Pharmacy Podcast Network

This Week in Pharmacy 04-10-2026 Sponsored by Outcomes and Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we dig into another high-impact week across the profession with TWIRx news, practice transformation, oncology leadership, pediatric research innovation, and a look ahead to one of specialty pharmacy’s biggest gatherings of the year. This week’s episode is powered by our sponsors, Outcomes and Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), organizations continuing to support independent pharmacy innovation, patient engagement, and pharmacy performance. In the TWIRx News segment, we cover four important stories shaping the national conversation in pharmacy. First, we discuss the federal fraud case involving a Dearborn Heights pharmacy owner who pleaded guilty in a $1.9 million health care fraud scheme. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Rabih Hamdan admitted to conspiring to submit false claims for prescription drugs that were either medically unnecessary or never actually dispensed, impacting Medicare, Medicaid, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Federal prosecutors say the fraudulent claims totaled at least $1.9 million over a five-year period. Next, we look at oncology pharmacy leadership through the lens of Amy Seung, who is stepping into the HOPA presidency during a period of rapid acceleration in cancer care. In Pharmacy Times, Seung describes a practice environment where new approvals, indications, toxicity data, and clinical questions are arriving weekly or even daily. She positions HOPA as a key bridge between emerging science and real-world implementation, with this year’s conference emphasizing bispecific therapies, real-world evidence, supportive care, and toxicity management. We also spotlight a powerful research update from the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, where professor David Drewry and student researchers are advancing work on diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), an aggressive pediatric brain cancer with limited treatment options and an average life expectancy of about one year after diagnosis. The team is using an open-science model to accelerate discovery while keeping future therapies more affordable, and they are working with M4K Pharma to advance an ALK2 inhibitor toward a Phase 1 clinical trial. Finally, we feature a practice transformation story from Drug Topics: Gregg Jones, MBA, RPh, made the leap from corporate pharmacy leadership to launching Compass Core Pharmacy, described as Rhode Island’s first cost-plus pharmacy model. The cash-only model focuses on generics, uses AI-driven ordering, serves a growing veterinary segment with more than 1,400 pet prescriptions, and operates as a CLIA-waived pharmacy offering point-of-care testing. It is a compelling example of how pharmacists are reengineering care delivery outside the traditional reimbursement framework. We are also getting ready for Asembia 2026 in Las Vegas, where the Pharmacy Podcast Network will once again provide press coverage with support from Clearway Health. You can find us at booth 1805, where we’ll be capturing conversations that matter across specialty pharmacy, access, patient support, innovation, and care delivery. Our first featured interview is with Nick Baird, Director of Marketing with Outcomes, where we will explore the growing role of pharmacy engagement, patient activation, and value creation in community-based care. Our second interview features Dr. Jen Hammons, PharmD, DrPH, with Health Wagon, a vital community healthcare organization dedicated to serving medically underserved patients through an expanding network of care. In 2024 alone, Health Wagon served 7,291 unique patients through 21,615 patient encounters, supported by five mobile health units, three stationary clinic sites, a dental clinic, a vision clinic, and a pharmacy. Known for hosting one of the nation’s largest health outreach efforts of its kind, Health Wagon continues to expand its impact through the dedication of staff, volunteers, trustees, partners, donors, and supporters. Join us as we connect the week’s top headlines to the broader transformation underway in pharmacy practice, policy, specialty care, and community health. To learn more, follow the Pharmacy Podcast Network and stay connected as we head into Asembia 2026.

In this episode of the NASP Podcast, Sheila Arquette, President & CEO of NASP, speaks with Linda Clark and Brad Gallagher, Co-Leaders of Barclay Damon’s Health Care Controversies and Pharmacy Teams. They explore the rapidly evolving Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) regulatory landscape and its impact on specialty pharmacies, offering key considerations for contracting and strategies to strengthen audit readiness and compliance. Linda and Brad also share practical guidance to help specialty pharmacies increasingly under pressure to manage their risk and position themselves for long-term success.

Independent pharmacists are facing increasing demands, and outdated payment processes add unnecessary friction. In this episode, Jason Callori speaks with Halston Prox, Founder and CEO of Tabz (formerly HealNow), and Cardinal Health Solution Manager Natalie Girardi about how modern payment technology is transforming independent pharmacies. The conversation highlights how Tabz helps streamline workflows, reduce payment friction, and enable faster compensation for pharmacists.

Mor Keshet, integrative eco-art therapist and founder of TEVEL, builds nature-based programs blending art therapy, trauma-informed psychology, and systems thinking. Conversation explores repairing human and more-than-human relationships. Topics include nature as co-therapist, ecological detachment and repair, practical rituals, and ethical approaches to psychedelics and regenerative care.

Conversations about expanding pharmacists' roles and reimagining what is possible in practice. Explorations of ambient AI for documentation, population insights, and enhancing patient counseling. Discussions on social media’s power for advocacy, comedy tours, and driving real-world change. Talks about union campaigns, state policy shifts like standard-of-care, and balancing professional priorities.

