One reason behind high costs at the pharmacy counter? Pharmacy benefit managers. PBM practices, like clawbacks and spread pricing, not only hurt patients but also impact community pharmacies that serve rural and underserved populations.
In this episode, the Patients Rising team gets into community pharmacies with Ronna Hauser and Matthew Seiler of the National Community Pharmacist Association (NCPA). They detail the challenges that face pharmacists, how they trickle down to impact patients at the counter, and what an FTC investigation into PBM actions could reveal.
Plus, April kicks off World Autism Month! Field correspondent Kate Pecora speaks with Mason Milne on how he advocates for the autistic and Crohn’s disease communities.
Hosts:
Terry Wilcox, Executive Director, Patients Rising
Dr. Robert Goldberg, “Dr. Bob,” Co-Founder and Vice President of the Center for Medicine in the Public Interest
Kate Pecora, Field Correspondent
Guests:
Ronna Hauser, SVP of Policy and Pharmacy Affairs at NCPA
Matthew Seiler, VP and General Counsel at NCPA
Mason Milne, Podcast Host, Crohn’s and Autism Awareness Advocate
Elisa Comer, Patient Correspondent
Links:
Independent Pharmacists Blanket Congress with Letters on Pharmacy DIR Reform | NCPA
Community Pharmacy Makes Goal Line Push to Eliminate PBM Spread Pricing | NCPA
Crohn's & Autism Awareness Advocate | iHeart
Making healthcare options more accessible on Search
Public Comments | Federal Trade Commission
Michigan Gov. Signs Laws To Combat Opaque PBM Practices | InsideHealthPolicy.com
Gov. Whitmer Signs Bipartisan Bills to Lower Prescription Drug Costs for Michiganders
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The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the guest(s)/ author(s) and do not reflect the official policy or position of Patients Rising.