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2026 Cencora ThoughtSpot Rewind | Part Four

Pharmacy Podcast Network

32m
Transcript

Original podcast

Summary

Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.

This episode of the Pharmacy Podcast Network from the 2026 Cencora ThoughtSpot conference covers survival and growth strategies for independent community pharmacies facing severe reimbursement pressures. The host interviews several guests who share practical innovations, such as expanding into functional medicine, optimizing blood markers like homocysteine, developing long-term care at home programs, and adopting 3D compounding technology. Guests argue that shifting away from traditional dispensing models toward proactive clinical services and specialized cash-based or reimbursed care can rescue struggling pharmacies, improve patient outcomes, and significantly boost profitability.

  • Targeting optimal blood markers like homocysteine allows pharmacies to offer proactive clinical care that generates better profit margins than traditional dispensing. 2:31
  • Transitioning pharmacies in rural markets into group models helps maintain administrative efficiency and brings essential healthcare clinics alongside them. 13:23
  • Long-term care at home services expand a pharmacy's addressable market beyond traditional nursing facilities while creating reliable monthly revenue streams. 19:27
  • Using automated 3D compounding technology allows pharmacy technicians to multiply their output significantly without increasing headcount or compromising accuracy. 30:40

Chapters

  1. 0:05
    Podcast Introduction and Host Overview

    The episode opens with the Pharmacy Podcast Network’s introduction and host Todd Urie welcoming listeners to the 2026 Thought Spot Rewind.

  2. 0:36
    Thought Spot 2026 Conference Atmosphere

    Todd Urie sets the scene at the Outcomes booth, describing the energy and the variety of pharmacy professionals present at the conference.

  3. 2:48
    Functional Medicine Pharmacy Success Story

    A pharmacist shares how a compound‑cash‑only pharmacy in Harlingen, Texas, thrives by offering comprehensive functional medicine and supplements, improving patient outcomes and profitability.

  4. 6:18
    Integrating Supplements into Pharmacy Practice

    Discussion on how pharmacies can profit from supplement sales while providing value to patients, including pricing strategies and patient education.

  5. 8:00
    Homocysteine Management and Patient Outcomes

    The pharmacist explains the importance of homocysteine testing, how it informs treatment plans, and the significant health improvements seen in patients after intervention.

  6. 12:30
    Expanding Pharmacy Services in Rural Communities

    Tim Weber highlights Cencora’s efforts to support rural pharmacies, transition them into group models, and integrate clinics to prevent pharmacy deserts.

  7. 22:14
    Long‑Term Care Pharmacy at Home Growth

    Paul Shelton outlines the business model, financial benefits, and operational requirements for pharmacies to offer long‑term care services to patients at home.

  8. 30:34
    Compounding Innovation with Curify Labs

    Armon from Curify Labs describes how 3D compounding technology increases accuracy, efficiency, and profitability for community pharmacies.

Highlights

  • 2:31

    Surviving on Functional Medicinestory

    The guest explains how operating a cash-only compound pharmacy in one of the poorest regions of the United States proved successful by focusing on comprehensive functional medicine rather than just traditional dispensing.

  • 4:34

    Homocysteine and Cardiovascular Riskdata

    The guest discusses clinical data showing that patients with elevated homocysteine levels face a much higher cardiovascular mortality risk, offering a lucrative opportunity for pharmacies to run optimal biomarker panels.

  • 10:38

    Embracing AI and Technologyinsight

    The guest explains how artificial intelligence and software automation can remove administrative burdens and free up pharmacists and technicians to practice at the top of their license.

  • 13:23

    Rescuing Rural Pharmacy Desertsstrategy

    The guest outlines a strategy where multiple rural pharmacies are transitioned into a group-managed structure to lower administrative costs and introduce local primary care clinics.

  • 17:00

    Getting Past Administrative Burdensinsight

    The guest argues that pharmacists need to move past low-margin dispensing fees and administrative audits to focus on patient outcomes and reimbursable clinical services.

  • 19:27

    Long-Term Care at Home Growthdata

    The guest highlights that long-term care at home expands the addressable patient market from 3.2 million to 17.4 million people across the country.

  • 30:40

    Scaling Compounding with 3D Techstrategy

    The guest describes how 3D compounding equipment allows pharmacy technicians to increase their production output three to nine times while maintaining precision and compliance.

Quotes

  • “it's always good to re-energize with other pharmacists and people that are passionate about pharmacy to keep it going because it is one of those things that is almost dying just because of reimbursement rates and stuff.”
    Unnamed speaker · 1:17
  • “67% mortality risk of cardiovascular disease than those that have, those that are under eight, right?”
    Unnamed speaker · 3:51
  • “he was actually on the verge of having a cardiovascular event because his homocysteine was at 24.”
    Unnamed speaker · 5:20
  • “10 patients, 10 patients on LTC at home increase your reimbursement in your pharmacy about $800 if they're an average LTC at home patient.”
    Unnamed speaker · 24:44
  • Outcomes 0:36–0:55
  • Outcomes 10:38–12:02
  • Cencora 12:30–12:55
  • Curify Labs 29:48–30:40

About this episode

Welcome to the 2026 Cencora ThoughtSpot Rewind, sponsored by Outcomes! In this special 4-part series we get a deep look into the event that took place this year in Orlando Florida. The Pharmacy Podcast Network was embedded into the Outcomes booth where we caught all the action on the show room floor. To learn more about what Outcomes is doing for pharmacies, visit https://www.outcomes.com/ In this episode hosted by Todd Eury, Founder and CEO of the Pharmacy Podcast Network, we hear from: Mike Muniz - NewRx Pharmacy Tim Weber - Good Neighbor Pharmacy Brian Pinto - Tiffany Natural Pharmacy Paul Shelton - LTC@Home Pharmacy Network Armawn Asgari - CurifyLabs

Transcript

0:00
32:49

5,932 words · 8 speakers

Topics

  • Thought Spot 2026
  • Harlingen
  • Rio Grande Valley
  • Rupa Health
  • Full Script
  • New Jersey Farms Association
  • Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding

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