Unscripted – The AMCP Podcast

Today on Unscripted, guest host Denise Wolff, PharmD, CEO & Founder of Denise & Co., LLC, welcomes Zachary Contreras, PharmD, RPh, Director of Pharmacy Benefits, Sharp Health Plan, for a discussion on idiopathic hypersomnia (IH), a chronic neurological sleep disorder that remains widely underrecognized despite its profound impact on patients’ lives. Together, they explore the challenges of diagnosing IH, including a diagnostic delay that can exceed a decade, the significant burden the condition places on work, relationships, education, and overall quality of life, and the reasons many patients remain invisible within healthcare systems. The episode highlights practical steps health plans can take today to reduce barriers to care, improve long-term outcomes, and help patients with idiopathic hypersomnia receive the diagnosis and treatment they need sooner. Sponsored by Jazz Pharmaceuticals.

Platinum-resistant ovarian cancer remains one of the most challenging settings in oncology, with limited treatment options and historically poor outcomes for many patients. In this episode of Unscripted, the AMCP Podcast, guest host Abby Kim, PharmD, BCOP, Senior Director of Clinical Strategy and Oncology Specialty Solutions at Prime Therapeutics, sits down with Kathleen Moore, MD, Deputy Director of the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center and Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Nebraska Medicine, to discuss the evolving treatment landscape for recurrent ovarian cancer and the growing role of biomarker-driven care. Dr. Moore explores the history and challenges of treating platinum-resistant disease, reviews the clinical evidence behind ELAHERE® (mirvetuximab soravtansine-gynx), examines the importance of folate receptor alpha testing, and shares insights on treatment sequencing, patient-reported outcomes, safety and tolerability considerations, and emerging therapies that may further expand options for patients and inform decision-making across managed care. Sponsored by Abbvie, Inc.

In this episode of Unscripted – The AMCP Podcast, guest host Steve Kheloussi, PharmD, MBA, FAMCP, principal consultant at Kheloussi Consulting, speaks with Amy Lugo, PharmD, BCPS, BC-ADM, FAPhA, FAMCP, founder and CEO of LoneStar Health Solutions, about the evolving treatment landscape for narcolepsy. The discussion explores the burden of delayed diagnosis, the real-world impact of excessive daytime sleepiness and cataplexy, and how treatment may shift from symptom management toward addressing the underlying disease process. Steve and Amy also examine formulary considerations, patient-reported outcomes, utilization management challenges, and how managed care organizations can balance access, value, and patient-centered care as new therapies enter the market. This activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from Takeda Pharmaceuticals U.S.A., Inc. AMCP offers CPE for this podcast through June 30, 2027.

In this episode of Unscripted - The AMCP Podcast, guest host Ryan Haumschild, PharmD, MS, MBA, CPEL, Vice President of Pharmacy at Emory University and Emory Health Plan, Winship Cancer Institute, discusses the real-world impact of non-medical switching in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with Timothy Mok, Manager of Clinical Utilization Intelligence at Kaiser Permanente and board-certified oncology pharmacist, focusing on the drivers behind switching, the risks of disrupting effective therapy, and how shared decision-making and dose modification can help maintain adherence and improve patient outcomes. Sponsored by Abbvie. 

In this episode of Unscripted, guest host Steve Kheloussi, Principal Consultant with Kheloussi Consulting, sits down with Dr. John Fox, Senior Medical Director for the Americas at Illumina, to untangle the complexities of clinical utility. Drawing on his experience as a pediatrician and former health plan medical director, Dr. Fox explains why defining clinical utility remains a challenge for the industry and explores its critical role in precision medicine. From ending the "diagnostic odyssey" in pediatric rare diseases to the life-saving impact of large-panel biomarker testing in oncology, they discuss how the true value of a test lies in its power to change patient management and improve net health outcomes.

What’s driving vaccine hesitancy—and what’s actually true? In this episode of Unscripted, the AMCP Podcast, guest host Steve Kheloussi, PharmD, MBA, FAMCP speaks with Ria Westergaard, Head of Commercial Strategy Intelligence Solutions at Evernorth Health Services, and Rekha Lakshmanan, Executive Director of The Immunization Partnership, about the growing tension between science, policy, and public perception. From misinformation and social media to access gaps and real-world data, they unpack what’s really shaping vaccination decisions today—and where managed care can help rebuild trust and improve outcomes.

What happens when a diagnosis is delayed—not because symptoms aren’t there, but because they don’t fit expectations? In this episode of Unscripted, guest host Steve Kheloussi, PharmD, MBA, FAMCP, speaks with Blair and Dallas Burleson about delayed MS diagnosis, the realities of living with an unpredictable disease, and the impact on caregivers. The conversation also examines where managed care can better support patients—through more flexible, individualized access to treatment and a clearer understanding of real-world patient needs.

In this episode of Unscripted, the AMCP podcast, host Laura Bobolts, PharmD, BCOP, talks with Kirollos Hanna, PharmD, Director of Pharmacy at Minnesota Oncology, about the rapidly shifting treatment landscape for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). The discussion covers the transition toward oral fixed-duration frontline regimens, the latest 2026 NCCN guidelines, and the emerging role of MRD testing. They also explore the clinical and economic implications of these therapies, including how the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) is reshaping Medicare formulary strategies and patient access.

In this episode of Unscripted, the AMCP podcast, we talk with Jeffrey Dunn, PharmD, MBA, President and CEO of Cooperative Benefits Group, about the rapidly evolving treatment landscape for HER2-positive biliary tract cancer (BTC) and its implications for managed care. The discussion covers the importance of biomarker testing and molecular profiling in guiding targeted therapy, key NCCN guideline considerations across lines of treatment, and the clinical and economic impact of timely access to HER2-directed therapies. We also discuss payer-provider collaboration strategies to improve testing, coverage alignment, and patient access in this rare and aggressive form of cancer.

In this episode, we celebrate the 35th anniversary of the AMCP Foundation. AMCP President Carly Rodriguez, PharmD, FAMCP joins guest hosts Jordan Bernard, AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Oncology Intern and Rebecca Brown, AMCP Foundation/Pfizer Managed Care Intern to discuss how the Foundation’s internships and mentorship programs shape the future of managed care. We explore the transition from student to leader, the impact of hands-on research, and Carly’s advice for the next generation of pharmacy innovators.

In this last installment of our rare disease series, we speak with Angela Luong, PharmD, Senior Clinical Consultant at Pharmaceutical Strategies Group. Our discussion focuses on the burden of sickle cell disease, chronic pain management, limited treatment options, and the implications for managed care programs, including the use of data and care coordination to improve patient outcomes. This activity is supported by an independent medical education grant from Agios Pharmaceuticals, Inc. AMCP offers CPE for this podcast through December 31, 2026.

This episode continues AMCP’s rare disease series with an in-depth look at IgA nephropathy (IgAN), a progressive autoimmune kidney disease that often goes undiagnosed until advanced stages. We speak with Ami Gopalan, Senior Vice President of Strategic Content and Growth Optimization at Precision AQ. As a patient living with IgAN, Ami brings both a professional and personal perspective to the discussion as we explore the disease’s silent progression, the burden it places on patients and families, the evolving treatment landscape, and how managed care can better incorporate patient value, clinical guidelines, and emerging evidence to support long-term outcomes. This podcast is supported by an independent medical education grant from Alexion and AstraZeneca Rare Disease. AMCP offers CPE for this podcast through December 31, 2026.