Pharmacy Podcast Network

March 8th 2024: This Week in Pharmacy we talk 'Medical Science Liaisons' and #Pharmacists with the The Carolan Group -- Sarah Snyder PharmD and Tom Caravela! Our special correspondence coverage from Dr. Marci Strauss, PharmD, President of Maryland Pharmacists Association on State Associations and updates. On this Episode of #TWIRx we're reviewing the #PBMReform temperature heating up, #DrugShortages, the #CyberAttacks impact on #PublicHealth, and sending a 'Tweet' to Mark Cuban to say thank you for the amazing testimony to the #WhiteHouse Panel discussion on #pharmacy benefit managers. All this and a special thank you to YARAL Pharma for sponsoring today's TWIRx

This is the Pharmacy Podcast Network's press coverage special episode of the 2024 Pennsylvania Pharmacist Association's Annual Conference. The PPA 2024 was on February 2nd through 4th in Harrisburg. There was a record setting number of pharmacy student participants ready to learn about the future of pharmacy care in the Keystone State. The educational programming was stacked with some amazing pharmacist providers and the networking events connected pharmacy operators and academia with industry businesses supporting pharmacy care in Pennsylvania.    In this episode:  Mayank (Dr. Mak) Amin, PharmD, RPh, MBA  'Superman Pharmacist,'  Community Servant at Skippack Pharmacy Anthony Mahajan  Health Law Alliance  Chichi Ilonzo Momah, PharmD, CPGx   CEO & Founder  Springfield Pharmaceuticals LLC  & Springfield Pharmacy  Erich Cushey, PharmD Owner/Pharmacist at Curtis Pharmacy  Jena Quinn, PharmD, BCPPS  Perfecting Peds | Host 'Pediatric Pharmacist Review'  John DeJames  Manager of Clinical Services and Development Value Drug Company Jon Minkin  NimbleRx  The press coverage for the PPA 2024 is sponsored by PrimeRx the Powerful Pharmacy Management Software That Works Hard So You Don’t Have To and we'd also like to thank RxSafe for sponsoring the PPN's press coverage.  Check out PrimeRx.io and visit RxSafe.com

How Integrated Care Produces Superior Outcomes: Rheumatoid Arthritis This is the third segment of our four-part series outlining how the Shields Health Solutions integrated care model generates superior clinical outcomes in various complex disease states, anchored by Jennifer Donovan, PharmD, VP of Clinical Services at Shields Health Solutions. This week, we also spoke with Anthony Morelli, PharmD, BCGP, CSP, Clinical Pharmacist at Shields Health Solutions to address how Shields partners set themselves apart in Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) care. Jennifer Donovan, PharmD - Vice President of Clinical Services at Shields Health Solutions and Anthony Morelli, PharmD, BCGP, CSP - Clinical Pharmacist at Shields Health Solutions

We're excited to welcome back Congressmen Buddy Carter, with the 1st District of Georgia. Breck L. Rice with ServRx hosts this special PBM Reform Podcast episode.  Understanding PBM's Role At the core of this complex narrative are the PBMs, entities that have long operated in the shadows of healthcare, negotiating drug prices, and managing prescription drug benefits. They are the unseen intermediaries among health insurance companies, Medicare Part D plans, and employers, wielding significant influence over what drugs are covered and at what price. The call for reform has been fuelled by concerns that PBMs contribute to skyrocketing drug prices through opaque pricing schemes and rebates, with critics arguing for measures to enhance competition, transparency, and ultimately reduce costs for consumers. Yet, as the recent Congressional delay demonstrates, the path to reform is fraught with complexity. A Delayed Decision: Implications and Insights The postponement of PBM reform legislation reflects more than just a legislative stalemate; it underscores the significant challenges in balancing competing interests within the healthcare sector.  While the delay may be seen as a setback by advocates of reform, it also highlights the difficulties in enacting changes in a highly regulated and interconnected industry. The momentum for reform, as evidenced by the support from 39 state attorneys general and ongoing investigations by federal agencies, suggests that this issue remains at the forefront of healthcare policy debates. The coalition of state AGs, along with proposed bills aimed at increasing transparency and regulatory oversight, signal a continued push for legislative solutions. Looking Ahead: The Future of PBM Reform Despite the current pause, the conversation around PBM reform is far from over.   The landscape is marked by a blend of cautious optimism and unresolved tensions, with stakeholders closely watching how future legislative efforts will unfold. The need for reform is clear, with calls for greater transparency, fair pricing, and increased competition echoing across the healthcare industry. As the debate continues, it remains to be seen how Congress will navigate these complex issues and what impact future actions will have on drug costs, patient access, and the overall healthcare system.   What is clear, however, is that the path forward requires a delicate balancing act, one that reconciles the need for innovation and efficiency with the imperative of ensuring equitable access to medications for all Americans.   Written by Anthony Raphael author at Medriva

