The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

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   Number 1: The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge: Access, Affordability & the Pharmacist’s Role | TWIRx

   TWIRx NEWS 1. Medicare Part D Paid Nearly $588 Million for Ineligible OTC Drugs A federal audit found that Medicare Part D sponsors made approximately $587.7 million in ineligible payments from 2021 through 2023 for medications that had effectively transitioned from prescription to over-the-counter status. The HHS Office of Inspector General cited outdated FDA information and the lack of a clear CMS rejection timeline as major contributors. Why it matters: This exposes a serious coordination problem across FDA data, manufacturers, CMS, health plans and pharmacy claims systems. Pharmacists may see the rejection or payment issue at the counter, but the failure often begins far upstream. Read the Fierce Healthcare report Read the HHS-OIG audit 2. FDA Responds to Estradiol Patch Supply Pressure The FDA is working with six manufacturers to improve access to estradiol transdermal patches amid increased demand. While FDA has not declared a national shortage, availability varies by product, strength and geographic area. Manufacturers are increasing production through larger batches, added shifts and expanded capacity. Why it matters: Pharmacists are again serving as the front line of a supply-chain challenge—helping patients locate medication, coordinating with prescribers and identifying alternatives. Read the Reuters report Read the FDA update 3. New RSV and COVID-19 Guidance Released The American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have issued updated recommendations for RSV and COVID-19 protection during the 2026–2027 respiratory season. Why it matters: Pharmacists may face conflicting recommendations, patient confusion and questions about eligibility. Clear counseling and coordination with pediatric and obstetric providers will be critical. Read the Pharmacy Times report SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM OUTCOMES A special update from Megan Urban and Outcomes. Outcomes is highlighting new enhancements to its Rx30 pharmacy management platform, including a refreshed user experience, automated data-entry capabilities and support from a dedicated Client Success Team. The program will explore how these updates can streamline pharmacy workflows, save time and support greater focus on patient care. Presented by: Dalia Rios and Kaley Lester September 9, 2026 — 1:30 p.m. ET Register here FEATURED CONVERSATION Building a Bridge to GLP-1 Access Our featured guest is HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, PharmD, RPh, Senior Pharmacy Director at Buzz Health. HaVy works at the intersection of pharmacy, healthcare technology, medication affordability and prescription access. Buzz Health operates platforms including BuzzRx, RxCompare and RxAffect, with a focus on helping connect patients, pharmacies, prescribers and prescription pricing information. That makes today’s discussion particularly timely. THE MEDICARE GLP-1 BRIDGE CMS launched the Medicare GLP-1 Bridge on July 1, 2026, to provide eligible Medicare Part D beneficiaries access to selected GLP-1 medications for weight management. The demonstration runs through December 31, 2027. Eligible beneficiaries pay $50 for a monthly supply, while the program operates outside the traditional Part D payment flow through centralized prior authorization, claims adjudication and pharmacy payment. Eligible therapies currently include: Foundayo® Wegovy® Zepbound® The bigger issue is not simply GLP-1 coverage. It is how healthcare connects eligibility, affordability, prior authorization, pharmacy workflow and patient access. The central question for today’s discussion: Can we create a medication-access system where patients know whether they can obtain and afford their therapy before they reach the pharmacy counter? CLOSING THOUGHT The Medicare GLP-1 Bridge is more than another federal drug program. It is a real-world test of how healthcare can better connect coverage, affordability, prior authorization and pharmacy fulfillment around high-demand therapies. Pharmacists remain at the center of that process. The opportunity is to use technology to move more complexity upstream—allowing pharmacists to spend less time troubleshooting prescriptions and more time caring for patients. Our thanks to HaVy Ngo-Hamilton, PharmD, RPh, Senior Pharmacy Director at Buzz Health, for joining us on This Week in Pharmacy. Learn more about the CMS Medicare GLP-1 Bridge Learn more about Buzz Health TWIRx — This Week in Pharmacy Pharmacy Podcast Network Amplifying the Voice of Pharmacy.

   September 04, 2026·39min
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   Number 2: Iowa’s PBM Reform Breakthrough: Inside Senate File 383 | PBM Reform with APCI

