Dear Pharmacists:

Who’s driving this "so called" innovation in Pharmacy? We talk about advanced  technology, more efficient healthcare delivery, transparent payment models, and better wellness results.

Our U.S. based healthcare landscape is at an inflection point. 

PBM Reform is coming & will combine with other trends to accelerate change in the next 2 to 3 years.

Two overarching issues are on the minds of healthcare providers: the evolving reimbursement landscape and changes in the healthcare delivery model.

The thought leaders in healthcare will help dismantle the status-quo separated methods of patient care and build a solid future of collaborative medicine.

Pharmacist's must be part of this change and take action NOW!! 

Contact Ken Sternfeld - the Concierge Pharmacist

[email protected] 

From: by Brian Burgess 

A new Florida study, released last week, found that major health care companies using pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s) have positioned themselves to pocket millions of dollars from the state’s Medicaid system that were intended to lower costs for millions of low-income Floridians. The study found that despite processing less than half of one percent of all pharmacy claims, specialty pharmacies affiliated with PBM’s managed to collect 28 percent of the available profit margin from dispensing prescription drugs.

The study was commissioned by the Florida Pharmacy Association and American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. using data obtained from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) by the Small Business Pharmacies Aligned for Reform.  Smaller pharmacy operators say the report proves that larger, vertically integrated companies that use PBM’s are using “predatory” business practices that short-circuit the free market.

State lawmakers expressed alarm at the news and underscored the need for greater transparency and oversight when it comes to PBMs’ role in Florida, particularly regarding situations where PBM’s and managed care companies own the pharmacies where they direct patients.

“Markets fail when markets get corrupted and that is what has happened here. When the middleman is allowed to own the end-retailer then the middlemen’s incentive to manage cost appropriately for the benefit of the chain is broken,” said State Representative Randy Fine at a press conference to discuss the study.

https://thecapitolist.com/study-finds-millions-in-medicaid-unfairly-pocketed-by-pharmacy-benefit-managers/ 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dear Pharmacists:

Who’s driving this "so called" innovation in Pharmacy? We talk about advanced  technology, more efficient healthcare delivery, transparent payment models, and better wellness results.

Our U.S. based healthcare landscape is at an inflection point. 

PBM Reform is coming & will combine with other trends to accelerate change in the next 2 to 3 years.

Two overarching issues are on the minds of healthcare providers: the evolving reimbursement landscape and changes in the healthcare delivery model.

The thought leaders in healthcare will help dismantle the status-quo separated methods of patient care and build a solid future of collaborative medicine.

Pharmacist's must be part of this change and take action NOW!! 

Contact Ken Sternfeld - the Concierge Pharmacist

[email protected] 

From: by Brian Burgess 

A new Florida study, released last week, found that major health care companies using pharmacy benefit managers (PBM’s) have positioned themselves to pocket millions of dollars from the state’s Medicaid system that were intended to lower costs for millions of low-income Floridians. The study found that despite processing less than half of one percent of all pharmacy claims, specialty pharmacies affiliated with PBM’s managed to collect 28 percent of the available profit margin from dispensing prescription drugs.

The study was commissioned by the Florida Pharmacy Association and American Pharmacy Cooperative Inc. using data obtained from Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) by the Small Business Pharmacies Aligned for Reform.  Smaller pharmacy operators say the report proves that larger, vertically integrated companies that use PBM’s are using “predatory” business practices that short-circuit the free market.

State lawmakers expressed alarm at the news and underscored the need for greater transparency and oversight when it comes to PBMs’ role in Florida, particularly regarding situations where PBM’s and managed care companies own the pharmacies where they direct patients.

“Markets fail when markets get corrupted and that is what has happened here. When the middleman is allowed to own the end-retailer then the middlemen’s incentive to manage cost appropriately for the benefit of the chain is broken,” said State Representative Randy Fine at a press conference to discuss the study.

https://thecapitolist.com/study-finds-millions-in-medicaid-unfairly-pocketed-by-pharmacy-benefit-managers/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(February 13, 2020 at 1:00p.m.)