Anthony V. Minniti, RPh FACA joins the PPN on the PBM Reform Podcast to talk about why the PBMs, in their current state need to be removed from pharmacy care. As drug prices soar, the White House is taking action by hosting a pivotal listening session on Monday, aiming to dissect and potentially reform the practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). This roundtable will unite federal representatives and industry insiders, including Mark Cuban of Cost Plus Drug Company, to scrutinize PBMs' roles in shaping drug coverage and pricing. The focus is on the opaque dealings of PBMs, which many argue contribute to inflated costs for both consumers and the broader healthcare system. Shocking revelations unveil steep markups by the leading #PBM affecting West Virginia's public employees. The mail-order pharmacy owned by the PBM has been reimbursed as much as 100 times more than other pharmacies for specialty medications. This concerning pattern underscores the urgent need for increased transparency and accountability measures for #PBMs.  Pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) reform has emerged as a bipartisan priority in a divided Congress, as both Republicans and Democrats have advanced a myriad of bills that would begin to address PBMs, their lack of transparency, and misalignment of the market. At the same time, lobbyists that represent large PBMs continue to argue that drug companies (not integrated PBMs) are to blame for high employer or patient costs.

There is good news for pharmacy owners and in this episode we hear from two experts who are helping to bring much needed revenue to pharmacies.  And, what's even better the payments are coming from the medical side of the insurance industry, not the pharmacy side.   Jeff Harrell, PharmD., and CEO of Cascadia Pharmacies is joined by Tara Pfund, PharmD with AssureRx.  They talk about the success Harrell is having working with payers to perform clinical services and be compensated.

During this episode of the NASP Podcast, Sheila Arquette, President & CEO of NASP, chats about A.I. in Specialty Pharmacy with Carl Mazzanti, Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies, Microsoft’s four-time Partner of the Year and one of the premier IT consulting services for businesses throughout the New York metropolitan area and internationally.  Sheila Arquette, President & CEO of NASP, Carl Mazzanti, Co-Founder and President of eMazzanti Technologies

 I still can’t believe we’re already on season 7 of the podcast - marking 7 years! And I also can’t wait to introduce my next guest, who I personally got the honor to know as a human and student in my herbal practitioner program.  Heather Hardin received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Florida in 2005 and is a Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Specialist. After working as a community pharmacist, Dr. Hardin became a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Florida College of Pharmacy from 2010 to 2018. Heather currently owns her own health and wellness company, Halo Health Services, where she helps clients find more natural ways to address the root causes of their health concerns, decreasing dependence on prescription medications. She works to identify and address the root cause of conditions instead of merely treating the symptoms.  Heather teaches yoga, leads meditations, and sells her own CBD products. She also hosts two vodcasts/podcasts: “Pharmacists Out of the Box” and “Nurture Your Soul.” I’m beyond proud and grateful to feature this beautiful soul! Connect with Heather Hardin via: Email: heather.hardin45@gmail.com  Website: HaloHealth.com  FB: Heather Carroll Hardin  IG: @pharmie_gal Linked In: Heather Hardin 15% off first purchase of Halo Health CBD using coupon code "Marina" at checkout (www.HaloHealthCBD.com)

Dr. Sheila Carroll is a board-certified pediatrician and obesity medicine physician who is dedicated to helping children achieve their best health. She does this by working exclusively with parents who are willing to focus on modifying their own behaviors to ultimately improve their child's health.  CONNECT WITH DR. SHEILA CARROLL (https://calendly.com/scarrollmd/coaching) Schedule a free 30 min strategy session to identify one problem the parent is facing in trying to help their child and work on solving it by gaining clarity next steps. Host: Tamar K. Lawful, PharmD, APH, CNGS Guest: Sheila Carroll, MD

YARAL Pharma, Inc., which launched in 2022, is the U.S. generics subsidiary of IBSA, a long-standing, fully integrated, multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Lugano, Switzerland. Yaral is committed to providing high-quality products across a range of therapeutic areas, ensuring continuity of supply, and offering affordable authorized generics and complex generic medicines.     Order here:  https://yaralpharma.com/diclofenac/