Breaking Down the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act and Its Impact on Specialty Pharmacy | NASP Specialty Pharmacy Podcast

On this episode of This Week in Pharmacy, we bring together three powerful voices shaping the future of pharmacy, independent practice, functional medicine, and healthcare transformation.   First, we welcome Kris Rhea, MBA, Contributing Editor with Dispense Times, a digital publication dedicated to supporting independent community pharmacy owners across the United States. Kris brings a business-focused perspective on pharmacy operations, growth strategy, workflow efficiency, data-driven decision-making, and market positioning. His work with Dispense Times helps independent pharmacists navigate today’s rapidly changing healthcare landscape, including PBM pressures, evolving patient expectations, regulatory challenges, and the need for sustainable business models that keep local pharmacies strong.   We also speak with James Maskell, founder of Evolution of Medicine, an organization built to inspire, equip, and unite functional and integrative medicine practitioners. Evolution of Medicine provides education, practice-building resources, and community for clinicians who are working to build thriving practices rooted in whole-person care. James brings a national perspective on the movement toward functional medicine, community-based care, prevention, and new models that empower practitioners to better serve patients beyond the limitations of conventional healthcare.   Our third guest is Marina Buksov, PharmD, a pharmacist, herbalist, educator, podcast host, and holistic health consultant. After earning her PharmD from St. John’s University and graduating Summa Cum Laude in 2013, Marina entered pharmacy eager to serve patients, but quickly recognized that traditional allopathic pharmacy did not fully align with her deeper calling to help people thrive through prevention, root-cause care, plant medicine, and sustainable wellness strategies. Her experience behind the pharmacy counter and as a patient herself inspired her to pursue health coaching, nutrition, functional medicine, and clinical herbalism. Today, Marina helps pharmacists and healthcare professionals explore natural-minded career paths and build meaningful work that bridges pharmacology, herbal therapeutics, and holistic care.   Together, this episode explores where pharmacy is headed: independent pharmacy survival, business model innovation, functional medicine, patient-centered care, pharmacist reinvention, and the growing demand for healthcare professionals who can connect science, prevention, and real-world practice.   Listen to This Week in Pharmacy on the Pharmacy Podcast Network. Pharmacy’s future is being built by those willing to challenge the current model, support independent practice, and expand the role of pharmacists as trusted healthcare providers.

In this episode, Sheila Arquette, President & CEO of NASP, speaks with Jonathan L. Swichar, Duane Morris Pharmacy Litigation Group Chair, and Bradley A. Wasser, Duane Morris Pharmacy Litigation Group Partner. They discuss the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act and its landmark PBM reform provisions that impact pharmacy network access and transparency. These expert litigators go into detail about what specialty pharmacies should expect as federal agencies enforce the new law and what opportunities and challenges lie ahead for specialty pharmacies.

In this episode of The Executive Dose Podcast, host Stephen Beckman leads a timely discussion on how pharmaceutical manufacturers approach portfolio ideation, portfolio development, and strategic growth in today’s increasingly complex healthcare environment.   Stephen is joined by Joe Hendrickson, Head of Strategy and Corporate Development for Serovia, for a conversation focused on how manufacturers identify unmet market needs, evaluate product opportunities, prioritize development pathways, and make strategic decisions amid growing industry pressure.   The discussion explores how pharmaceutical companies move from early-stage ideation to portfolio evaluation, development, commercialization, and lifecycle planning. As manufacturers face rising pricing pressure, market access barriers, regulatory expectations, competitive intensity, supply chain constraints, and evolving stakeholder demands, disciplined portfolio strategy has become more important than ever.   Listeners will gain perspective on how manufacturers are navigating uncertainty, adapting their growth strategies, and building more resilient portfolio models designed to bring meaningful therapies and solutions to market. Special Guest Joe Hendrickson Head of Strategy and Corporate Development Serovia

