Pharmacy Podcast Network

This episode looks at some smart ways to regulate pharmacy when it comes to med spas and pop-up clinics — ways that won’t cut patients off from their meds. We also look at the latest news on the thyroid-extract front, what’s happening with peptide compounding, and a bill in California that could bode well for pharmacists nationwide.Then we talk with Kristen Jones, PharmD, from Pharmacists Mutual about how insurance companies view compounding, and why compounders are taking a bigger risk than they might realize if they’re compounding peptides.Pharmacists Mutual: https://pmuw.comJoin APC: a4pc.org/joinStay up to date on these topics and more at: a4pc.org/news

Welcome to the 2026 Cencora ThoughtSpot Rewind, sponsored by Outcomes!
 
In this special 4-part series we get a deep look into the event that took place this year in Orlando Florida. The Pharmacy Podcast Network was embedded into the Outcomes booth where we caught all the action on the show room floor. To learn more about what Outcomes is doing for pharmacies, visit https://www.outcomes.com/
 
In this episode hosted by Todd Eury, Founder and CEO of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, we hear from:
 
Scott Lake - Rx.co
Kaley Lester - Outcomes
Nicholas Turos - Cencora
Janet Parrish - Adair Drug; Colombia, KY
Kaushal Patel - Apollo Pharmacy; Savannah, GA
Bianca Bradshaw - Elmore Pharmacy; Red Bluff, CA
Zackary Levine - Cencora

Growing your pharmacy doesn't always mean finding new patients. It can also mean making the most of the ones you already serve. In this episode, we're joined by our partners AxeRx and Scriptly to share proven strategies for increasing revenue through stronger patient engagement, expanded services, and smarter use of technology to streamline workflows and free up valuable staff time. Tune in for practical insights you can start putting into action today.
 

The PBM Reform Podcast, sponsored by APCI, welcomes John Vinson, PharmD, Chief Executive Officer of the Arkansas Pharmacists Association, for a timely conversation with host Greg Reybold about the management of the TRICARE pharmacy benefit.
 
Express Scripts administers pharmacy benefits for TRICARE, the Department of Defense healthcare program serving more than 9 million active-duty service members, military retirees, and family members. In fiscal year 2023 alone, TRICARE spent more than $8 billion on prescription medications.
 
Greg and John examine concerns surrounding Express Scripts’ administration of the program, including shrinking pharmacy networks, reduced patient choice, questionable contractor reporting, specialty-drug delivery oversight, and the consequences for independent and rural pharmacies.
 
A 2025 Government Accountability Office investigation found that:
 
TRICARE’s minimum network requirement fell from 50,000 to 35,000 pharmacies.
The network had approximately 13,165 fewer pharmacies in late 2024 than in late 2022.
An estimated 380,000 beneficiaries may have been forced to find another pharmacy.
The Defense Health Agency relied heavily on contractor-submitted reports that contained inaccuracies.
DHA had not consistently audited the data used to evaluate beneficiary access.
GAO’s two corrective recommendations remain open as of August 2026, although DHA has begun adding reporting and auditing requirements.
 
The episode also addresses higher 2026 prescription copayments. For most non-active-duty beneficiaries, home-delivery copays are now $14 for generic formulary drugs, $44 for brand-name drugs, and $85 for non-formulary medications. At retail network pharmacies, the corresponding 30-day copays are $16, $48, and $85.
 
Greg and John discuss whether PBM-driven network reductions represent true savings—or simply transfer costs, inconvenience, and access barriers to military families and the community pharmacies serving them.
 
Key discussion points
Express Scripts’ role in administering the TRICARE pharmacy benefit
Pharmacy network contraction and beneficiary disruption
Access challenges facing rural communities and military families
Inaccurate contractor data and insufficient federal oversight
Specialty-pharmacy delivery and monitoring concerns
Rising 2026 copayments and pressure toward mail order
Arkansas’ leadership in challenging PBM vertical integration
The need for transparency, accountability, adequate reimbursement, and patient choice
 
Important clarification: TRICARE is administered by the Department of Defense and is distinct from healthcare and pharmacy services operated by the Department of Veterans Affairs.
 
