How can independent pharmacies thrive in a landscape dominated by consolidation and inequitable practices? In this episode, we explore the critical symbiosis between independent pharmacies and independent software providers. We’re joined by Kevin Minassian, President of Datascan Pharmacy Software, and Sarah Callioras, Datascan’s Vice President, to discuss the challenges facing the pharmacy sector and the power of supporting independent vendors.

From alarming trends like private equity buyouts of software providers to the parallels they share with PBM industry consolidation, our guests unpack how these practices are weakening the pharmacy industry. They passionately advocate for unity among independent pharmacies and vendors as the key to fighting back—and shine a light on federal legislation H.R. 9096 that could bring much-needed relief to everyone in pharmacy.

Special Guests: Kevin Minassian & Sarah Callioras, Datascan Pharmacy Software

Opening music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

This special episode of PBM on the Rocks is recorded live from Hell’s Kitchen, NYC, in honor of World AIDS Day. Join us as we tackle the critical issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, featuring enlightening conversations with our expert guests. Together, we dispel harmful myths, confront stigma, and shine a spotlight on the barriers to care created by the broken pharmacy benefit manager (PBM) system.

Key Topics Discussed

• Dispelling AIDS Myths: Breaking down the harmful stereotypes and misinformation that fuel stigma.
• Promoting HIV Care & Awareness: Exploring the importance of HIV prevention, treatment, and education for improving quality of life and community health.
• PBM Restrictions & Barriers: An inside look into how pharmacy benefit managers create insurmountable obstacles for patients in accessing affordable and timely care.
• The 340B Program Under Fire: Understanding how PBMs’ practices adversely impact one of the most crucial programs for supporting marginalized communities.

Special Guests: John Farina, AIDS Healthcare Foundation | Danny Dang, Pharmacists Society of the State of New York | Fareed Choudry, Pharmacist, AIDS Healthcare Foundation

Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join Lord Dr Jeremy and PUTT Executive Director Monique Whitney, as they host special guests Vinny Chiffy of FixRx & APCI political guru Greg Reybold to discuss how New York pharmacists paved the way for real talk about PBMs with their FixRx campaign, staying loud about PBM reform during a lame duck session, and how independent pharmacies have more political influence than they realize.

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Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join Lord Dr Jeremy and PUTT Executive Director Monique Whitney as they host a stream of pharmacy advocacy powerhouses at day 2 of the annual NCPA Conference

#pharmacy #pbmreform

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Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join Lord Dr Jeremy, PUTT Executive Director Monique Whitney, and an illustrious panel of NCPA convention guests as they discuss making headway in the fight for PBM reform, H.R. 9096, FixRx, and the upcoming documentary that may change the game.

#pharmacy #pbmreform

Opening music by JuliusH

Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join Lord Dr Jeremy as he broadcasts PBM on the Rocks live from the Independent Pharmacy Alliance Medicaid Reform event in East Rutherford, NJ

Special Guests: John Giampolo, Anthony Reznik, Heather Rodgers, Raj Shah, Brian Oliveira

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Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join Lord Dr Jeremy and the PUTT crew as they band together with patients, pharmacists, physicians, and other advocacy organizations to protest PBM abusive practices at Optum HQ in Eden Prairie, MN.

Special Guests: Mike Kolzer host of The Business of Pharmacy podcast, Bil Schmidtknect (@angrydadwi), Claudia Holley & Julie Baak from Arthritis Center STL, John Farina of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, Douglas Hoey CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Organization, and Matt Stoller of the American Economic Liberties Project

Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH, Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Protest Cocktail Menu:

• airplane bottles of Jameson
• Spotted Cow beer
• Sprinkler water (listen to find out how!)

Grab and drink & join this month's very special cocktail crew as they discuss the many reasons why this September's Friday the 13th protest at OptumRx is so important, and how raising your voice about the issues is crucial for advocating across the healthcare spectrum.

Special Guests: Angry Dad Bil Schmidtknecht (@angrydadwi), AIDS Healthcare Foundation's (@AIDShealthcare) John Farina, Independent Pharmacy Alliance's (@IPAPharmacies) Anthony Reznik, & Arthritis Center STL's (@ArthritisSTL) Claudia Holley

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Episode Cocktail Menu:

• Classic Old Fashioned
• High Noon
• Irish Whiskey in a glass (it's our host Lord Dr Jeremy - of course there's Irish whiskey)

Listen in as Lord Dr Jeremy and the PBM OTR cocktail crew host special guests Mike Koelzer, host of The Business of Pharmacy podcast, and Thu Nguyen, co-host of the podcast Hey Rx Friends We Got This

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Production by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join this month's PBM Reform cocktail crew as they discuss PBM exec lies during the recent Congressional hearing, the FTC Open Commission meeting, and why applying pressure at both the state and federal levels is so critical to getting real, enforceable reform across the finish line!

Special Guest, Massachusetts pharmacy owner, Joe Chammas

• Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH,
• Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard