Podcasts about drug costs

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Best podcasts about drug costs

Latest podcast episodes about drug costs

Raise the Line
Closing the Information and Generation Gaps in Reproductive Health: Dr. Charis Chambers, Chief Medical Officer at Clue and Founder of The Period Doctor

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 3, 2026 36:59


For millions of young women and girls, often the first place they turn with questions about their bodies isn't a doctor's office, it's social media which can lead to encountering many misconceptions and outright misinformation. Or, if the right voices show up, it can mean something else entirely. Our guest today, Dr. Charis Chambers, is one of those voices. She's a board-certified OB/GYN with specialty certification in Pediatric & Adolescent Gynecology, and Chief Medical Officer at Clue, a leading period and cycle-tracking app. She's also the founder of The Period Doctor, a platform she launched in 2019 to provide medically accurate reproductive health information and to place more minority physicians in the spaces where patients are already looking for answers. As she tells Raise the Line from Elsevier host Lindsey Smith, Dr. Chambers embraces the role of being a bridge between generations: "I can serve as a medical mediator where I advocate for the child and then educate the parent so that the child's concerns are met." Stay tuned to this important conversation to also learn about: Her new book, The Period and Puberty Parenting Revolution, which tackles many of the same myths she encounters every day in her clinic; Why stubborn myths around periods rarely hold up once you ask where they come from; How she thinks about the responsibility, and limits, of being a trusted medical voice on social media. Mentioned in this episode: Clue The Period Doctor The Period and Puberty Parenting Revolution If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Lowering Drug Costs: Rethinking PBMs, Pricing and Patient Access with Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel & Miriam Paramore

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2026 29:58 Transcription Available


In this episode, Ezekiel Emanuel, MD, PhD, Architect, ACA, and Miriam Paramore, Health Tech CEO of RxUtility, discuss strategies to make prescription drugs more affordable, including generic drug access, price transparency, PBM reform and direct-to-consumer pricing. They also explore how healthcare can reduce administrative complexity while improving access, adherence and outcomes.

Raise the Line
Who Was Medicine Designed For?: Dr. Joel Bervell, Internal Medicine Resident and “The Medical Mythbuster”

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2026 30:42


"I'd already finished my cardiovascular unit. I'd finished my pulmonary unit. I had never heard about this in any of my classes." That was Dr. Joel Bervell's reaction to discovering that a device used every day in hospitals -- the pulse oximeter -- reads less accurately on darker skin tones. He posted a 30-second video about this consequential discrepancy that, to his utter surprise, gained over 500,000 views by the next morning. That video launched Dr. Bervell into orbit as a social media presence and created his identity as The Medical Mythbuster. In just a few years, he's built a following of two million people, earned a Peabody Award and was named to the inaugural Time 100 Creators list, all while finishing his residency.  On this episode of Raise the Line, host Lindsey Smith welcomes Dr. Bervell to explore the roots of this kind of bias and the real world impact of drawing attention to it. “The most impactful biases in medicine exist because no one stops to ask who was included in the original data and who was left out,” Dr. Bervell explains. Stay tuned to also learn about: His YouTube animated series The Doctor is In which helps kids understand how their bodies work, as well as providing medical role models; How to build trust with marginalized communities; His forthcoming book, The Default Body which examines who medicine was actually designed for. Mentioned in this episode:Dr. Bervell on InstagramTikTok ChannelFacebook"The Doctor Is In" Show If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Building A Nursing Workforce That Reflects The Patients It Serves: Dr. Ernest Grant, Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Duke University School of Nursing

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2026 32:06


Despite gains in recent years, Black, Hispanic, and Asian communities are still under-represented in the U.S. nursing workforce. We're going to explore that gap and how to close it on this episode of Raise the Line from Elsevier with Dr. Ernest Grant, Vice Dean for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging at the Duke University School of Nursing. "You get a patient who is more compliant when they see someone who looks like them, who is from their culture and who can advocate on their behalf," he tells host Lindsey Smith.  Dr. Grant bases that and other insights on a rich professional background that includes 50 years in nursing, being a leading advocate for his profession and breaking down barriers himself as a male nurse of color and the first man elected president of the American Nurses Association.  In this thoughtful conversation, Dr. Grant reflects on what it took to earn credibility in leadership roles, how he's navigating the political climate on DEI initiatives, and the causes and solutions to the persistent shortage in nursing faculty, among other pressing issues. Tune in for a uniquely-informed look at what it will take to build a stronger, more representative nursing profession. Mentioned in this episode: Duke University School of Nursing American Nurses Association If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
The Unexpected Similarities of Elite Sports and Medicine: Samantha “Sammy” Kolowrat, Olympic Athlete and Anesthesiology Resident at Vanderbilt University

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 21:21


What does it take to compete on the world's biggest stage and then pivot to one of the most demanding training paths in professional life? Today's guest, Samantha "Sammy" Kolowrat, has done both, and she has some fascinating insights into the commonalities of those two worlds on this episode of Raise the Line. “Something that really drew me to medicine is the team atmosphere that's there as you work towards a common goal, and there's this level of intensity that's very reminiscent of the experiences I had as a professional athlete.” Originally from Prague, Kolowrat represented Czechia at six IIHF Women's World Championships and the 2022 Beijing Olympics, and also captained the Division I women's hockey team at the University of Vermont while earning degrees in biology and pharmacology.  As she starts an anesthesiology residency at Vanderbilt University, she credits her athletic career with shaping how she handles pressure, feedback, and teamwork in medicine. "The more I improve, the more knowledge I acquire, the more skills I hone, the better care my patients get," she tells host Lindsey Smith, describing what drew her to a field that rewards the same relentless fine-tuning as elite sports. This engaging conversation also explores: How crippling performance anxiety as a Division I athlete ended up preparing Kolowrat for the operating room; Why she was drawn to anesthesiology's "well-oiled machine" atmosphere; The mentorship gap she's working to close for the next generation of athlete-physicians. Mentioned in this episode: Vanderbilt University Anesthesiology Residency Program If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Education As A Beacon Of Hope: Dr. Genesis Mwamba, Founder & Executive Director, Lead Me Back Foundation

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2026 32:29


An 11-year-old boy in rural Zambia once told Dr. Genesis Mwamba that he was about to attend school wearing shoes for the first time in his life. That moment, Dr. Mwamba says, crystallized why he started the Lead Me Back Foundation to provide school supplies and other support to marginalized communities in his native country.   As you'll learn in this inspiring installment in our NextGen Journeys series, Dr. Mwamba started the foundation in 2021while still a medical student because he had experienced the power of education as an “equalizer” in his own life, taking him from humble roots to a career in medicine. He and his colleagues have grown the bootstrapped organization to a point where it now provides hundreds of thousands of people across the country with educational access, climate education and community health clinics. “I've always been drawn to opportunities and initiatives that bring help to humankind,” he tells Raise the Line host Dr. Parsa Mohri. This episode also explores: What building "with" a community rather than "for" it looks like in practice; The storytelling strategy that attracted donors and partners; How his mother's untimely death inspired his commitment to preventive medicine.   Mentioned in this episode: Lead Me Back Foundation If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Modernizing PA Practice Laws to Match the Realities and Needs Of Healthcare Delivery: Dr. Jennifer Kolb, Chief Medical Officer of the American Academy of Physician Associates

