PBM on the Rocks

It's not difficult to equate vertically-integrated corporate control of American healthcare with "the Dark Side" - which makes patient advocates like Jen Laws of CANN, pro-independent pharmacy lawyers like Miguel Rodriguez of APRx, and the board members of Pharmacists United for Truth & Transparency definitely part of "the Rebel Alliance"! The subject for this episode's cocktail discussion - How can we as advocates overcome the Big PBM/Health Insurance Death Star? Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH Episode Cocktail Menu: Editing & Production by Shannon Wightman-Girard

April is Stress Awareness Month. Are you aware of how much stress PBMs cause? Listen in as the PUTT Cocktail Crew hosts WayPoint Rx's Ben Coakley and California pharmacy owner Sona Kazangian. From pharmacy benefits plan options, to reimbursement issues - the gloves come off when the subject of PBMs is on the table! Episode Cocktail Menu: Find all of our episode cocktail recipes at TruthRx.org/pbm-on-the-rocks Opening music by JuliusHProduction & Editing: Shannon Wightman-Girard

From the patient travesties inflicted by the Change Healthcare cyberattack, to independent pharmacy future viability, pharmacy unions, and PBM parallels on Wendy's surge pricing - when you put pharmacy internet icons in the cocktail crew, there's no holds barred on what might be said! Special Guests: The Accidental Pharmacist & The Angry Pharmacist Episode Cocktail Menu: Opening music by JuliusH Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Welcome to our February Episode! From industry-wide issues like prior authorizations, to disease states, pain management, and vitamin supplement shams - when PBMs and their parent health insurance parent corporations meddle in healthcare, the results are rarely good for anyone. Special Guests: Rheumatologist Dr. Steven Baak, & pharmacy owner Anne Hutchens Episode Cocktail Menu: Opening music by JuliusHEditing & production by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Only 2 weeks into the new year, and the aftermath of CMS’ new DIR fee rule is already wreaking havoc. Listen in as our January cocktail crew breaks down the bull. From the DIR “hangover” (aka Medicare-mageddon) to PBMs’ newest reimbursement torture tactics, and frauds that give pharmacy a bad name - it's a timely dissection of industry stupidity where no CEO is safe. Special Guests: Brandi Chane, LPN & Van Coble, RPh (retired) Episode Cocktail Menu: Visit TruthRx.org/pbm-on-the-rocks for episode cocktail recipes Opening music by JuliusH, Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Understaffing, Unionization, & a Questionable Carton of Eggnog Thanks to the vertical integration of U.S. healthcare, the greed-based practices of PBMs and their health insurance parent corporations negatively affect everything from chain staffing, to patient access and safety at all levels of pharmacy. Listen in as our December cocktail crew takes a deep dive into the issues. From theoretical staffing shortages and pharmacy scope of practice, to addressing safety problems in retail pharmacy, and impending unionization - no subject is taboo during this breakdown! With Special Guests: Shane Jerominski (The Accidental Pharmacist), & Maurice Shaw (Rx Comedy) To learn more about the movement for pharmacy unionization, visit PharmacyGuild.org Episode Cocktail Menu: Opening music by JuliusHEditing & Production by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Welcome to our scary October episode ... and it doesn't get any scarier than corporate chain pharmacy policies and (the most terrifying) DIR FEES. Listen in as our very special guest, The Angry Pharmacist, joins this month's cocktail conversation. From DEA metrics, to wholesalers, pharmacy organizations & PBM problems - no subject is safe from these silver tongues! Episode Cocktail Menu: CVS Opening music by JuliusH, Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

It's Mocktails and PBM Mockery! From schadenfreude moments like CVS's stock drop, to the differences between kickbacks and healthcare rebates (there are none), and even a foray into political process - listen in as the PBM Rocks cocktail crew gets real about the status of PBM reform efforts, and why it's so important to get involved. Special Guests: Dave Bagot & Mark Boesen Episode (Mock)tail Menu: For this episode's and all PBM on the Rocks' cocktail recipes, visit TruthRx.org/PBM-on-the-Rocks PBM on the Rocks music by JuliusHEditing & Production by Shannon Wightman-Girard

From recent federal hearings and impending legislative action, to pharmacy DIR fees, copay accumulators, and whole host of other PBM fraud-based practices - in this special girls' night episode, the women of pharmacy put pharmacy benefit manipulator practices in their rightful place... 6 feet under. with special guests Brandi Chane & Teresa Dickinson Episode Cocktail Menu: For PBM on the Rocks cocktail recipes, visit TruthRx.org/PBM-on-the-Rocks Opening music by JuliusH Production: Shannon Wightman-Girard

