Pharma Pulse: Climate Risks to the Supply Chain

Welcome to Pharma Pulse, a Pharmaceutical Commerce podcast where we bring you the latest insights shaping patient access, supply chain/logistics, data & tech, and healthcare innovation. I’m your host, and let’s get into today’s headlines.

• We lead with a warning for the frontline of care. Extreme weather is no longer just a headline—it’s a direct threat to pharmacy operations. Various reports note that as wildfires and floods intensify, community pharmacies are struggling with broken supply chains and staffing shortages. To maintain health resilience, the industry is calling for standardized disaster-proof protocols to ensure patients don't lose access to necessary services.
• Meanwhile, CMS has proposed a near-flat 0.09% payment increase for Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. While federal officials call it stability, insurers warn that as medical costs continue to surge, this tight margin could lead to reduced benefits or higher premiums for the millions of seniors relying on private Medicare options.

That’s it for this episode of Pharma Pulse. For more insights on trends transforming pharmaceutical access and care delivery, visit pharmaceuticalcommerce.com.

Thanks for listening—until next time, stay well and stay informed.

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