AH051 - Why Drug Prices & Modern Tech Matter in Hospice Care, Too, with Nick Opalich

For Episode 51 of the Astonishing Healthcare podcast, we spoke with Nick Opalich, CEO of HospiceChoice Rx. We learned about how end-of-life care is evolving in the U.S., including the roles pharmacy and technology play in the hospice industry. Nick and host Justin Venneri discuss some similarities between the hospice pharmacy benefit management (PBM) and commercial PBM spaces, such as the importance of a great pharmacy network and independent pharmacies, why the drug price index matters (NADAC vs. AWP), medication access, and disconnected systems.A former pharmacy owner himself, Nick explains the importance of helping hospice providers control drug spend, which is usually the second highest cost behind labor for providers, and reimbursement trends/pressure. He also touches on dispense fees, the potential to improve ePrescribing, and leveraging AI for enhanced reporting.Related ContentWhat is NADAC & How Does It Differ From AWP?Pharmacy Benefits 101: The Importance of the NetworkFor ReferenceHospice industry Facts & Figures (NHPCO, 2024)Thank you for listening, and check out Capital Rx Insights for more, including this episode's transcript!