Episodes

  • Evolution of Functional Pharmacy & Supportive Conferences | TWIRx

    Evolution of Functional Pharmacy & Supportive Conferences | TWIRx
    Nov 13 2026
    Friday, November 13, 2026 The Future of Pharmacy: Clinical Innovation, Closures & a New Kind of Conference Welcome to This Week in Pharmacy, where we bring you the headlines, innovations, and conversations shaping the future of pharmacy care. Today's episode is sponsored by Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC), supporting the strength and sustainability of independent community pharmacies, and Finch Marketing, helping pharmacy businesses communicate their value, strengthen their brands, and connect with their communities. This week, we're covering major FDA safety developments, the continued disappearance of community pharmacies, a potentially transformative Medicare payment model, and two important new drug approvals. Then we're joined by a true pioneer in functional pharmacy, Robert Kress, RPh, to discuss a new kind of pharmacy conference and why the future of the profession may depend on rethinking how pharmacists learn, collaborate, and practice. Segment 1 — Vox Top 5 Pharmacy News 1. FDA Adds New GLP-1 Safety Warnings The FDA is requiring updated labeling for GLP-1 receptor agonists, including medications used for diabetes and obesity, over a potential increased risk of a rare eye condition called non-arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy, or NAION. An FDA review of 126 clinical trials identified 6.4 cases per 100,000 patient-years among GLP-1 users versus 3.8 among comparator patients. The condition can cause sudden, painless vision loss. Although the absolute risk is low, pharmacists must be prepared to counsel patients, recognize symptoms, and coordinate timely medical evaluation. Source: FDA Drug Safety Communication 2. More Than 3,000 U.S. Pharmacies Disappear New research published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association reveals that between 2022 and 2024: 7,240 community pharmacies closed.4,178 new locations opened.The country experienced a net loss of 3,062 pharmacies. Chain pharmacies represented approximately 2,680 of those net losses, with independents accounting for 382. Declining reimbursement, PBM practices, and changing retail economics continue to place tremendous pressure on pharmacy access. Source: Drug Topics — Pharmacy Closures 3. Medicare ACCESS Model Opens New Clinical Opportunities CMS's ACCESS Model represents an important shift toward outcome-based reimbursement for chronic disease management. The program supports technology-enabled care for conditions including diabetes, hypertension, chronic pain, and behavioral health. Participating organizations must meet Medicare enrollment, clinical oversight, and other program requirements. It is not automatic reimbursement for every pharmacist. NCPA leadership sees potential opportunities for community pharmacies to participate in new clinical care delivery models. Sources: CMS ACCESS Model | Drug Topics — NCPA Interview 4. FDA Approves First Factor XIa Inhibitor for Stroke Prevention The FDA approved Sunharbo (asundexian), a new Factor XIa inhibitor used alongside antiplatelet therapy for certain adults following ischemic stroke or high-risk transient ischemic attack. Results from the OCEANIC-STROKE trial demonstrated a 26% relative reduction in ischemic stroke risk. The approval introduces an important new mechanism in secondary stroke prevention. Source: FDA Approval Announcement 5. FDA Approves New Treatment for Rare Joint Tumors The FDA approved Pimjetmi (pimicotinib) for certain adults with symptomatic tenosynovial giant cell tumors when surgery could cause serious complications or functional limitations. The oral therapy achieved a 56% response rate compared with 3.2% for placebo in the Phase III MANEUVER trial. Patients experienced improvements in pain, joint mobility, and physical functioning. The treatment requires appropriate clinical monitoring, including for liver toxicity. Source: FDA Approval Segment 2 — Special Guest: Robert Kress, RPh The Functional Pharmacy Godfather: A New Kind of Pharmacy Conference Introduction For decades, pharmacists have been trained to understand medications, disease states, and treatment protocols. But increasingly, pharmacists are recognizing that truly personalized healthcare requires a broader understanding of lifestyle, nutrition, metabolic health, and the underlying factors influencing patient outcomes. Our special guest today is Robert Kress, RPh, a pioneer in functional pharmacy, educator, coach, and creator of Orientation-Based Medicine. Robert has dedicated his work to helping pharmacists expand their clinical thinking and develop more meaningful, patient-centered practices. Today, we're talking about a new kind of pharmacy conference, one focused on more than traditional education. We're discussing building community, changing clinical perspectives, and preparing pharmacists for an evolving healthcare marketplace. The Evolution of Functional Pharmacy & Supportive Conferences Guest Resource: https://www.functionalpharmacy.com/ Special thanks to ...
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    36 mins
  • We Are Main Street! NCPA 2026 Annual Conference Rewind | Part Three