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 30, 2026 29:29


"We have an untapped army of 200,000 PAs that really could step up and drive some change in the healthcare system if we weren't restricted,” says Dr. Jennifer Kolb, capturing her motivation for pushing to update practice regulations for physician associates that date back more than 50 years.  As Chief Medical Officer and Senior Vice President of Clinical Affairs at the American Academy of Physician Associates, Dr. Kolb has been in the middle of the fight at the state and federal level to grant PAs more independence from physicians, full billing rights, and the increased ability to practice across state lines, among other changes.  In this pertinent conversation with Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, Dr. Kolb explains how these updates could help close huge gaps in access to healthcare, better manage the fight against chronic diseases and improve patient outcomes.   Dr. Kolb also addresses:  Why the name shift from "assistant" to "associate" took her years to fully appreciate; How a 10-year gap in life expectancy across Chicago zip codes shapes her view of health equity; Why PA's shouldn't wait for permission to start making change in their communities. Mentioned in this episode:American Academy of Physician Associates   If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Politics Done Right
Shaun Finnie Takes On MAGA as Trump Raises Drug Costs, Oil Profits Soar, and Court Trust Collapses

Politics Done Right

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 58:00


Shaun Finnie makes his case for Texas-02 as Trump ends a Medicare drug-plan subsidy, Big Oil profits surge amid deadly heat, and Supreme Court approval falls to a record low.Subscribe to our Newsletter:https://politicsdoneright.com/newsletterPurchase our Books: As I See It: https://amzn.to/3XpvW5o How To Make AmericaUtopia: https://amzn.to/3VKVFnG It's Worth It: https://amzn.to/3VFByXP Lose Weight And BeFit Now: https://amzn.to/3xiQK3K Tribulations of anAfro-Latino Caribbean man: https://amzn.to/4c09rbE

Egberto Off The Record
LIVE! Shaun Finnie Takes On MAGA as Trump Raises Drug Costs, Oil Profits Soar, and Court Trust Collapses

Egberto Off The Record

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 29, 2026 58:00


Thank you Farmers AGAINST trump., Gayla Kunis, Gilda Johnson, LBW, Do U Lie, and many others for tuning into my live video! * Shaun Finnie explains why he believes he is the best candidate for Texas District 2:* ‘Countless Seniors Will Soon Pay More': Trump Ends Subsidy for Medicare Prescription Drug Plans: “Donald Trump and Republicans are making healthcare more expensive for seniors at e… To hear more, visit egberto.substack.com

Raise the Line
The Interplay of Behavioral Science and Communications Technology in Tobacco Cessation: Dr. Amanda Graham, Chief Health Officer at Truth Initiative

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 26:44


Most adults who smoke want to quit, and about half try to do so in any given year, yet fewer than one in ten succeed. That persistent gap between intention and outcome is one of the central challenges in public health, and it's exactly the kind of problem that calls for new thinking about how to communicate with people to support behavior change.  Dr. Amanda Graham has been a leading force in doing just that in her role as chief health officer at Truth Initiative, the nation's largest non-profit public health organization dedicated to preventing addiction among young people and helping people of all ages to quit tobacco. On this episode of Raise the Line from Elsevier, Dr. Graham, who holds a PhD in clinical health psychology and has done 25 years of NIH-funded research focused on technology-based cessation interventions, helps us understand the interplay between behavioral science and digital communications in the field. "A well-timed message can really be powerful in interrupting what for many people is kind of an automatic behavior, especially via text, which data tell us is an extraordinarily powerful modality,” she explains to host Lindsey Smith.  Tune-in to understand where the field is heading, and to learn about: Why "push" technology may work better than apps and websites when it comes to breaking automatic behaviors; How the rise of e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, and heated tobacco has scrambled decades of public health messaging; How highschool smoking rates plunged from over 30% to less than 2%. Mentioned in this episode: Truth Initiative Program with Mayo Clinic If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
A Physician's Personal Reckoning with GLP-1s and the Future of Weight Management: Dr. Christle Guevarra, DO, Family and Sports Medicine Physician

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 16, 2026 32:42


"I always remember feeling like I was part of the clean plate club," says Dr. Christle Guevarra, recalling a childhood spent quietly convinced that her weight was a matter of willpower. That belief followed her through a competitive powerlifting career and medical practice until she finally tried a GLP-1 medication herself and, as she describes it, the constant mental noise around food quieted down. Now a board-certified family and sports medicine physician, traveling team doctor for U.S. Figure Skating, and author of The Beginner's Guide to GLP-1s, Dr. Guevarra brings a rare combination of clinical authority and lived experience to the conversation around obesity medicine.  In this episode of Raise the Line from Elsevier, host Lindsey Smith talks with her about what's actually changed in how physicians understand the issue and what it means for patients. "The biggest thing is reframing how we approach weight loss. It's not just a willpower problem, it is a neurobiological problem." Tune in to learn about: Why she said no to a GLP-1 prescription for two years and what finally changed her mind; The real story behind concerns about muscle loss on these medications; What happens when the “food noise" goes silent and a new set of challenges takes its place.   Mentioned in this episode:  Dr. Christle's website If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
From Building A National Movement to Building Up Women in Midlife: Shannon Watts, Founder of Moms Demand Action and Author of Fired Up

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 28:11


Millions of Americans were saddened and outraged by the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting in 2012 that took the lives of twenty children and six adults, and were left feeling helpless about the epidemic of gun violence in the U.S. that, sadly, continues to this day. But for our guest today, Shannon Watts, her feelings of devastation about the shooting turned to rage and fueled her unlikely rise to leading Moms Demand Action, which she grew into one of the largest grassroots organizations in the country, mobilizing millions of volunteers to push for stronger gun safety laws. “I wanted to stand shoulder to shoulder with a badass army of women because that's who gets things done in this country,” she says.    In this inspiring conversation with Raise the Line host Michael Carrese, Watts pulls back the curtain on how the group achieved its successes and the philosophy of "losing forward" that kept volunteers showing up year after year. In her recent book Fired Up, Watts describes how she is bringing insights from that experience to a new mission: helping women identify their values, abilities, and desires and acting on them without waiting until everything is perfect. Tune-in to learn about:  The "false fires" women mistake for passion; Why losing estrogen and testosterone in midlife might actually make women braver, not less so; The one exercise she does with every woman she coaches.  Mentioned in this episode: Fired Up book Moms Demand Action If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Agent Survival Guide Podcast
How to Check Medicare Extra Help Eligibility For Your Clients

Agent Survival Guide Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 6, 2026 7:55


Did you know that CMS estimates three million Medicare beneficiaries aren't enrolled in the government's Medicare Extra Help program but could benefit from it? In this episode of the Agent Survival Guide, we see what this program is and how it can help your clients.   Read the text version   Get Connected:

Raise the Line
Creating Alignment On Improving End Of Life Care: Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, Founder & President of End Well

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 25:12


In the United States, nearly 70% of people say they want to die at home, yet the majority still die in medical settings, often after receiving care that may not match their goals and values. Closing that gap between preference and reality is at the heart of the work being done by End Well, a nonprofit dedicated to transforming how we think about, plan for, and experience the end of life. "The gap isn't about people wanting the wrong things. It's that our culture and our incentives aren't aligned with helping those wishes actually happen at the end of life,” says Dr. Shoshana Ungerleider, End Well's founder and president.  As Dr. Ungerleider explains to Raise the Line host Michael Carrese, End Well sponsors an annual symposium and year-round activities to bring together clinicians, patients, caregivers, and innovators to improve that alignment. Key steps include earlier integration of palliative care, allowing providers time for listening and goal setting with patients, and normalizing conversations about what matters most to people. This compelling conversation on reframing end of life care also covers how to bring wonder, joy, and hope into end-of-life conversations, and End Well's work to change how death is portrayed in the media. Mentioned in this episode:End Well If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
How Innovative Partnerships & New Pharmacy Models Can Help Health Systems Address Rising Drug Costs While Improving Patient Access and Affordability

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 20:14 Transcription Available


In this episode, Eric Huckins, Chief Growth Officer, Lumicera Health Services, Michael DePaz, Vice President of Supply Chain Specialty Pharmacy, Clarventa, and Jamie Palzkill, Director of Manufacturer Relations & Contracting, Clarventa, discuss rising drug costs, supply chain transparency, and the launch of Clarventa's net-price procurement model. They explore how innovative partnerships can help health systems reduce costs, improve medication access, and create a more sustainable pharmacy ecosystem for patients and providers.This episode is sponsored by Lumicera Health Services and Clarventa.