Sponsored by APCI — American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc.
 
Sources: U.S. Government Accountability Office, TRICARE’s 2026 pharmacy-benefit update, official 2026–2027 pharmacy costs.

Independent pharmacies need partners they can trust—and patients need a prescription-drug system that puts access ahead of profits.
In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, Todd Eury welcomes Rick Seipp, PharmD, President of Value Drug Company, to discuss the importance of choosing a dependable wholesale distribution partner. Following Smith Drug Company’s announced operational transition, Value Drug Company is prepared to help affected independent pharmacy owners evaluate their purchasing, distribution and operational needs while developing an orderly transition that protects continuity of service.
For more than 90 years, pharmacist-led Value Drug Company has supported community pharmacies through transparent pricing, dependable distribution, collective purchasing power and programs designed to improve efficiency, growth and profitability. Rick explains how the company will provide transition assistance and regional gatherings where pharmacy owners can speak directly with Value Drug Company leadership.
The episode also features a follow-up conversation with patient advocate Bil Schmidtknecht about the continuing fight for Cole’s Act. Named in memory of Bil’s son, Cole, the proposed reforms seek to protect patients from unexpected formulary and coverage changes that can suddenly make essential medications unaffordable.
“Patients can’t afford more delays, and lives should never be collateral damage in a profit-driven system,” Bil says. The discussion examines PBM accountability, medication affordability and why families must receive meaningful notice before coverage changes place lifesaving treatments beyond their reach.
TWIRx News: Week Ending August 14, 2026
Employers Are Moving Away from the “Big Three” PBMs
A new employer survey points to growing disruption in the PBM marketplace. Forty-six percent of surveyed employers reported using a PBM outside CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and Optum Rx—up from 37% the previous year. Employers are increasingly seeking transparent pricing, access to claims data and greater control over prescription-drug spending.
Read the Axios report
FDA Delays Major iPLEDGE Changes Until November
The FDA has postponed implementation of updated iPLEDGE REMS requirements from August 8 to November 15, 2026, to allow additional system testing. The forthcoming changes are intended to reduce burdens on patients, pharmacists and prescribers while maintaining safeguards surrounding isotretinoin.
Read the FDA iPLEDGE update
 
Episode Resources
Value Drug Company transition-support announcement
Value Drug Company transition assistance: 1-866-226-1772
Patient Protector
Modern Medical Mafia: PBM Reform
Pharmacy Podcast Network
About the Guests
Rick Seipp, PharmDPresident, Value Drug Company
Bil SchmidtknechtPatient advocate and father of Cole Schmidtknecht
 

Welcome to the 2026 Cencora ThoughtSpot Rewind, sponsored by Outcomes!
 
In this special 4-part series we get a deep look into the event that took place this year in Orlando Florida. The Pharmacy Podcast Network was embedded into the Outcomes booth where we caught all the action on the show room floor. To learn more about what Outcomes is doing for pharmacies, visit https://www.outcomes.com/
 
In this episode hosted by Todd Eury, Founder and CEO of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, we hear from:
Ross Frei - Outcomes
Ana Jimenez - Farmacia Las Americas, West Palm Beach, FL
Todd Pendergraft - Broken Arrow Family Drug APA, Broken Arrow, OK
Justin Erro - Medzoomer
Nick DeSouza - Outcomes
Jevic Dunn - Outcomes

In the first episode of this three-part CurifyLabs Podcast Series, we provide a broad overview of the CurifyLabs platform and its role in modernizing personalized medicine and pharmaceutical compounding. The discussion explores how the platform combines digital workflows, automated production technology, and standardized processes to help pharmacies and healthcare organizations improve efficiency, consistency, quality, and scalability.
 
