In this episode, hosts Crystal Weaver and Shabbir Imber Safdar dive into the rapidly evolving world of Prescription Drug Affordability Boards and upper payment limits—two key policy tools designed to tackle rising drug costs at the state level.

With special guests Emily Zadvorny, PharmD, BCPS, Executive Director of the Colorado Pharmacists Society, and Bridget Dandaraw-Seritt, patient advocate and Founder of Advocates for Compassionate Therapy Now, the conversation unpacks the real-world impacts of PDAB policies on pharmacies, health systems, and—most critically—patients.

From legal battles in Colorado to the concern over whether cost savings actually reach patients, this episode explores whether these efforts are targeting the right pain points or simply shifting the burden downstream.

Recently, a unit of fake Ozempic was found in an Arkansas pharmacy and identified as fake using a new tool from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, Pulse.

What does a patient, who received a counterfeit twenty five years ago, think about this magical decoder ring that can detect counterfeits in an instant today?

How does Pulse by NABP, that detected the fake Ozempic in the Arkansas pharmacy, actually work behind the scenes? What technical issues had to be overcome to get it to work?

PSM Executive Director Shabbir Imber Safdar gathers one veteran patient advocate and two of the leaders who helped build Pulse by NABP to explain all these issues and more.

Guests:

• Rick Roberts, Counterfeit medicine survivor and PSM Board member
• Josh Bolin, Associate Executive Director, NABP
• Mark Karhoff, Principle, Tencount Consulting

In December the WHO warned about counterfeit versions of the cancer drug Imfinzi in Armenia, Lebanon and Turkey. The drugs have no active ingredient. If you’re here in the US you may be thinking, “What do sketchy drugs there have to do with me??” Well, medicine online can come from anywhere in the world.

Watch and keep with with news like this at safemedicines.org.