Raise the Line
Traceability Is Key To Building Trust in AI Tools: Rhett Alden, PhD, Chief Technical Officer, Health Markets and Raman Kaur, APN-c, BSN-RN, VP of Elsevier Health Education

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2026 27:38


While Elsevier's most recent Clinician of the Future Report shows increasing adoption of artificial intelligence tools among physicians and nurses, and optimism that they will improve quality of care in the future, a majority raised concerns about trust and reliability. To increase the level of trust, 60% said transparent citations of evidence-based and peer-reviewed research will be key. How to provide that transparency is our focus today as Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith welcomes Elsevier colleagues Rhett Alden and Raman Kaur to guide us through the complexities involved, including the concept of traceability and what role it plays in how AI tools such as Elsevier's ClinicalKey AI are built and deployed.  “Traceability changes the confidence that a clinician has in an AI tool so that they aren't trusting the AI, they're trusting the underlying evidence they're consuming from the AI-assisted platform,” says Raman, who brings years of experience as a primary care practitioner to her work.  It's also important, Rhett adds, to provide additional information, pulled from both the clinician's query and the patient's medical record, to inform clinical thinking. “ClinicalKey AI can be more than a response engine by establishing a larger context to provide a more precise answer for that individual patient.” In this thought-provoking discussion, these experts also provide insights on: Mitigating bias in AI results; Using AI responsibly with sustainability in mind; What type of clinician will benefit most from AI Mentioned in this episode: ClinicalKey AI Clinician of the Future Report If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Assessing A Turbulent Year in Infectious Disease: Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2026 28:48


It's been one year since the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in an unprecedented move, dismissed all the members of its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), kicking off what would turn out to be a very concerning and busy year for infectious disease specialists.  We're going to recap this turbulent period – which includes a resurgence of measles, an unusually rough flu season, the emergence of a new COVID strain and outbreaks of hantavirus and Ebola – with Dr. William Schaffner, one of the country's most frequently quoted medical experts on infectious disease, vaccination, and public health. As a member of ACIP for decades, Dr. Schaffner brings unique insight into the dismantling of the committee and the distrust of vaccines that lies at the root of the changes. As he explains to Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, while many vaccine critics are beyond reach, there are those he describes as vaccine hesitant that may be persuadable if the right approach is taken. “Beyond providing facts, we have to listen to them and respond to their concerns and make them feel comfortable. Information is fundamental, but behavior change only comes with a change in attitude.” Tune in for a wealth of wisdom and context that includes observations on: What's complicating containment of the Ebola outbreak; Challenges in public health communication in the current social media environment; What grade health authorities should get on their response to the hantavirus outbreak. Mentioned in this episode:Vanderbilt University School of Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Dismantling Structural Barriers to Healthcare: Robyn Bussey, “Just Health” Director at the Partnership for Southern Equity

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 11, 2026 29:46


"Do nothing for us without us." According to today's guest Robyn Bussey, that operating principle is the basis for effective community health work. "You don't go into a community and dictate. You go and listen and trust and be a partner," she adds. As you'll learn in this enlightening conversation, Bussey is following that approach in her current work as Just Health Director at the Partnership for Southern Equity, an Atlanta-based nonprofit advancing racial equity and shared prosperity across the South.  On this episode of Raise the Line from Elsevier, Bussey provides illuminating  examples of community-rooted work in South Fulton County and rural Georgia, and explains why community health workers may be the most underutilized asset in addressing health disparities. This wide-ranging interview with host Michael Carrese also explores: Bussey's candid perspective on what happened to the surge of interest in health equity that occurred during COVID; Why life expectancy gains in many Southern states have lagged behind the rest of the country; Her advice to students and early-career clinicians about where they're needed most.   Mentioned in this episode:  Partnership for Southern Equity If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Marshalling Effective Response to Health Crises: Sir Peter Piot, Professor of Global Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2026 30:11


As concerns escalate about the deadly Ebola virus outbreak in Africa, we bring you the unique insights of Dr. Peter Piot, a renowned microbiologist who co-discovered the virus 50 years ago during the first recorded outbreak of the disease. His on-the-ground account of that crisis was provided to us in April before the current outbreak was declared, but it contains valuable historical perspective and shares lessons learned that he carried forward in his consequential career.  “What I saw from the beginning is the most important thing is to listen to people and that you need to act fast to save lives, before you have the evidence you would like to have.”    He followed his contributions on Ebola by diving into the fight against HIV/AIDS, eventually reshaping global response in leadership roles at the World Health Organization and United Nations. As he shares with host Lindsey Smith, the learnings in that case were more pragmatic than scientific. “We had to redefine HIV/AIDS not as a medical problem but as an economic and security problem in order to get it on the political agenda.”  Tune in for a fascinating episode that takes you from the gritty frontlines of public health crises to the battles for funding and attention in the halls of power as Dr. Piot shares what it actually takes to move the world to respond effectively to health threats. Mentioned in this episode: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

A Health Podyssey
Inside CVS Caremark: The Role of PBMs in Drug Costs & Access | SPONSORED

A Health Podyssey

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 25:21 Transcription Available


THIS SPONSORED PODCAST EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CVS HEALTH.In this sponsored episode, James Margiotta, Chief Growth Officer at CVS Caremark, joins Health Affairs Publishing's Jessica Bylander to unpack the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), their impact on prescription drug costs, and the value PBMs bring to the health care system.James has nearly 35 years of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and enterprise value across the healthcare system. In his current role, James leads the team responsible for partnering with clients to identify their unique needs and bringing forward strategic solutions to meet their objectives.Throughout his career at CVS Health, James has scaled businesses across CVS Caremark, CVS Accountable Care, Minute Clinic, Aetna, and CVS Pharmacy — each with its own challenges, cultures, and market dynamics.James and Jessica's conversation explores how PBMs help employers, health plans, governments, and unions manage rising prescription drug costs while balancing affordability, transparency, and member experience. James explains CVS Caremark's approach to controlling costs, dives into the growing demands for price transparency, and how artificial intelligence may transform pharmacy benefits and member navigation services.

Health Affairs This Week
Inside CVS Caremark: The Role of PBMs in Drug Costs & Access | SPONSORED

Health Affairs This Week

Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2026 25:21


THIS SPONSORED PODCAST EPISODE IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY CVS HEALTH.In this sponsored episode, James Margiotta, Chief Growth Officer at CVS Caremark, joins Health Affairs Publishing's Jessica Bylander to unpack the role of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs), their impact on prescription drug costs, and the value PBMs bring to the health care system.James has nearly 35 years of experience driving innovation, operational excellence, and enterprise value across the healthcare system. In his current role, James leads the team responsible for partnering with clients to identify their unique needs and bringing forward strategic solutions to meet their objectives.Throughout his career at CVS Health, James has scaled businesses across CVS Caremark, CVS Accountable Care, Minute Clinic, Aetna, and CVS Pharmacy — each with its own challenges, cultures, and market dynamics.James and Jessica's conversation explores how PBMs help employers, health plans, governments, and unions manage rising prescription drug costs while balancing affordability, transparency, and member experience. James explains CVS Caremark's approach to controlling costs, dives into the growing demands for price transparency, and how artificial intelligence may transform pharmacy benefits and member navigation services.

Raise the Line
A Global Expert Helps Us Understand the Hantavirus Outbreak: Dr. Jamie Childs, Senior Research Scientist in Epidemiology of Microbial Diseases at Yale School of Public Health

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later May 26, 2026 22:06


The ongoing outbreak of hantavirus infections that originated with passengers on the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius in April has generated concerns across the globe. This very rare occurrence has led to a number of deaths, required quarantining of passengers and prompted emergency responses from public health authorities in multiple countries.  On this episode of Raise the Line from Elsevier, we're tapping the expertise of a leading authority on the subject, Dr. Jamie Childs of Yale University, to provide you with a scientific understanding of hantaviruses and what level of threat is posed by this situation. In short, Dr. Childs believes this is not the start of a pandemic. “The Andes variant involved here is one of the most dangerous hantaviruses, but it is totally controllable with contact tracing.” This timely conversation with host Lindsey Smith is informed by Dr. Childs' decades of hantavirus research as well as learnings from his role leading the CDC's environmental investigation during the landmark 1993 hantavirus outbreak in the Four Corners region of the American Southwest. And be sure to stay tuned to hear his concerns about the factors complicating containment of the current Ebola outbreak in East Africa. Note: this conversation was recorded on May 19th, 2026. Mentioned in this episode: Yale School of Public Health Yale Institute for Global Health If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
The Biggest Obstacles to Improving Mental Health: Dr. Steve Strakowski, Professor and Vice Chair for Research in Psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 23:37


We mark National Mental Health Awareness Month on this episode by tapping the expertise of Dr. Steve Strakowski, an internationally recognized expert in bipolar disorder, who has spent decades studying the neurobiology and treatment of mood conditions while pushing just as hard on the structural barriers that keep effective treatments out of reach for more than half the people who need them. In this conversation with Raise the Line from Elsevier host Michael Carrese, Dr. Strakowski explains why access, not science, is now the biggest obstacle to improving mental health outcomes. He also addresses the heavy toll society pays for underfunding mental health prevention and treatment programs. “The money is spent eventually, but in the most expensive places like emergency rooms and prisons, and there is the human cost of suffering and suicides." This important discussion also covers: The persistent problem of Black patients presenting with mania being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia;  Why he describes bipolar disorder as a reward-processing illness;  The emerging therapies he finds encouraging. Mentioned in this episode:Indiana University School of Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

WWL First News with Tommy Tucker
Hour 2: Why are prescription drug costs so high in the US?

WWL First News with Tommy Tucker

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 17:26


* TrumpRx added over 600 generic drugs. Is the program working? Is it helping make prescription drugs more affordable? * We'll get a rundown on the state of the war with Iran and whether any headway has been made with peace negotiations

WWL First News with Tommy Tucker
Is TrumpRx helping with drug costs?

WWL First News with Tommy Tucker

Play Episode Listen Later May 21, 2026 9:02


TrumpRx added over 600 generic drugs. Is the program working? Is it helping make prescription drugs more affordable? Prashant Yadav, a senior fellow for global health at the Council on Foreign Relations, joins us.

Cotto/Gottfried
Democrats spit on democracy...midterm voters should be scared—Trump slashed prescription drug costs, just in time for the midterms—May Day proves how high America's stakes are for the midterms

Cotto/Gottfried

Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2026 29:31


Raise the Line
A Diverse Workforce Is Essential to Quality of Care: Dr. Tina Loarte-Rodriguez, CEO of Latinas in Nursing

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2026 25:51


"When the workforce does not align with the population, your system is misaligned by design." That candid observation comes from Tina Loarte-Rodríguez, DP, RN who has spent much of her two decade career in patient safety, risk management, and systems leadership as the only Latina in the room, which she sees as a signal of a systemic failure that demands structural solutions. As we mark National Nurses Month, Dr. Loarte-Rodríguez joins Raise the Line from Elsevier  host Lindsey Smith to explain why a culturally congruent workforce has important implications for access, trust and quality of care. This wide-ranging discussion also covers: What Dr. Loarte-Rodriguez means by "narrative infrastructure" and how a book series born during COVID is now shaping workforce conversations nationwide;   The case for making mentorship a core institutional system;   Why nursing burnout is not about a lack of resiliency.  Mentioned in this episode: Latinas in NursingThe Connecticut Center for Nursing Workforce If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Bringing Holographic Technology Into Healthcare: David Nussbaum, Founder and Chairman of Proto Hologram

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2026 35:39


The doctor is in....the box.  That's one way to describe how patients are now encountering their physicians in what's being described as the future of telehealth. Imagine that instead of a cancer patient in a rural area driving hours for an appointment to see their specialist at an academic health center, they can go to their local clinic and see a life-size, real-time, 3-D projection of them in a seven foot tall light box.  The doctor can see the patient through two-way video, and is assisted by a clinician in the exam room. The technology behind this remarkable scene is provided by a Los Angeles based start-up called Proto Hologram, whose founder and chairman, David Nussbaum, joins us on this episode of Raise the Line from Elsevier. "Our holograms start where Zoom ends and where physically being there begins," says Nussbaum, a TIME Healthcare100 honoree who has spent the last decade developing commercial and educational applications for holograms.  In addition to clinical settings, Proto units are being used at medical schools and senior living facilities and are playing a role in public health campaigns about breast cancer and vaccines. Join host Lindsey Smith for a fascinating conversation that covers: The role of holograms in extending access to specialty care; How the technology could be used to combat loneliness among seniors; Nussbaum's philosophy of "commercializing the impossible". Mentioned in this episode: Proto Hologram If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Elevating True Expertise In a Time Of Self-Proclaimed Knowledge: Dr. Mel Herbert, Writer and Consultant on HBO Max's The Pitt

