Podcast appearances and mentions of antonio ciaccia

NCPA's Ronna Hauser, senior vice president of policy and pharmacy affairs, talks with Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors, about his firm's newest research on how the Medicaid Drug Price Negotiation Program will leave independent pharmacies high and dry.

Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors, calls in to talk about the prices of prescriptions.

Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors says managers raised prescription prices for $7billion gain

Episode 20 of the Astonishing Healthcare podcast caught some folks' attention, as it featured Capital Rx Co-Founder and CEO AJ Loiacono and 3 Axis Advisors President/46brooklyn Research CEO Antonio Ciaccia. It's an episode you must listen to if your work or interests involve drug prices in any way. NADAC - national average drug acquisition cost - was the focus of our discussion on this episode, which was among the most downloaded and streamed episodes in 2024, and with PBM reform and drug prices top of mind, what better time to highlight it?NADAC serves as a crucial price benchmark for our industry, providing freely available visibility and some level of understanding - a "source of truth" - of drug prices in the United States. Average wholesale price (AWP) and other indexes fail to reflect actual acquisition cost/supply chain economics but have prevailed for years. Is it the pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs)? Is it the wholesalers? At Capital Rx, we have always preferred to leverage NADAC whenever possible because of its numerous positive attributes. Tune in to learn more about the changes that occurred early in 2024, and you can click here to see the most recent updates to NADAC.Related ContentWhat is NADAC & How Does It Differ From AWP?Why Use NADAC-Based Pricing Over AWPMedicaid.gov - Drug Pricing (where NADAC lives)Please visit Capital Rx Insights for more information, including this episode's transcript, AND we'll add links to any new studies or documents that may interest you if you're a student of drug prices or a fan of NADAC.

Entrepreneur, television star, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, and now PBM disruptor Mark Cuban drops in this week to talk about his newest passion, Cost Plus Drugs, which is turning the industry upside down. Cuban is joined by Cost Plus Drug VP of Pharmacy Relations and Chief Privacy Officer Erin Albert, and well-known industry analyst Antonio Ciaccia. They bat it around with NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey for this very special episode of Independent Rx Forum. https://tccforms.webflow.io/form-one

In this special episode, we discuss the Pharmacists Fight Back Act and explore Ohio's pivotal role in advancing PBM reform. Join us for a compelling discussion with three distinguished pharmacy leaders: David Burke, Executive Director of the Ohio Pharmacists Association; Mark Kinney, Executive Vice President of Government Relations at the Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC); and Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46brooklyn Research & 3Axis Advisors, our resident expert on PBM data. Legislative Spotlight: U.S. Representatives Jake Auchincloss (D, MA-04) and Diana Harshbarger (R, TN-01) have introduced the Pharmacists Fight Back Act to combat the detrimental practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), the intermediaries responsible for escalating drug prices, undermining community pharmacies, and restricting patient options in federal healthcare plans. This bipartisan bill represents the most comprehensive federal reform targeting PBMs to date. Key Provisions of the Act: Establishes a transparent pharmacy reimbursement model based on market pricing, aligned with the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost (NADAC) plus a state-specific dispensing fee, capped at either 2% or $25. Eliminates PBM-imposed restrictions on patient choice through network exclusions. Safeguards community pharmacists by banning PBM practices that steer patients to their own affiliated pharmacies. The scrutiny on PBMs is intensifying, as communities nationwide face pharmacy shortages, hindering access to care and driving up health plan premiums and out-of-pocket drug costs. With recent developments, including a House Committee on Oversight & Accountability report, hearings featuring leaders from the three largest PBMs led by Representative James Comer (R, KY-01), and the potential for a lawsuit from the Federal Trade Commission, the urgency for Congressional action has never been greater.  Tune in to learn how we can advocate for meaningful change! Guests:  David Burke Executive Director Ohio Pharmacists Association dburke at ohiopharmacists dot org Mark Kinney Executive Vice President of Government Relations Independent Pharmacy Cooperative mark.kinney at ipcrx dot com Antonio Ciaccia Chief Executive Officer  46brooklyn Research

Antonio Ciaccia of 3 Axis Advisors returns to the show to discuss reform updates of how pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) affect prescription drug prices and their relationship with pharmacies, nationwide and here in New Hampshire.

In this episode of "The Business of Pharmacy Podcast," host Mike Koelzer is joined by industry experts Antonio Ciaccia, Benjamin Jolley, and Luke Slindee to discuss the complex world of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Antonio Ciaccia, president of Three Axis Advisors, Benjamin Jolley, pharmacist and Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, and Luke Slindee, a second-generation pharmacist, bring their insights into the conversation. The discussion kicks off with the upcoming congressional hearing where the CEOs of the three largest PBMs will testify. Antonio explains the significant influence PBMs have on drug pricing and the lack of transparency in their operations. Mike probes into the potential stonewalling tactics PBM executives might use during their testimonies. The guests emphasize the need for Congress to ask pointed questions to reveal the true nature of PBM practices, particularly their role in price discrimination and handling rebates. They also discuss the challenges independent pharmacies face due to PBMs' market power, highlighting the disparities in drug pricing and its impact on pharmacies and patients. Tune in to this episode for a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics in the world of PBMs and what the future might hold for pharmacy pricing and policy. Subscribe to The Business of Pharmacy Podcast for more in-depth discussions and insights from industry leaders every Monday.