    We Are Main Street! NCPA 2026 Annual Conference Rewind | Part Three
    Nov 12 2026

    Hosted live in Kansas City, MO – the NCPA held their annual conference this year from October 3rd to the 6th! The Pharmacy Podcast Network brings you this exclusive coverage from within the YARAL Pharma booth, where Todd Eury, Host and CEO of the PPN, talks to vendors, pharmacy owners, and longtime friends in the industry. Listen in as we capture the best moments in conversation at this year's Community Pharmacy Super Bowl, the NCPA 2026 Annual Conference.

    Thank you to HendrenAI for sponsoring this episode of the NCPA 2026 Rewind!

    https://hendren.ai/

    In this episode, we hear from:

    John Boos - CEO of HendrenAI

    Brad Tice - RxGenomics ExactMeds

    Lucas Morgan & Esq Dae Lee - Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC

    Emlah Tubuo, PharmD

    Ken Thai, PharmD - 986 Pharmacies

    Matt Gilbert - Medsense

    Scott Wittnebel - Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)

    Preston Davis, CPhT-Adv - RxTechExam

    Bill Eley - American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI)
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Honoring Their Service, Advancing Their Care, Protecting Their Future | Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit Podcast Series

    Honoring Their Service, Advancing Their Care, Protecting Their Future | Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit Podcast Series
    Nov 11 2026

    This Veterans Day, the Pharmacy Podcast Network proudly honors the extraordinary men and women who have served our nation with the premiere of the Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit Podcast Series.

    Our veterans answered the call to serve our country. Now it's our responsibility to answer the call to serve them.

    The annual Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit brings together healthcare professionals, pharmacy innovators, industry leaders, policymakers, and veterans' advocates around one critical mission: improving access to quality healthcare, expanding medication access, and ensuring that no veteran is left behind because of barriers in our healthcare system.

    Recorded during our Second Annual Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit in Washington, Pennsylvania, this special series explores opportunities to strengthen collaboration between the VA healthcare system, community pharmacies, and emerging healthcare innovators.

    Our Veterans Day premiere features an outstanding lineup of special guests:

    • Jesse McCullough, PharmD — Pharmacy leadership and veteran-centered healthcare advocacy
    • Carmelo Montalvo — CEO, Aethl Bio, discussing innovations in wound care
    • Stephen Beckman — CEO, YARAL Pharma, addressing medication access and healthcare partnerships
    • Pennsylvania State Representative Bud Cook — Representing the 50th Legislative District, discussing the importance of supporting veterans and strengthening healthcare access in our communities

    From innovative treatment options and medication accessibility to the essential role of independent community pharmacies, these conversations challenge us to rethink how America cares for those who have sacrificed so much.

    Veterans deserve more than our gratitude. They deserve access, advocacy, innovation, and a healthcare system worthy of their service.

    On this Veterans Day, we thank every veteran, every military family, and every healthcare professional dedicated to serving those who served.

    Welcome to the Veterans Pharmacy Care Summit Podcast Series, hosted by Todd Eury on the Pharmacy Podcast Network.

    Because serving those who served should never end.
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    31 mins
  • RxInfluencers – Todd Eury | CPhT Connect