Today’s guest dropped an unbelievable amount of wisdom in the span of just one podcast episode. She and I both align on so many topics as you will discover in our conversation. We both believe that women have the power to intuit what is best for them and their bodies. Women, especially midlife women, have been taught for far too long that their suffering is "just a part of aging." The system has also taught us that when we have symptoms, we should reach for a drug to fix it (and often holistic medicine is thought of as an alternative herb or supplement). My guest asserts that when symptoms arrive for women in midlife and perimenopause, it is often a wake up call to how we are living our lives, particularly the accumulation of not so nourishing choices in the last couple of decades. Hormones shift, revealing what has already been happening. Women can then heed the call to pay attention to foundational living (how they are eating, sleeping, managing energy, stress, etc) and prevent further disease down the road. The common approach to manage symptoms with herbs and/or HRT are only addressing the tip of the iceberg and are not going to get at the root cause of symptoms. Perimenopause and menopause does not have to be a negative life sentence to the rest of your life, rather it can be seen as an initiation and invitation to finally start prioritizing yourself. Maria Gabriela is a certified Ayurveda Health Counselor, a doctor of pharmacy (Pharm.D.), a 200 hour certified yoga teacher, and founder of Intuitive Ayurveda. She helps people in perimenopause and menopause feel better in their bodies using Ayurveda, science-backed tools, and intuitive coaching — so they can celebrate this phase of life instead of dreading it. The eastern and western perspectives of medicine each have something to offer us, and Maria Gabriela understands this dance. Her goal is to educate on Ayurvedic tools that can (and should) be individualized to each complex person. She strives to help her clients tune into the messages their bodies are sending them. Ultimately, she believes every person is the expert on what is best for them, and can be empowered to hone in on which tools they need to support themselves in mind, body, and spirit. Connect with Maria Gabriela via: Email: [email protected] Website: Intuitive Ayurveda IG: @intuitive_ayurveda

This is the Pharmacy Podcast Network's ASEMBIA 2026 rewind! We're dedicated to bringing you inside coverage of the pharmacy nation's biggest events with on the street style interviews with keynote speakers, attendees, exhibitors, and recurring guests who make each year special.  This is part six of our six part series! We'd like to thank Finch Marketing for sponsoring this episode! On this episode we interview: Nicolle McClure - President, Finch Marketing Seth Chaney - CEO, 609 Health Natalie Ryan - Vice President of Specialty Pharmacy Srulik Dvorsky - TailorMed Michael Oleksiw and Abby Reynolds - Pleio Fran Gregory - PharmD, Cardinal Health  

This episode we look at some of the latest compounding news, and then we’ve got a deep dive into state-level legislation with the Leading Ladies of Pharmacy Compounding Advocacy. What bills are being introduced? What do they really mean when you read the detail? How will they affect state policies, and what could come next? And, of course, how are APC and compounding pharmacies fighting back against the bad bills that put patients at risk? If you’re a compounder, if you have patients who use compounded medications, or if you’re a patient yourself, you’ll want to hear this. Links from the podcast: The FDA statement on excluding GLP-1s from bulk compounding: https://fllw.me/491oGl3 FDA Law Blog on the state of peptide compounding: https://fllw.me/4cpFF2C (part 1), https://fllw.me/4nxd13G (part 2) Is It Legit? to find a state-licensed compounding pharmacy: https://a4pc.org/isitlegit Join APC! https://a4pc.org/join