Antonio Ciaccia, a prescription Drug Expert explains why they have so much influence on drug prices

In this episode, Antonio Ciaccia, CEO of 46Brooklyn Research and President of 3 Axis Advisors, discusses the urgent need for PBMs to be transparent about their pricing practices. Join us as we delve into the complexities of drug pricing and the importance of accountability in the pharmacy industry. https://www.46brooklyn.com/ https://www.bizofpharmpod.com/ https://www.parcelhealth.co/

What do you get when schedules line up and AJ Loiacono and Antonio Ciaccia are the guests on a podcast? An episode you must listen to if your work or interests are in any way centered on drug prices. NADAC - national average drug acquisition cost - was the focus of our discussion on this episode of the Astonishing Healthcare podcast. Recent methodology changes and a new survey participant have combined to drive meaningful deflation in generic drug prices. AJ and Antonio dive into why this is significant and other factors stakeholders should consider.NADAC serves as a crucial price benchmark, providing visibility and some level of understanding - a "source of truth" - of drug pricing in the United States. Average wholesale price (AWP) and other indexes fail to reflect actual acquisition cost/supply chain economics but have prevailed for years. Is it the pharmacy benefits managers (PBMs)? Is it the wholesalers? At Capital Rx, we have always preferred to leverage NADAC whenever possible despite its imperfections. Nothing is perfect in the pharmaceutical supply chain regarding drug pricing, and NADAC remains the best, most reliable option. Tune in to discover what's happened and what to watch for next!Related ContentWhat is NADAC & How Does It Differ From AWP?Why Use NADAC-Based Pricing Over AWPMedicaid.gov - Drug Pricing (where NADAC lives)Please visit Capital Rx Insights for more information, including this episode's transcript, AND we'll add links to any new studies or documents that may interest you if you're a student of drug prices or a fan of NADAC.

In this episode, we explore the 340B Drug Pricing Program, an essential yet complex component of the American drug supply landscape that aims to enable healthcare entities to offer more affordable medication to underserved populations. We interview Antonio Ciaccia, a drug pricing and 340B expert who provides an in-depth look at how the program works, its financial incentives, and how stakeholders have exploited this well-intentioned program, all to the detriment of patients. Antonio Ciaccia, President, 3 Axis Advisors and CEO, 46brooklyn Research, an Ohio non-profit Corporation 46brooklyn Ohio Pharmacist Association 3 Axis Advisors Medicaid 340B Program 340B Litigation 340 Eligibility, HRSA Covered Entities Medicaid Drug Rebate Program Obamacare Indian Health Service "Money from Sick People," Report from 46Brooklyn Medicare Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) Jamie Robinson, Health Economist Medical terminology referenced in this episode: Novolog Questions or comments?Email us at comments@prescriptionforbetteraccess.com.Find us on social media! Follow us on X, LinkedIn, YouTube and Threads.

Jon talks about the latest city clowncil decision and is joined by Antonio Ciaccia.

Jon talks about the latest city clowncil decision and is joined by Antonio Ciaccia.