    RxInfluencers – Todd Eury | CPhT Connect
    Nov 10 2026

    In this episode of CPhT Connect, host Mike Johnston, CPhT-Adv, continues the Rx Influencer series, which spotlights the people leading the pharmacy industry, by sitting down with Todd Eury, CEO of RxPR LLC and founder, publisher, and host of the Pharmacy Podcast Network. Known as the "Rx Podfather," Todd launched the first podcast about the pharmacy profession in 2009. Today his network has produced more than 4,000 episodes and over 5 million downloads. He is also a longtime friend and media partner of NPTA. Todd is usually the one asking the questions, but in this conversation he takes the guest seat. He shares how he went from nearly a decade in telecommunications to selling software for long-term care pharmacies, and how a podcast that started as a "cheat code" for learning the industry grew into the largest podcast network dedicated to pharmacy professionals. Todd also opens up about the risks he took along the way, from a pay cut to enter pharmacy to the financial strain of going all-in on the network, as well as the controversies, online criticism, and sponsor decisions that tested what he stands for. In this episode, we discuss: * Betting on Yourself: Why Todd took a pay cut to enter pharmacy and how the "water down a hill" consistency he built in his early sales career still drives him today. * From Cheat Code to Network: How a one-episode-a-month show built to satisfy Todd's own curiosity became the Pharmacy Podcast Network, and why he says it was never about him, but about bringing in the experts. * Standing for Something: The stories behind Todd's biggest episodes, his toughest moments, and why he believes you have to decide what you will and won't stand for, even when it costs you. * A Profession at an Inflection Point: Todd's perspective on how pharmacy associations are finally collaborating, why pharmacists and technicians absorb the frustration of a system they didn't create, and what he sees coming over the next three to five years. * The Next Evolution: How RxPR, the first public relations firm dedicated exclusively to the pharmacy industry, is taking the network beyond podcasting, including a new evidence-based podcasting seal designed to bring peer-reviewed credibility to audio content. About Our Guest: Todd Eury is the CEO of RxPR LLC and the founder, publisher, and host of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, the largest podcast network dedicated to pharmacy professionals. Affectionately known as the "Rx Podfather," Todd launched the first podcast about the pharmacy profession in 2009. His network has since produced more than 4,000 episodes and over 5 million downloads, covering everything from long-term care and compounding to pediatrics, biosimilars, and cell and gene therapy. Todd's Tip Top 50 awards program, which recognizes the most influential people in pharmacy, was also a direct inspiration for NPTA's Pharmacy Technician IMPACT Awards. Listen now to hear Todd's story of building something bigger than himself, and why he believes the pharmacy profession is on the verge of a golden age. Connect with Todd Eury: Pharmacy Podcast Network: https://pharmacypodcast.com RxPR: https://rxpr.net LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddeury/
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • Beyond the Prescription: Unlocking Pharmacy Revenue in 2027 | Outcomes: Insights Beyond the Counter

    Beyond the Prescription: Unlocking Pharmacy Revenue in 2027 | Outcomes: Insights Beyond the Counter
    Nov 9 2026

    The pharmacy revenue opportunity doesn't stop at the prescription counter. Ross Frei and Dorrit Trate explore how payer- and pharma-funded programs are creating new ways for pharmacies to get paid for the clinical work, patient engagement and interventions they're uniquely positioned to deliver, plus how pharmacies can prepare to take advantage of those opportunities in 2027.
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    36 mins
  • CVS Breaks Apart, PBM Reform Moves Forward & the Future of Pharmacy Care | TWIRx

    CVS Breaks Apart, PBM Reform Moves Forward & the Future of Pharmacy Care | TWIRx
    Nov 6 2026

    November 6, 2026 | Pharmacy Podcast Network

    Sponsored by Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC) and U.S. News & World Report

    This week on This Week in Pharmacy, Todd Eury welcomes an outstanding lineup of pharmacy leaders, healthcare advocates, and industry experts to discuss four major developments shaping the future of pharmacy: CVS Health's historic restructuring, federal PBM reform, GLP-1 patient outcomes, and innovation in specialty medication access.

    Segment 1: CVS Health's Historic Separation — What Happens to 9,000 Pharmacies?

    CVS Health has announced plans to separate its retail pharmacy business from its PBM, insurance, and specialty pharmacy operations. What does this mean for community pharmacy profitability, patient access, and the future of vertically integrated healthcare?

    Guests:

    • Greg Reybold — APCI
    • Chichi Ilonzo Momah, PharmD, RPh — Owner, Springfield Pharmacy
    • Alec Ginsberg — Chief Operating Officer, C.O. Bigelow Apothecaries
    • https://drugstorecowboy.com/

    The big question: If CVS is separating its pharmacies from Caremark, what does that signal about the future business model of community pharmacy?

    Segment 2: PBM Reform Becomes Federal Law — What's Next?

    Major PBM reforms were enacted through the Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed February 3, 2026, introducing new requirements for transparency, PBM compensation, and pharmacy access.

    Congressman Buddy Carter joins IPC's John Covello to examine the legislative victory, the work ahead to implement these reforms, and the fight to protect independent pharmacies.

    Guests:

    • U.S. Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA)
    • John Covello — Vice President of Government Relations, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)

    The big question: Will federal PBM reform finally deliver meaningful financial relief and fairer competition for community pharmacies?

    Segment 3: GLP-1 Success — Beyond the Prescription

    A new U.S. News & World Report survey explores how patients select GLP-1 telehealth providers and why behavioral support, affordability, and ongoing engagement matter to long-term weight-management success.

