The Modern Pharmacist

GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound have exploded in demand, reshaping the pharmacy counter in ways few anticipated. In this episode, we break down the real-world pressures behind the trend — from skyrocketing costs and strict insurance controls to the growing wave of compounded and counterfeit versions flooding the market.We explore how shortages, prior authorizations, BMI requirements, and payer pushback are affecting patient access, and why pharmacists are increasingly asked to manage safety concerns, logistics, and obesity counseling that extend far beyond dispensing.

Use PillPilot to automate your pharmacy workflows with AI at https://pillpilot.aiIn this video, we take an honest look at what’s happening on the ground: independent pharmacies closing, communities losing access to basic care, and pharmacists trying to hold everything together while navigating rules they didn’t create.A lot of the story traces back to PBMs, the middlemen who set reimbursement rates, control drug pricing mechanisms, and increasingly own both the insurers and the competing pharmacies in the same supply chain. Their influence shapes everything from DIR fees to MAC pricing to spread pricing, and the impact on small pharmacies has been devastating.But the story isn’t only about collapse.States are starting to push back. New laws are emerging. Pharmacists are experimenting with clinical services and new technologies. There’s a real conversation happening about what the future of pharmacy should actually look like.This podcast episode pulls together research, sources, and on-the-ground experiences to map out where things stand in 2025 and what might come next.