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2026 33:26


“One of the reasons The Pitt has been so successful is because it's showing real expertise in a time when everybody thinks they're an expert,” says Dr. Mel Herbert, who brings decades of experience as an emergency medicine specialist to his work as a writer and consultant on the hit HBO Max show. Dr. Herbert, who was also a consultant on the groundbreaking TV drama ER, is one of seven physicians on The Pitt's writing and production team, which explains the high degree of medical accuracy that is a hallmark of the show. But Dr. Herbert is also proud of the emotional accuracy captured on screen. “It's about the emotions. It's about the stress. It's about how it really affects the doctors and the nurses that I've found the most interesting to write about.” In this candid conversation with host Lindsey Smith, Dr. Herbert talks about his own struggles coping with the demands of life in the emergency room and the importance of letting clinicians know that help is available. “You don't have to suffer. We can help you now in ways we couldn't even do ten years ago. That's the story I want to tell.”  In addition to his work using TV as an educational vehicle, Lindsey and Dr. Herbert discuss his real world efforts to provide emergency medicine education across the globe through his companies EM:RAP and EM:RAP GO.  Stay tuned to this very special episode of Raise the Line with Elsevier in which you will also: Learn how writers tackle misinformation and hot button health topics; Get a behind the scenes look at how actors learn complex medical terminology; Discover who Dr. Herbert's favorite characters are. Mentioned in this episode: The PittMental Health Resources from American College of Emergency PhysiciansEM:RAPThe Extraordinary Power of Being Average If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Progressive Voices
Code Wack - Why the Same Drug Costs 3x More (And Who Decides)

Progressive Voices

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 29, 2026 10:41


This time on CodeWACK! Imagine two patients … same diagnosis, same medication, same country. Each one needs the same prescription. One gets their care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the other gets it through Medicare. The price of the exact same drug could be half as much for one patient as for the other. That's not a glitch. It's how the system is designed. Our guest is Bob Coleman, a retired healthcare professional who spent more than 40 years serving veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—as a clinical pharmacist, medical informaticist, and researcher. His latest ebook is called "Hostile Takeover: How Wall Street and Congress Hijacked American Healthcare and How We Can Take it Back." This is the second of a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

Code WACK!
Why the Same Drug Costs 3x More (And Who Decides)

Code WACK!

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2026 10:42


This time on CodeWACK! Imagine two patients … same diagnosis, same medication, same country.  Each one needs the same prescription. One gets their care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the other gets it through Medicare. The price of the exact same drug could be half as much for one patient as for the other. That's not a glitch. It's how the system is designed. Our guest is Bob Coleman, a retired healthcare professional who spent more than 40 years serving veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—as a clinical pharmacist, medical informaticist, and researcher. His latest ebook is called "Hostile Takeover: How Wall Street and Congress Hijacked American Healthcare and How We Can Take it Back."   This is the second of a two-part series.  Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

Nurse Talk
New from CodeWACK! Why the Same Drug Costs 3x More (And Who Decides)

Nurse Talk

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 27, 2026 10:41


This time on CodeWACK! Imagine two patients … same diagnosis, same medication, same country. Each one needs the same prescription. One gets their care through the Department of Veterans Affairs, the other gets it through Medicare. The price of the exact same drug could be half as much for one patient as for the other. That's not a glitch. It's how the system is designed. Our guest is Bob Coleman, a retired healthcare professional who spent more than 40 years serving veterans through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs—as a clinical pharmacist, medical informaticist, and researcher. His latest ebook is called "Hostile Takeover: How Wall Street and Congress Hijacked American Healthcare and How We Can Take it Back." This is the second of a two-part series. Check out the Transcript and Show Notes for more! And please keep Code WACK! on the air with a tax-deductible donation at heal-ca.org/donate.

Raise the Line
Understanding Migraine Syndrome And Its Impact on Women: Dr. Regina Krel, Director of Headache Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2026 28:13


"Headache is just a teeny piece of the puzzle," says Dr. Regina Krel, an insight that's at the heart of why migraine syndrome, one of the leading causes of disability worldwide, remains so persistently misunderstood. In this informative conversation with Raise the Line from Elsevier host Michael Carrese, Dr. Krel, the director of Headache Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center, explains migraine as a storm that sensitizes the entire brain, not just the site of the headache, which explains the long list of symptoms people experience including sensitivity to light and sound, brain fog, fatigue and problems with balance. “The headaches can be severe, but it's the other symptoms that really kind of take over your whole body that make patients dysfunctional.” Dr. Krel also explains why migraine disproportionately impacts women in the prime of their working and caregiving years, and offers guidance for treating migraines in women, whose symptoms are commonly dismissed by non-specialists. Stay tuned to also learn about: The "migraine triangle"; Why stigma around migraine persists even in doctors' offices; New treatment options including neuromodulation devices. Mentioned in this episode: Headache Center at Hackensack University Medical Center If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
Saving Lives Using Repurposed Medications: Dr. David Fajgenbaum, Co-Founder of Every Cure

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2026 26:08


To mark the sixth anniversary of Raise the Line from Elsevier we're revisiting one of the most remarkable stories we've had the privilege of sharing over the last 575 episodes. To do that, we're delighted to welcome back Dr. David Fajgenbaum, a physician-scientist who repurposed an existing medication that saved his own life from Castleman disease, an ultra-rare condition that nearly killed him on five occasions. Because there was no treatment specifically for Castleman, Dr. Fajgenbaum set out to find a previously approved medication that might work. “I eventually found a drug that was made for another disease 50 years ago. It's been over 12 years that I've been doing great on this medicine.”   When he first joined us in 2022, Dr. Fajgenbaum was just launching a non-profit organization called Every Cure with the hope of replicating the success he achieved in his own case, and as you'll learn in this inspiring interview with host Lindsey Smith, its work has already saved thousands of lives. “It's a tragedy if someone dies while there's already a drug in their local hospital that could help them.”  In the latest installment of our Year of the Zebra series on rare conditions, you'll hear an inspiring example of a life saved by this approach and also learn about: The role of artificial intelligence in scanning thousands of medications and diseases to find possible matches; How Every Cure decides which drugs merit the costly research needed to confirm a match;  Dr. Fajgenbaum's philosophy of “living in overtime.” Mentioned in this episode:Every Cure Osmosis Video on Castleman Disease Dr. Fajgenbaum's Bestselling Memoir, Chasing My Cure If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
How AI Could Strengthen the Doctor-Patient Relationship: Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Senior Fellow in Health Policy and Global Affairs at Yale School of Public Health

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2026 40:59


How AI Could Strengthen the Doctor-Patient Relationship: Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Senior Fellow in Health Policy and Global Affairs at Yale School of Public Health and Affiliate Faculty at Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs “Ultimately, AI needs to be a tool that doesn't break down trust or empathy or clinical judgment, but rather helps enhance those things.” That aspirational perspective from Dr. Ashwin Vasan, Senior Fellow in Health Policy and Global Affairs at the Yale School of Public Health and Affiliate Faculty at the Yale Jackson School of Global Affairs, frames a nuanced conversation about one of healthcare's most consequential changes. Drawing on his experience as New York City Health Commissioner during the COVID-19 crisis and decades in global and public health, Dr. Vasan argues that the future of AI in medicine should be shaped less by the technology itself than by the values guiding its implementation, and that physicians need to play an active role in this process. “I think it behooves us to engage with this technology and steer it in the directions that we want as a society.” This timely discussion also offers Dr. Vasan's thoughtful perspectives on: How AI could allow physicians to focus on the human side of care; The risks of AI reinforcing inequities and driving costs higher; Public health as the marriage of science, society and trust. Join host Lindsey Smith for a valuable Raise the Line episode on how AI can be harnessed to benefit patients and provides alike.  Mentioned in this episode: Yale School of Public Health Yale Jackson School of Public Affairs If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
How AI Is Transforming Education By Making “Precision Learning” Possible: Paul Crockett, Chief AI Officer at Elsevier

