Value Health Voices

PBMs: They Make More When You Spend More: Inside the PBM Business Model (VHV fundamentals episode)


Listen Later

One of America's largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) just announced they'll stop taking rebates from drug manufacturers. The Senate's response? "Not impressed."

Why? Because rebates are just one of five profit driving "tricks" PBMs use to quietly inflate your drug costs.

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Paravati breaks down the real money flow behind prescription drug pricing, how a system designed to reduce costs does the exact opposite

You'll learn:

  • The 7-player money map that explains where every healthcare dollar really goes

  • The 5 PBM "tricks" that turn generics into goldmines

  • How "spread pricing" means employers (and ultimately you) pay huge markups on actual drug cost

  • Why regulatory capture keeps this system legal

  • And why this reform moment in Washington matters right now

If you're an employer, benefits consultant, or policymaker, this episode will change how you see pharmacy costs forever.

If you're a patient, you'll finally understand why your prescriptions keep getting more expensive.

Because every dollar diverted to middlemen is a dollar not going to care, wages, or innovation.

🎧 Listen now to understand the role PBMs have played to drive annual healthcare spend in the US to a ridiculous $4 trillion.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Value Health VoicesBy Dr. Amar Rewari and Dr. Anthony Paravati

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

5 ratings


More shows like Value Health Voices

View all
Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,078 Listeners

Planet Money by NPR

Planet Money

30,768 Listeners

WSJ What’s News by The Wall Street Journal

WSJ What’s News

4,346 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,218 Listeners

White Coat Investor Podcast by Dr. Jim Dahle of the White Coat Investor

White Coat Investor Podcast

2,441 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,250 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,677 Listeners

What the Health? From KFF Health News by KFF Health News

What the Health? From KFF Health News

493 Listeners

The Peter Attia Drive by Peter Attia, MD

The Peter Attia Drive

8,555 Listeners

The Journal. by The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

The Journal.

6,060 Listeners

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg by All-In Podcast, LLC

All-In with Chamath, Jason, Sacks & Friedberg

10,020 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

29,218 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,942 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,623 Listeners

Honestly with Bari Weiss by The Free Press

Honestly with Bari Weiss

8,792 Listeners