    Guests:

    • Gretel Schueller — Managing Editor, Health, U.S. News & World Report
    • Kelli Stovall, RPh, MBA — Vice President of Clinical Strategy, Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)

    The big question: How can independent community pharmacists help patients achieve better outcomes beyond dispensing GLP-1 medications?

    Read the U.S. News GLP-1 survey

    Segment 4: Breaking Down Barriers to Specialty Medications — Sonexus™

    Special Guest: Josh Marsh, Vice President & General Manager, Sonexus™ Access and Patient Support, Cardinal Health

    Josh Marsh joins Todd to discuss how Cardinal Health's Sonexus™ helps patients overcome barriers to specialty medications.

    The conversation explores pharmaceutical Hub Services, benefits verification, prior authorization assistance, financial support, and the growing role of AI and automation in accelerating treatment access.

    The big question: How can technology and personalized patient support work together to make specialty medications more accessible?

    Report here:

    https://cardinalhealth.scene7.com/is/content/corpmarketdms7prod/corp/web/documents/cardinal-health-2026-insourcing-and-outsourcing-trends-report.pdf

    About This Week in Pharmacy

    Hosted by Todd Eury, This Week in Pharmacy delivers news, policy analysis, and exclusive conversations with the professionals shaping the future of pharmacy.

    Sponsored by IPC and U.S. News & World Report

    Listen and subscribe at PharmacyPodcast.com
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    1 hr and 38 mins
  • Follow the Money, Expose the System, Demand Accountability | PBM Reform with APCI

    Follow the Money, Expose the System, Demand Accountability | PBM Reform with APCI
    Nov 6 2026

    In this special edition of the PBM Reform Podcast, host Greg Reybold welcomes nationally recognized drug pricing expert Antonio Ciaccia for an unfiltered conversation about pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), hidden financial incentives, and the growing movement toward meaningful reform.

    Ciaccia has spent years investigating the economics of prescription drug distribution, helping uncover hundreds of millions of dollars in questionable Medicaid drug spending and exposing the financial mechanisms behind inflated drug prices.

    His latest work with 3 Axis Advisors raises important questions about whether conventional PBM contracts deliver the savings they promise.

    An October 2026 analysis compares Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company's published prices with traditional PBM pricing arrangements. Another June 2026 report examines how retrospective rebates, pricing benchmarks, and administrative arrangements create financial risks for employers and health plans.

    Ciaccia has also described three forces capable of driving PBM reform: legislation, litigation, and market-based competition.

    As he told Drug Topics, borrowing a familiar expression from Greg Reybold: “Pressure busts pipes.”

    In This Episode
    • Why PBM pricing transparency remains essential for employers, patients, and pharmacies.
    • What recent drug pricing research reveals about hidden costs and contractual complexity.
    • How cost-plus pharmacy models challenge traditional PBM economics.
    • Why independent pharmacies continue facing reimbursement and cash-flow pressures.
    • Whether federal reform and marketplace competition can produce lasting accountability.
    • How pharmacists, employers, and policymakers can demand measurable results.

    The future of pharmacy benefits depends on more than promises of reform. It demands transparency, accountability, and evidence that savings actually reach the people paying for healthcare.

    Join Greg Reybold and Antonio Ciaccia as they follow the money and examine what's next for PBM reform.
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    53 mins
  • We Are Main Street! NCPA 2026 Annual Conference Rewind | Part Two

    We Are Main Street! NCPA 2026 Annual Conference Rewind | Part Two
    Nov 5 2026

    Hosted live in Kansas City, MO – the NCPA held their annual conference this year from October 3rd to the 6th! The Pharmacy Podcast Network brings you this exclusive coverage from within the YARAL Pharma booth, where Todd Eury, Host and CEO of the PPN, talks to vendors, pharmacy owners, and longtime friends in the industry. Listen in as we capture the best moments in conversation at this year's Community Pharmacy Super Bowl, the NCPA 2026 Annual Conference.

    Thank you to Outcomes for sponsoring this episode of the NCPA 2026 Rewind!

    https://www.outcomes.com/

    In this episode, we hear from:

    Amie Stephens, PharmD - Outcomes

    Mark Garofoli, PharmD - PainGuy.us

    Lara Zakaria, PharmD - Foodie Pharmacist

    Johnny Kello - MatchRx

    Fiona Sartoretto Verna - Sartoretto Verna
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    49 mins