For a full transcript of this episode, click here. In this healthcare podcast we're talking about pharmacy acronyms or terms like AWP and WAC, and, not really an acronym, but we'll also talk pharmacy list prices, rebates, discounts. We also have NADAC, but that's slightly off to the side for reasons we'll get to in a sec. Most of these acronyms refer to a number with a dollar sign in front of it, and it's hell on wheels to figure out if and/or to what extent that number reflects what is going on in the real world, especially if you are a patient or a plan sponsor and all you see is the list price that Pharma puts out on one side of the storyboard, and then what the patient pays or (if you're lucky) what the plan pays for the drug on the way other side of the whole chain of events. What's a black box a lot of times for patients and plan sponsors is what goes on in the middle, wherein many middle people get their mitts on the transaction. Real quick here, let's run through the Mister Rogers' neighborhood of all of these middle people right now; and we're gonna do this really briefly. Most of you are already going to know most of this, but I just want to remind you so that when my guest today, Luke Slindee, and I kick into the conversation about the acronyms and the terms and we try to follow the dollar … yeah, you can put a name to a face. Alright, so first we have pharma manufacturers. The pharma manufacturer—and this is largely gonna be true whether it's a branded drug or a generic pharma manufacturer—but the manufacturer sets a list price. This list price is gonna be called an AWP or a WAC price, and we're gonna get into the differences and what those terms actually mean in the show that follows. But Pharma decides their price point. They go to wholesalers with that price. Wholesalers say they want a discount to purchase the product. Some kind of rebate or discount is negotiated. Now the wholesalers have the drug, and they get calls from pharmacies. Pharmacies have patients who have scripts for that, so the pharmacies need to buy the drug. What price does the pharmacy now pay the wholesaler for the drug? Short answer: It's nuts. It's nuts how the wholesalers decide what to charge the pharmacies for the drug. We talk about that in the interview that follows, but suffice to say that now we have the list price turning into whatever price the pharmacies wound up paying to get the drug from the wholesalers for. Any way you cut it, the wholesalers are making some money. Okay … now we get to the part where we're figuring out how much the patient or the plan sponsor will pay to pick up that drug that started at the pharma manufacturers and went to the wholesalers and now is at the pharmacy. How much are the patients gonna pay? How much are the plan sponsors gonna pay? If you spend any time in the real world (not the drug supply chain world), what you'd expect to happen next is that the patient would go into the pharmacy and the pharmacist would charge a markup and/or a dispensing fee on the price that they bought the drug from the wholesaler for. That'd be normal. And this can be the case when patients pay cash. Listen to the show with Mark Cuban (EP418, along with Ferrin Williams, PharmD, MBA), who started a pharmacy called Cost Plus Drugs. Get it? Their prices are cost plus. You have had other pharmacies for years doing similar things, like Blueberry in Pittsburgh. They get the drug. They buy it from a wholesaler or etc. But they buy the drug for some price, and then they sell it to their customers (ie, patients) at their cost plus. But most of the time in pharmacy supply chain world, things don't work that way because many patients have insurance. When a patient walks into the pharmacy, someone has to figure out how much the patient owes and how much their insurance will cover, right? So, enter PBMs (pharmacy benefit managers). They originally started out doing this math (ie, adjudicating claims), figuring out what the out-of-pocket will be for the patient and then what the insurance will cover. Then drugs started to get really expensive and a few other developments, and then, all of a sudden, we have PBMs negotiating with Pharma for how much of a rebate the PBM is going to demand for the PBM to put the manufacturer drug on formulary. The PBM also is determining how much they will pay the pharmacy for said drug on behalf of plan sponsors, in addition to doing the math for how much the patient will pay. So, let me say that again because it kind of begs a “what now?” with eyebrows sky-high as the appropriate response to what I just said, especially if you think through the ramifications here, ramifications which I discuss at length with Vinay Patel (EP241); Benjamin Jolley, PharmD (EP422); Scott Haas (EP365); Paul Holmes (EP397); and others. So, again, the PBM is not just adjudicating claims. They are also negotiating rebates from Pharma so plan sponsors do not have to pay the full amount that the wholesalers paid Pharma and that the pharmacies paid the wholesalers, which maybe is a lot of money. The PBMs are like, “Hey, Pharma. You need to give me a piece of your action because we, the PBM, have big market power. I serve 100 million patients or something. So, if you want access to my 100 million lives, you gotta shell it out. You gotta shell me out some rebates.” So, fine, Pharma gives the PBM some amount of money in the form of a rebate. And it has to work that way, if you think about it, because the drug was originally sold to the wholesaler. You see what I'm saying? So, the pharma company has to give the PBMs a separate rebate amount. This is in addition to how much the PBM told the plan sponsor the plan sponsor owes for the drug, which is also paid to the PBM. But now, PBM is also still in charge of adjudicating the claim. So, they're telling the pharmacy how much to charge the patient. Somehow or another also, the PBM also got itself in charge of deciding how much money the pharmacy itself would be reimbursed by that PBM. In the rest of the world, the pharmacy might tell the PBM, “Hey, this is the price.” But not in pharmacy supply chain world. In pharmacy supply chain world, the PBM tells the pharmacy how much it's gonna pay. The end. And this, my friends, is how so often pharmacies get themselves in the pickle of having to pay the wholesaler one price to get the drug while they get reimbursed a totally different price to dispense the drug. And because independents have very little negotiating leverage on actually either side of that equation, they so very often buy high and sell low. Please listen to the shows with Benjamin Jolley (EP422) and Vinay Patel (EP241), where we get into this in a lot of detail. But I just want to emphasize this point: All of that whole drug supply chain I just went through, where the manufacturer sells to the wholesaler who sells to the pharmacy and the PBM pays the pharmacy and the patient is paying something and the plan sponsor is paying something—many of the middleman transactions in there happen under the cover of darkness a lot of times. If I'm a plan sponsor, do I have any idea how much the PBM paid the pharmacy for any particular drug? Unless you're good at looking at the NADAC numbers (more on this coming up), no. I do not have any idea what a fair price for that drug actually is and how much people are making on the back of that drug as it goes through the supply chain. And this, my friends, is how come spread pricing can exist. Because spread pricing is when the PBM charges the plan sponsor more than they are paying the pharmacy, pocketing the difference, and then calling what they pocket a trade secret—even if it's the plan sponsor whose butt is on the line to make sure that what the PBM is pocketing is fair and reasonable compensation. I mean, if only J&J had listened to this show (EP428). Here's a link to the lawsuit, which is about J&J paying ridiculous amounts in spread pricing. If what I just said is really confusing, I'm gonna validate that and say, “Yeah, it is really confusing.” And to a certain extent, that might be the main point. Where there's mystery, there's margin and all of that. Here's what Dawn Cornelis said on LinkedIn in response to an article about the lawsuit: “Data accessibility lies at the heart of mitigating a fiduciary lawsuit. It all begins with gaining access to your data. But let's be clear—it's not an easy feat. The major hurdle? Procuring accurate data from your TPA [third-party administrator]. And that's just the first step. The subsequent challenge involves analyzing this data, a task best handled by a skilled healthcare data analyst—yet another formidable undertaking.” The one acronym in this whole stew that is not questionable at all is the NADAC. So, let's talk about the NADAC for a moment, the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost Price Benchmark. I was really thrilled to get Luke Slindee to be my guest today—or one reason I was so thrilled—is because Luke works for the accounting firm who, on behalf of CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) and the federal government, administers this NADAC, the National Average Drug Acquisition Cost. (Here's a good NADAC explainer if you're interested.) In brief, NADAC was jointly developed by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and it calculates the average price that pharmacies pay for prescription drugs. NADAC is based on a retail price survey. My guest today, as aforementioned, is Luke Slindee. He is a second-generation pharmacist. His family owned a pharmacy in Minnesota when he was growing up. Now he is a senior pharmacy consultant for Myers and Stauffer, which is the accounting firm that calculates the NADAC Price Benchmark on behalf of CMS and the federal government. Also mentioned in this episode are Mark Cuban; Ferrin Williams, PharmD, MBA; Blueberry Pharmacy; Vinay Patel; Benjamin Jolley, PharmD; Scott Haas; Paul Holmes; Dawn Cornelis; Capital Rx; Myers and Stauffer LC; Adam Fein; Joey Dizenhouse; Steven Quimby, MD; and Antonio Ciaccia.   For additional information, go to data.medicaid.gov. You can also follow Luke on LinkedIn.   Luke Slindee, PharmD, is a second-generation pharmacist with a background in independent pharmacy, chain pharmacy, data analytics, and prescription drug pricing. He currently supports public drug pricing transparency benchmarks and is an advocate for pharmacy reimbursement reform and antitrust enforcement in healthcare.   09:52 Why is it important for plan sponsors to understand the going rate for every point in the supply chain? 10:21 How do manufacturers come up with a list price? 10:40 What does AWP stand for? 10:59 What does WAC stand for? 11:06 How are AWP and WAC numbers chosen by the manufacturer? 13:22 What is the difference between AWP and WAC? 14:54 How much are wholesalers paying to manufacturers? 16:43 How much is the pharmacy paying for branded drugs from a wholesaler? 17:34 Why might pharmacies be buying drugs for less than what wholesalers are paying? 18:17 Substack article by Benjamin Jolley, PharmD, on this topic. 19:22 EP423 with Joey Dizenhouse. 20:33 Why do things get weird when a PBM gets involved? 21:58 How does all of this work for generic manufacturers? 25:20 EP344 with Steven Quimby, MD. 26:15 How did Civica Rx come about? 32:21 What's the difference between the NADAC and the AWP value? 36:04 Luke discusses the downstream effects to pharmacies.   For additional information, go to data.medicaid.gov. You can also follow Luke on LinkedIn.   Luke Slindee discusses #followingthedollar through #WAC, #AWP & #NADAC on our #healthcarepodcast. #healthcare #podcast #digitalhealth #healthcareleadership #healthcaretransformation #healthcareinnovation   Recent past interviews: Click a guest's name for their latest RHV episode! Julie Selesnick, Rik Renard, AJ Loiacono (Encore! EP379), Nina Lathia, Marshall Allen, Stacey Richter (INBW39), Peter Hayes, Joey Dizenhouse, Benjamin Jolley, Emily Kagan Trenchard (Encore! EP392)