   Guest: Iowa State Representative Brett Barker, PharmD — District 51 Guest Host: Todd S. Eury, Pharmacy Podcast Network Regular Host: Greg Reybold — on special assignment Sponsored by: American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI) Iowa has delivered one of the most significant state-level victories in the continuing fight for pharmacy benefit manager reform. On this episode of the PBM Reform Podcast, guest host Todd S. Eury sits down with Iowa State Representative Brett Barker, PharmD, a practicing pharmacist and representative of Iowa House District 51, for an inside look at the passage of Senate File 383 and what the new law could mean for independent pharmacies, employers, patients and the future of PBM regulation across the country. Representative Barker brings a rare perspective to the discussion. In addition to serving in the Iowa Legislature, he is a pharmacist and pharmacy executive who understands firsthand the financial pressures facing community pharmacies. Barker served as one of the House floor managers for SF 383 as the legislation moved through the Iowa General Assembly. The legislation cleared the Iowa House by a 75–15 vote after previously passing the Senate 36–14. Governor Kim Reynolds signed SF 383 into law on June 11, 2025, and its primary provisions became effective July 1, 2025. SF 383 establishes substantial new requirements governing pharmacy benefit managers and their relationships with pharmacies, health plans and other payors. Among its provisions, the law addresses PBM reimbursement practices, pharmacy contracting, pass-through pricing, pharmacy appeals and disputes, network participation and protections intended to prevent discriminatory treatment of pharmacies. One of the central themes of the legislation is greater transparency and accountability surrounding the flow of prescription-drug dollars. The law defines and establishes requirements involving pass-through pricing, in which payments made by a third-party payor to a PBM for prescription drugs correspond to payments made to the dispensing pharmacy, including applicable professional dispensing fees. During the conversation, Todd and Representative Barker explore: Why PBM reform became such an urgent issue for Iowa pharmacists and patients. What community pharmacies were experiencing financially before SF 383. How pharmacists, pharmacy owners and advocacy organizations helped educate Iowa lawmakers. The political battle surrounding the legislation and what ultimately helped generate bipartisan support. Why PBM reimbursement methodology is central to pharmacy sustainability. The importance of giving pharmacies meaningful mechanisms to challenge reimbursement and contractual disputes. The role Representative Barker's pharmacy background played in explaining PBM economics to fellow legislators. The opposition lawmakers encountered while attempting to move PBM reform forward. What other states can learn from Iowa's strategy. Why pharmacists need greater representation inside state legislatures. Whether Iowa's legislation could become a model for broader PBM reform nationwide. Governor Reynolds described the legislation as an effort to bring greater accountability to PBMs and noted when signing the bill that Iowa was joining a growing number of states pursuing similar reforms. For independent community pharmacists, the Iowa experience demonstrates something increasingly important: PBM reform is no longer simply a pharmacy reimbursement debate. It is becoming a healthcare access, competition and patient-care issue being fought state by state. Representative Barker's story also highlights another major theme of the PBM Reform Podcast — the importance of pharmacists becoming directly engaged in public policy. When pharmacists bring their clinical knowledge, business experience and patient relationships into state government, they can help lawmakers understand how policies written hundreds of miles away ultimately affect whether a pharmacy can keep its doors open. Iowa's passage of SF 383 represents a major milestone in that movement. About Our Guest Brett Barker, PharmD, represents Iowa House District 51. He earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Iowa and has worked extensively in community pharmacy. His professional background gives him firsthand insight into pharmacy operations, prescription-drug reimbursement and the challenges facing independent pharmacies. About the PBM Reform Podcast The PBM Reform Podcast examines pharmacy benefit manager practices, prescription-drug economics, legislation and public policy affecting pharmacists, employers and patients across the United States. The program features pharmacists, policymakers, healthcare executives, legislators and advocacy leaders working to create greater transparency, accountability and competition within the prescription-drug marketplace. Sponsored by American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI). Guest Host: Todd S. Eury Regular Host: Greg Reybold — on special assignment Production: Pharmacy Podcast Network PBM Reform Podcast — following the legislation, the policymakers and the pharmacists fighting to change the prescription-drug marketplace.

   September 24, 2026·31min
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   Number 3: LIVE at RBC 2026 Episode Three | Cardinal Health™ CounterTalk™ Podcast

   Tune into a multi-episode recap of the Retail Business Conference (RBC) 2026, hosted by Corey Huckabey, Director of Customer Experience, and Semaki Corfias, Sr. Manager, Customer Care. Throughout this series, Corey and Semaki sit down with Cardinal Health leaders, industry experts, pharmacy owners, and solution specialists to discuss the trends, innovations, and opportunities transforming independent pharmacy. Hear exclusive conversations and actionable insights directly from the RBC 2026 show floor. Episode Breakdown • Inventory Optimization: Unlocking the Future of Inventory Management – Hear how pharmacy owner Jason Kizer implemented Inventory Optimization and his experience on the benefits of the program compared to Cardinal Health Inventory Optimization (CIM). • ContinuCare Pathway: Bridging the Gap in Diabetes Supplies – Learn how the ContinuCare Pathway Program can help pharmacies streamline access to Cardinal Health’s direct-to-patient DME provider for diabetes devices and supplies.

   September 23, 2026·1h 2min
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   Number 4: LIVE at RBC 2026 Episode One | Cardinal Health™ CounterTalk™ Podcast

   Tune in to a multi-episode recap of the Retail Business Conference (RBC) 2026, hosted by Corey Huckabey, Director of Customer Experience, and Semaki Corfias, Sr. Manager, Customer Care. Throughout this series, Corey and Semaki sit down with Cardinal Health leaders, industry experts, pharmacy owners, and solution specialists to discuss the trends, innovations, and opportunities transforming independent pharmacy. Hear exclusive conversations and actionable insights directly from the RBC 2026 show floor. Episode Breakdown • From Card to Counter Making Medicare Advantage OTC Benefits Work In Your Pharmacy – Discover how independent pharmacies can unlock the value of Medicare Advantage OTC benefits. Learn how pharmacies can strengthen patient relationships, drive front-end sales and growth within their pharmacy. • Strengthening Support for an Aging Population – Learn how AARP's HomeFit Guide helps individuals create safer, more accessible homes through practical home safety and accessibility strategies that support independence and aging in place.

   September 23, 2026·50min
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   Number 5: Winning Hearts, Minds, and Policy with Strategic Communications | PBM Reform

   Many pharmacy leaders focus on legislation and lobbying. Why is strategic communication on social media equally important?

   August 25, 2026·43min
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