Episode 6: Pharmacy Deserts, Corporate Greed, & a Rob Roy Have you ever wondered why some insurance plans require patients to travel to a pharmacy 20 to 30 minutes away for their prescriptions instead of covering prescriptions at the patient's local nearby pharmacy? Or, why lobbyists publish opinion articles in national news sources claiming that PBMs lower costs and save employers money, yet both prescription costs and premiums seem to be constantly rising? Welcome to this month's cocktail hour. From issues with lobbyists, brokers, & corporate greed; to state & federal politics, PhRMA, & why shopping local includes your neighborhood independent pharmacy - no area of healthcare is safe when it comes to this discussion! Featuring Special Guest John Farina with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation Opening music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH This Month's Cocktail Menu: For cocktail recipes & additional insights, visit our website: TruthRx.org/pbm-on-the-rocks

Episode 5: GPOs, Small Business Economics, & a Sweet Tea Did you know that Group Purchasing Organizations (GPOs) are PBMs' even more shadowy twin, and they're being formed to add additional layers of complexity into the drug pricing market? Listen in as the PUTT Cocktail Crew welcomes Texas independent pharmacy owner Brandi Chane, and patient advocate Julie Hoffman to the table. From the dangers of GPOs, to copay accumulators, pharmacy deserts, "loss leaders", and their destructive economic effect on small business pharmacies and their patients - it's an illuminating conversation you don't want to miss! Opening music by JuliusHPixabayJuliusHProduction by Shannon Wightman-Girard Episode Cocktail Menu:

The Cinco de Mayo Episode This cocktail hour the gang welcomes nonprofit healthcare foundation CEO Jeffery Lewis and PUTT Vice President Lauren Young, for a conversation that twists and turns through PBM-created issues such as rebate aggregators, patient access, underwater reimbursements, and how ultimately, a small group of determined individuals can make a difference against the vertically-integrated health-no-care machine. Featuring: Monique Whitney, Jeremy Counts, Brian Nyquist, Jeffery Lewis, Lauren Young, & Shannon Wightman-Girard Click the links to learn more about the Legacy Health Endowment, EMC Health Foundation, the National Infusion Center Association, and Pharmacists United for Truth & Transparency Episode Cocktail Menu: Opening music by JuliusH Production: Shannon Wightman-Girard

Episode 3: Beating Optum, Bad Marketing, & a Tia Maria From fraud allegations, to legal smackdowns and new regulation legislation; public opinion of pharmacy benefit managers and their health insurance parent companies is steadily swirling towards a comedic death spiral. Listen in as the PUTT crew and independent pharmacy legal eagle Mark Cuker and discuss his recent lawsuit wins, legislative language strategies, and pointing out the stupidly obvious in PBM attempts at rebranding. Hosts: Monique Whitney, Jeremy Counts, Shannon Wightman-Girard Special Guests: Mark Cuker, Lauren Young To learn more about the PUNCH lawsuit discussed in this episode, email Mark Cuker at Mark@CukerLaw.com Episode Cocktail Menu: Opening music by JuliusH Production: Shannon Wightman-Girard

Episode 2: NPI Number Fraud, PBC Problems & Bourbon Grab a glass! From re-victimization of pharmacies dealing with the fallout from stolen NPI numbers, to PCMA's new PBM rebranding campaign & the recent Senate hearing on pharmacy benefit manager/company transparency… you never know what might be revealed when pharmacy industry professionals discuss PBM (aka PBC) tactics over drinks. Hosts: PUTT's Monique Whitney, Lord Dr. Jeremy Counts, and Shannon Wightman-Girard Special Guests: Texas independent pharmacy owner Leah Allen, PharmD; APRx Senior VP of Sales Ryan Gevara; & APRx General Counsel Miguel Rodriguez Today's Cocktail Menu: Opening music by JuliusH Podcast Production Team: Shannon Wightman-Girard, Logan Smith

Insiders in the healthcare industry experience the atrocities of pharmacy benefit managers' unethical business practices every day - but many of their middleman shenanigans are hidden from public view. Welcome to our happy hour style, no holds barred conversation! Join hosts Monique Whitney, Brian Nyquist, Jeremy Counts, and show producer Shannon Wightman-Girard as they discuss (over cocktails) the REAL story of PBMs' effect on the U.S. healthcare system. This Episode's Special Guests: PUTT President Deborah Keaveny, & APCI General Counsel Greg Reybold Music by JuliusH from Pixabay" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" class="ql-size-small">JuliusH The Cocktails: brought to you by Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency Meq4BrY8qiPQ4Ex2bUAJ