Independent Rx Forum

Host John Beckner is joined this week by NCPA 2025-2026 Executive Resident Charlotte Nazar for a discussion about her experience with NCPA. Nazar provides insights into the residency  structure and outlines some of the highlights of her year at NCPA. Beckner and Nazar engage in a conversation on NCPA's grant work, the necessity of community health workers in today's pharmacy landscape, and Nazar's...

Meredy Ayers from the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding joins host John Beckner in the studio for a two-part conversation on the ever-expanding role of pharmacy technicians.   In part two, Ayers outlines the biggest takeaways from her two decades in community pharmacy and how her understanding of patient care translates to association work. Beckner and Ayers engage in a discussion on compounding a...

Meredy Ayers from the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding joins host John Beckner in the studio for a two-part conversation on the ever-expanding role of pharmacy technicians.   In part one, Ayers outlines the trajectory of her career from an advanced credential technician to her current role as events and engagement manager with APC. Beckner and Ayers dive into the value of advanced credentials, pa...

This week, Main Street Competition Coalition Executive Director Chris Jones joins host John Beckner in the studio to discuss the impetus behind the new organization. Jones details MSCC's value as a nonpartisan platform that gives Main Street a vehicle to organize, advocate, and push for market fairness at every level. Beckner and Jones celebrate a successful launch, detail next steps for the organ...

In today's episode, we continue our Vaccine Voices series. Host John Beckner takes a closer look at addressing vaccinations in the long-term care setting with guests Jeanne Manzi, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP and Deborah Milito, PharmD, BCGP, FASCP. Manzi and Milito share insights from their research in a recent white paper entitled:  Immunization Insights: Bridging Gaps, Boosting Protection, and Building...

This week, host John Beckner sits down with Leanne Haley-Brown from CPESN®, Jenn Lewis, and Cheri Schmit from Cardinal Health to discuss the challenges of patient non-adherence, including concerns over side effects, managing multiple conditions and prescriptions, and synchronization. Part of a pharmacist's role is removing the barriers facing patients in medication adherence. This week's guests pr...

NCPA President Kristen Riddle joins host Sam Manas at the halfway point of her presidency to reflect on a whirlwind year. She shares highlights from Capitol Hill meetings and visits to member pharmacies across the country, celebrates the landmark PBM reform signed into law this year, and offers a glimpse into how she balances it all with running her own pharmacy in Arkansas. Plus, a preview of wha...

NCPA Past President and PAC Chairman Steve Giroux joins host John Beckner in the studio during NCPA's 2026 fly-in for a conversation about political advocacy. They discuss the impact NCPA's PAC has in combination with our grassroots advocacy efforts. Giroux outlines how contributing to the PAC can enhance your relationships with your elected officials and increase their engagement with issues that...

Host Brooklyn Morgan sits down with Tennessee Pharmacists Association CEO Anthony Pudlo to discuss the landmark FAIR Rx Act (SB2040/HB1959). They discuss the impact the FAIR Rx Act will have on independent pharmacies by unmasking the middleman and the multi-million-dollar campaign CVS undertook to try and undermine the bill's passing. Pudlo detailed how NCPA's State Panel of Experts enhanced the T...

NCPA President Kristen Riddle sits down with host  Sam Manas to reflect on this year's Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In. Riddle shares the excitement she felt walking into her representatives' offices off the back of the recent PBM reform and puts out a call to action for pharmacists who were unable to attend this year's fly-in.   Mark your calendar! Next year's fly-in is April 7-8, 2027.

Tana Kaefer, PharmD, joins host John Beckner for a discussion exploring the intersection of menopause, mental health, and hormone therapy. This week's conversation focuses on how evolving evidence has reshaped our understanding since the landmark  Women's Health Initiative began.   Kaefer highlights the pharmacist's role in identifying symptoms, guiding patients, and supporting safe, individualize...

NCPA President Kristen Riddle sits down with host Sam Manas for a pre-NCPA Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In check-in. They discuss what it's like for a pharmacist to go to Capitol Hill, what attendees can look forward to, and how to make the most of your time in Washington, D.C.