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2026 26:13


Imagine you had a tutor who was with you every time you were studying and, because they knew your learning style, strengths and weaknesses, could hand you the right content at the moment you needed it to deepen your understanding of a topic.  That's the pedagogically powerful experience students are having with AI-enhanced learning systems such as Osmosis AI, making possible what our guest, Elsevier's Chief AI Officer Paul Crockett, describes as a new era of precision learning.  “We now have signal from how students actually engage with content – such as where they get stuck and how they learn – and that behavioral data can tell you more about what a learner needs than any sort of static assessment. That's a profound transformation,” he says. In this fascinating conversation with Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, Crockett also highlights how AI enables tutoring-like interactions with students which supports deeper reasoning rather than rote memorization. That in turn, helps Elsevier achieve the goal of getting students ready to practice medicine, not just ready to take tests. In addition, limiting the AI's sources to the evidence-based material in the Osmosis and Elsevier content libraries provides both students and faculty with the level of trust and verifiability they desire. Tune in to learn how this meaningful shift from static content delivery to dynamic, data-informed learning experiences is changing healthcare education. Mentioned in this episode: Osmosis AI If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

DC EKG
340B, Part D, and the Real Drivers of Drug Costs with Ryan Long

DC EKG

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 52:56


In Episode 130 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Ryan Long to unpack two policy stories that are driving real-world drug costs and healthcare spending: the 340B program and the fallout from Medicare Part D changes under the Inflation Reduction Act.  Ryan explains why the current 340B structure can incentivize higher costs, hospital consolidation, and contract pharmacy expansion, while often directing the biggest windfalls toward larger, wealthier systems rather than truly resource-constrained hospitals. They cover contract pharmacies, exposure to diversion and fraud, Medicare Part B reimbursement dynamics, and why reforms need to address the incentives baked into the program.  They then turn to Medicare Part D, the shift from copays to coinsurance, premium pressure, the accelerated move into “catastrophic” coverage, and what happens when Washington promises savings that do not materialize. The episode closes with a broader look at fraud, program integrity, and why durable reform requires Congress to act.  In This Conversation Why does 340B incentivize higher costs and hospital consolidation  Contract pharmacies, diversion risk, and fraud exposure  Who really benefits from 340B and why rural hospitals can lose out  Medicare Part D premium pressure and the IRA tradeoffs  Copays vs coinsurance and what seniors experience at the pharmacy counter  Fraud, program integrity, and why limited resources should go to patients who need them  Timestamps0:00 Why the 340B structure drives higher costs and consolidation0:37 Ryan Long joins Joe1:13 What has changed in 340B, and why it is getting attention6:57 Payer mix, spreads, and why wealthier systems benefit more11:06 How 340B expanded post-2010 and contract pharmacies16:56 Why contract pharmacy reform alone does not fix the incentives22:11 Medicare Part D and what the IRA changed24:23 Explaining the donut hole28:54 Premium increases, catastrophic coverage, and cost shifting32:26 Copays to coinsurance and unexpected out-of-pocket changes40:37 Fraud exposure and program integrity52:09 Where to find Ryan's work52:38 Outro 340B program, contract pharmacy, hospital consolidation, drug pricing, Medicare Part D, Medicaid rebate, Affordable Care Act, healthcare spending, healthcare costs, fraud exposure, policy impact, legislative reform, patient assistance About Our GuestRyan Long is a Fellow at the Paragon Health Institute and a Scholar at the USC Schaeffer Center. He previously served as health policy lead for Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is a longtime Energy and Commerce veteran focused on drug pricing, Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare spending reform.  Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 130Guest: Ryan LongSponsor: Survivors for Solutions – https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer:  Stay on Course Studios – https://www.stayoncourse.studio

DC EKG
340B | Part D | the Real Drivers of Drug Costs with Ryan Long

DC EKG

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 53:26


In Episode 130 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Ryan Long to unpack two policy stories that are driving real-world drug costs and healthcare spending: the 340B program and the fallout from Medicare Part D changes under the Inflation Reduction Act.  Ryan explains why the current 340B structure can incentivize higher costs, hospital consolidation, and contract pharmacy expansion, while often directing the biggest windfalls toward larger, wealthier systems rather than truly resource-constrained hospitals. They cover contract pharmacies, exposure to diversion and fraud, Medicare Part B reimbursement dynamics, and why reforms need to address the incentives baked into the program.  They then turn to Medicare Part D, the shift from copays to coinsurance, premium pressure, the accelerated move into “catastrophic” coverage, and what happens when Washington promises savings that do not materialize. The episode closes with a broader look at fraud, program integrity, and why durable reform requires Congress to act.  In This Conversation Why does 340B incentivize higher costs and hospital consolidation  Contract pharmacies, diversion risk, and fraud exposure  Who really benefits from 340B and why rural hospitals can lose out  Medicare Part D premium pressure and the IRA tradeoffs  Copays vs coinsurance and what seniors experience at the pharmacy counter  Fraud, program integrity, and why limited resources should go to patients who need them  Timestamps0:00 Why the 340B structure drives higher costs and consolidation0:37 Ryan Long joins Joe1:13 What has changed in 340B, and why it is getting attention6:57 Payer mix, spreads, and why wealthier systems benefit more11:06 How 340B expanded post-2010 and contract pharmacies16:56 Why contract pharmacy reform alone does not fix the incentives22:11 Medicare Part D and what the IRA changed24:23 Explaining the donut hole28:54 Premium increases, catastrophic coverage, and cost shifting32:26 Copays to coinsurance and unexpected out-of-pocket changes40:37 Fraud exposure and program integrity52:09 Where to find Ryan's work52:38 Outro 340B program, contract pharmacy, hospital consolidation, drug pricing, Medicare Part D, Medicaid rebate, Affordable Care Act, healthcare spending, healthcare costs, fraud exposure, policy impact, legislative reform, patient assistance About Our GuestRyan Long is a Fellow at the Paragon Health Institute and a Scholar at the USC Schaeffer Center. He previously served as health policy lead for Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is a longtime Energy and Commerce veteran focused on drug pricing, Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare spending reform.  Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 130Guest: Ryan LongSponsor: Survivors for Solutions – https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer:  Stay on Course Studios – https://www.stayoncourse.studio

