Drug Channels delivers timely analysis and provocative opinions from Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., the country's foremost expert on pharmaceutical economics and the drug distribution system. Drug Channels reaches an engaged, loyal and growing audience of more than 100,000 subscribers and followers. Learn more...
The onslaught of pharmacy-related news doesn’t end. It may even be increasing in volume due to AI.
But don’t worry—I’ve gathered some high-impact information over the last month from my LinkedIn posts that you can quickly read between your sets at the gym.
I recommend reading BETWEEN your sets, but some may be brave enough to read during the set itself.
Don't miss DCI’s upcoming webinar on Friday, June 12, 2026, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. ET. Adam J. Fein and tyler Novotny will unpack the good, the bad, and the ugly of the 340B program—and what it means for you. Click here to learn more and sign up.
Join industry expert Adam J. Fein, Ph.D., and his colleague Tyler Novotny, MBA, for an exclusive deep dive into the 340B Drug Pricing Program—one of the most complex and controversial segments of the U.S. pharmaceutical market.
In this all-new webinar, Adam and Tyler will deliver a fact-based, data-driven analysis of the 340B program’s structure, economics, and rapid evolution. He’ll unpack the key controversies reshaping the program, explain what’s really happening behind the headlines, and provide a clear, actionable outlook for stakeholders across the drug channel.
Whether you’re in pharma, provider organizations, pharmacy, or policy, you’ll gain the insights needed to understand where 340B is headed—and what it means for your business.
Key topics include:
The structure and economics of the 340B program
Growth trends among covered entities and their partners
340B’s expanding role in pharmacy—and its impact on PBMs and retail
DCI’s latest data on the contract pharmacy marketplace and the leading participants
The role of third-party administrators and vendors in the 340B ecosystem
What’s behind the growing controversy over the definition of an eligible patient
Why diversion and duplicate discounts have become flashpoints
The implications of the Net Pricing Drug Channel for 340B pricing dynamics
How 340B funds are generated and distributed across participating entities
How employers and plan sponsors could reshape the program’s future
Manufacturers’ evolving distribution strategies for 340B contract pharmacies
Recent legal developments affecting manufacturer policies and contract pharmacy arrangements
The expanding influence of state legislation
The impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on program operations and oversight
The HRSA vs. CMS oversight crisis
The outlook for a potential 340B rebate model
What’s ahead for state and federal policy
Emerging risks, challenges, and threats to watch
Plus: fresh insights and expert perspective you won’t find anywhere else.
As always, they will clearly distinguish their opinions and interpretations from the objective facts and data.
This 90-minute video webinar will feature a dedicated Q&A session, where attendees can unmute and engage directly with Tyler and Adam.
Register now to stay informed and get ahead of the curve on 340B!
PRICING OPTIONS
Take advantage of this exclusive educational opportunity for just $420 per viewing device. Once you register, you'll receive a unique Zoom access link within 24 hours—making it easy to add the event to your calendar and ensure you don’t miss out.
Special Discounts For Teams!
We understand that many professionals are working remotely, so we’re offering substantial savings for multiple registrations from the same organization. What's more, an unlimited number of attendees can watch together at a single physical location with one registered device.
Important Reminder: Each device at a single physical location must have its own registration. The webinar may not be recorded, streamed, broadcast, or shared across different locations, devices, or sites.
Click here to register. All discounts will be automatically computed based on the number of registrations you enter in your cart. (You can reset the cart by entering 0 in the quantity field.)
Payment can be made with all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover). Prefer check or ACH? Click here to request an invoice.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO KNOW
Watch and listen via any modern browser via computer, tablet, or mobile. (No telephone access.)
Each registrant will receive an email with a link to watch the event. This link is unique to the registrant and can only be accessed once.
Every registrant will also receive a link to download Dr. Fein's slides.
This event is part of The Drug Channels 2026 Video Webinar Series. If you already purchased access to the 2026 Drug Channels Video Webinar Series, then you already should have received an email from Zoom with a link to access the June 12, 2026, event.
Organizations that purchased corporate access for The Drug Channels 2026 Video Webinar Series will receive a custom, branded signup link so employees can easily register. We will automatically refund payments from anyone at a company with corporate access who purchases a single registration using their corporate email account.
Each registration for a DCI webinar is valid for a single device at a single physical location. Each device at a physical location requires its own registration. Attendees are not permitted to record, stream, share, or project a DCI webinar to other sites or locations. Purchasers who violate this limitation by recording, streaming, sharing, or projecting a DCI webinar to other sites, devices, or locations will be liable for the full cost of all locations that viewed the webinar. DCI reserves the right to prohibit purchasers who violate our terms from attending future DCI webinars.