Listeners will learn how CurifyLabs supports the preparation of customized medications while helping pharmacy teams reduce manual complexity, strengthen documentation, and expand access to patient-specific therapies. This opening episode establishes the foundation for the series and examines how technology can help transform the future of pharmaceutical compounding.

This was one of the most special podcast episodes I’ve recorded todate, especially since it was the first time it was recorded LIVE! Wegathered for GALILEA's Gathering — an intimate evening that broughttogether clinicians, researchers, founders, and facilitators for areal conversation about the future of women's health. I had theprivilege of recording a live interview with neuropharmacologist andGALILEA creator Stephanie Karzon right there in the room, surroundedby people who are genuinely building something newA core focus of our conversation was mapping out why hormones and lifestages are important to factor into female care and why they'reespecially needed for the psychedelic experience, from a biochemicalperspective and for the lived experience.A psychedelic-informed lens in women's care has now becomenon-negotiable; since clients will likely explore these medicines withor without capable practitioners willing to guide them. And let’s faceit, current pharmacotherapy isn't enough. Identity and spiritualitymatter in clinical practice. We need to bring hormone and cycleawareness into practice, as well as the relationship between estrogen,serotonin, glutamate, and psychedelic medicine.Stephanie Karzon Abrams is a clinical neuropharmacologist, founder ofBeyond Consulting—powering the integrative and psychedelic medicinespaces by bridging emerging research with clinical practice, anddesigning clinics and healing centers from the ground up.She serves as Clinical Director at Mystic Health, is an associatedprescriber of MDMA and psilocybin therapy under Canada’s SAP, and isthe Research Director at the Microdosing Collective non profit.Stephanie believes in the undercurrent of joy and authenticity woveninto the fabric of our existence, and thus creates talks and workshopswhere the human experience is explored through the lenses of science,culture, and celebration.With experience in neurology, intensive care, and medical devices atJohnson & Johnson, she is a recognized leader in innovativehealthcare. Her work bridges neuroscience, women’s health, plantmedicine, and the healing power of music. A musician, writer, andspeaker, Stephanie also builds community through gatherings rooted inmusic and meaning through her label Public Secret.Connect with Stephanie via:Email: stephaniekarzon@gmail.comWebsite: Beyond Consulting, Stephanie Karzon Abrams, Galilea HealthIG: @steph__k, @galileahealthLinked In: Beyond ConsultingWhatsApp: galileahealth.communityYouTube: Stephanie Karzon AbramsGift: Womens Health Toolkithttps://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1eiNj8zAaHlPK3CZPLdqh2QInmDrGbCQ2?usp=drive_linkVisit https://marinabuksov.com for more holistic content.Music from https://www.purple-planet.com.Disclaimer: Statements herein have not been evaluated by the Food andDrug Administration. Products listed are not intended to diagnose,treat, cure, or prevent any diseases.

In this episode of the NASP Podcast, Sheila Arquette, R.Ph., President & CEO of the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP), sits down with Dr. Caroline Girardeau, PharmD, MBA, PMP, BCPS, Pharmacy Program Director at the Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), to explore the evolving specialty pharmacy accreditation landscape.
Together, they discuss the scope and value of comprehensive specialty pharmacy accreditation, examining how rigorous accreditation standards help improve patient safety, clinical outcomes, operational excellence, and the overall quality of care. They also highlight how specialty pharmacies can leverage accreditation as more than a requirement for participation in payer or limited distribution networks, using it as a strategic framework to drive continuous quality improvement, strengthen operations, and elevate the patient experience.

