As a follow-up to our series The Prescription Drug Playbook — all about how you can get the meds you need at a price you can (maybe) afford — we’re stepping back to look at the big picture. 

From the start of this podcast, we’ve been trying to answer a major question: Why do my meds cost so freaking much? And we’ve highlighted the profit-seeking games that insurance, pharma, and middlemen play all around us in more than a half dozen episodes. 

But there’s one set of players on the field that we’ve never talked about: drug distributors, and how they play a role in another reason you may not be able to get your medicine: drug shortages. 

This story comes from our friends at Organized Money, a podcast about monopolies, from writers and journalists David Dayen and Matt Stoller. 

We think you’re going to like it. 

In the meantime, check out the latest installment of our First Aid Kit newsletter for a rundown of our previous coverage of drug costs. 

Here’s a transcript of this episode.

Send your stories and questions. Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.

Of course we’d love for you to support this show.

As a follow-up to our series <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/drugs/">The Prescription Drug Playbook</a> &mdash; all about how you can get the meds you need at a price you can (maybe) afford &mdash; we&rsquo;re stepping back to look at the big picture.&nbsp;
From the start of this podcast, we&rsquo;ve been trying to answer a major question: Why do my meds cost so freaking much? And we&rsquo;ve highlighted the profit-seeking games that <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/swimming-with-sharks/">insurance</a>, <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/revisiting-insulin/">pharma</a>, and <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/episode/pbms-2023/">middlemen</a> play all around us in more than a half dozen episodes.&nbsp;
But there&rsquo;s one set of players on the field that we&rsquo;ve never talked about: drug distributors, and how they play a role in another reason you may not be able to get your medicine: drug shortages.&nbsp;
This story comes from our friends at <a href="https://www.organizedmoney.fm/">Organized Money</a>, a podcast about monopolies, from writers and journalists David Dayen and Matt Stoller.&nbsp;
We think you&rsquo;re going to like it.&nbsp;
In the meantime, check out the latest installment of our <a href="https://firstaidkit.substack.com/">First Aid Kit newsletter</a> for a rundown of our previous coverage of drug costs.&nbsp;
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Web-Transcript_S13-Ep11_Organized-Money-Feed-Swap-1.pdf">Here&rsquo;s a transcript of this episode</a>.
<a href="https://armandalegshow.com/contact/">Send your stories and questions.</a> Or call 724 ARM-N-LEG.
Of course we&rsquo;d love for you to <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">support this show</a>.

An Arm and a Leg is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.

If you’ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you’re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting — you’re not always helpless. We don’t have all the answers, but we’ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart. 

An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.

You can support An Arm and a Leg by donating at armandalegshow.com/support/

Show Credits: Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.

An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;is a podcast about why health care costs so freaking much and what we can (maybe) do about it.
If you&rsquo;ve ever been surprised by a medical bill, you&rsquo;re in good company. But as our team of seasoned journalists has learned from years of reporting &mdash; you&rsquo;re not always helpless. We don&rsquo;t have all the answers, but we&rsquo;ll offer you tools and big picture insights with plenty of humor and heart.&nbsp;
An Arm and a Leg is co-produced with <a href="https://kffhealthnews.org/">KFF Health News</a> and distributed in partnership with <a href="https://www.kuow.org/">KUOW</a>.
You can support An Arm and a Leg&nbsp;by donating at <a href="https://armandalegshow.com/support/">armandalegshow.com/support/</a>
<hr>
Show Credits:&nbsp;Created, hosted, and produced by Dan Weissmann with senior producer Emily Pisacreta and engagement producer Claire Davenport, edited by Ellen Weiss. Audio wizard: Adam Raymonda. Music is by Dave Weiner and Blue Dot Sessions. Bea Bosco is our consulting director of operations. Lynne Johnson is our operations manager.