DC EKG
340B, Part D, and the Real Drivers of Drug Costs with Ryan Long

DC EKG

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2026 54:26


In Episode 130 of DC EKG, Joe Grogan sits down with Ryan Long to unpack two policy stories that are driving real-world drug costs and healthcare spending: the 340B program and the fallout from Medicare Part D changes under the Inflation Reduction Act.  Ryan explains why the current 340B structure can incentivize higher costs, hospital consolidation, and contract pharmacy expansion, while often directing the biggest windfalls toward larger, wealthier systems rather than truly resource-constrained hospitals. They cover contract pharmacies, exposure to diversion and fraud, Medicare Part B reimbursement dynamics, and why reforms need to address the incentives baked into the program.  They then turn to Medicare Part D, the shift from copays to coinsurance, premium pressure, the accelerated move into “catastrophic” coverage, and what happens when Washington promises savings that do not materialize. The episode closes with a broader look at fraud, program integrity, and why durable reform requires Congress to act.  In This Conversation Why does 340B incentivize higher costs and hospital consolidation  Contract pharmacies, diversion risk, and fraud exposure  Who really benefits from 340B and why rural hospitals can lose out  Medicare Part D premium pressure and the IRA tradeoffs  Copays vs coinsurance and what seniors experience at the pharmacy counter  Fraud, program integrity, and why limited resources should go to patients who need them  Timestamps0:00 Why the 340B structure drives higher costs and consolidation0:37 Ryan Long joins Joe1:13 What has changed in 340B, and why it is getting attention6:57 Payer mix, spreads, and why wealthier systems benefit more11:06 How 340B expanded post-2010 and contract pharmacies16:56 Why contract pharmacy reform alone does not fix the incentives22:11 Medicare Part D and what the IRA changed24:23 Explaining the donut hole28:54 Premium increases, catastrophic coverage, and cost shifting32:26 Copays to coinsurance and unexpected out-of-pocket changes40:37 Fraud exposure and program integrity52:09 Where to find Ryan's work52:38 Outro 340B program, contract pharmacy, hospital consolidation, drug pricing, Medicare Part D, Medicaid rebate, Affordable Care Act, healthcare spending, healthcare costs, fraud exposure, policy impact, legislative reform, patient assistance About Our GuestRyan Long is a Fellow at the Paragon Health Institute and a Scholar at the USC Schaeffer Center. He previously served as health policy lead for Speaker Kevin McCarthy and is a longtime Energy and Commerce veteran focused on drug pricing, Medicare, Medicaid, and healthcare spending reform.  Podcast: DC EKG with Joe GroganEpisode: 130Guest: Ryan LongSponsor: Survivors for Solutions – https://survivorsforsolutions.orgExecutive Producer: John “CZ” Czwartacki, DC EKG PodcastProducer:  Stay on Course Studios – https://www.stayoncourse.studio

Raise the Line
Offering Kindness and Respect to Every Patient: Madison Donnelly, PA-C, Community Care Physicians

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2026 28:01


“Every person deserves kindness, dignity, and respect, regardless of what their medical situation is,” says Madison Donnelly, PA-C, who joins host Dr. Parsa Mohri on the latest installment of our NextGen Journeys series. As you'll hear in this thoughtful conversation, Madison is bringing that commitment to patient advocacy and equitable care to her patients at Community Care Physicians in Albany, New York. A graduate of Hofstra University's PA program, Madison describes how the profession's flexibility and team-based approach enables clinicians to expand access to care, particularly in high-demand specialties like women's health and primary care. Drawing on her work in obstetrics and gynecology, she highlights persistent gaps in women's health, including America's troubling maternal mortality rates and the long delays many patients face in receiving diagnoses for endometriosis and other conditions. “There's a difference between telling someone something and being heard,” she notes, emphasizing that women's symptoms are still too often dismissed in clinical settings. The episode also explores overlooked populations -- including NICU families and patients with eating disorders -- where stigma, mental health challenges, and fragmented follow-up care can leave people vulnerable long after the initial medical crisis. Don't miss this Raise the Line dialogue about the evolving role of physician associates and how early-career clinicians can help build a more humane and responsive system. Mentioned in this episode: Community Care Physicians Hofstra University Physician Assistant Program If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Empowered Patient Podcast
Fiduciary Model Lowers Drug Costs Versus Traditional PBMs with Renzo Luzzatti, US-Rx Care

Empowered Patient Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2026 23:08


Renzo Luzzatti, Founder and CEO of US-Rx Care, discusses the role and practice of the Pharmacy Benefits Managers and the advantages of working with a company that uses a fiduciary model. Inherent conflicts of interest in the traditional PBM model, such as manufacturer rebates and requirements to use PBM-owned pharmacies, drive up prescription drug costs. US-Rx Care eliminates these conflicts by charging a flat administrative fee with its sole incentive to lower drug costs for the plan and its members. Renxo explains, "We've been around since 2007. We do have about 5 million lives under management, both self-funded employers, which is the bulk of our business. Then we also tap into Medicare health plans and have some programs and offerings that we assist there to lower costs and improve the quality of care. Our approach is unique in that we've taken a fiduciary stance from day one. We can talk about that in a little bit. It is a legal term. It's defined under ERISA, which governs health plans. They have a fiduciary duty to the plan, the members, and the management of the plan assets. And the industry as a whole has shied away from any fiduciary obligation whatsoever, in part because it's rife with conflicts of interest, and you cannot have conflicts of interest as a fiduciary."   "That is really at the core of all of the issues and complaints that we're hearing about PBMs - they're driving up the cost of prescriptions rather than having the intended effect, which is to reduce the cost of prescriptions. And I would say in the last four or five years, employers have really started to ask the right questions because they're becoming more and more educated."   "For folks like us, we're growing like crazy because the industry finally gets that. The deal that they were getting through their traditional model is not so good. The other thing is when we move to a fiduciary model, savings are typically in the realm of 30% to 50% in the first year, and then we typically see additional savings in year two and three, and then after that, the goal and the intent, which we've been successful at, is to keep costs stable."  #USRxCare #PBM #PharmacyBenefits #EmployeeBenefits #HealthcareCosts #FiduciaryResponsibility #BenefitsConsulting #HealthcareTransparency #CostContainment #SelfFundedEmployers #HealthcareReform usrxcare.com Download the transcript here 

Empowered Patient Podcast
Fiduciary Model Lowers Drug Costs Versus Traditional PBMs with Renzo Luzzatti, US-Rx Care TRANSCRIPT

Empowered Patient Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2026


Renzo Luzzatti, Founder and CEO of US-Rx Care, discusses the role and practice of the Pharmacy Benefits Managers and the advantages of working with a company that uses a fiduciary model. Inherent conflicts of interest in the traditional PBM model, such as manufacturer rebates and requirements to use PBM-owned pharmacies, drive up prescription drug costs. US-Rx Care eliminates these conflicts by charging a flat administrative fee, with its sole incentive to lower drug costs for the plan and its members. Renxo explains, "We've been around since 2007. We do have about 5 million lives under management, both self-funded employers, which is the bulk of our business. Then we also tap into Medicare health plans and have some programs and offerings that we assist there to lower costs and improve the quality of care. Our approach is unique in that we've taken a fiduciary stance from day one. We can talk about that in a little bit. It is a legal term. It's defined under ERISA, which governs health plans. They have a fiduciary duty to the plan, the members, and the management of the plan assets. And the industry as a whole has shied away from any fiduciary obligation whatsoever, in part because it's rife with conflicts of interest, and you cannot have conflicts of interest as a fiduciary."   "That is really at the core of all of the issues and complaints that we're hearing about PBMs - they're driving up the cost of prescriptions rather than having the intended effect, which is to reduce the cost of prescriptions. And I would say in the last four or five years, employers have really started to ask the right questions because they're becoming more and more educated."   "For folks like us, we're growing like crazy because the industry finally gets that. The deal that they were getting through their traditional model is not so good. The other thing is when we move to a fiduciary model, savings are typically in the realm of 30% to 50% in the first year, and then we typically see additional savings in year two and three, and then after that, the goal and the intent, which we've been successful at, is to keep costs stable."  #USRxCare #PBM #PharmacyBenefits #EmployeeBenefits #HealthcareCosts #FiduciaryResponsibility #BenefitsConsulting #HealthcareTransparency #CostContainment #SelfFundedEmployers #HealthcareReform usrxcare.com Listen to the podcast here 

Raise the Line
Why We Need the Independent Practice Model in Medicine: Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, President of Rothman Orthopaedic Institute

