If James Bond worked as a benefits advisor, you can bet reference-based pricing would be among his arsenal of secret weapons. (Photo: Shutterstock)

In the James Bond series of movies, 007 always had a secret weapon to get him out of a jam. Whether portrayed by Sean Connery, Pierce Brosnan or Daniel Craig, the debonair spy accomplished his mission with style and innovation every time.

Today, employers are looking for the same type of innovation and forward thinking to solve their seemingly impossible mission: stemming rising health care costs. Reference-based pricing (RBP) is one of the most impactful tools to help accomplish this lofty goal.

Attendees of the 2019 BenefitsPRO Expo in Miami are leaders in their respective markets looking to shatter the status quo with innovative programs like RBP. Competitors who cast doubt on RBP are followers. They may fear the reaction of hospitals or question whether other clients have pursued this solution.

➤➤ Be sure to attend Lester J. Morales' Education Track session, “RBP 2.0: An advisor's secret weapon” April 3 at 4:15 p.m. at the 2019 BenefitsPRO Broker Expo.

Most advisors believe that they are innovative, but their actions might indicate otherwise. Innovation requires serious commitments beyond lip service.