Columbus Dispatch reporters Cathy Candisky, Lucas Sullivan, and Marty Schladen discuss the breaking news regarding Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Medicaid. We further talk about how the Ohio Department of Medicaid is ordering the termination of contracts with pharmacy middleman that use "spread pricing," putting an end to a practice that has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions.  Finally, we talk about how Medicaid officials directed the state's five managed care plans to move to a more transparent pass-through pricing model effective Jan. 1.

Columbus Dispatch reporters Cathy Candisky, Lucas Sullivan, and Marty Schladen discuss the breaking news regarding Pharmacy Benefit Managers and Medicaid. We further talk about how the Ohio Department of Medicaid is ordering the termination of contracts with pharmacy middleman that use "spread pricing," putting an end to a practice that has cost taxpayers hundreds of millions.&nbsp; Finally, we talk about how Medicaid officials directed the state's five managed care plans to move to a more transparent pass-through pricing model effective Jan. 1.

Political news and insight from the public affairs staff of The Columbus Dispatch.

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Podcast episodes from the Dispatch Side Effects investigation.

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Ohio Medicaid ditches PBMs

Columbus Dispatch senior editor Darrel Rowland speaks about campaign contributions in Ohio. During this episode of the Buckeye Forum politics podcast Rowland provides a snapshot of the top 16 donors in the state and give details on each of them.

Top 16 donors:

#1
$2.31 million 
Virginia “Ginni” Ragan, Columbus 

#2
$2.24 million
Frances, John and David Pepper, Cincinnati

#3
$1.90 million
Boich family, Columbus, Miami Beach

#4
$1.34 million
Ratner family, Cleveland area

#5
$913,000
Leslie and Abigail Wexner, New Albany

#6
$904,000
Karen Wright and Thomas Rastin, Mount Vernon

#7
$869,000
Bill Lager, Columbus

#8
$838,000
Geraldine and David Warner, Cincinnati

#9
$820,000
Ronald Wilheim, Cincinnati

#10
$704,000
Lindner family, Cincinnati

#11
$681,000
Donald and Gayle Oeters, Cincinnati

#12
$607,000
Richard W. Pogue, Cleveland

#13
$529,000
Lee and Patti Schear, Dayton

#14
$522,000
Anthony and Becky Alexander, Akron

#15
$495,000
David Maltz, Cleveland

#16
$441,000
Richard and Katherine Rosenthal, Cincinnati

Columbus Dispatch senior editor Darrel Rowland speaks about campaign contributions in Ohio. During this episode of the Buckeye Forum politics podcast Rowland provides a snapshot of the top 16 donors in the state and give details on each of them. Top 16 donors:
#1 $2.31 million&nbsp; Virginia &ldquo;Ginni&rdquo; Ragan, Columbus&nbsp;
#2 $2.24 million Frances, John and David Pepper, Cincinnati #3 $1.90 million Boich family, Columbus, Miami Beach #4 $1.34 million Ratner family, Cleveland area #5 $913,000 Leslie and Abigail Wexner, New Albany #6 $904,000 Karen Wright and Thomas Rastin, Mount Vernon #7 $869,000 Bill Lager, Columbus #8 $838,000 Geraldine and David Warner, Cincinnati #9 $820,000 Ronald Wilheim, Cincinnati #10 $704,000 Lindner family, Cincinnati #11 $681,000 Donald and Gayle Oeters, Cincinnati #12 $607,000 Richard W. Pogue, Cleveland #13 $529,000 Lee and Patti Schear, Dayton #14 $522,000 Anthony and Becky Alexander, Akron #15 $495,000 David Maltz, Cleveland #16 $441,000 Richard and Katherine Rosenthal, Cincinnati

Campaign contributions: A Snapshot of the top 16 donors in the past decade

Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan and Randy Ludlow recap the opening night of the online Democratic National Convention on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum. During this episode we discuss what speakers John Kasich, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders all had to say during Monday night’s digital DNC.

Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan and Randy Ludlow recap the opening night of the online Democratic National Convention on the latest episode of the Buckeye Forum. During this episode we discuss what speakers John Kasich, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders all had to say during Monday night&rsquo;s digital DNC.

DNC 2020: John Kasich, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders

Democratic National Convention 2020: John Kasich, Michelle Obama and Bernie Sanders

Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan and Anna Staver discuss how things are going to be very different at this year’s Democratic National Convention. During this episode we talk about how this digital DNC will impact Ohio’s Biden delegates as they watch this convention from their homes. Finally, we mention how this virtual convention is now a series of nationally broadcast speeches, Zoom lunches, and conference calls.

Dispatch political reporters Rick Rouan and Anna Staver discuss how things are going to be very different at this year&rsquo;s Democratic National Convention. During this episode we talk about how this digital DNC will impact Ohio&rsquo;s Biden delegates as they watch this convention from their homes. Finally, we mention how this virtual convention is now a series of nationally broadcast speeches, Zoom lunches, and conference calls.

Ohio Medicaid ditches PBMs

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