Pharmacy Podcast Network

We interview Kyle Fields - with ApproRx, a transparent PRO-Independent Pharmacy Benefit Management company. Appro‐Rx is a growing Health Information Technology (HIT) company dedicated to payer medical cost reduction and improvement in patient health outcomes via their provider network. Through the use of Pharmacy Benefit Management (PBM) technologies, Appro‐Rx provides customers with prescription drug claims processing, prescription benefit management tools and other IT needs. Appro‐Rx’s claims processing engine currently processes prescriptions through its PBM Software backbone for more than 400 thousand covered lives spread over 500+ employer plans and processing approximately 1 million claims per month. The principals of Appro‐Rx believe strongly that the PBM model is broken, and we have set out to be industry game changers. We are targeting current practices – spread pricing on prescription drugs, manufacturers’ rebates and mandatory mai

We interview - Danny Vela owner of Lee’s Pharmacy in  McAllen, TX and member of the Rio Grande Valley Independent Pharmacy Association, who explains the situation in Texas (& throughout the country) that pharmacies have been facing when the state began its transition to managed care for Medicaid. Pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies were brought in to oversee the state’s prescription drug program. Vela’s observation about the situation: “States that have tried this in the past, are now going back to the way they used to do things before. States that are going back, are using the [old] Texas vendor drug program model to go back to. So logic tells you that we had a great program in place. Why did we mess with it?” WANT TO HELP? Contact us: (412) 486-0800 http://pharmacypodcast.com/index.php/contact PHARMACY CHOICE & ACCESS NOW:

Since 2005, Joe Casselman and the Pharmacist Financial Team has been a leading provider of financial education and unique process consulting for the pharmacy community throughout Texas. Providing empowering EDUCATION & Unique Process CONSULTING to Pharmacy Students, Practitioners, and Independent Owners. Please visit Pharmacist Financial on Facebook: PHARMACIST FINANCIALJoe Casselman - President (512) 294-7046

Pharmacy Podcast Episode 46: Community Health Solutions & Independent Community Pharmacy Community Health Solutions, llc exists to find unique and valuable solutions to the health crisis facing our communities, by partnering with local healthcare providers, employers, and community stakeholders through a “wholistic” healthcare and wellness delivery that centers the patient in their care and utilizes improved partnerships, communication, and outcomes. Jeff Baltas, CEO Chief Executive Officer and a Principal of Employee Benefits Administrators, Inc., a Kentucky-based third party administration company, administering health plan lives in 25 states, and the President of BaltasVision, LLC, Kentucky’s only stand-alone, vision insurer. Mr. Baltas has held the position of CEO for four years and has held director level positions in healthcare and insurance for the past 20 years. As a twenty-year veteran of the health care industry, Mr. Baltas has wo

We talk with PharmD Students Blake Toney & Jonathan Vecchiet about their futures in Pharmacy and the next generation leadership within our prefession.   Ohio State University College of Pharmacy History: As one of the six original colleges, The College of Pharmacy established itself on Ohio State’s campus in 1885.  Armed with only $200 for supplies and one part-time faculty member, its founders firmly established pharmacy at the University. Since that time, the College has led the field of Pharmacy, setting many firsts and educating some of the brightest young students. From Roy Darlington, the first African American in the nation to receive a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences to one of the first distance-learning programs at Ohio State, Pharmacy continues its tradition as a leader in research and practice. Today, the College is home to world-class faculty, researchers, and students who are leading the way in pharmacy education, practice, and research.

