professionals
22:48 Transitioning to self-insured healthcare
24:12 Leadership and driving results
26:59 Medical costs and MRI findings
30:43 Navigating healthcare payment models
36:11 Closing advice for key audiences
36:49 Partnering with clinical practice leaders
Transforming Employee Health Plans: Insights from Tim Spooner on Relocalizing Health
How Healthcare Waste Led to a Radical Shift
In the latest episode of Relocalizing Health, host Dave Chase sits down with Arizona’s largest private physical therapy practice owner Tim Spooner, to uncover what happened when a clinical leader took charge of his company's health plan. Tim Spooner shares how the same insurance company that was raising his premiums was simultaneously cutting his reimbursement, creating an unsustainable business model. Some increases reached up to 30 percent, costing several hundred thousand dollars and threatening to bankrupt PT companies.
When Tim Spooner tried to get data explaining these premium hikes, he received little to no information. As a data-driven clinician and scientist, this lack of transparency was a breaking point. Tim Spooner realized the payers were operating as intermediaries, with only a fraction of healthcare dollars reaching the actual care providers.
Transparent, Self-Insured Health Plans for Lasting Impact
Armed with new understanding and support from Health Rosetta advisors, Tim Spooner led his organization to leave the traditional insurance path. He implemented a self-insured plan with reference-based pricing, transparent pharmacy benefits, and access to direct primary care. New employees now become better medical consumers with thorough onboarding, a dedicated benefits coordinator, and ongoing education.
Key services such as medical, musculoskeletal, and behavioral health are free for employees, removing barriers to essential care. The plan encourages use of direct primary care and musculoskeletal solutions, creating a safety net that quickly addresses serious health needs when they arise.
Investing Savings Back into Employees
Since leaving the traditional system, Tim Spooner has reinvested those “wasted” healthcare dollars back into his people. Initiatives now include student tuition reimbursement, expanded health benefits, and even support for other PT organizations to walk a similar path. The results show up in countless stories, like employees with kidney stones or knee wounds avoiding expensive ER visits through direct primary care interventions.
By catching musculoskeletal issues early and prioritizing conservative care, the practice prevents chronic pain and unnecessary surgeries, saving even more on claims costs. Employees report easier access to care, less time off work, and greater satisfaction with their benefits.
Collaborating to Change Healthcare for All
A strong culture of sharing best practices is a key driver in Tim Spooner's network. By connecting PT practice CEOs across regions, they leverage collective knowledge to tackle rising insurance costs and remove administrative barriers. Peer-to-peer discussions help others transition from traditional plans to tailored self-insured options, supported by transparent strategies and data-driven solutions.
Moreover, Tim Spooner encourages clinical leaders to act as civic leaders. Involvement in economic development boards and collaboration with business and government stakeholders help shape not just organizational health strategies, but also community well-being.
Lessons for Clinical Practice Owners, Civic Leaders, and Advisors
This episode highlights several lessons. For clinical practice owners, treat your health plan like a first patient and regularly diagnose its health for quality and waste. For civic leaders and benefit advisors, partnering with clinical organizations can drive true healthcare value and community impact.
Lastly, Tim Spooner and Dave Chase emphasize leadership as the driving force behind lasting change. Employers with the courage and vision to innovate see dramatic improvements in plan quality, employee satisfaction, and cost control.
Join the Movement
Ready to see these solutions firsthand or connect with leaders making change? Relocalizing Health invites you to join the next Rosetta Fest in Nashville, where the proof and the tools to transform healthcare are available to all. As Dave Chase reminds listeners, you need permission from no one to begin your journey. The future of value-driven, employee-centered healthcare is happening now.
Solveglobal - https://www.solveglobal.com/
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/