LOCAL PHARMACY HOSTS NEWS CONFERENCE WITH PATIENTS TO DEMAND FLORIDA DRUG PRICING REFORM

PBM Reform Podcast Series: 

https://omny.fm/shows/pharmacy-podcast-network/playlists/pbmreform 

OKEECHOBEE,FLORIDA (02/13/2020) –Okeechobee Discount Drugs is hosting a press conference to call attention to the IMMEDIATE need for drug pricing reform in Florida, citing information from a new report recently released by 3 Axis Advisors, a data consultancy firm specializing in Medicaid claims analysis. The report, entitled “Sunshine in the Black Box of Pharmacy Benefits Management” is a comprehensive Florida Medicaid claims analysis that examined five years’ worth of Medicaid pharmacy data claims - more than 350 million deidentified claims obtained through the state’s “Sunshine Law”.

“We can no longer stand by and watch our patients and our state continue to be price gouged and played by these giant corporations whose first allegiance is to their shareholders,” said Steven Nelson, RPH and owner at Okeechobee Discount Drugs. “We - healthcare providers and our patients - have to take action if no one else will. We have to stand up and say we’re unwilling to watch our state healthcare system continue to be gamed by corporate analysts whose sole job is looking for loopholes to exploit. The fight is now personal.”

The Florida Medicaid claims analysis report uncovered several findings including differential drug pricing for the same medication at pharmacies that are very often within walking distance of each other; pricing certain medications very high relative to the acquisition costs, creating incentives for certain pharmacies to over-dispense the drugs; systematic patient steering to managed care organization (MCO) and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM)-owned or affiliated pharmacies, especially for higher-cost “specialty” medications typically prescribed for chronic diseases including cancer;  and a system that ensures MCO- and PBM-owned/affiliated pharmacies receive the benefit of Florida’s $12 billion annual Medicaid spend.

"As a patient, my biggest concern every month is being able to afford my medications. As a Florida resident and taxpayer I’m upset that a publicly held corporation would think it could just come to our state and take advantage of us like that. We’re not accountants, we’re just everyday people who rely on the system to help us, not to exploit us,” said Brenda Fortner, a longtime resident of Okeechobee.

“We need to do more than just give lip service to the pricing and access issues that are currently running rampant here in Florida,” said Steven Nelson, RPH at Okeechobee Discount Drugs. “Too many patients and small business pharmacies have been harmed already. Legislators need to take swift action now.”

CONTACT: Stacey Nelson

Email: Stacey @ okeedrug.com

Phone Number: 561.632.6033

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(February 13, 2020 at 1:00p.m.)

LOCAL PHARMACY HOSTS NEWS CONFERENCE WITH PATIENTS TO DEMAND FLORIDA DRUG PRICING REFORM

PBM Reform Podcast Series: 

https://omny.fm/shows/pharmacy-podcast-network/playlists/pbmreform 

OKEECHOBEE,FLORIDA (02/13/2020) –Okeechobee Discount Drugs is hosting a press conference to call attention to the IMMEDIATE need for drug pricing reform in Florida, citing information from a new report recently released by 3 Axis Advisors, a data consultancy firm specializing in Medicaid claims analysis. The report, entitled “Sunshine in the Black Box of Pharmacy Benefits Management” is a comprehensive Florida Medicaid claims analysis that examined five years’ worth of Medicaid pharmacy data claims - more than 350 million deidentified claims obtained through the state’s “Sunshine Law”.

“We can no longer stand by and watch our patients and our state continue to be price gouged and played by these giant corporations whose first allegiance is to their shareholders,” said Steven Nelson, RPH and owner at Okeechobee Discount Drugs. “We - healthcare providers and our patients - have to take action if no one else will. We have to stand up and say we’re unwilling to watch our state healthcare system continue to be gamed by corporate analysts whose sole job is looking for loopholes to exploit. The fight is now personal.”

The Florida Medicaid claims analysis report uncovered several findings including differential drug pricing for the same medication at pharmacies that are very often within walking distance of each other; pricing certain medications very high relative to the acquisition costs, creating incentives for certain pharmacies to over-dispense the drugs; systematic patient steering to managed care organization (MCO) and pharmacy benefit manager (PBM)-owned or affiliated pharmacies, especially for higher-cost “specialty” medications typically prescribed for chronic diseases including cancer;  and a system that ensures MCO- and PBM-owned/affiliated pharmacies receive the benefit of Florida’s $12 billion annual Medicaid spend.