“You should know, in over 90% of the stores I have visited, measured improvement has been made without spending big dollars. Oh, but you and your staff will be busy for a few weeks.”  Gabe Trahan Front-End Overhaul Member Benefits 2 full educational programs from NCPA’s Annual Convention Closing the Image Gap: Merchandising with a Critical Difference Mastering Your Message: Crystal Communication of Your Pharmacies Value

Interview with Mike James - Director of Government Affairs ACPCN ACP has registered hundreds of independent pharmacists to participate on a Congressional Network “Pharmacy Committee.”  Committees will be formed in every state! “Every congressional district has independent pharmacies, and we want to make sure Congress hears from all of them,” stated Bill Rustin, ACPCN President.  “Members of Congress should be talking with their local pharmacies rather than the PBM industry in Washington.” ACP Congressional Network is the Nation’s Largest Pharmacy Grassroots ArmyACPCN helps independent pharmacists arrange meetings with members of Congress and shape critical legislation.  It is organized around Pharmacy Committees that help ACPCN organize hometown data about pharmacy operations, and committee members often contact their elected officials to provide timely information.ACPCN maintains a database of members in th

Are you a Pharmacy owner looking to Grow your pharmacy business and looking for a Expert Pharmacy Management Consultant to guide you in creating or growing an HIV specialty niche? MichRx Consulting has been working with independent pharmacy owners for over 20 years coaching and consulting them about the HIV Specialty niche, educating them and their staff about HIV medications and proven effective Marketing strategies to build a solid customer base, that continues to grow year over year. As a Pharmacy Services expert, Michelle Sherman has helped pharmacists grow their online presence, establish a specialized HIV pharmacy, and grow profits exponentially. As it becomes more and more important for pharmacy owners t

Retail Management Solutions is an industry leader in point-of-sale technology for retail pharmacy. Having installed more POS systems in the independent pharmacy market than any other company, RMS has become the industry standard. RMS has a solution for you, whether you own a single-register apothecary or clinic pharmacy, or a 15-register superstore. If you have multiple locations, our enterprise solutions give you the power to centrally manage any number of sites. You can count on us for prompt service in all 50 states, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are a privately held company, with employees throughout the country – pharmacy technology professionals with hundreds of years of combined experience. Our Mission To be recognized as the industry-leading information technologies provider in the markets we serve by: Offering full-featured systems that are easy to use Delivering unparalleled service and sup

Ron Lanton is Government Affairs Counsel at H. D. Smith. Ron's responsibilities are to oversee the Government Affairs Department and related activities for the corporation. Ron's government affairs and legal experience includes activities on the municipal, state and federal levels of government. He has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Miami University and a Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. He is currently admitted to practice law in Illinois and the District of Columbia with a NY license pen

Using Social Media in your Community Pharmacy Business It all started with a question: “Why is it so difficult for franchises and other businesses to use social media, and how can we make it easier and more affordable?”  The answers came after speaking with hundreds of individual franchise owners from a variety of industries.  The result? A low-cost, high value,  product that would work for any group of businesses, franchise or not.  Our “scalable” approach means that we become intimately acquainted with a small number of industries, build a platform for each, and use frameworks (but not cookie-cutter solutions) for each.  By focusing on select business types, we can offer a higher level of service at a reduced cost. To this end, Scalable Social Media acquired the services of the best web development and design professionals around, teamed up with individuals who have used social media for business and fo

Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions Inc. (PHSI) Consultants for pharmaceutical manufacturers, PBMs, retail pharmacy chains, and software companies on strategic business and marketing issues. Consulting projects across these market segments provide PHSI with the latest information on emerging trends as well as new products and services. Our consultants have extensive retail, mail service and managed care experience to create actionable recommendations for our clients’ challenging business issues.

Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency is a growing coalition of independent pharmacists and pharmacy owners dedicated to exposing widespread abuse and manipulation by pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). PBMs are remarkably effective at increasing their profits and market shares. The pending $29.1 billion merger of Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions would create the largest PBM in the nation. If approved by the federal government, potential for widespread PBM abuse would grow to an alarming new height. We created Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency to expose the PBM myth by illustrating the ways they inflate prescription drug costs. Their greed hurts all Americans by draining the economy and obstructing Americans’ access to medicine. Our coalition is comprised of nearly 200 pharmacists and pharmacy owners from coast to coast. As major players in the prescription drug market, we have extensive inside knowledge of the PBM

