Podcast Summary

Podcast: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
Episode: Todd Karpinski, PharmD, MS, FASHP, FACHE, System Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at WVU Medicine
Date: January 26, 2026
Host: Laura Dyrda

Episode Overview

This episode features a conversation between Laura Dyrda of Becker’s Healthcare and Dr. Todd Karpinski, System Vice President and Chief Pharmacy Officer at WVU Medicine. The discussion centers on pharmacy leadership, major initiatives at WVU Medicine, industry headwinds and priorities for 2026, workforce challenges, and innovative approaches to talent development and organizational growth.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Dr. Karpinski’s Background & WVU Medicine’s Growth

• WVU Medicine Expansion:
  • The system has grown from 7 hospitals in 2019 to an anticipated 30 hospitals across four states by the end of 2026.
  • Dr. Karpinski oversees all pharmacy operations, including inpatient, retail, specialty, home infusion, and warehousing, and also serves as Associate Dean at the WVU School of Pharmacy.
  • "When I first started in 2019, we were at seven hospitals. By the end of 2026, we'll be up to 30 hospitals in four states." — Dr. Karpinski [00:31]

Major Initiative: Specialty & Home Infusion Pharmacy Expansion

• Strategic Focus:

  • Addressing demand for specialty and home infusion pharmacy services.
  • Secured a $20M investment for a new facility, co-located with the pharmacy warehouse (“Innovation Corporation”), near the academic medical center.
  • Impact: Expanding home infusion footprint by 400%; implementing a fully automated, centralized mail-order pharmacy for improved efficiency.

• Process Highlights:

  • Intensive data mining revealed “leakage” of specialty and infusion prescriptions to outside facilities.
  • Business case focused on recapturing prescriptions internally, with a strong ROI justification.
  • Consolidating mail-order pharmacy across 13 retail sites for logistical cost savings and efficiency.
  • "We wanted to consolidate...out of one facility, do shipping out of one facility to try to reduce overall logistic costs as well as improve our turnaround and efficiency around filling mail order medications." — Dr. Karpinski [02:55]

Key Industry Headwinds and Priorities for 2026

• 340B Drug Program Uncertainty:

  • The industry anticipated a move to a rebate model, but court interventions put changes on hold.
  • HRSA’s evolving approach to the rebate model adds complexity and unpredictability.
  • "We all thought going into 2026 that will we be moving to the rebate model. And obviously it's now been put on hold through the courts." — Dr. Karpinski [03:35]

• Government Pricing and Reimbursement:

  • Monitoring developments in Medicare Part D, Medicare fair pricing (MFP), and OPPs pricing surveys.
  • Concerns over the downstream impact on both retail and Part B reimbursement rates.

• Adaptation Strategy:

  • Staying closely attuned to state and federal policy changes, with robust advocacy and collaboration via professional organizations and peer networks.
  • Attention to Medicaid days and maintaining DISH status due to financial dependencies.
  • "We have to keep our finger very close to the pulse on what's going on both at the federal level and here locally at our state level." — Dr. Karpinski [04:50]

Challenges and Talent Pipeline Development

• Staffing Difficulties:

  • Technician shortages persist industry-wide.
  • WVU Medicine launched a high school pharmacy technician internship with three county schools:
    • High school seniors gain exposure and intern in the pharmacy tech field.
    • Students are eligible to sit for national certification upon graduation.
    • Strong retention in the workforce post-graduation.

• Broader Outreach:

  • Collaboration with the School of Pharmacy to reach middle and high schools across West Virginia, promoting diversity of pharmacy career paths amid concerns of pharmacist shortages post-COVID.
  • "We take 10 technician or 10 tech students every year and it's really been a hit and a success not only for us, but I think also for the students and the opportunities..." — Dr. Karpinski [07:52]

Growth Opportunities and Strategic Partnerships

• Peak Health Partnership:
  • Four years ago, WVU Medicine launched Peak Health, its health plan with a pharmacy component.
  • Synergy between pharmacy and health plan to boost medication adherence, access, and affordability, and reduce organization-wide drug spending.
  • Expectation of continued growth and innovation in the partnership through 2027.
  • "That partnership with Peak Health has been tremendous, and I only see that really continuing to grow into 2026, 2027." — Dr. Karpinski [09:56]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "We wanted to consolidate that out of one facility, do shipping out of one facility to try to reduce overall logistic costs as well as improve our turnaround and efficiency around filling mail order medications." [02:55]
• "We have to keep our finger very close to the pulse on what's going on both at the federal level and here locally at our state level." [04:50]
• "We actually implemented a program a couple years ago with three of our high schools in our county to get exposure to high school seniors into the pharmacy technician field." [05:59]
• "That partnership with Peak Health has been tremendous, and I only see that really continuing to grow into 2026, 2027." [09:56]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:31 — WVU Medicine’s growth and Dr. Karpinski’s role
• 01:25 — Specialty and home infusion pharmacy expansion initiative
• 02:34 — Business case and mail order consolidation
• 03:30 — 2026 headwinds: 340B, government pricing
• 04:50 — Advocacy and staying ahead of policy changes
• 05:59 — Technician pipeline program with local high schools
• 07:47 — Pharmacy outreach to younger students and rebound in interest
• 09:19 — Growth opportunities via Peak Health insurance partnership

Tone & Style

The discussion is collaborative, pragmatic, and strategic, rooted in both a patient-centered outlook and operational agility. Dr. Karpinski speaks with a hands-on, solution-oriented tone, emphasizing advocacy, innovation, and workforce development.