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2026 28:53


We've spoken with many guests about clinical and technological trends impacting healthcare providers, but less so about the trends on the business side of practicing medicine.  So on this episode, we're going to make up for that by spending our time with Dr. Alexander Vaccaro, an influential spine surgeon and president of one of the largest musculoskeletal practices in the U.S. -- Rothman Orthopaedic Institute -- which treats patients at over 40 locations in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York and Florida. While Dr. Vaccaro understands the desire for financial stability that's increasingly driving young physicians into the arms of hospital systems, he worries about what's being lost with the resulting decline in the number of independent practices.  “If you didn't have private practice advocating for the doctor, the insurance companies would bully the healthcare profession.” Join Raise the Line host Michael Carrese for a candid and lively conversation that also covers: How physician autonomy and entrepreneurship can drive innovation; The economic and policy forces reshaping private practice medicine; The role of research partnerships between private practices and universities. Mentioned in this episode:Rothman Orthopaedics If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
The Science Behind Effective Health Communication: Dr. Tesfa Alexander, Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2026 24:14


We've had many conversations on Raise the Line about the challenges of health communication in today's world of information overload, but none of our guests have the kind of expertise Dr. Tesfa Alexander has acquired in a career that has taken him from Madison Avenue to the halls of government and academia. From guiding tobacco education research at the FDA to leading public health initiatives at MITRE, Dr. Alexander has developed a deep understanding of the science and strategy behind effective health communication. “Successful campaigns keep the long game in mind where you want to develop a lasting relationship with your target audience,” he tells host Lindsey Smith. That relationship needs to be built on understanding culture, beliefs, priorities and daily realities, and only then can you develop messaging that will resonate, he explains. Dr. Alexander also believes these relationships can be leveraged to help people sort out facts from misleading or inaccurate claims. “I strongly recommend shifting our focus from combating misinformation head on, and instead working with the communities who we are seeking to serve.” This fascinating look at communication science also covers: How stories drive belief; The importance of working with community partners who are trusted messengers;  The power of audience segmentation. Tune in as Dr. Alexander unpacks what it takes to influence beliefs, and ultimately behaviors, in an era defined by misinformation and institutional mistrust. Mentioned in this episode:Lerner Center for Public Health Advocacy If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

Raise the Line
A Personal Struggle Fuels National Advocacy for Rare Disease Patients: Shanti Hegde, Board Member of Hemophilia Federation of America

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2026 45:19


We're marking Rare Disease Month 2026 by highlighting the powerful story of Shanthi Hegde, a young patient advocate working to transform how bleeding disorders are understood, treated, and supported. This work is fueled by her own arduous journey with two rare bleeding disorders and immune dysregulatory syndrome, and an extended diagnostic odyssey marked by dismissal, underdiagnosis, and structural bias. “I was told many times by many providers that these disorders are not common in Indians and that my bruises were there just because I'm brown.” Admirably, Shanthi pushed past this mistreatment, advocated for her medical needs, and devoted herself to tackling a range of issues confronting rare disease patients from mental health access to affordable drug pricing to research equity. In this remarkable Year of the Zebra conversation with host Lindsey Smith, you'll also learn about: Shanti's work with the Hemophilia Federation of America; How gaps extend beyond treatment to include insurance coverage, provider training, and substance use care; What clinicians can do to improve the work they do with rare disease patients. Join us for a conversation that connects patient voice to system change, and explores what real equity for rare disease communities will require. Mentioned in this episode:Hemophilia Federation of AmericaShanthi's LinkedIn Profile If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

I Hate Politics Podcast
Can Maryland Control Prescription Drug Costs?

I Hate Politics Podcast

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2026 33:34


In 2019, Maryland became the first state in the nation to establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board. After years of preparatory work, the agency is poised to take its first actions on two blockbuster diabetes drugs, Jardiance and Farxiga, and a year later, the Board can expand its price control mechanism to the private insurance market. Will they clear the thicket of dysfunction in the drug marketplace and help lower actual drug costs? Sunil Dasgupta talks with Andrew York, Executive Director Maryland Prescription Drug Affordability Board, and Vincent DeMarco, president of the Maryland Health Care for All Coalition. Newly in public domain music by George Gershwin, Paul Whiteman band, and Marian Andersen.

Raise the Line
A Moment of Change in Public Health Policy: Dr. Paul Offit, Director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2026 22:46


Few issues have tested public trust in medicine as deeply as vaccines, and few individuals have influenced that dialogue more than Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and a longtime member of the FDA's Vaccine Advisory Committee. In this timely and candid interview with Raise the Line host Lindsey Smith, Dr. Offit points to this year's severe flu season and a resurgence of measles as alarming proof points of how a changing federal perspective on vaccine policy is having a real impact on public health. “You'd like to think you can educate about the importance of vaccines, but I fear at this point the viruses themselves are doing the educating.” In this wide ranging discussion, Dr. Offit also addresses: The rigorous and painstaking process of developing vaccines, based on his experience co-inventing the rotavirus vaccine. Shifting levels of public trust in scientific organizations. Promising innovations in vaccine development. Don't miss this deeply-informed perspective on the interplay of science, policy, and public education, and his encouraging message to young clinicians about managing the current challenges in public health.  Mentioned in this episode: Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaPerelman School of Medicine If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast

The World and Everything In It
2.17.26 Russia's expanding nuclear arsenal, lowering prescription drug costs, backing farmers' right to repair, and the fatal takeoff of a UPS flight

The World and Everything In It

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 17, 2026 37:04


Russia's expanding nuclear arsenal, matching U.S. drug prices with Europe's, Federal agencies backing farmers' right to repair, and the fatal takeoff of UPS flight 2976. Plus, Albert Mohler on the borderless illusion, Larry the Cat at Number 10 Downing Street, and the Tuesday morning newsSupport The World and Everything in It today at wng.org/donateAdditional support comes from Pensacola Christian College. Academic excellence, biblical worldview, affordable cost. go.pcci.edu/worldFrom Ridge Haven Camp in North Carolina and Iowa. Summer Camp registration open now at ridgehaven.orgAnd from Dordt University, where the MSN–Family Nurse Practitioner program prepares nurses for Christ-centered, family-focused care. Dordt.edu

Raise the Line
A Trusted Voice on Allergies and Asthma: Dr. Zachary Rubin, Pediatric Allergist-Immunologist at Oak Brook Allergies

Raise the Line

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 12, 2026 27:04


“I do not believe we should be testing to test. We have to know, is this test going to change management and is it going to make a difference,” says pediatric allergist-immunologist Dr. Zachary Rubin. His knack for providing that sort of straightforward guidance explains why Dr. Rubin has become a trusted voice on allergies, asthma, and vaccines for his millions of followers on social media platforms. It's also why we couldn't ask for a better guide for our discussion on the rise in allergies, asthma, and immune-related conditions in children, and how families can navigate the quickly evolving science and rampant misinformation in the space. On this episode of Raise the Line, we also preview Dr. Rubin's new book, All About Allergies, in which he breaks down dozens of conditions and diseases, offering clear explanations and practical treatment options for families. Join host Lindsey Smith for this super informative conversation in which Dr. Rubin shares his thoughts on a wide range of topics including: What's behind the rise in allergic and immune-related conditions.Tips for managing misinformation, myths and misunderstandings. How digital platforms can be leveraged to strengthen public health.How to build back public trust in medicine.Mentioned in this episode:All About Allergies bookBench to Bedside PodcastInstagramTikTokYouTube Channel If you like this podcast, please share it on your social channels. You can also subscribe to the series and check out all of our episodes at www.osmosis.org/podcast