"As a patient, my biggest concern every month is being able to afford my medications. As a Florida resident and taxpayer I’m upset that a publicly held corporation would think it could just come to our state and take advantage of us like that. We’re not accountants, we’re just everyday people who rely on the system to help us, not to exploit us,” said Brenda Fortner, a longtime resident of Okeechobee.

“We need to do more than just give lip service to the pricing and access issues that are currently running rampant here in Florida,” said Steven Nelson, RPH at Okeechobee Discount Drugs. “Too many patients and small business pharmacies have been harmed already. Legislators need to take swift action now.”

CONTACT: Stacey Nelson

Email: Stacey @ okeedrug.com

Phone Number: 561.632.6033

Special Guest: 

Alan McGill - Senior Supervisory Special Agent

Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office 

How to Safely Dispose of Unused or Expired Medicine

The best way to dispose of most types* of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately.

The Rx Destroyer is a great alternative solution to avoid polluting water supplies and public disposal of personal medication.  End users can find this product at any Walgreens nationwide. Intermittently add your unwanted medication and dispose in common trash when the bottle is filled.

*Check out the Medication Disposal Q&A for more information including how to dispose of needles and syringes.

GET More Information here:

http://rxdestroyer.com/pharmacypodcastnetwork

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special Guest: 

Alan McGill - Senior Supervisory Special Agent

Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office 

How to Safely Dispose of Unused or Expired Medicine

The best way to dispose of most types* of old, unused, unwanted, or expired medicines (both prescription and over the counter) is to drop off the medicine at a drug take back site, location, or program immediately.

The Rx Destroyer is a great alternative solution to avoid polluting water supplies and public disposal of personal medication.  End users can find this product at any Walgreens nationwide. Intermittently add your unwanted medication and dispose in common trash when the bottle is filled.

*Check out the Medication Disposal Q&A for more information including how to dispose of needles and syringes.

GET More Information here:

http://rxdestroyer.com/pharmacypodcastnetwork

Mind Your Meds with Miss America

The Luxe Pharmacist Podcast is proud to present an interview with the one and only Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020!

Listen to host Madeline Acquilano and Camille discuss everything from farms to pharmacy. This episode is packed with Camille’s career goals as a future pharmacist and the incredible work she is doing this year in the field of pharmacy through her platform as Miss America, including working with the DEA and leading her social initiative, “Mind Your Meds.”

Madeline and Camille both believe in the power of being your authentic self no matter what field you hope to be in. In this episode they discuss the trials women may face in their careers and how to be successful in the face of adversity. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mind Your Meds with Miss America

The Luxe Pharmacist Podcast is proud to present an interview with the one and only Camille Schrier, Miss America 2020!

Listen to host Madeline Acquilano and Camille discuss everything from farms to pharmacy. This episode is packed with Camille’s career goals as a future pharmacist and the incredible work she is doing this year in the field of pharmacy through her platform as Miss America, including working with the DEA and leading her social initiative, “Mind Your Meds.”

Madeline and Camille both believe in the power of being your authentic self no matter what field you hope to be in. In this episode they discuss the trials women may face in their careers and how to be successful in the face of adversity.

Social Determinants of Health: How Environmental Factors Affect Health

Jeannette Wick

Donna Bartlett

Part of ASCP’s new journal-to-life-podcast, The Senior Care Pharmacist Podcast, co-host Donna Bartlett interviews Jeannette Wick about addressing the social determinants of health—poverty, food insecurity, health literacy, neighborhoods, and the environment and why they are essential if we are to improve individuals’ overall health.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Social Determinants of Health: How Environmental Factors Affect Health

Jeannette Wick

Donna Bartlett

Part of ASCP’s new journal-to-life-podcast, The Senior Care Pharmacist Podcast, co-host Donna Bartlett interviews Jeannette Wick about addressing the social determinants of health—poverty, food insecurity, health literacy, neighborhoods, and the environment and why they are essential if we are to improve individuals’ overall health.