Susan Cantrell discusses what AMCP is, what they do, and why they decided to partner with PopHealth Week on the new podcast series The AMCP Podcast Series Powered by PopHealth Week. For more information go to the AMCP Website.

Fred Goldstein  00:00

Hello, this is Fred Goldstein with the CEO of AMCP, Susan Cantrell. Welcome, Susan,

Susan Cantrell  00:06

Thank you for having me, Fred.

Fred Goldstein  00:07

Susan, can you provide us with some more background on AMCP and why they exist, what they’re here for?

Susan Cantrell  00:13

Of course. So, our mission is all about helping ensure that patients get the medicines they need at a cost they can afford. AMCP has been around for over 30 years. We were founded in 1989, by a group of eight visionaries who recognized that managing the pharmacy benefit was an important component of health care going forward. So, they came together and on the back of the napkin, conceptualized this professional society that would propel managed care pharmacy forward and also meet the needs of those working in managed care pharmacy. So, if we fast forward 32 years to present day, then we’re an 8,000-member, professional society of pharmacists, physicians, and other health care professionals who work in areas of managed care pharmacy. So, think of the common thread as collectively working together, to manage Pharmacy Benefits. For the over 270 million Americans that have government, private, or employer-sponsored health care plans. We didn’t officially change the name, but we like so many organizations now are using the acronym. And we have a tagline too, that we use, and it’s optimizing medicine, improving lives. And part of that is, you know, kind of reflective of the scope. So now it’s no longer all about, you know, the logistics of managing the pharmacy benefit. It’s about value assessment, and, you know, Value-Based Payment and all of those important things.

Fred Goldstein  01:45

Could you please describe for us what this new AMCP podcast series is?

Susan Cantrell  01:49

First of all, I’ll say that we’re very proud to be partnering with PopHealth Week on the new podcast. At AMCP, we and our members are focused on ensuring that patients have the medicines they need, at a cost they can afford. And of course, in today’s environment, that’s a bold and critical mission and one that requires ongoing thought leadership and conversation about the challenges that we face. So, this podcast will help facilitate those key elements to help us drive our mission forward.

Fred Goldstein  02:22

It really is, as you pointed out a bold and critical mission. And you’ve been working at this for quite some time. So why did AMCP decide to go into the podcasting area?

Susan Cantrell  02:32

I think it’s all about meeting our audience where they are, whether it’s on a long car trip, a short plane ride, or perhaps just walking around the block, we know that people are listening to podcasts more and more these days. So, in addition to our other channels of communication, we feel like it’s really just an essential way to share valuable information with our audience.

Fred Goldstein  02:55

Yeah, we’ve certainly seen a huge growth in listening to podcasts over the last couple of years. And it’s fantastic to see you bring in that pharmacy expertise, etc., into this arena for others to learn and participate with. So why did you choose PopHealth Week as your partner for this endeavor?

Susan Cantrell  03:13

Well, we’re excited about the partnership with PopHealth Week. And we’re always looking for strong partnerships. And we looked at PopHealth Week. And we think you and your team bring experience and resources that help us foster ongoing conversations about health care strategies, health management, the healthcare ecosystem, and the myriad challenges that we’re all facing right now. But maybe, Fred, I’ll turn it back to you and just say, tell us a little bit more about PopHealth Week?

Fred Goldstein  03:44

Well, very excited to obviously do that, and really excited actually working with you and AMCP because pharmaceuticals and their delivery etcetera are so critical to our health care system now. And you’ve talked about some of the areas we’ll focus on in the coming weeks. And obviously in population health. There. It has a broad impact. And so, we’re very excited to be working with you. And PopHealth Week was started by Gregg Masters and myself, we founded this over five years ago. I think now it’s actually into our sixth year. And it’s been a show that’s really focused on population health, which is very broad. Population Health, obviously, is how do you look at a group of individuals, and then seek to improve their health over time. And our mission on the show has been to focus on all of the different aspects of population health, from social determinants of health to pharmaceuticals, to primary care models, unique payment approaches, etc. And so, it’s been a great show, we’ve had fantastic guests on it. And we know that in partnering with you also will be able to bring in even more guests with unique insights, particularly from this area that is so critical to the health care system as we look at moving forward and continuing to provide improvements to the American public and around their health care. So really great opportunity for us as well. We appreciate the opportunity to work with you. How will you decide as we go forward? What are the topics that will be featured on some of these episodes?

Susan Cantrell  05:08

Well, you just hit a few of the highlights. And I think our biggest challenge won’t be deciding what to cover. It’s, there’s too much to cover in today’s environment. We think the format is really ideal for discussing not only the biggest challenges facing healthcare right now but also some of the up-to-the-minute hot topics that we know we’ll be hearing about in the short and long term. We’re committed to bringing listeners a wide range of subjects. And our partners, obviously are going to play an important role here as well as speakers as advertisers, and sponsors.

Fred Goldstein  05:45

That it’s really fantastic. So, can you give us a sense of who will be featured on the upcoming podcasts?

Susan Cantrell  05:51

Well, I’ll give you a sneak peek How’s that? We are shining a spotlight on leading voices in the industry, as well as those who have new and emerging ideas. Also, we are providing AMCP partners with novel opportunities to share their critical and cutting-edge information and resources to our audience. For example, our podcast with Chris Jennings. Chris is a well-known health policy veteran with more than 30 years working in the White House, with Congress, and also in the private sector. So, we really look forward to hearing what Chris has to say about the state of healthcare in the United States. And what we have to look forward to, we’ve really worked over the last few years to raise the visibility and influence of the organization, as the national dialogue about the rising cost of healthcare and pharmaceuticals, in particular, has become so front and center. And we’re experts in that. So, advocacy is a really important part of what we do on behalf of our members and also on behalf of the patients that they serve.

Fred Goldstein  06:54

Excellent. So how can people participate?

Susan Cantrell  06:57

We’re pleased Fred to offer exclusive sponsorship and advertising opportunities on the podcast, anyone who might be interested in that can find out more by emailing us at CorpOpportunities@amcp.org.

Fred Goldstein  07:13

Great. So that’s CorpOpportunities@amcp.org. And where can people listen to the AMCP podcast series powered by PopHealth Week,

Susan Cantrell  07:22

Anyone who would like to listen to the podcast can find it on our website amcp.org. Also, on healthinnovationmedia.com and PopHealthweek.com of course. And finally, on any other channel where you receive your podcasts such as Spotify, iTunes, and other areas.

Fred Goldstein  07:45

Well, Susan really looking forward to this partnership working with amcp.org working with you and others in the organization, and featuring and focusing on the pharmaceutical industry and what’s going on in managed care.

Susan Cantrell  07:55

We’re excited about it too, Fred. Thanks for having me today.

Fred Goldstein  07:59

It’s our pleasure.