Episode Details

Today’s episode of This Week in Pharmacy — TWIRx is sponsored by Value Drug Company and explores two major forces reshaping pharmacy: the evolution of the community pharmacy business model and the expanding role of artificial intelligence in medication optimization and value-based care.

Special Guest: Rick Seipp, PharmD
President, Value Drug Company

https://www.valuedrugco.com/

Community pharmacy is entering a new era.

In Part One, Todd Eury sits down with Dr. Rick Seipp, PharmD, President of Value Drug Company, to discuss the continued evolution and expansion of independent community pharmacy and the many different business models emerging across the profession.

Independent pharmacy owners are increasingly evaluating new ways to build sustainable businesses while creating greater professional freedom for pharmacists. One of the most interesting developments is the growth of cash-based and cost-plus pharmacy models that reduce or eliminate dependence on traditional insurance reimbursement and PBM-controlled prescription economics.

These models can give pharmacy owners greater control over pricing, patient relationships, clinical services and the overall direction of their businesses — while allowing pharmacists to practice with significantly less interference from insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers.

Two pharmacies in the Pittsburgh region are demonstrating how powerful this model can become:

Blueberry Pharmacy — Kyle McCormick, PharmD
Kyle McCormick has built Blueberry Pharmacy around a transparent, cash-based model designed to simplify prescription pricing and create a more direct relationship between the pharmacist and patient.

ForwardRx — Brandon Antinopoulos, PharmD
ForwardRx is another emerging example of how pharmacists can create innovative pharmacy businesses built around transparency, accessibility and freedom from many of the traditional constraints of third-party reimbursement.

Todd and Rick discuss what these models mean for the broader independent pharmacy marketplace and why community pharmacy may be moving toward a much more diversified future.

Topics include:

• The continued evolution of independent community pharmacy
• Cash-based and cost-plus pharmacy models
• Reducing dependence on PBMs and third-party reimbursement
• Creating more pricing transparency for patients
• Giving pharmacists greater professional autonomy
• New revenue opportunities for independent pharmacies
• The importance of wholesalers and pharmacy partners supporting emerging business models
• Why the future of community pharmacy may include many different models operating successfully side by side

Sponsored by Value Drug Company, a pharmacist-led wholesale distribution partner committed to supporting the continued growth and independence of community pharmacy.

https://www.valuedrugco.com/

Special Guests:

Yoona Kim, PharmD, PhD
Co-Founder & CEO, Arine

Jenny Behan, PharmD
Lead Clinical Pharmacist, Arine

In Part Two, TWIRx shifts from pharmacy business innovation to one of the most important developments occurring in clinical pharmacy: the use of artificial intelligence to optimize medication therapy at scale.

Arine is an AI-powered medication optimization platform designed to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs by helping ensure patients receive the most effective and appropriate medicatio