What happens when patients living with chronic pain do not have a pain pharmacist on their healthcare team?
In this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we explore the hidden clinical, emotional, and financial costs of managing pain without a pharmacist trained in pain management. These pharmacists do far more than review medications—they serve as accessible patient advocates, medication experts, care coordinators, and trusted partners for people navigating the complexities of chronic pain.
Segment One: Pharmacists Are the Secret Weapon in Pain Management
Special guest host Dr. Sing Ping Chow, PharmD, BCPMP, is joined by Dr. Matthew Hermenau, PharmD, BCPMP, CPh, NBC-HWC, CPT, for an important discussion about pharmacist-led pain management.
Together, they examine how pain pharmacists can:
Identify medication-related risks and opportunities to improve therapy
Help patients balance pain relief, function, safety, and quality of life
Collaborate with prescribers and other members of the healthcare team
Support individualized, evidence-informed treatment plans
Educate and empower patients living with chronic pain
Advocate for patients whose concerns may otherwise go unheard
Address the whole person—not simply a diagnosis or pain score
The conversation reinforces a powerful message: pharmacists are one of healthcare’s most underused resources in chronic pain care. When a pain pharmacist is part of the team, patients gain a knowledgeable advocate who understands medications, listens to their lived experiences, and helps them pursue safer and more effective care.
Remembering Dr. Jeffrey Fudin
This episode includes a special tribute to the late Dr. Jeffrey Fudin, PharmD, widely regarded as pharmacy’s godfather of pharmacist-led pain management.
Dr. Fudin was a pioneering clinician, educator, author, mentor, and tireless advocate for the meaningful inclusion of pharmacists in pain care. His work challenged conventional thinking, elevated the role of the pharmacist, and helped build a path for future generations of pain-management specialists.
His influence continues through the pharmacists he mentored, the patients he championed, and the profession he inspired. We honor Dr. Fudin’s legacy and his unwavering belief that people living with pain deserve informed, compassionate, and individualized care.
Segment Two: The Nation’s Best Hospital Systems
In the second segment, we welcome Chelsey Wen, Senior Health Data Analyst with U.S. News & World Report, to discuss the newly released 2026–2027 Best Hospitals rankings.
Chelsey explains how U.S. News evaluates hospital performance and how patients and families can use the findings when making healthcare decisions. The latest assessment evaluated nearly 4,500 hospitals across 14 adult specialties and 23 procedures and conditions. It places increased emphasis on patient outcomes and introduces regional specialty rankings designed to help patients locate complex care closer to home. Explore the 2026–2027 Best Hospitals announcement.
link:
https://health.usnews.com/best-hospitals
Topics include:
What it means for a hospital to be nationally ranked or rated “High Performing”
The clinical data and patient outcomes considered in the evaluation
Changes to the 2026–2027 rankings and methodology
The importance of regional rankings and access to specialized care
How patients should interpret hospital rankings when choosing where to receive care
Sponsored By
Today’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy is brought to you by First Databank and Outcomes, pharmacy-technology organizations supporting safer, smarter, and more connected healthcare.

Welcome to SuiteCast, a new podcast sponsored by SuiteRx Pharmacy Technology Platforms, exploring the strategies, technologies, and leadership practices helping pharmacies improve performance, expand patient care, and build sustainable revenue.
 
In this episode, we speak with Betsy P. Reynolds, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy Consulting and Partner at Method Healthcare, and Rodney Whittington, CEO and Partner at Method Healthcare.
 
Betsy and Rodney discuss how pharmacy leaders can identify operational inefficiencies, strengthen internal workflows, and develop clinical care programs that support both better patient outcomes and business growth. The conversation also examines new revenue opportunities within long-term care, geriatric pharmacy services, and pharmacy consulting.
 
Listeners will hear practical insights on evaluating current pharmacy operations, implementing scalable clinical programs, improving staff productivity, and aligning technology with the pharmacy’s strategic goals.
 
Key Discussion Topics
Identifying and correcting operational inefficiencies
Building sustainable clinical care programs
Creating new revenue through pharmacy consulting services
Expanding into long-term care and geriatric pharmacy
Improving workflow, staffing, and organizational performance
Using pharmacy technology to support growth and patient care
Preparing pharmacies for changing reimbursement and service models
Featured Guests
 
Betsy P. Reynolds, PharmDDirector of Pharmacy Consulting and PartnerMethod Healthcarebreynolds@methodhc.com
 
Betsy Reynolds is an experienced pharmacy consultant who helps organizations improve pharmacy operations, develop clinical services, and implement strategies that strengthen financial and patient-care performance.
 