Antonio Ciaccia, a leading expert in PDM's, explains why Ohio is leading the way in stopping price gouging, and how we can do this nation wide

Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors, talks about large Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) companies, their influence on prescription drug prices and how federal legislation aims to pass more savings and rebates onto the consumer.

Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors, talks about large Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM) companies, their influence on prescription drug prices and how federal legislation aims to pass more savings and rebates onto the consumer.

Today's guest include Rachel Bitecofer, Author of "Hit 'Em Where It Hurts" Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors, a leading expert on prescription drug price Garrard McClendon, Associate Professor at Chicago State University Geoffrey Corn, Former Judge Advocate General officer and director of the Center for Military Law and Policy at Texas Tech University

NHBR editors speak with NH State Rep Erica Layon (Derry, NH) and Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors, about the negative effects pharmacy benefit managers have on the cost of prescription drugs and the health care system as a whole.

Ron Gordon From Edward Jones has the financial news and report, Antonio Ciaccia with news of some positive movement to rein in high prescription drug prices. open phones and emails follow.

Health Policy Expert on Drug Pricing, Antonio Ciaccia discusses the surprising reasons for the costs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Health Policy Expert and Ohio State Graduate, Antonio Ciaccia goes in depth on how we are being dinged with high prices!

Antonio Ciaccia, Lead Health Policy Expert and President of 3 Axis Advisors, talks about a news study by 3 Axis Advisors to determine just how prices are being set for prescription drugs.

Antonio Ciaccia, Lead Health Policy Expert and President of 3 Axis Advisors, talks about a news study by 3 Axis Advisors to determine just how prices are being set for prescription drugs.

Antonio Ciaccia is the President of 3 Axis Advisors. He was born and raised in pharmacy, Antonio has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life. After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management. 3 Axis Advisors brings unique approaches to address the individual needs of each or our clients. As researchers and investigators at heart, 3 Axis endeavors are laser-focused on discovery through data-driven analysis and deep industry expertise, resulting in innovative and unique solutions.  Our obsessive passion for understanding complex systems and our immersion in the prescription drug supply chain and the broader healthcare delivery system enables us to arm our clients with the tools they need to accomplish their goals. Reference:  Ohio regulator's proposed pharmacy rules draw mixed response  New regs meant to promote safety at understaffed stores https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/10/02/ohio-regulators-proposed-pharmacy-rules-draw-mixed-response/ 

Antonio Ciaccia is the President of 3 Axis Advisors. He was born and raised in pharmacy, Antonio has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life. After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management. 3 Axis Advisors brings unique approaches to address the individual needs of each or our clients. As researchers and investigators at heart, 3 Axis endeavors are laser-focused on discovery through data-driven analysis and deep industry expertise, resulting in innovative and unique solutions.  Our obsessive passion for understanding complex systems and our immersion in the prescription drug supply chain and the broader healthcare delivery system enables us to arm our clients with the tools they need to accomplish their goals. Reference:  Ohio regulator's proposed pharmacy rules draw mixed response  New regs meant to promote safety at understaffed stores https://ohiocapitaljournal.com/2023/10/02/ohio-regulators-proposed-pharmacy-rules-draw-mixed-response/ 

Earl is joined by pharmaceutical insider and advocate, Antonio Ciaccia, to discuss the systemic problems that cause Americans to pay exorbitantly high prescription drug prices. Guest: Antonio Ciaccia

House Energy and Commerce Committee cleared a PBM bill that seems to contain more transparency loopholes and makes more limited policy tweaks to the drug supply chain middleman than the Senate HELP Committee's bill, but the House-side legislation would pull back the curtain on specialty-drug reimbursement in a way the Senate version does not.  Two titans of PBM Reform join us today, returning guest Antonio Ciaccia with 3 Axis Advisors and Loretta Boesing with Unite for Safe Medications update our PBM Reform Podcast listeners with the latest progression in PBM Reform.  Reference:  PBM Reform: Vertical Integration, Specialty Drug Tracking Among Differences In House v. Senate Bills https://pink.pharmaintelligence.informa.com/PS148320/PBM-Reform-Vertical-Integration-Specialty-Drug-Tracking-Among-Differences-In-House-v-Senate-Bills 

