Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast

What does it really mean to question the status quo? This week, we’re sitting down with Dared Price, a pharmacy owner who’s taking PBM reform from South Kansas all the way to Capitol Hill. Dared’s resumé is extensive: he’s started multiple pharmacies, built impressive clinical programs, and created a transparent PBM model that helped over 100 employer groups cut prescription costs. Lately, though, he’s turned his attention to PBM r...

Live from the Connect 2025 conference, PioneerRx superuser Rannon Ching shares how he and his pharmacy team are tackling new opportunities in the industry—all by getting their workflow right. He discusses how Texas legislation is opening doors, how you can leverage your team (and residents) to create new programs, and most importantly, how you can make practical workflow fixes to implement those programs. He also talks all things i...

If there’s one name to know in the fight for PBM reform, it’s Benjamin Jolley. As Co-Founder of Apex Consulting and Senior Fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, Ben has spent years exposing what’s been broken in the pharmacy system—and what can still be fixed. Most recently, he addressed 20,000 attendees at a rally in Salt Lake City to advocate for Breaking Up Big Medicine (breakupbigmedicine.com). This week, Be...

Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill is making headlines—and it could change the game for independent pharmacy forever. In this episode of the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast, Mark and Josh break down what’s inside the sweeping budget bill passed by the U.S. House, including a national ban on spread pricing and a push for fair, transparent Medicaid managed care reimbursements. They dig into how these changes could impact independent pharmacies in ...

In this edition of the Pharmacy Survival Guide series, guests Joey Chamberlain, Parker Baro, Rannon Ching, and Mayank Amin share the hard-earned (and well-won) strategies that keep their pharmacies strong. They talk everything from cash pricing to maximizing margins to turning storage closets into profitable clinics backed by medical billing. Packed with practical tips and real-world wins, this episode is a masterclass in doing mor...

What happens when you invest in your people? In this episode of the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast, Meredy Ayers shares how she went from small-town pharmacy clerk to development specialist at Bremo Pharmacy. She hones in on how technicians are stepping into top-of-license roles—how that’s impacting workflow, revenue, and most importantly, patient care. From building out roles like community health workers and compression specialists to...

What’s the secret to scaling a pharmacy while keeping customers first? In this episode of the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast, Gifthealth’s Amy Edzkowski and Erin Simmons share how their platform has grown from start-up to serving over 200,000 patients. Joined by co-host Hemal Desai, they discuss how Gifthealth uses smart technology, direct-to-consumer delivery, and API automation to make complex medication regimens simpler for patients ...

Four pharmacy leaders. Four different journeys. In this episode, we revisit the real paths people take into pharmacy — and the impact they’re making in their communities. Matt Binder shares how he grew from single-store owner to multi-store operator with support from Cascadia Pharmacy Group. Marcus Howard talks about leaving teaching to open a pharmacy focused on inclusion in St. Louis. Lacy Epperson explains how she’s expanding cl...

Joe Williams didn’t take the traditional route to pharmacy ownership, and he wouldn’t have it any other way. In this episode of the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast, Joe breaks down how he hustled his way into the industry and turned late nights, second jobs, and a foreclosure flip into the foundation of his multi-location pharmacy business. He walks us through the strategies and systems that helped him grow his first store 12x — without ...

From big dreams to big plans: Andy Maurer and Josh Howland share how RedSail Technologies is building real-world solutions that are impacting the industry. On this episode of Beyond the Scripts, Josh and Andy break down their strategy for growing RedSail’s pharmacy technology ecosystem — from PMS platforms to merchant services — and how private equity investment is driving that growth. They also tackle major industry challenges, fr...

At just 25 years old, Josuah Tilus didn’t wait to make his mark on the industry. He bought his own pharmacy fresh out of school and has been redefining what it means to be an owner since. In this episode of Beyond the Scripts, Josuah shares his journey from pharmacy student to pharmacy owner at Chinook Pharmacy in Forks, WA. He opens up about his fast track to ownership: attending over 30 conferences in school, building a strategic...

What if the future of healthcare was shaped by those who know it best – pharmacists? In this episode, we sit down with Theresa Tolle, Owner of Bay Street Pharmacy, to discuss how independent pharmacists are working to change the industry from the inside out. Theresa draws on her experiences as an independent owner and former APhA President to reflect on the past, present, and future of pharmacy. We dive into the latest updates in P...

What burning questions do RedSail customers have about the future of pharmacy?  In this special episode of Beyond the Scripts, we put Josh Howland in the hot seat to discuss the industry’s most pressing issues. Josh talks about the evolution of PioneerRx, RedSail’s multi-PMS strategy, and the benefits of the PowerLine switch. He also explains how RedSail plans to help pharmacies stay profitable, even amid the rise of expensive medi...

“Hayat” is the Arabic translation of “life,” and Hayat Pharmacy Founder and CEO Hashim Zaibak has made it his mission to breathe new life into independent pharmacy. In this episode of the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast, we sit down with Hashim to discuss his journey from chain supervisor to independent owner. What started as a single location in Milwaukee has grown into an empire of over 20 pharmacies — all while keeping patient care at...

In this exciting new segment of our Rewind series, we're crafting a Pharmacy Survival Guide that only Catalyst can deliver. These thoughtfully designed multi-part podcasts look back at previous episodes of Catalyst and Beyond the Scripts to explore fundamental areas in pharmacy that will enhance your professional growth. Part 1 of the survival guide focuses on financial foundations & compliance, featuring valuable advice an...

In this episode of Beyond the Scripts, Kris Rhea introduces Pharmacy Marketplace, an AI-driven platform helping independent pharmacies optimize purchasing and maintain wholesaler compliance. Independent pharmacy owner Saad Aqqad shares how implementing the system at Oak Ridge Pharmacy eliminated manual processes and protected valuable rebates, while freeing up time for patient care. Host Will Tuft explores how this technology solut...

Meet Matt Binder, the 2024 WSPA Distinguished Young Pharmacist. Making his home in Seattle, he has built a three-store pharmacy network while maintaining the personal touch that makes independent pharmacies special.  

On this episode of the Beyond the Scripts Podcast, join him and host Will Tuft as they share modern insights on team building, profit-sharing strategies, and the power of student engagement. Learn how his partnersh...

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Amina Abubakar returns to the Catalyst Pharmacy Podcast, as she shares how restructuring her organization led to new growth and introduces GUIDE, a Medicare initiative transforming community pharmacies into brain health hubs. As the only community pharmacy-focused model among 390 selected sites, GUIDE reimagines how pharmacies support memory care patients and their famil...

In this edition of Catalyst Catch-Up, hosts Mark Bivins and Josh Howland explore what’s in store for pharmacy technology in 2025. Tune in as they discuss the latest on PBM reform legislation, the rollout of new copay smoothing requirements, and their vision for pharmacy management systems in the new year. All this and more in this edition of Catalyst Catch-Up. 

0:00 - PBM Reform Discussion 

05:30 - M3P Copay Smoothing Implementat...