Rodney WhittingtonCEO and PartnerMethod Healthcare
 
Rodney Whittington provides strategic leadership and operational expertise to healthcare organizations seeking to improve performance, expand services, and develop sustainable models for growth.
 
Learn more about Method Healthcare at methodhc.com.
 
About SuiteCast
 
SuiteCast, sponsored by SuiteRx Pharmacy Technology Platforms, features pharmacy leaders, technology innovators, and industry experts discussing the tools and strategies shaping the future of pharmacy operations and clinical care.

Vaccines are a key part of an independent pharmacy and clinic's business, but many owners may not be aware of purchasing options, savings opportunities, and ways to maximize their impact. In this episode, Amanda from Vaccine Connect joins us to share insights on all things vaccines, including tips for optimizing your vaccine program and marketing immunizations year-round—not just during flu season.

In this episode of Insights Beyond the Counter, hosts Shane Hallengren and Amit Patel unpack the rapidly evolving world of health risk assessments (HRAs) and social determinants of health (SDOH) across Medicaid and Medicare. Fresh off the Medicaid Innovations Forum, Amit shares insights from health plan leaders navigating a post–Public Health Emergency landscape defined by redeterminations, workforce shortages, and persistent challenges with member contactability. Shane reflects on his years supporting Medicare performance programs and draws parallels between the two sectors—especially around how HRAs have shifted from simple “check‑the‑box” tasks to powerful tools that uncover transportation barriers, food insecurity, medication access challenges, utility instability, and more. Together, they explore:
Why SDOH data is only valuable when it leads to meaningful action
How community pharmacies—as trusted, accessible care touchpoints—are uniquely positioned to conduct sensitive assessments
The growing importance of rural health transformation and how pharmacies can close engagement and adherence gaps
How Outcomes is supporting pharmacies with technology, workflows, and scalable programs that enable efficient, person-to-person care
What the future may hold as Medicaid and Medicare strategies continue to evolve
If you’re passionate about healthcare innovation, population health, or the expanding role of pharmacy, this conversation is packed with real-world insights you won’t want to miss.

This is part 2 of my interview with George Wiseman, where we discuss Brown’s Gas in applications such as Fuel Saving, Torch-Fuel Gas and Radioactive Neutralization (Part 1 all about the health benefits here).We explore how Brown’s Gas:1. neutralizes radioactive waste right at the reactor, 
2. can literally make precious stones and metals from rocks, 
3. reduces carbon-fuel consumption by 25% or better,
4. helps make your OWN torch-fuel, 
5. helps plants grow up to 10x FASTER,6. can make Deuterium Depleted Water
,7. helps bodies heal from virtually every ailment known to man, 
8. helps wounds heal 3x faster,9. optimizes health and performance, 
AND best of all…this technology can be made using WATER in your OWN HOME! 

George Wiseman is an inventor, engineer, and founder of Eagle-Research, best known for his decades of work developing Brown’s Gas technology for both energy and emerging wellness applications. Raised as a rancher’s son in a remote, off-grid environment, George learned early how to build, repair, and survive with limited resources, which influenced his lifelong commitment to practical and reliable innovation.After leaving the ranch in the late 1970s, he pursued a path in alternative energy and automotive systems, eventually specializing in fuel efficiency and combustion technologies. In the 1980s, he began developing Brown’s Gas systems that could significantly improve fuel economy and even replace traditional torch gases at a fraction of the cost.Over time, George’s work took an unexpected turn as customers began reporting potential health-related effects from the technology—something he initially dismissed. Years later, after personally experimenting with the applications and witnessing growing anecdotal results, he shifted his focus toward exploring its broader potential and developed his at-home device, AquaCure.This mission became deeply personal following the loss of his wife after a long battle with Lupus, which intensified his commitment to sharing what he had learned. Today, George is driven by a singular goal: to make his technology accessible to as many people as possible.Connect with George via:Email: wiseman@eagle-research.comWebsite: https://eagle-research.com/, https://www.aquacure.life/FB: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100054308450085IG: https://www.instagram.com/georgewiseman1984/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/george-wiseman-53969814/X: https://x.com/Eagle_ResearchYT: https://www.youtube.com/@ecopegasus

