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.

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

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

Rick Seipp, PharmD

Bil 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 to

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.

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:

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.

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.

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:

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.

Betsy P. Reynolds, PharmD

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 Whittington

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.

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:

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).