{"href":"http://player.captivate.fm/services/oembed?url=http%3A%2F%2Fplayer.captivate.fm%2Fepisode%2Fbac11f19-f7dd-4528-a3d3-fe070a598017","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Captivate.FM","provider_url":"https://www.captivate.fm","width":600,"height":200,"type":"rich","html":"","title":"Episode 34 - Pills, Profits, and Politics: The PBM Dilemma","description":"What happens when the middlemen controlling your medicine are more focused on profits than patients?\n\nIn this hard-hitting episode, Dr. Jasper and Patient Zero unravel the tangled web of Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs)\u2014shadowy intermediaries who claim to cut drug costs but often inflate prices, restrict access, and undermine both patient care and provider trust.\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83d\udd0d In this episode, they explore:\n\n\u2013 What PBMs are and how they rose to power\n\u2013 How spread pricing, rebates, and vertical integration distort the system\n\u2013 The real-world impact on drug affordability, independent pharmacies, and patient health\n\u2013 How Louisiana and Arkansas are fighting back with landmark PBM legislation\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83d\udca5 Key Takeaways:\n\n\u2013 PBMs now control 80% of U.S. prescriptions and manage $600B in drug spending.\n\u2013 Practices like spread pricing and rebate-driven formularies increase patient costs and provider burden.\n\u2013 Louisiana\u2019s 2025 PBM Reform Act bans spread pricing and mandates rebate transparency.\n\u2013 Arkansas became the first state to ban PBMs from owning pharmacies outright.\n\u2013 Legal pushback is fierce\u2014but momentum is growing for federal reform.\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83c\udfa7 Soundbite:\n\u201cPBMs were created to save money\u2014but now they\u2019re profiting from pain and blocking the care they were meant to facilitate.\u201d\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83e\ude7a Reflection Questions:\nFor patients: \u201cHave you ever overpaid for medication without understanding why?\u201d\nFor providers: \u201cHow often do PBM rules interfere with timely, affordable care for your patients?\u201d\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83d\udd17 Follow Byja Clinic:\nInstagram: @byjaclinic\nFacebook: @byjaclinic\nLinkedIn: Byja Clinic\nWebsite: www.byja.org\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83d\udc68\u200d\u2695\ufe0f Follow Dr. Jasper:\nInstagram: @drbjasper\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83c\udfa7 Follow George (Becnel Media):\nInstagram: @becnelmedia\nX (Twitter): @George_becnel\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\u2764\ufe0f Support & Donate to Byja Charitable Alliance:\nWebsite: www.byjaca.org\n\n\u2e3b\n\n\ud83c\udfac Produced by Becnel Media","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://artwork.captivate.fm/77ea7f2f-5837-472d-9254-9151ee043c0a/artworks-nyhyph942qtzpy3r-gs8lbg-t3000x3000.png"}