House Energy and Commerce Committee cleared a PBM bill that seems to contain more transparency loopholes and makes more limited policy tweaks to the drug supply chain middleman than the Senate HELP Committee's bill, but the House-side legislation would pull back the curtain on specialty-drug reimbursement in a way the Senate version does not.  Two titans of PBM Reform join us today, returning guest Antonio Ciaccia with 3 Axis Advisors and Loretta Boesing with Unite for Safe Medications update our PBM Reform Podcast listeners with the latest progression in PBM Reform.  Reference:  PBM Reform: Vertical Integration, Specialty Drug Tracking Among Differences In House v. Senate Bills https://pink.pharmaintelligence.informa.com/PS148320/PBM-Reform-Vertical-Integration-Specialty-Drug-Tracking-Among-Differences-In-House-v-Senate-Bills 

A new book from Dr. Bill Smith of the Pioneer Institute outlines how quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) discriminate against patients and threaten rare disease innovation; Antonio Ciaccia breaks down Ohio's lawsuit against PBMs and the issue of vertical integration; and Pat Carroll from Connecticut talks about how copay accumulator programs make it difficult for patients to afford care. Crapo, Wyden Release Legislative Framework to Address PBMs, Prescription Drug Supply Chain Yost Sues Express Scripts, Prime Therapeutics and 5 Others, Blaming Exorbitant Drug Prices on Their Collusion Rationing Medicine: Threats from European Cost-Effectiveness Models to America's Seniors and other Vulnerable Populations Patients Rising Stories

46brooklyn is a group of pharmacy experts who set out to educate others about what they had learned about the frustrating complexity of the U.S. drug pricing system. As 46brooklyn dug into the pharmaceutical supply chain, Ohio began uncovering hundreds of millions of dollars in state overspending on prescription drugs through its Ohio Medicaid program. 46brooklyn's founders had begun doing data analytics and research to help uncover massive disconnects between pharmacy reimbursements, the actual costs of prescription drugs, and what the state of Ohio was getting charged through its state Medicaid program.Ever since, 46brooklyn has spearheaded a national push for more transparency into the pharmaceutical supply chain, particularly the role played by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs).

Antonio Ciaccia & Ben Link, PharmD, 3 Axis Advisors and 46brooklyn discuss how the pharmacy market is impacted by vertical integration. https://www.3axisadvisors.com/ https://www.46brooklyn.com/

Where are the mystery costs your pharmacy absorbs and how does it affect your drugs and price?

In this episode, our guest is Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors and CEO of 46brooklyn Research. Born and raised in the world of pharmacy, Antonio Ciaccia has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life. After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management, eventually heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, where his data analytics work helped lead state officials to audit and uncover $244 million in hidden prescription drug overcharges in the state Medicaid managed care program. After years of studying the pharmacy marketplace, Antonio became increasingly perplexed and concerned as he saw drug costs spiking while payouts to pharmacies were declining and more drugs were being excluded from plan coverage. Knowing something was being lost somewhere in the middle of an ever-growing transaction, Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code and pull the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world. Today, he serves as the President of 3 Axis Advisors, a consulting firm that works with Medicaid Fraud Control Units, provider groups, research firms, technology companies, law firms, investment analysts, employers, government agencies, benefit consultants, and private foundations to diagnose and eliminate inefficiencies and inappropriate incentives in the prescription drug supply chain. Within that capacity, he also serves as an advisor to the American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA). He is also the CEO and co-founder of 46brooklyn Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the transparency and accessibility of drug pricing data for the American public. Main Points: Drug pricing is way too complex, and many entities make money off that complexity. Unfortunately, industry consolidation and vertical integration has put many pharmacies in a tough spot, as their once reliable business model has now become increasingly compressed over time. Because pharmacy economics has been primarily derived from revenue harvested from filing prescriptions, the service of pharmacists has been overlooked and thrown into the drug pricing stew. Drug prices are currently being exploited by arbitrageurs, compromising pharmacy viability and their ability to provide a high level of service to patients. Arbitrage must be eliminated, and pharmacists should derive compensation from better aligned incentive structures that emphasize the delivery of value-added services. Guest - Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors and CEO of 46brooklyn Research -LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/antonio-ciaccia-390879b/ -Instagram: @A_Ciaccia -Twitter: @A_Ciaccia -Website: https://www.3axisadvisors.com/ and https://www.46brooklyn.com/ Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA www.hillaryblackburn.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/ @talktoyourpharmacist for Instagram and Facebook @HillBlackburn Twitter

You asked, we answered! On this episode, Ben is joined by some of the other 46brooklyn volunteers who help make the podcast possible and we collectively answer questions we've received regarding drug prices and the U.S. drug supply chain.

While Jan. 1 means sleeping off a campagne-induced hangover for many, for drug-price wonks, it means an opportunity to look at price-change behavior in the pharmaceutical market, as January is traditionally the month where most list-priceadjustments happen.   Antonio Ciaccia from 46Brooklyn and 3Axis Advisors, looks as closely at the data as anyone -- his Brand Drug Boxscore is required reading -- and has a good sense of the few times should care about list price changes, as well the many reasons why focusing too much on list price increases is ill-advised.  He joins us this month to get into the truths and the asterisks of talking about the January price-hike tradition.  

