About this episode

Alec Ginsberg discusses the challenges facing independent pharmacies and the future of the pharmacist profession.

Last year, his independent pharmacy spent $13 million on brand-name drugs for patients processed by the three biggest Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) which earned a profit margin of 0.01%. In this episode, Halle speaks with Alec Ginsberg, owner and fourth-generation pharmacist at C.O. Bigelow, the oldest surviving apothecary–pharmacy in the United States. Alec is fighting against the forces squeezing independent pharmacies and charting a course for the future of the pharmacist. We cover : How the roll-up of PBMs, health plans, and retail pharmacies changed everything What led him to remove his pharmacy’s Rx-filling robot The dramatic decline of independent pharmacies along with the closures of big box pharmacy stores The one health policy he would put in place today to save independent pharmacies The history of the pharmacist's role and what’s next What he really thinks about compounding pharmacies and the Hims vs. Novo lawsuit — About our guest:  Alec Wade Ginsberg is the fourth-generation pharmacist, owner, and Chief Operating Officer of C.O. Bigelow Apothecary, America’s oldest pharmacy, founded in 1838 and still operating in New York City’s West Village. With a Doctor…

People in this episode

Host: Halle

Guest: Alec Ginsberg

Topics covered

• independent pharmacies
• pharmacy benefit managers
• health policy
• pharmacist role
• compounding pharmacies
• drug pricing

Keywords

• independent pharmacy
• C.O. Bigelow
• Alec Ginsberg
• pharmacy benefit managers
• health policy
• drug pricing
• compounding pharmacies
• pharmacist role

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: C.O. Bigelow, Pharmacy Benefit Managers, University of North Carolina Eshelman School of Pharmacy, Hims, Novo

Books & works: Doctor of Pharmacy

Places: United States, New York City

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