PBM Reform PodcastSponsored by American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI)Host: Greg ReyboldSpecial Guest: Ben Mudd, PharmD, Executive Director, Kentucky Pharmacists Association
 
Momentum for meaningful pharmacy benefit manager reform is building in Washington.
 
In this episode of the PBM Reform Podcast, host Greg Reybold welcomes Dr. Ben Mudd, Executive Director of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association, to examine the bipartisan Pharmacists Fight Back Act, H.R. 6610, and what its advancement could mean for patients, pharmacists, employers, and the future of independent pharmacy.
 
On July 22, 2026, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform reported the legislation favorably following a committee markup. Introduced by Chairman James Comer of Kentucky and Representative Jake Auchincloss of Massachusetts, the bill would establish new requirements for pharmacy benefit managers participating in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
 
The proposed reforms would require participating PBMs to provide fair pharmacy reimbursement, apply manufacturer rebates toward reducing beneficiaries’ prescription drug costs, prohibit patient steering to PBM-affiliated pharmacies, increase transparency, and establish penalties for noncompliance.
 
Greg and Ben discuss why the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program could become an important proving ground for broader PBM accountability and how federal action may influence commercial plans, state legislation, and future healthcare policy.
 
Episode Discussion
 
The conversation explores:
 
Why H.R. 6610 has attracted bipartisan support
How PBM reimbursement practices threaten independent pharmacy sustainability
The impact of patient steering and PBM-affiliated pharmacy networks
Why manufacturer rebates should directly reduce patients’ prescription costs
What “fair reimbursement” must include to protect pharmacy access
How enforcement provisions and financial penalties could improve accountability
Kentucky’s role in advancing pharmacy and PBM reform
The connection between federal legislation and state-level advocacy
What pharmacists should communicate to legislators and patients
The remaining steps required before H.R. 6610 can become law
 
Dr. Mudd brings the perspective of a practicing community pharmacist and association executive who has worked extensively in pharmacy advocacy. A graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy, he practiced in both chain and independent pharmacy settings before assuming leadership of the Kentucky Pharmacists Association.
 
Ben is running for Kentucky State Senate position this November. Lear more about his platform and issues most important: https://www.votemudd.com/meet-ben
 
Key Takeaway
 
PBM reform is no longer simply an industry debate. It is a patient-access, healthcare-affordability, pharmacy-choice, and community-infrastructure issue.
 
The Pharmacists Fight Back Act represents a significant federal effort to separate PBM compensation from practices that may increase drug costs, restrict patient choice, and financially disadvantage independent pharmacies. The legislation’s advancement is an important milestone—but pharmacists must remain informed, engaged, and vocal as the bill moves through the legislative process.
 
Subscribe to the PBM Reform Podcast for continuing coverage of legislation, regulation, litigation, and advocacy shaping the future of pharmacy benefit management and community pharmacy.
 
The PBM Reform Podcast is sponsored by American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc., supporting independent pharmacies and advocating for a more transparent, competitive, and patient-centered prescription drug marketplace.

Psychedelics, hallucinogens, natural medicines, you name it, we’re covering it on this episode of the Pain Pod folks! We’ll chat through all types of psychedelics including LSD, MDMA, Psilocybin, DMT, and Ketamine and beyond. No trippin’ just learnin’!You’re not going to want to miss this one!Come one, come all, to the Pain Pod!!!Pain Guywww.painguy.us

The Independent Pharmacy Cooperative is partnering with Fullscript to help independent pharmacies expand their wellness offerings without adding inventory, storage costs, or fulfillment responsibilities.
 
