PBM on the Rocks

Join Lord Dr Jeremy and the PUTT Cocktail Crew with special guest Nebraska pharmacist and pharmacy owner Dave Randolph, RPh, as they dive into the critical issues shaping the future of pharmacy and healthcare. From the power of building coalitions for effective state-level advocacy, to the importance of subject matter education for legislators, and the dangers of so-called "pharmacy industry innovation" led by tech bros with no pharmacy background, this episode is packed with no holds barred conversation and insights for anyone who cares about local community pharmacy. Music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Welcome Back to PBM on the Rocks! Join Lord Dr. Jeremy and the PUTT Cocktail crew with special guests John Farina (AHF) & Kris Rhea (Pharmacy Marketplace) as they unpack the summer's most significant state and federal legislative updates, explore the CVS Omnicare lawsuit verdict, and discuss its ripple effects on independent pharmacies including retaliatory actions by PBMs. From shedding light on the critical role of independent pharmacies in our healthcare system - including the challenges they face with pharmacy MAC appeals, and the innovative solutions being developed to help them recover lost funds - to discussing how middlemen are draining resources from the American economy without delivering value - this episode is a must-listen for anyone passionate about reform, independent pharmacy advocacy, and the fight against PBM overreach in our healthcare system. Music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

North Carolina’s House Bill 163 would require pharmacies to be reimbursed at NADAC (National Average Drug Acquisition Cost) plus a fair dispensing fee, which would protect NC pharmacies - ensuring they can stay in business and continue providing critical care to patients. As usual, PBMs are spreading misinformation designed to scare patients and lawmakers by mislabeling these reforms as “taxes” and falsely claiming reforms will increase premiums. Join the PUTT cocktail crew with NC pharmacy owners Wes Hickman, PharmD, & Stephen Joyce, RPh (PUTT board member) as they break down the benefits of HB 163, dispel the myths that PBM deceptions create, and discuss the importance of building strong relationships - because when it comes to pharmacy issues and helpful reform legislation, pharmacists really are the smartest people in the room. Music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

What happens when the largest players in healthcare prioritize profit over patients? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the persistent monopolistic practices plaguing the industry. Join the PUTT cocktail crew and special guest Emma Freer, Health Policy Analyst at the American Economic Liberties Project, as they explore the groundbreaking influence of Lina Khan at the FTC and her enduring impact on efforts to combat corporate monopolies across industries. From PBM reform legislation, to the dangerous conflicts of interest stemming from vertical integration across the healthcare spectrum, they break down the systemic issues affecting pharmacy and discuss actionable solutions for building a better, fairer system. Music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

How can independent pharmacies tackle major challenges like reimbursement disparities, PBM legislative gaslighting, and advocating for fair policies in the healthcare industry? Join host Lord Dr. Jeremy, Alabama Independent Pharmacy Alliance's Trent McLemore, and the PUTT cocktail crew as they dive deep into the power of association and independent pharmacy unity and grassroots action as tools to amplify pharmacy and patient voices to get meaningful state legislation passed. Music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Counterfeit medications are on the rise, and behind this growing crisis lies a web of questionable practices and systemic failures perpetrated by PBMs throughout the healthcare industry. Listen in as Lord Dr Jeremy & the PUTT cocktail crew explore critical issues that affect the safety, affordability, and accessibility of prescription drugs and challenge the monopolistic grip PBMs hold over the healthcare market. Joining us is Shabbir Safdar, Executive Director of The Partnership for Safe Medicines, an expert committed to exposing these issues and fighting for safer, more transparent practices. Together, they’ll unpack how PBM-driven anticompetitive games contribute to widespread vulnerabilities in drug safety and affordability. Music by JuliusH | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Join PUTT podcasters Jeremy Counts, Lauren Young and Andrew Russell as they host the long awaited premier of Patient Protector's explosive docuseries, Modern Medical Mafia, live from Rio, Wisconsin. Full docuseries available for streaming on Amazon Prime 1.21.25 Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH Production and Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

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:Promoting HIV Care & Awareness:PBM Restrictions & Barriers:The 340B Program Under Fire: 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. 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 a stream of pharmacy advocacy powerhouses at day 2 of the annual NCPA Conference #pharmacy #pbmreform 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, 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 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 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:

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 Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH Episode Cocktail Menu:

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

Join our host Lord Dr Jeremy as he discusses PBM antitrust issues, and the newly released FTC 6b study interim report with experts Matt Stoller and Greg Reybold. Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH

Join Lord Dr Jeremy and this month's cocktail crew as they discuss the importance of communication in advocacy, the newly released 3Axis report, and how PUTT is offering solutions to the PBM problem. Special Guests: pharmacy owners & PUTT Executive Board members Brandi Chane and Lauren Young 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, the PUTT team, and the biggest names in pharmacy as they try to survive an open bar at the infamous APEX cocktail reception!