Inside Cencora GPO: How GPOs Leverage Scale to Help Retina Practices Thrive, ft. Shane Dixon

Hosts:John Kitchens, MDScott KrzywonosGuest:Shane Dixon, Vice President of Vision, Strategic Advancement & Business Development, Cencora Specialty GPOShow Summary:In this episode, John and Scott continue their coverage of the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting with an in-depth conversation about the economic, policy, and operational forces reshaping retina practices. The discussion opens with key takeaways from the meeting’s opening sessions, including a deep dive into drug pricing policy, the downstream impact of federal legislation on how retina practices are reimbursed for care, and the coding and billing changes showcased at the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting.John then sits down with Shane Dixon, VP at Cencora Specialty GPO, to unpack what a Group Purchasing Organization actually does—and why its role has become increasingly critical. Drawing on his experience as a physician assistant, former Regeneron launch leader for Eylea, practice executive, private equity operator, and now GPO executive, Shane offers a rare, 360-degree view of how drugs move from manufacturer to patient, how contracts are structured, and how practices can survive tightening margins.Topics Covered:Key takeaways from the Cencora Vision Exchange meetingFederal drug pricing policy and “Most Favored Nation” pricingHow government policy is reshaping retina drug economicsCoding and billing risk, including increased scrutiny of Modifier 25CMS’s use of AI for claim detection, audits, and recoveryDeclining surgical reimbursement and its impact on access to careThe collapse of the Good Days patient assistance fund and what replaces itWhat a Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) is and how it worksHow Cencora’s GPO leverages scale, segmentation, and contractsDifferences between private practice and large aggregatorsKey Quotes:“The way we get paid for drugs is going to fundamentally change—and it’s going to change fast.” — John Kitchens, MD“We’re not just doing contracts. We’re helping practices think strategically about how they operate.” — Shane Dixon“Documentation isn’t optional anymore. ‘I didn’t know’ is not going to cut it.” — John Kitchens, MDCredits:Production & Marketing: Laura BrownBusiness Operations: Liz HoganListen and Subscribe:RetinUp.com | Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube