The Independent Pharmacy Alliance Podcast

It's a mega episode.  We are joined by special guest New Jersey Assemblyman Roy Freiman, Chair of the Assembly Financial Institutions Committee. And we’re talking about PBM reform in New Jersey and Assemblyman Roy Freiman’s bill, A1502. This landmark PBM law has helped lay the foundation for the next generation of reforms to protect patients, pharmacies, employers, and taxpayers.But we still have work to do. And to help us we have co-hosts to help ask all the important questions you need to know.  

Are you maxing out your revenue potential as an independent pharmacist? If you are not offering your customers vaccines you may be missing out on a way to grow your profits and help the community.  This week we are once again joined by  Amanda Domenick, a Key Account Specialist at VaxServe, who can offer advice on an important and growing aspect of the independent pharmacy business. 

New York legislature has done it, New Jersey bill S2345 /A1502 has passed the Assembly, the federal government the New Jersey governor has been talking about it.  Is this the year we finally get it done. This week we have a discussion with someone who thinks the answer is a big yes and someone with some big questions and needs help from the listeners if we want this year to be the year.  

We may not have Mark Ruffalo, but we do have Anthony Reznik and Laurie Clark on the task force for the newly elected New Jersey Governor, Mikie Sherrill, and they are being asked directly about the harm pharmacy benefit managers cause the industry.  This week, Anthony and Laurie discuss what is happening in the room where it happens, how they are preparing for a new legislative year, and how their work will impact independent pharmacies throughout the state. 

Over 38 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, which is about 1 in 10 people, and it can be hard for someone to go to the doctor's office and get the advice they need.  There is an opportunity for pharmacies, especially independent pharmacies, to fill in this space and provide that knowledge.  This week, Anthony speaks with Lucille Hughes, the Director of Scientific Communication at Embecta, about the advances in diabetes treatment and ways a local pharmacist can step up to support diabetic patients. 

In 2024, the price of Cole Schmidtknecht's inhaler exceeded $500, and he had to choose between his inhaler and rent. He chose rent, and after an asthma attack, he died at the age of 22. When his parents realized what had happened, they went to work to make sure no other family would have to go through the same tragedy they had. This week, we spoke to his father, Bil Schmidtknecht, about what part PBM pricing played in his son's death, how independent pharmacies helped save his own life, and the fight to make a change in the law to prevent this from happening again.

New Jersey pharmacists are bracing for potential cuts to the state's Medicaid program due to Trump's One Big Beautiful Bill. As the legislature gets ready to move back into session, SAVENJRX is working to secure patient access to pharmacies and lower drug prices. This week, Anthony talks about state Medicaid cuts and what is being done on a national level.   

One of the many services the Independent Pharmacy Alliance offers its members is partnering with companies that seek to help independent pharmacies. One such company is VaxServe. VaxServe is a leading specialty distributor of vaccines that provides immunization expertise and solutions to help healthcare partners achieve their immunization goals. So what can they do for small business owners like you? We discuss that and more with Amanda Domenick, a Key Account Specialist at VaxServe.

Right now, President Trump is trying to pass his budget bill through the House of Representatives, and while it could have far-reaching effects throughout the country, it will also affect PBM Reform. So, to try and understand everything that is going on, we have a mega episode for you, one that will be co-hosted by our friend Laurie Clark from the Garden State Pharmacy Owners.  Together, she and Anthony talk to Ronna Hauser and Anne Cassity from the National Community Pharmacists Association to figure out what's going on in Washington and how it will affect independent pharmacists.

Representing Massachusetts's 4th District, we are joined by Representative Jake Auchincloss this week. We discuss recent bills killed on the House floor, bills he is looking to introduce that will help independent pharmacists, and what issues have bi-partisan support, even in this highly politicized environment.