This week's guest, Julie Bromberg, is an independent public health researcher with an MA in heath communications and 15 years of experience with the CDC and NIH. She joins host John  Becker to discuss the sustainability of pharmacy-based diabetes self-management education programming.  Bromberg shares details of her research, including the needs and challenges of providing DSME, and offers actiona...

Host John Beckner sits down in the studio with NCPA Director of Congressional Affairs David Weissman for part two of our Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In priorities series. Weissman gives an overview of the schedule and what to expect when attending your meetings on Capitol Hill. Additionally, they discuss our legislative priorities including the Pharmacists Fight Back Act, RX ACCESS Act, and Preserv...

One week out from NCPA's Congressional Pharmacy Fly-In, host John Beckner sits down in the studio with NCPA Director of Congressional Affairs Kaite Krell to discuss this year's policy priorities. Krell provides insights on the ins and outs of the advocacy team's fly-in preparation and shares details on three of our five policy priorities: thanking Congress for PBM reform, Medicaid managed care ref...

For the first time, Independent Rx Forum is on video in the studio! Host Sam Manas sits down with NCPA CEO Douglas Hoey to discuss the new media studio at NCPA headquarters. They cover the history of NCPA's podcast and discuss the future of content for community pharmacy.   Starting today, NCPA's podcast is available to stream on YouTube and our website in addition to wherever you get your podcast...

Joel Kurzman, NCPA  d irector of  s tate  g overnment  a ffairs, sits down with John Coster, former  d irector of the Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services Division of Pharmacy, to discuss NCPA's new State Panel of Experts and state Medicaid reform efforts. With the support of CPA, NCPA has gathered experts from pharmacy and policy to assist state associations in their efforts around the most pres...

In this episode, host John Beckner is joined by Harry Travis, BSPharm, to discuss the intersection of AI and pharmacy. Harry outlines a three-tier approach to implementing AI into community pharmacy and emphasizes the potential of AI to innovate and optimize productivity, rather than replacing the role of pharmacy employees.

Host John Beckner sits down with Stephen Giroux, NCPA's  past president and current PAC chairman and NCPA's  political affairs manager, Jack Koltisko, to celebrate  the Federal Trade Commission  settlement with Cigna and PBM reforms included in the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2026. They discuss NCPA's ongoing advocacy priorities and the role our members play in the NCPA PAC and LDF. Listene...

In today's episode, NCPA SVP of Public Affairs Jack Mozloom speaks with CEO Douglas Hoey and Jamey Bowers, a partner at Berman and Company, about the launch of Neighbors Not Numbers, a nation-wide multi-media  branding campaign. They discuss NCPA's motivation for the campaign and give insights into the ad structures and options for NCPA member participation. Neighbors Not Numbers is a multi-year e...

Host John Beckner is joined by Greg Jones, R.Ph and president of Compass Core Pharmacy in Warwick, R.I., to discuss cost-plus pharmacies.  As the first of its kind in Rhode Island, Greg offers insights into building his cost-plus business model, outlining the challenges he faced as well as the benefits for small-business owners and patients.

Host John Beckner continues his conversation with Jeffrey Bratberg, PharmD, FAPhA, clinical professor of pharmacy practice and clinical research at the University of Rhode Island (URI) College of Pharmacy, and Michelle Caetano, PharmD, grant coordinator at the URI College of Pharmacy, to discuss the growing opportunities for independent pharmacies to provide addiction care services. The conversati...

Coming to you from #NCPA2025, host John Beckner and co-host Ed Cohen talk with Trent Twomey, BPharm, national president of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia, about how pharmacy operates differently in Australia compared to the U.S., and the central role community pharmacy plays in supporting patients.

Host John Beckner sits down with Jeffrey Bratberg, PharmD, FAPhA, clinical professor of pharmacy practice and clinical research at the University of Rhode Island (URI) College of Pharmacy, and Michelle Caetano, PharmD, grant coordinator at the URI College of Pharmacy, to discuss the founding of  Pharmacy Bridge — a one-stop resource for pharmacists to find state-specific laws and data related to a...

Coming to you from the #NCPA2025 expo floor, host John Beckner and co-host Ed Cohen talk with 2024-2025 NCPA President Jeff Harrell, PharmD, and 2025-2026 President Kristen Riddle, PharmD. They discuss lessons learned, what lies ahead, and the importance of unity as community pharmacy moves forward together.