You knew UnitedHealth owns pharmacies, PBMs, and providers. Did you know it owns a bank too?

In this episode of the PUTTcast, co-hosts Lauren Young and Monique Whitney sit down with Emma Freer, Senior Fellow for Healthcare at the American Economic Liberties Project, to unpack her recent report on Optum Bank: a UnitedHealth Group subsidiary that's been quietly operating since 2003.

What started as a health savings account provider has grown into a full lending operation, one that stepped into the spotlight after the Change Healthcare cyberattack left independent physician practices and pharmacies without cash flow… and UnitedHealth responded by offering them loans, at rates that raised eyebrows across the industry.

Emma walks through how this fits into UnitedHealth Group's broader pattern of 3-D vertical integration: the company is now the third-largest business in the U.S., the third-largest PBM, and the fourth-largest pharmacy operator; all while also functioning as insurer, lender, and data broker through Optum Insight's growing AI and analytics operations. The result is a closed loop where UnitedHealth can help create the financial distress independent providers face, then profit again by lending to them to survive it.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone trying to understand how deep UnitedHealth's reach into the healthcare system really goes - and why "just a bank" in healthcare is never just a bank.

Music by cat_herding_diva | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

In this episode of The PUTTcast, PUTT Executive Director Monique Whitney steps into the host chair alongside Vice President Lauren Young for a powerful conversation about patient access, PBM accountability, and the growing movement to take the fight directly to elected officials at the town hall level.

Key Takeaways

• How Express Scripts terminated Martella's Pharmacies from their network — across all six locations — citing credentialing issues, and why Jackie believes it was anything but routine
• Why Pennsylvania's Act 77, intended to protect pharmacies, may have had unintended consequences that accelerated network purges - and how other states have experienced the same unintended repercussions
• Our strategy for using election-season town halls to embarrass legislators into accountability — and why patient voices are the most powerful tool in the room

Special Guests:

• Jerry Shapiro RPh, PUTT Board Member, NCPA Foundation President, retired pharmacy owner
• Jackie Martella RPh & Bob McGowan Owners, Martella’s Pharmacies

Mark Your Calendar

PUTT is hosting a community town hall on June 23rd in Johnstown/Boswell, Pennsylvania to collect patient stories, document the impact of pharmacy access loss, and shine a light on what's happening in rural communities across the state. If you're in the area, come out and make your voice heard.

Resources & Links

• Find town halls near you: TownHallProject.com
• Pennsylvania pharmacy access campaign: PAMyPharmacyMyChoice.org
• Learn more about PUTT's work: TruthRx.org
• DataScan Pharmacy Software: DataScanPharmacy.com

Independent pharmacies face immense pressure from Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), often confronting the impossible choice of losing money on a prescription or turning a patient away. In this episode of The PUTTcast, host Lauren Young sits down with Kris Rhea from Pharmacy Marketplace to discuss a game-changing solution to this "pharmacy spiral." They dive deep into the world of MAC appeals and underwater claims, revealing how new software helps pharmacy owners fight back and reclaim rightfully owed revenue. Whether you’re navigating new state statutes or tracking the PBM divestiture bill in Tennessee, this episode offers actionable insights and a powerful tool to strengthen your pharmacy's financial health while fueling the momentum for nationwide PBM reform.

Music by cat_herding_diva | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Key Takeaways

• The Reality of the "Pharmacy Spiral": Understand the impossible decisions pharmacy owners face when dealing with underwater claims and how it impacts patient care.
• Automating MAC Appeals: Learn how Pharmacy Marketplace's software identifies eligible claims, generates compliant invoices, and tracks the appeal timeline from start to finish.
• State-Level PBM Reform: Discover which states are leading the charge in enforcing underwater payment statutes and how organized data empowers agencies to audit non-compliant PBMs.
• Escalating Rejections: Find out exactly what to do when a PBM rejects your appeal and how to involve your state's Department of Insurance or Attorney General.
• Advocacy in Action: Hear the latest updates on the Tennessee PBM divestiture bill and learn why independent pharmacies must actively participate to drive legislative change.

Resources

• Pharmacy Marketplace: Learn more about the MAC appeal tool and watch the demo video at pharmacymarketplace.com
• Contact Kris Rhea: Reach out directly at Kris@pharmacymarketplace.com
• Pharmacists United for Truth and Transparency (PUTT): Join the fight for PBM reform and access more advocacy resources at truthrx.org

In this episode of The PUTTcast, discover how Louisiana legislators and healthcare advocates triumphed over corporate opposition to enact groundbreaking PBM reform with HB 264. Join host Lauren Young as she welcomes Louisiana State Representative Michael Echols and Louisiana Independent Pharmacies Association Director of Government Affairs Matthew Cross to discuss the collaborative fight that made this victory possible, and what it means for the future of fair pharmacy practices and patient care.

Music by cat_herding_diva | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

How Independent Pharmacies Can Amplify Their Voice

At its core, PBM reform is not just a critical pharmacy issue - it’s a patient care issue. Join us for this insightful episode as we explore how independent pharmacies can use psychology, AI, and community-building strategies to craft testimony, fight misleading PBM narratives, and create a united voice for reform.

Special Guest: Ken Patel, RPh, co-founder Arizona Independent Pharmacy Coalition

Music by cat_herding_diva | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Arkansas is fighting back against the abusive, anticompetitive practices of pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs). This episode dives into the systemic lawbreaking by PBMs and their exploitation of current laws - which comes at the expense of taxpayers, pharmacies, and Arkansas communities. This isn’t just about corporate greed—it’s about the lives of Arkansas families, patients, and healthcare providers. HB 1150 represents a critical effort to hold PBMs accountable and protect access to care for communities across the state.

Special Guests:

• AR State Representative Jeremiah Moore
• AR State Senator Kim Hammer
• AR State Representative Brandon Achor
• Arkansas Pharmacists Association CEO John Vinson

Music by cat_herding_diva | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) have long held disproportionate control over pharmacy reimbursement systems. But is change finally on the horizon?

In this episode, we sit down with Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger to dissect the pressing issues surrounding PBM practices and discuss why now is the time to act. From federal legislation already in the works to the decisive importance of the first 100 days of 2025, Congresswoman Harshbarger walks us through her goals for actionable, enforceable PBM reform.

Special Guest: Congresswoman Diana Harshbarger (R-TN)

Music by cat_herding_diva | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard

Welcome back to part two of our special live crossover episode with PBM on the Rocks and The PUTTcast!

In this conclusion to our live Summit day recording, we dive deeper into the critical issues facing the pharmacy industry today. The discussion picks back up on the front lines of PBM reform, exploring reform’s real-world impact on patients and independent pharmacies, then shifts to a powerful and often-debated topic: the case for unionization in pharmacy. But it's not all serious business. Maurice Shaw (The Dr of Comedy) and Shane Jerominsky (The Accidental Pharmacist) bring their unique perspectives as pharmacists and comedians to point out the comedic moments found in everyday pharmacy life - reminding us that laughter can be a powerful tool for coping with the immense pressures of the pharmacy profession.

Special Guests: Maurice Shaw, PharmD, Shane Jerominsky, RPh, & Greg Reybold, APCI VP of Healthcare Policy & General Counsel

Music by cat_herding_diva & JuliusH | Mixing by Andre Barden | Production & Editing by Shannon Wightman-Girard