Fellow Pharmacy Industry Podcaster Jean-Marc Bovee PharmD., talks about our industry and the true value of pharmacy within our struggling healthcare system.  Topics discussed: Drug Shortage Oxy-EpidemicMedicaid   Jean-Marc Bovee earned his doctor of pharmacy degree from the Saint Louis College of Pharmacy and has worked in more than thirty pharmacies, as both a pharmacist and pharmacy technician. He and his wife—who is also a pharmacist—live in southwest Florida with their two children. A Prescription for Retail Pharmacy A Guide to Retail Pharmacy for Patients, Doctors, Nurses, Pharmacists, and Pharmacy Technicians By Jean-Marc Bovee, PharmD Jean-Marc's podcast show: http://www.RetailPharmacy

We are thrilled to interview Independent Pharmacy supporter President & Founder of MichRx Consulting Services - Michelle Sherman, RPh. With the vision to create a holistic global community for people impacted by HIV/AIDS, Michelle Sherman founded MichRx Pharmacist Consulting Services, Inc. in 2005. MichRx Pharmacist Consulting Services, Inc is a top provider of innovative services and solutions for people reaching HIV/AIDS patients, caregivers, and service providers. The mission of the company is to promote the state of well being through comprehensive pharmaceutical care, diet, exercise and emotional well being. The company is committed to providing cutting edge, quality educational programs and consultation services to physicians, nurses, case managers, pharmacists, corporations, associations, clinics, government agencies, community service providers, and HIV/AIDS patients. Ms. Sherman is a nationally recognized HIV Specialist Pharmacist practicing in Orange County, Califo

Preserve Community Pharmacy Access NOW (PCPAN) http://preservingcommunitypharmacy.com  is a coalition of consumers, businesses and community-based pharmacists from across the country that have come together for the purpose of opposing the planned merger between Express Scripts Inc. and Medco Health Solutions Inc. PCPAN is a project of the Pharmacy Choice and Access Now (PCAN) coalition, which fights on behalf of patients to preserve access to quality and affordable health care and pharmacy services. PCPAN exists because patient well-being and access to pharmacy services are being immediately threatened by the planned merger between two of the largest pharmacy benefit management (PBM) companies, a merger which could go into effect as soon as the first part of 2012, providing the combined mega-PBM excessive dominance and control over th

David Ford and Todd Eury discuss the value of the Mevesi Data Analytics Technology. David Ford is Vice President of Operations with REM Corporation, a Miami-Luken subsidary. David is charged with the operation of 20 retail pharmacies in Ohio and Indiana. Total sales in excess of 40 million. Maintaining independent pharmacy presence in communities regionally. For more information about Pharmacy Data Analytics technologies Mevesi - call (412)486-0800. http://www.PharmacyDataReporting.com

About PHSI: Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions, Inc. Pharmacy Healthcare Solutions Inc. (PHSI) consults with pharmaceutical manufacturers, PBMs, retail pharmacy chains, and software companies on strategic business and marketing issues. Consulting projects across these market segments provide PHSI with the latest information on emerging trends as well as new products and services. Our consultants have extensive retail, mail service and managed care experience to create actionable recommendations for our clients' pressing business issues. PHSI Mission Statement: PHSI provides innovative consulting solutions that improve the profitability of our healthcare clients. Integrity and respect is imperative in all relationships with clients and employees. We strive for excellence in all projects and endeavor to become invaluable advisors by continually expanding our industry knowledg

Interview with CEO John Kello with MatchRx. MatchRX is a web based marketplace that was developed exclusively for the independent pharmacist. At MatchRX, we provide a simple, secure way for you to better manage inventory on a daily basis. By connecting neighborhood pharmacists across the US, we enable our members to buy and sell overstocked prescription drugs at discounted prices. The result is an easy way to minimize waste and improve your bottom line. MatchRX210 E. 3rd St., Ste. 100Royal Oak, MI 48067(877) 590-0808  

An Interview with NCPA’s CEO Douglas Hoey.   Douglas Hoey has spent 20+ years working in and representing community pharmacies. Doug grew up in the pharmacy working at his family's pharmacy from junior high through completion of his pharmacy degree at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center. Doug went on to complete his Master's of Business Administration from Oklahoma City University. During the first five years of his career, he worked in community pharmacies providing traditional dispensing and counseling services as well as long term car