Mr. Robert White from Robert's Apothecary joins us today to talk about his exciting new compounding lab.
Troy thompson: welcome to on the beat.
Everyone, i'm troy thompson.
Joining me in the studio today is mr. robert white himself.
He's, of course, the pharmacist's over there at robert's apothecary.
Today we're talking about an exciting new building that they're doing, and it's a compounding lab.
Welcome to the show, buddy.
Robert white: thank you.
Troy thompson: nice to see you again.
Robert white: glad to be here again.
Troy thompson: we like it when you come in.
You always give us great information.
Robert white: you're too kind.
Troy thompson: we do.
Now, a compounding lab.
Robert white: yes.
Troy thompson: i don't know all the details myself, but i do get a few things from a compounding lab.
First of all, what is a compounding lab for people who don't know what that is?
Robert white: compounding lab is where we make special medications that are not commercially available.
Troy thompson: right.
Robert white: no manufacturer prepares these products, so it fits a need for patients, gives a solution for doctors and patients that are not being commercially met.
Troy thompson: okay, let me just... let's break that down a little bit further, if i may.
Is this more on holistic type of medications or things like hormone replacement therapy type of medications?
Robert white: both, plus a lot more.
Troy thompson: really?
Robert white: really.
Troy thompson: i'm using that hormone one, because- robert white: yeah.
Troy thompson: it's what comes to mind.
Robert white: yeah, we do a lot of bioidentical hormone products.
Troy thompson: really?
Robert white: whether capsules or creams or injections.
Troy thompson: okay.
Robert white: all sorts of forms. troy thompson: okay.
Why did you think there was a need for that here in the state of mississippi?
Having a compounding clinic means you can service the whole of mississippi, right?
Robert white: right.
There are new regulations involving compounding and most compounders have thrown up their hands.
They are not going to be doing it.
There will be one in tupelo, and us in columbus, three in the jackson area, one in harrisburg, one in mccomb, one on the coast.
Troy thompson: right.
Robert white: just seven or eight in the state.
Troy thompson: wow.
Robert white: we will be servicing those patients in our area.
Troy thompson: yes.
Robert white: the need is there.
We do a wide range of compounding.
Many practitioners, whether they be physicians or dentists or nurse practitioners, optometrist, on and on, have us make special things that there's a need for, but a manufacturer is not providing a product for.
Troy thompson: okay, so now you say special need or thing that's not on the market; does your insurance cover these services or these products from a compounding pharmacy?
Robert white: not any more.
They used to, but most insurers have stopped paying for compounding products.
Troy thompson: dang.
Robert white: this is a cash out of pocket now.
Troy thompson: we need to make sure that, that's something that you really get clear with your insurance company and your medical provider.
Robert white: if someone comes in for the first time with a compounded prescription, we'll say, "ms. jones, this is something that your insurance is not going to pay for," and we will let her know what that prescription would cost before we make it.
Troy thompson: it's interesting you say that because the guy that i see in atlanta is prepay and he also had said to me, "no, i don't make that particular type of prescription as well."
I think it's super important that you're going into these clinics and they're telling you what is available and what's not available.
Robert white: right.
Troy thompson: where does this take you on the next level of service here in columbus?
Robert white: you take a preemie baby, for example, and has pulmonary hypertension, so we will take adult blood pressure medicine and then make a much diluted liquid form so that this tiny little baby can live.
Troy thompson: wow.
Robert white: we do that as long as necessary.
Troy thompson: this was not available before.
Robert white: not before.
Troy thompson: amazing.
Bud, thank you so much.
We appreciate you.
Robert white: good to be here.
Troy thompson: if you want to find out more about robert, there it all is up on the screen for you.
Robert's apothecary, to put you on the right track, give them a buzz.
Mr. Robert White from Robert's Apothecary joins us today to talk about an exciting new building on its way.