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) are pouring gas on a fire they were hired to put out.  That's from Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors.who says PBMs have conflicts of interest in the drug chain and are collecting the discounts meant for consumers. You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page. Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The entities charged with negotiating better drug prices for consumers are pocketing the savings for themselves.  Antonio Ciaccia, president of 3 Axis Advisors, explains how these little-known Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) became Fortune 15 companies. You can follow this show on Instagram and on Facebook. And to see what Heather does when she's not talking money, go to her personal Twitter page. Be sure to email Heather your questions and request topics you'd like her to cover here. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scott Knoer and Antonio Ciaccia discuss the advantages and challenges of fighting for pharmacy on a national level. https://www.pharmacist.com/ https://www.3axisadvisors.com/

LIVE on KPFT 90.1 FM: Antonio Ciaccia exposes Pharmacy Benefit Managers. Build Back Better and media misinformation exposed & more. Red State Democratic Senator shows how to sell progressive policies unabashedly: Red State Senator Jon Tester shows precisely how one sells progressive policies even in a deep red state like Montana. BAM! Chuck Todd busted in real-time twisting guest's poll of youth participation in Election 2022: This Chuck Todd interview is a real-time illustration of the mainstream media trying to influence an election with a narrative change. Watch Prez Joe Biden call out mainstream media about lying about the vast empty shelves: President Joe Biden took the mainstream media to task. And he did it with class and urged them to go back and do their job. IRONIC: Supreme Court ruling will hurt women in Red State as Blue State women maintain choice: It is ironic that “freedom-loving-don't-tread-on-me” Red States are taking away women's control of their bodies as Blue State women maintain theirs. Stephanie Ruhle comes out swinging: Defends Biden from mainstream media misleading on supply chain: The mainstream media continue to distort the economy under Joe Biden. Stephanie Ruhle came out swinging for the president. Thugs-In-Ties-Suit: 3 Axis Advisor Prez Antonio Ciaccia on Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBM) report: Antonio Ciaccia exposes Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and their drug pricing complicity. My question is, should PBMs even exist? --- If you like what we do please do the following! Most Independent Media outlets continue to struggle to raise the funds they need to operate much like the smaller outlets like Politics Done Right SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel here. LIKE our Facebook Page here. Share our blogs, podcasts, and videos. Get our books here. Become a YouTube PDR Posse Member here. Become a Politics Done Right Subscriber via Patreon here. Become a Politics Done Right Subscriber via Facebook here. Consider providing a contribution here. Please consider supporting our GoFundMe equipment fund here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/politicsdoneright/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/politicsdoneright/support

Antonio Ciaccia exposes Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and their drug pricing complicity. Joe Biden used real-world examples to sell Build Back Better. President of 3 Axis Advisor discusses his Pharmacy Benefit Managers PBM report 3axisadvisors com: Antonio Ciaccia (CHA CHA), President of 3 Axis Advisors. He led government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency. Antonio has since spent years studying the pharmacy marketplace, publishing several analyses on the drug pricing code and pulling the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world. Joe Biden uses real world story to expose drug company thievery and to sell Build Back Better. ‘Utterly Obscene': Just 8 Pfizer and Moderna Investors Became $10 Billion Richer After Omicron Emerged: “Pharma execs and shareholders are making a killing from a crisis they helped to create,” said one justice campaigner. In the first week that the Omicron variant sparked global fears of a new wave of infections, a small handful of investors and executives with Pfizer and Moderna—currently the world's preeminent makers of Covid-19 vaccines—saw over $10 billion in new wealth, with the Moderna's CEO alone adding over $800 million to his personal fortune. --- If you like what we do please do the following! Most Independent Media outlets continue to struggle to raise the funds they need to operate much like the smaller outlets like Politics Done Right SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel here. LIKE our Facebook Page here. Share our blogs, podcasts, and videos. Get our books here. Become a YouTube PDR Posse Member here. Become a Politics Done Right Subscriber via Patreon here. Become a Politics Done Right Subscriber via Facebook here. Consider providing a contribution here. Please consider supporting our GoFundMe equipment fund here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/politicsdoneright/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/politicsdoneright/support

Antonio Ciaccia exposes Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) and their drug pricing complicity. My question is, should PBMs even exist? Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors led government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency. Antonio has since spent years studying the pharmacy marketplace, publishing several analyses on the drug pricing code, and pulling the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world. If you have health insurance, whether it be through Medicare, Medicaid, or private insurance, chances are it's managed by a PBM. They act as middlemen between drug manufacturers and patients' health plans, negotiating savings on prescription medicines and determining which drugs will be covered by insurance. However, PBMs fail to pass savings to the patients and insurance companies, while undermining the possibility for competition that would drive value and savings for consumers. This drives up the cost of prescription drugs, leaving you to pay more out of pocket. “With PBMs essentially centered at the core of the U.S. drug supply chain, it begs for scrutiny of how their business practices may exacerbate drug pricing dysfunction and excess,” said Mr. Ciacias. “As PBMs claim to be the only entity working to control drug prices, we believe that analyses like this report can shed light on the incentives and opportunities PBMs have to inflate costs rather than provide savings to plan sponsors and patients.”--- If you like what we do please do the following! Most Independent Media outlets continue to struggle to raise the funds they need to operate much like the smaller outlets like Politics Done Right SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel here. LIKE our Facebook Page here. Share our blogs, podcasts, and videos. Get our books here. Become a YouTube PDR Posse Member here. Become a Politics Done Right Subscriber via Patreon here. Become a Politics Done Right Subscriber via Facebook here. Consider providing a contribution here. Please consider supporting our GoFundMe equipment fund here. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/politicsdoneright/message Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/politicsdoneright/support

Healthcare continues to be front and center in the national discourse, particularly in the midst of the pandemic. As Congress works on policy solutions to lower healthcare costs for consumers, we face an unfair disadvantage when it comes to what we're paying at the pharmacy counter. Many consumers don't know that this is largely due to middlemen companies called pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3Axis Advisors and Chief Executive Officer of 46brooklyn Research, joins NCL's Executive Director Sally Greenberg to talk about the role PBMs play in our drug pricing system and how they impact what consumers pay out-of-pocket for their medicines. *Due to COVID-19 safety protocols, this episode was recorded remotely. Audio quality may not be consistent throughout.*

