Untangling the IRA with Emma Cousin

About this episode

The episode discusses the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act on healthcare and pharmacy.

🎧 Hosts: Na-Ri Oh & Ian Wendt🎓 Special Guests: Emma Cousin (PhD Candidate, Choice Institute – UW), Amos Fung (RealPharma Intern & Student Pharmacist) 🔍 Episode Summary: In this thought-provoking episode, hosts Na-Ri Oh and Ian Wendt sit down with Emma Cousin, a PhD candidate at the Choice Institute, University of Washington, to unpack the real-world implications of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA)—particularly the Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program. Joining them is Amos Fung, a RealPharma intern who brings a front-line pharmacy perspective to the policy conversation. Together, they discuss: 📜 A primer on the IRA’s healthcare provisions—what it is, how it came to be, and why it matters now. 💊 How CMS selects drugs for Medicare negotiation and whether this process constitutes true “negotiation.” 👩‍⚕️ The ripple effects on pharmacists, pharmacies, and patient care. 💸 The looming concerns around cashflow, operational readiness, and access as the 2026 implementation date approaches. 🧠 How researchers like Emma are modeling long-term effects—and what metrics we’ll need to track to assess the IRA’s success. 🔄 Unintended consequences and who might be left…

People in this episode

Hosts: Na-Ri Oh, Ian Wendt

Guests: Emma Cousin, Amos Fung

Topics covered

• Inflation Reduction Act
• Medicare Drug Price Negotiation
• Pharmacy Impact
• Healthcare Policy
• Drug Pricing Myths
• Patient Care

Keywords

• Inflation Reduction Act
• Medicare
• drug pricing
• pharmacy
• healthcare policy
• negotiation
• patient care

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Choice Institute – UW, RealPharma, CMS

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