Birth Rights, Medical Bills & Maternal Advocacy with Andi Orwoll, Esq In this powerful episode of MaternalRx, Dr. Danielle Plummer sits down with Nevada attorney and founder of Your Legal Doula, Andi Orwoll, to discuss the often-overlooked legal and financial realities families face during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum recovery. From navigating IVF paperwork and unexpected C-sections to battling insurance denials and understanding birth rights, Andi shares how her own journey into motherhood inspired her to create a legal advocacy practice specifically for pregnant and postpartum families. This conversation explores the intersection of maternal health, patient advocacy, legal protections, informed consent, workplace rights, and the emotional toll of navigating the U.S. healthcare system during one of life’s most vulnerable seasons. In this episode, we discuss: - Why birth rights matter - The legal gaps in maternal healthcare - Insurance denials and surprise medical bills - IVF, fertility care, and the hidden administrative burden - Informed consent and patient advocacy during labor - The Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (PWFA) - The midwifery model of care vs. traditional obstetric care - Maternal mental load and postpartum vulnerability - Why tracking medical records, bills, and receipts matters - Navigating medical bills and insurance appeals Key Takeaways: “Policy never overrides your rights.” Andi explains how many patients are intimidated in medical settings and may not realize they have the legal right to informed consent, respectful care, and bodily autonomy during pregnancy and birth. Birth experiences matter. Even when outcomes are medically positive, the emotional and psychological experience of birth can have lasting effects. Advocacy, education, and support can profoundly shape those experiences. The paperwork burden is real. Pregnancy often comes with overwhelming administrative tasks: insurance appeals, billing disputes, maternity leave paperwork, provider reimbursements, and more — all during an emotionally and physically vulnerable time. Midwives, doulas, OBs, pharmacists, and lawyers all have a role. Maternal healthcare works best when it’s collaborative. This episode highlights the importance of interdisciplinary support systems for pregnant families. Track everything. One of the biggest practical pearls from this episode: keep copies of: - Medical bills - Insurance explanations of benefits (EOBs) - Receipts - Appointment dates - Correspondence with insurance companies - Workplace accommodation requests Documentation can make all the difference if problems arise later. About the Guest: Andi Orwoll is a Nevada-licensed attorney and founder of Your Legal Doula, a legal advocacy practice focused on supporting families navigating pregnancy, birth, postpartum recovery, workplace accommodations, and healthcare systems in the United States. Inspired by her own experience with IVF, an unexpected hospital birth, and overwhelming postpartum paperwork, Andi created Your Legal Doula to help families understand their rights and confidently advocate for themselves during pregnancy and birth. * Follow Andi: - https://yourlegaldoula.com/ - Instagram @yourlegaldoula About the Host: Danielle Plummer is a pharmacist, antepartum doula, and founder of Obstet-Rx. Through education, advocacy, and pharmacogenetics, she helps women navigate hyperemesis gravidarum and manage medications through complex pregnancy-related conditions. * Follow Danielle: - www.HGPharmacist.com - linkedin.com/in/daniellerplummer Memorable Quotes “We are not playing. We are here to have the birth experience that we want.” “Policy never overrides your rights.” “The most important work you are doing during your perinatal season should not be paperwork.” “The way we are treated during birth matters.” Resources Mentioned https://yourlegaldoula.com/ https://hgpharmacist.com/ Pregnant Workers Fairness Act (EEOC): www.eeoc.gov/ Disclaimer: This podcast episode is intended for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or medical advice. The opinions expressed are those of the speakers and do not reflect the views of their employers or affiliated organizations.

A leadership-level discussion on why drug shortages and supply instability continue to challenge pharmacy, and what executives must understand about operations, compliance, sourcing, and strategy to build a more durable supply chain.

In this episode of the PBM Reform Podcast, host Greg Reybold, Vice President and General Counsel at APCI, welcomes Josh Golden, Senior Vice President of Strategy at Judi Health and a nationally recognized voice in Pharmacy Benefit Manager reform. With more than 20 years of healthcare consulting experience, Golden brings deep expertise in vendor procurement, contract negotiation, plan design, and benefit strategy for large employers, government entities, and unions. Together, Reybold and Golden examine the financial models behind today’s PBM industry and why true transparency remains so difficult for employers, plan sponsors, patients, and pharmacies. The conversation explores how current PBM arrangements often benefit the PBMs more than the employers paying for coverage or the patients relying on their prescription benefits. Golden explains why auditing PBM contracts, rebate structures, spread pricing, administrative fees, pharmacy networks, and formulary decisions is essential to understanding the real economics of prescription drug benefits. This episode also addresses a growing concern in healthcare: PBM steering behavior. Are patients being quietly pushed toward specific formularies, specific pharmacies, and restricted networks that operate like closed networks without being clearly disclosed? Reybold and Golden discuss how this behavior can limit patient choice, disadvantage independent pharmacies, and distort the stated goal of lowering drug costs. The discussion also tackles the role of federal reform efforts, including whether the Appropriations Act represents meaningful PBM accountability or whether it risks becoming another layer in the broader shell game surrounding PBM reform. Finally, the episode asks one of the most important questions in pharmacy policy today: should PBMs own pharmacies? If vertical integration is promoted as a way to lower drug costs, where is the proof — and who actually benefits? Transparency, Auditing, and the PBM Shell Game | PBM Reform

This is a corporate-focused, conversational interview between Pharmacy Podcast Network Host, Todd Eury and Stephen Beckman, CEO of YARAL Pharma. The discussion explores YARAL Pharma’s unique approach to the U.S. generics market, its commitment to innovation and accessibility, and the company’s philosophy of “Doing Things Differently” by redefining what it means to be a generics partner. Stephen Beckman also shares insights into YARAL’s growth and key milestones since launching its first product in 2023, including the expansion of its product portfolio, investment in business development, and focus on building a strong company culture. Learn more at YARALPharma.com