This Week in Pharmacy – October 10, 2025
🎙️ Featured Guests:

• John Covello – Independent Pharmacy Cooperative (IPC)
• Garth Reynolds – Illinois Pharmacists Association (IPhA)

Illinois pharmacy owners, this episode is for you. With the passage of HB 1697, a $70 million lifeline is now available to support independent pharmacies across the state—but the clock is ticking. The October 31st deadline is critical.
Covello and Reynolds break down:

• The Critical Access Pharmacy Fund – how it strengthens local pharmacies.
• The DECO program – what it means for reimbursement.
• Patient Self-Management Programs (PSMP) – driving patient care and outcomes.
• The one-minute attestation that unlocks enhanced Medicaid dispensing fees.

If you’re a pharmacy owner in Illinois, this could be the most important 30 minutes you’ll spend this month.
🎶 Special Feature: Mary Kutter
This week, TWIRx also spotlights Mary Kutter, a rising country singer-songwriter from Kentucky. Known for her gritty, truthful storytelling, Kutter’s music explores themes of family, small-town struggles, and the opioid crisis.
With viral songs like “Devil’s Money” and “The Devil Wore a Lab Coat”, plus songwriting credits for artists like Bailey Zimmerman, Kutter’s voice is shaping the soundtrack of rural America. Signed with Reservoir Media, she brings a raw perspective on how music can confront issues like addiction while honoring her Kentucky roots.
💡 Episode Highlights:

• The $70M opportunity Illinois pharmacies can’t afford to miss.
• How independent pharmacies can secure financial stability through HB 1697.
• Why Medicaid fee enhancements could change the game.
• Mary Kutter on blending country grit with the reality of the opioid epidemic.
  

📌 Don’t miss this episode of This Week in Pharmacy. It’s where policy, patient care, and culture intersect.