Through the partnership, IPC members receive free access to Fullscript’s digital platform, featuring more than 375 trusted supplement brands. Pharmacies can recommend personalized wellness protocols, earn approximately 35% margins on online sales, and benefit from direct-to-patient shipping, automated refill reminders, and optional auto-ship services.
 
Fullscript manages product inventory, payment processing, and delivery, giving independent pharmacies a practical way to generate recurring revenue while supporting patient adherence and long-term wellness goals.
 
Guests:
 
Kelli - IPC
Christopher - FullScript
Shannon - IPC
Andrea - Pharmacy Owner
Emlah Tubuo - Pharmacy Owner

In this episode, host Jon Grice takes a candid and timely look at the evolving role of Medication Therapy Management (MTM) in community pharmacy. Jon raises an important question: Are pharmacists missing a critical opportunity hiding in plain sight?He explores why MTM remains essential—not just for patient care, but for the financial sustainability of today’s pharmacies. He discusses the shifting landscape where dispensing margins have eroded, clinical services have become the new value driver, and yet emotional and historical frustrations with payers may be holding some pharmacists back from embracing what’s next.Drawing on conversations with industry leaders and his own lived experience as an independent pharmacist, Jon challenges listeners to re‑examine assumptions, recognize cognitive biases, and reconnect with the shared goals of insurers, pharmacies, and patients.Whether you're a chain pharmacist, an independent owner, or someone trying to understand the future of clinical care, this episode offers a grounded, honest look at where MTM stands—and where it needs to go next.

Chris Antypas, PharmD and President of Asti’s South Hills Pharmacy in Pittsburg, PA, along with his partners are launching Medesto Heath.  This totally new type of technology will allow pharmacist to combine prescription data, lab results, clinical notes and other health metrics and determine if the medications a patient is taking are actually working.  This is way more than adherence and MTM.  It is a totally new paradigm for pharmacy care.  Antypas is joined by Robyn Amberg who has known Antypas for several years and proposed this podcast. 
 

Independent pharmacies are facing growing reimbursement uncertainty, especially when dispensing high-cost brand medications such as GLP-1 therapies. In this exclusive Pharmacy Podcast Network special feature, we examine how GoodRx Community Link provides independent pharmacies with predictable pricing and favorable economics across both brand and generic medications, ultimately helping pharmacies remain solvent while providing consumers affordable prescription prices.
 
Todd Eury is joined by David Graziano, Head of Retail Network at GoodRx, and Tom DePietro, independent pharmacy owner at DePietro’s Pharmacy, for a practical discussion about the pressures affecting independent pharmacy and the need for reimbursement models that support  pharmacy viability.
The conversation explores how Community Link supports brand medications through manufacturer-funded savings that flow back to the pharmacy through GoodRx, while the manufacturer covers the administrative fee. For generic medications, the program uses a NADAC-based cost-plus model intended to provide clearer visibility into reimbursement.
Listeners will also hear how independent pharmacies are impacted by rising deductibles, prior authorizations, narrow formularies, cash-pay growth, and increased competition. David and Tom discuss the importance of transparent pricing, digital engagement, streamlined fulfillment, personalized patient care, and sustainable economics for local pharmacies.
Key discussion points include:
The financial risk of dispensing high-cost brand medications like GLP-1s
Predictable reimbursement for brands and generics
The role of manufacturer-funded savings for brand medications
NADAC-based cost-plus pricing for generics
Pharmacy access to GLP-1 cash-pay programs
Competing through service, technology, and patient relationships
Protecting local healthcare access through independent pharmacy
Explore how GoodRx Community Link can bring greater transparency and predictability to brand and generic dispensing, helping independent pharmacies serve patients sustainably and with confidence.
Featured Guests:
David Graziano — Head of Retail Network, GoodRx
Tom DePietro — Independent Pharmacy Owner, DePietro’s Pharmacy
Host:
Todd Eury — Founder, Pharmacy Podcast Network
Visit goodrx.com/CommunityLink to learn more
GoodRx is NOT insurance.