TWIRx – April 3, 2026 Co-Host: Jesse McCullough On today’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy – TWIRx, we welcome special co-host Jesse McCullough for a timely discussion focused on pharmacy innovation, compliance, advocacy, and the future of the profession. We begin with our featured sponsor segment presented by MatchRx, spotlighting two important voices in pharmacy technology and compliance. Johny Kello, CEO of MatchRx, joins the show alongside Riya Cao, CEO of LSPedia, for an important conversation centered on DSCSA readiness and the evolving world of pharmacy compliance. This discussion explores how pharmacies and supply chain stakeholders can better prepare for regulatory expectations, protect patients, and strengthen operational transparency through smarter compliance solutions. In the second half of the episode, we’re joined by Scott Brunner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC), for a recap of the Owner Summit 2026 and a look ahead at what’s developing on Capitol Hill. Scott shares insight into the policy landscape impacting pharmacy compounding, the priorities emerging from this year’s summit, and what pharmacy owners and industry leaders should be watching as legislative and regulatory conversations continue to evolve. This episode of TWIRx delivers a strong pulse on the profession—from compliance and interoperability to advocacy and the future of compounding pharmacy. Featured Guests: Johny Kello, CEO, MatchRx Riya Cao, CEO, LSPedia Scott Brunner, CEO, Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC) Episode Topics: DSCSA and pharmacy compliance Supply chain visibility and readiness MatchRx and LSPedia collaboration in pharmacy compliance Owner Summit 2026 recap Capitol Hill updates impacting pharmacy compounding The future of compounding and pharmacy advocacy Sponsored by: MatchRx DSCSA Compliance and Compounding Leadership | TWIRx 

On this episode of the PAIN POD, Mark Pain Guy Garofoli chats through the complexities of adjuvant pain medications including antidepressant and other medications from other medical condition treatment plans that overlap in mechanism with pain. Join the discussion right here, right now, on the Pain Pod. Come one, come all, to the Pain Pod!!!

I had an absolute blast sitting down with today’s unique guest, chatting on everything from seeking refuge, to exercise, to cancer, to cabbage (stick around to the end to get his amazing raw vegan cabbage recipe, you & your gut will thank me later). Jerzy Gregorek is a four-time World Weightlifting Champion, poet, and co-author of The Happy Body. He helps people reverse aging, regain strength, and restore flexibility through a program that blends mindful exercise, micro progression, and emotional eating intelligence. Jerzy’s mission is to show that it’s never too late to live a quality life, build vitality, peace of mind, and longevity. Jerzy’s journey has been anything but ordinary. After falling into darkness as a teenager, he became an alcoholic from age 15 to 18. Escaping that path shaped his understanding of resilience and personal responsibility. From there, he rebuilt his life - becoming a political exile in the USA, then a world champion weightlifter, and later a mentor, poet, and PhD student. His philosophy - “Hard Choices, Easy Life; Easy Choices, Hard Life” - comes from lived experience and years of guiding people through transformation. What sets Jerzy apart is his ability to integrate physical training, creative expression, and psychological insight into a holistic approach to health and resilience. He emphasizes that emotional intelligence is a crucial element in overcoming life’s adversities, and that it can be practiced, cultivated, and mastered.  His three books, titled The Happy Body: Mastering Food, Exercise, and Rest Choices, are designed to help people embrace this path of strength, wisdom, and balance. The poetry book The Happy Body: Food For Your Soul helps with emotional eating. The Happy Body Virtues: Daily Practices for the Modern Stoic helps with emotional eating and self-regulation, while I Got This: The Art of Getting Grit helps with integrating the stories that contribute to building the skill of living a good life. Jerzy has been featured on The Tim Ferriss Show, delivered a Google Talk, and spoken on numerous wellness and longevity podcasts. His work has helped thousands around the globe adopt a sustainable path to strength and wellbeing. Currently, Jerzy is pursuing a PhD in Humanistic Psychology at Saybrook University, focusing on creativity, innovation, and leadership.  Connect with Jerzy via: Email: jerzygregorek@gmail.com  Website: https://thehappybody.com/  X: https://x.com/thehappybody?lang=en  YT: https://www.youtube.com/user/thehappybody  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jerzy-gregorek-ab87475/ 

This episode is dedicated to the late Dr. Eric Geyer PharmD.  Feautured guest Chuck Melendi Disruptive Dialogue Special report from Bruce Kneeland Sponsored by TJM Labs and interview with Jonathan Adly This episode is sponsored by YARAL Pharma 

This podcast discussion with Paul Shelton zeroes in on a pivotal shift underway in community pharmacy: the expansion of Long-Term Care at Home (LTC@Home) as both a care model and a sustainable business opportunity. Shelton frames LTC@Home not as a reinvention of pharmacy practice, but as a formalization and monetization of services pharmacies are already delivering—medication synchronization, adherence packaging, clinical oversight, caregiver support, and coordination with providers. The core issue isn’t capability—it’s structure and reimbursement. Many community pharmacies are بالفعل functioning as LTC providers informally, but without the regulatory designation and billing pathways that unlock consistent revenue. A major theme in the conversation is conversion strategy. Shelton discusses how pharmacies can transition into LTC@Home providers by aligning operations with compliance standards, documentation requirements, and payer expectations. This includes setting up the right workflows, leveraging technology for med management and reporting, and ensuring staff are trained to operate within an LTC framework. Importantly, these conversions are not out of reach—they are highly achievable with the right guidance, and they allow pharmacies to immediately begin capturing value for existing services. The financial upside is significant. LTC@Home opens access to enhanced reimbursement models, service-based payments, and stronger payer relationships, especially within Medicare Advantage and managed care environments. Shelton emphasizes that pharmacies are leaving money on the table by not formalizing these services—and that LTC@Home is a direct path to correcting that. Strategically, this model positions community pharmacy at the center of aging-in-place healthcare, one of the fastest-growing segments in the industry. As more patients remain in their homes rather than institutional settings, pharmacies that adapt to LTC@Home will become essential care hubs—supporting not just medication dispensing, but ongoing clinical and logistical care. The takeaway is clear: LTC Pharmacy at Home is not just an opportunity—it’s a directional shift for the profession. Pharmacies that move early can differentiate, stabilize revenue, and deepen their role in patient care, while those that delay risk being left behind as the model becomes standard.