CP71:  Making Sense of The PBM Scam: A Conversation with Warrior & Advocate Antonio CiacciaSee the resources:===

This is a follow up to the previous episode where Dr. Geyer's testimony to the Ohio Joint Medicaid Oversight Committee was shared. Here is Antonio Ciaccia explaining how Medicaid has been wrought with major issues in pricing and transparency due to the games and PBMs play. https://ohiochannel.org/video/ohio-joint-medicaid-oversight-committee-10-27-2021 More notes and Mr. Ciaccia's slides can be found here: https://www.jmoc.state.oh.us/meetings

Today on the show we take a look at the shadow world where pharmacy benefit managers or PBM's operate to influence drug prices. Joining us is Antonio Ciaccia, the CEO of 46Brooklyn Research, an Ohio non-profit corporation whose purpose is to improve the accessibility and usability of U.S. drug pricing data. PBMs are a meaningful part of the US drug supply chain, but until just recently, their outsized role has been hidden in the shadows. Antonio has been on the front lines introducing transparency into the prescription drug marketplace, including just recently in front of the Ohio state legislature. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

PART 2- Understanding the Complexities U.S. Drug Price ContractingThere has been a ton of talk about the need for “transparent pricing,” as well as controlling the cost of drugs in the US. There seems to be a lot of finger pointing going on and it often looks like the providers and the manufacturers are taking a lot of the heat…!?Our special guest today is Antonio Ciaccia, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, of 3 Axis Advisors. I had the privilege of hearing Antonio speak at a recent Midwest Business Group on Health webinar, and I asked Antonio to please help us understand the complexities of the drug distribution channel and how this system can really muddy the waters in our pursuit of more transparency in this segment of the healthcare system.Please note that the views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on this episode, are those of the guest(s), and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of The Kinetix Group and our staff, clients, or customers.www.TKGOncology.com

Antonio has since spent years studying the pharmacy marketplace, publishing several analyses on the drug pricing code and pulling the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world.

PART 1 - Understanding the Complexities of US Drug Price Contracting There has been a ton of talk about the need for “transparent pricing,” as well as controlling the cost of drugs in the US. There seems to be a lot of finger pointing going on and it often looks like the providers and the manufacturers are taking a lot of the heat…!?Our special guest today is Antonio Ciaccia, Chief Strategy Officer and Co-Founder, of 3 Axis Advisors. I had the privilege of hearing Antonio speak at a recent Midwest Business Group on Health webinar, and I asked Antonio to please help us understand the complexities of the drug distribution channel and how this system can really muddy the waters in our pursuit of more transparency in this segment of the healthcare system.Please note that the views and opinions expressed by the guest(s) on this episode, are those of the guest(s), and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of The Kinetix Group and our staff, clients, or customers.www.TKGOncology.com

Photo Radar or Red Light Camera Tickets. Antonio Ciaccia, President of 3 Axis Advisors: prescription medications/Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Shana Sutton, Blogger at Our Sutton Place: Barney Butter. James Mayo: SOS Hydration.

This week we speak with Antonio Ciaccia, the President of 3 Axis Advisors, about how he helped uncover $244 million in PBM spread pricing in Ohio Medicaid. We also speak about the laws that are being proposed that could reduce drug costs at the pharmacy counter and other policy solutions that can bring down patient drug costs.

On this episode of Leadership Lessons in Health-System Pharmacy you will hear from Antonio Ciaccia, as we discuss Leadership Strategy Implications for the Changing Pharmacy Landscape. After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management. He rejoined the pharmacy world, heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency and growing the role of the pharmacist. Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code through his consulting firm, 3 Axis Advisors, and dedicates a substantial portion of his time educating the public about prescription drug prices through 46brooklyn Research, a non-profit organization he co-founded in 2018. He was recently named as the Senior Advisor for Disruptive Innovation & Practice Transformation for the American Pharmacists Association.

Provider status for pharmacists has been introduced into Congress! This is big step that pharmacists need to improve healthcare for many Americans. Pharmacy politics expert Antonio Ciaccia joins the podcast to discuss why this is important and how it came about. Click here to contact your legislators: https://oneclickpolitics.global.ssl.fastly.net/messages/edit?promo_id=12540&fbclid=IwAR0wcA8oxlJgAcnMaezj0ralEQaPLV7MFIN0BkOWGhdNkAo5ghR9HpyFifQ APhA info here: https://www.pharmacist.com/advocacy/issues

Building on several past episodes exploring pharmaceutical access and pricing in Ohio, Dan talks with Loren Anthes of the Center for Community Solutions and Antonio Ciaccia of 46Brooklyn about a paper Loren recently circulated offering policy options for Ohio. Topics include ways to slow, set, cap, and regulate prices; the degree to which research and development will (or will not) be affected by caps and controls; patents; the role of pharmacy benefit managers; and more. Show notes at prognosisohio.com.

Pharmacy benefit management companies – PBMs – are currently at the center of one of the hottest debates in pharmacy. But what are they, and why do many believe they’re undermining patient care?  Antonio Caccia, APhA’s new senior director for disruptive innovation and practice transformation, joins us to talk about what he found when pulled back the curtain on PBM practices in Ohio, and needs to be done to make pharmacy right again. Guests: Antonio Caccia, Senior Advisor for Disruptive Innovation and Practice Transformation, American Pharmacists Association See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Antonio Ciaccia of 3 Axis Advisors and 46brooklyn Research, has recently been named Senior Advisor for Disruptive Innovation and Practice Transformation at the American Pharmacists Association.