Today’s guest post comes from George Moore, Chief Product and Technology Officer at CareMetx.
George argues that customer relationship management (CRM) program customization delivers short-term workflow gains at the expense of long-term scalability, integration simplicity, and upgradeability. He highlights three common pitfalls and offers an approach on how to avoid them.
Below, we share our proprietary analyses of the specialty market’s participants. DCI identified more than 1,900 pharmacy locations that have achieved specialty pharmacy accreditation from one of the two major independent accreditation organizations.
Despite growing revenues from specialty drugs, overall growth in accredited pharmacies has plateaued. However, pharmacy locations owned by healthcare providers—hospitals, health systems, physician practices, and other healthcare providers—continue to expand and now account for nearly 40% of all accredited specialty pharmacy locations.
Read on for a bit of our arithmomania. Because in specialty pharmacy, what gets counted reveals who really counts.
Today’s guest post comes from Cindy Baksh, Chief Product Officer at ConnectiveRx.
Cindy explains that many gross-to-net (GTN) exposures now occur at the claim level, where evolving payer tactics, pharmacy economics, and copay complexity create unpredictable leakage. She argues that manufacturers must augment downstream review with real-time visibility and intervention to protect both revenue and patient access.
Spring has officially arrived at Drug Channels' worldwide headquarters in beautiful downtown Philadelphia. (Photo proof at right.) So, dive into this month’s curated crop of noteworthy news:
Today’s guest post comes from Laura Jensen, Chief Commercial Officer and President, Pharma Direct at GoodRx.
Laura suggests that manufacturers must move beyond payer-centric models toward integrated, direct-to-consumer and employer channel strategies that connect pricing, demand, and fulfillment. She argues that this approach will help manufacturers convert patient intent into therapy initiation while expanding access at scale.
Minnesota’s new 340B data reveal a growing disconnect between the program’s size and the value Minnesotans receive in return.
In 2024, nonprofit hospitals generated more than $1.3 billion in 340B net profits—nearly a billion dollars more than they provided in uncompensated care. At the same time, these same institutions already benefit from substantial tax exemptions tied to their not-for-profit status and charitable mission.
The gap between 340B profits and charity care isn’t a rounding error or a one-off anomaly. The 340B Drug Pricing Program has evolved into a significant profit center for hospital systems. This is another layer on top of existing public subsidies, not a substitute for them.
As you’ll see below, our analysis describes a 340B program that generates financial gains far in excess of any contribution back to the people of the state. There is also no clear accountability for how those dollars are used.
Drug Channels Institute’s (DCI’s) latest analysis reveals that PBM-affiliated specialty pharmacies continue to dominate the dispensing of specialty drugs.
For 2025, DCI has identified more than 1,900 dispensing locations with specialty pharmacy accreditation from one or both of the two major independent accreditation organizations. The overall number of accredited locations grew by only 3% in 2025, but is more than five times larger than the 2015 figure.
However, market share for the dispensing of specialty drugs remains highly concentrated. For 2025, the three largest specialty pharmacies accounted for two-thirds of total prescription revenues from pharmacy-dispensed specialty drugs. These businesses are all owned by vertically integrated organizations that also own a PBM.
Below, we share DCI’s latest analysis of the top 15 specialty pharmacies, including updated market shares and revenue estimates, highlighting how vertical integration and channel control continue to reshape specialty dispensing. Despite growth in accredited locations, economic power remains concentrated among a small group of PBM-affiliated entities.
Next week, the DCI team will be attending Asembia’s AXS26 Summit in fabulous Las Vegas. Please say hello if you see us!
Today’s guest post comes from Karishma Desai, Associate Director of Data Strategy at Claritas Rx.
Karishma explains how the complexities of specialty therapies require a customer relationship management (CRM) system that unifies consent management. She goes on to explain that by embedding AI into the patient journey, automating workflows at scale, and enhancing collaboration among stakeholders, organizations can reduce delays, improve adherence, and deliver better patient outcomes.
Today’s guest post comes from Brok Vandersteen, Vice President of Business Development at AssistRx.
Brok explains how missteps during patient support program transitions—ranging from service disruptions to data misalignment—can undermine access, adherence, and brand trust. He describes best practices organizations can use to ensure a smooth transition while protecting patients, providers, and program outcomes.
It's time for Drug Channels Institute’s (DCI) annual update of vertical integration among insurers, PBMs, specialty pharmacies, and healthcare services within U.S. drug channels. As you can see below, we have updated and revised our infamous illustration of the major vertical business relationships within the largest companies.
These organizations continue to exert greater control over patient access, sites of care/dispensing, and pricing, although some have started to unwind their vertical integration strategies. Scrutiny of these companies’ actions continues to grow.
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