PolitiTalkRx

Pharmacy Podcast Network

Policy development, politics, & government issues are a major part of healthcare. PolitiTalkRx is a podcast all about the politics that shape pharmacy policies within our healthcare system. Contact us to participate in this publication part of the leading podcast network dedicated to the ”Business of Pharmacy” -- the Pharmacy Podcast Network. 

  1. 08/12/2021

    ASHP on CMS Pass Through Funding | PolitalkRx

    Tom Kraus VP, Government Relations at ASHP  CMS pass through funding What is pass through funding for residency programs and why is it so important? On March 29th the US District Court of South Carolina granted MUSC Health’s motion for summary judgment again HHS for their disallowance of PGY1 residency costs. Can you provide some details/background on this case? What was the guidance that CMS was failing to provide? Can speak about ASHP’s work with CMS to make the guidance more apparent to other programs moving forward? What will be the downstream effect of this case on residency programs in the future? Can you break down the practice for our listeners? What are the concerns with white bagging? What are the steps being taken at the state and federal level to take action to the concerns related to white bagging? Co-signing letter to the FDA Leveraging PELA and SPPL; can you explain? Partnership with AHA Provider status Can you talk about the work ASHP has done to ensure that pharmacists can provide Medication-assisted treatment (MAT)? At the end of April the US House and Senate introduced the Pharmacy and Medically Underserved Areas Enhancement Act. A similar bill has been submitted for the past couple of years. Can you walk us through the history of this bill? What it would allow pharmacists to do? Why it is so important for the Country? Statistics? This bill continues to have bipartisan support. What do we need to do as pharmacists to finally get this passed? COVID-19 and its effect on provider status and Advocacy Since the start of COVID-19 we’ve seen congress put forth bills and amendments that outline the healthcare response to the pandemic. One such amendment to the PREP Act outlined that “any physician, advanced practice registered nurse, registered nurse, or practical nurse” who had a license within the last 5 years could participate in the vaccination effort, even if the license was inactive. Pharmacists were left out of this amendment originally. I believe that has since been updated, but what is it that we need to be doing as individuals within the profession to help government officials to understand the worth of pharmacists and consider them as a primary focus in any further legislation? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    45 min
  2. Exposing the Truth about PBMs - Introducing the PUTTcast - PPN Episode 933

    02/06/2020

    Exposing the Truth about PBMs - Introducing the PUTTcast - PPN Episode 933

    Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency (PUTT) is a non-profit advocacy organization founded by independent pharmacists and pharmacy owners devoted to exposing the truth about the anti-competitive tactics of pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs). Known to most Americans as their "prescription drug benefit plan" provider, PBMs are in reality a $300 billion industry - giant corporate middlemen driving up the cost of medications with huge mark ups and commissions on every prescription covered under their "benefits plan."  ​ Working with local and national traditional and digital media that includes The New York Times, USA Today, CBS News, Bloomberg, NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and Business Insider, PUTT seeks to educate patients, lawmakers, health plan sponsors and the public about the deeply negative effects of the PBM industry on U.S. healthcare and the escalating price of prescription medications. PUTT serves as an industry watchdog, collecting evidence of PBM fraudulent practices and abuse and using this information to educate and inform consumers, taxpayers, employers and health plan sponsors of the truth about the unregulated, unmonitored PBM industry. Through PUTT's efforts, PBMs have begun to experience greater public awareness and scrutiny of their actions and come under fire for questionable practices including the use of gag clauses at the pharmacy counter, gross over-billing of health plans (called "spread pricing"), forcing patients to use PBM-owned pharmacies instead of allowing patients to choose their own pharmacies and interjecting unnecessary bureaucratic practices such as prior authorizations between patients and their doctors in the matter of prescription refills. PUTT members and friends are pharmacists, doctors, patients, consumers, lawmakers, taxpayers and community members. If you've got a story to tell about how PBMs have hurt your pharmacy, your patients, your family or your community, we urge you to join PUTT and help us stop PBM abuse today! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

About

Policy development, politics, & government issues are a major part of healthcare. PolitiTalkRx is a podcast all about the politics that shape pharmacy policies within our healthcare system. Contact us to participate in this publication part of the leading podcast network dedicated to the ”Business of Pharmacy” -- the Pharmacy Podcast Network.