Antonio Ciaccia was born and raised in pharmacy, Antonio has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life.  After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management.   Thinking that pharmacy would be in his rear-view mirror forever, he ended up making his way back to his pharmacy home, heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency. After years of studying the pharmacy marketplace, Antonio became increasingly perplexed and concerned as he saw drug costs spiking while payouts to pharmacies were declining. Knowing something was being lost somewhere in the middle of an ever-growing transaction, Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code and pull the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world. Sunshine in the Black Box of Pharmacy Benefits Management: Florida Medicaid Pharmacy Claims Analysis https://www.3axisadvisors.com/projects/2020/1/29/sunshine-in-the-black-box-of-pharmacy-benefits-management  This podcast episode was sponsored by P.U.T.T.  https://www.truthrx.org/about.html 

Antonio Ciaccia was born and raised in pharmacy, Antonio has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life.  After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management.   Thinking that pharmacy would be in his rear-view mirror forever, he ended up making his way back to his pharmacy home, heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency. After years of studying the pharmacy marketplace, Antonio became increasingly perplexed and concerned as he saw drug costs spiking while payouts to pharmacies were declining. Knowing something was being lost somewhere in the middle of an ever-growing transaction, Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code and pull the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world. Sunshine in the Black Box of Pharmacy Benefits Management: Florida Medicaid Pharmacy Claims Analysis https://www.3axisadvisors.com/projects/2020/1/29/sunshine-in-the-black-box-of-pharmacy-benefits-management  This podcast episode was sponsored by P.U.T.T.  https://www.truthrx.org/about.html  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

IN DATA WE TRUST Special Guest: ANTONIO CIACCIA with 3 Axis Advisors.  Born and raised in pharmacy, Antonio has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life.  After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management. Thinking that pharmacy would be in his rear-view mirror forever, he ended up making his way back to his pharmacy home, heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency. After years of studying the pharmacy marketplace, Antonio became increasingly perplexed and concerned as he saw drug costs spiking while payouts to pharmacies were declining. Knowing something was being lost somewhere in the middle of an ever-growing transaction, Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code and pull the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IN DATA WE TRUST Special Guest: ANTONIO CIACCIA with 3 Axis Advisors.  Born and raised in pharmacy, Antonio has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life.  After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management. Thinking that pharmacy would be in his rear-view mirror forever, he ended up making his way back to his pharmacy home, heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade organization with a strong track record of advocating for drug pricing transparency. After years of studying the pharmacy marketplace, Antonio became increasingly perplexed and concerned as he saw drug costs spiking while payouts to pharmacies were declining. Knowing something was being lost somewhere in the middle of an ever-growing transaction, Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code and pull the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world.

These recordings are those from expert interviews conducted as part of the Community-Based Pharmacy Practice course (PHR 8194) offered to students enrolled in the MS Health-System Pharmacy Administration Program at Ohio State.

These recordings are those from expert interviews conducted as part of the Community-Based Pharmacy Practice course (PHR 8194) offered to students enrolled in the MS Health-System Pharmacy Administration Program at Ohio State.

PolitiTalkRx host Scott Kjelson, PharmD welcomes special guest ANTONIO CIACCIA  CEO of 46brooklyn Research. 46brooklyn Research is an Ohio non-profit corporation whose purpose is to improve the accessibility and usability of U.S. drug pricing data. 46brooklyn takes the myriad drug pricing data sources scattered across the web and stitches them together into data visualizations that can be used by the public to better understand how the drug supply chain functions. 46brooklyn also writes and publishes original research that uses the data within its public data visualizations to shine light on the hidden and complex underbelly of the drug supply chain. Contact the show:  PolitiTalkRx@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PolitiTalkRx host Scott Kjelson, PharmD welcomes special guest ANTONIO CIACCIA  CEO of 46brooklyn Research. 46brooklyn Research is an Ohio non-profit corporation whose purpose is to improve the accessibility and usability of U.S. drug pricing data. 46brooklyn takes the myriad drug pricing data sources scattered across the web and stitches them together into data visualizations that can be used by the public to better understand how the drug supply chain functions. 46brooklyn also writes and publishes original research that uses the data within its public data visualizations to shine light on the hidden and complex underbelly of the drug supply chain. Contact the show:  PolitiTalkRx@gmail.com  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know that prescription drug prices are costing us a lot of money. One Ohio company is doing something about it. 46Brooklyn was created to obtain, analyze and release data on pharmaceutical pricing. Co-founder Eric Pachman's experience in retail pharmacy management showed him something was fundamentally flawed in prescription drug supply chain. At the same time, Antonio Ciaccia was advocating for drug price transparency for the Ohio Pharmacists Association. The two joined forces, and 46Brooklyn was born. Join Scott McGohan for a revealing conversation on how data holds the key to controlling drug costs.

Gag orders, clawbacks and PBMs--what do they have to do with the cost of your medication? In today's podcast Antonio Ciaccia, director of government and public affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, shares what you need to know. 

Frank Mathews, Antonio Ciaccia

Episode 040 | Would you vote for a proposal that will raise prescription prices and reduce access to medications for a majority of Ohioans? Two pharmacy industry experts say the Ohio Drug Price Relief Act will do just that. Antonio Ciaccia of the Ohio Pharmacy Association and Jeff Bartone of Hock’s Pharmacy sit down with Scott and Anne Marie for an eye-opening discussion that brings clarity to the this complicated ballot issue facing Ohio voters in November.

Episode 036 | Scott and Anne Marie welcome Antonio Ciaccia of the Ohio Pharmacists Association, a trade group that represents pharmacy professionals. Ciaccia says pharmaceutical companies take a lot of heat for rising drug prices. But most people aren’t aware that middlemen within the pharmacy supply chain negotiate prices, often in secrecy. Ciaccia blames "a dysfunctional system." Scott blamed “an overabundance of greed.”