Buckeye Forum

Democrat Mary Lightbody talks about her views on a variety of issues, including education, health care and taxes, as she seeks to represent the district that covers Gahanna, New Albany and Westerville. The former public school teacher is now a senior lecturer at the Ohio State University-Newark, where she teaches future teachers. She is running against Republican Tim Barhorst, an insurance agent. The seat is currently held by Rep. Anne Gonzales, R-Worthington, who is term limited.

We talk to Veronica Escobar, the El Paso woman who is likely to fill the congressional seat now occupied by Beto O'Rourke, the Democrat who is challenging Republican Sen. Ted Cruz. We talk about the border, trade, immigration, family separations and, of course, whether Beto actually can turn Texas Blue.

Dispatch reporters Lucas Sullivan and Marty Schladen talk about the details behind how taxpayers may be paying twice for the same Medicaid drug services. 

The two candidates in one of the state’s most competitive Ohio House seats, which includes Upper Arlington, part of Hilliard and Clintonville, and a western swath of Franklin County, come together to debate education, health care, taxes and other state policies. Russo has spent nearly two decades advising decision makers on heath care policy, most recently as policy research director for a health policy consulting firm. Yassenoff is CFO of his family's commercial real estate business and spent seven years as a policy adviser for the Kasich administration and eight years on Upper Arlington City Council. The seat is currently held by Rep. Jim Hughes, R-Upper Arlington, who is running for judge.

The two candidates in one of the state’s most competitive Ohio House seats, which includes Dublin and Worthington, come together to debate education, health care, taxes and other state policies. Liston, a Democrat, is a doctor of internal medicine and pediatrics and a medical instructor. Harris, a Republican, is an attorney and veteran member of the Dublin Board of Education. The seat is currently held by Rep. Mike Duffey, R-Worthington, who is term limited.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and reporter Cathy Candisky talk with Democrat Kathleen Clyde on why she believes she is the correct candidate for secretary of state. We further discuss some of her proposals regarding voter registration, cyber security, and what’s the biggest difference between her and the opponent Frank LaRose.

Dispatch public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and reporter Cathy Candisky talk with Republican Frank LaRose on why he believes he is the best fit for secretary of state. We further discuss Ohio’s voter purge system and talk about his proposal on voter registration. Finally, we hear his thoughts on how to get more people voting, and what types of machines they should be voting on.

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 Lucas Sullivan and Cathy Candisky recap what the definition of spread pricing is and how it plays a role in Pharmacy Benefit Mangers. Next we discuss how rebates demanded by pharmacy middleman from drug manufacturers are driving up the cost Americans pay for prescription drugs by billions of dollars. Finally, we provide some of the numbers regarding rebates that we found out during our investigative reporting.

Columbus Dispatch political reports Jim Siegel and Cathy Candisky talk about how the Ohio Supreme Court recently ruled against ECOT earlier this week. We further discuss what came from 4-2 ruling against ECOT, and mention some issues that are still lingering. Finally, we talk about where former ECOT students have gone since the school’s closing in January. Ohio Supreme Court backs state action, rules 4-2 against ECOT

Dispatch political reporters Marty Schladen and Cathy Candisky discuss local pharmacists and the impact that pharmacy benefit managers have had on them. We further talk about Clinton County resident Robert Kratzer's pharmacy business and the struggles that he has faced over the past couple of years. 

A look at several potential conflicts between members of the Kasich administration alongside some strangely friendly treatment the company's received at their erstwhile government overseers.

It happened in Ohio, New York, Iowa, Arkansas, New Jersey and possibly many other states. Giant pharmacy middleman CVS Caremark suddenly slashed reimbursements it paid community pharmacies, some of them far below pharmacists’ costs.

Columbus Dispatch projects reporter Lucas Sullivan speaks with Dave Montgomery, president of the firefighters union, on PBMs and a compound drug issue that happened in the city of Columbus. We further explain what happened with a topical pain cream, and how it costs the city more than $8,000 a prescription.

Dispatch political reporter Marty Schladen speaks with pharmacy manager Josh Cox on how pharmacy benefit managers might be keeping cancer patients from their medicine. We further discuss the process of what happens when a cancer patient comes to see Josh, and how much some of these medicines can cost. Finally, we explain what a pharmacy benefit manager is, and what struggles cancer patients face when working with PBMS.

Dispatch political reporters Cathy Candisky and Marty Schladen discuss what pharmacy-benefit managers are and how we learned about this topic. Next we talk about what the price reimbursement rates are for pharmacies and how this plays a role with CVS Caremark. Finally we mention how Medicaid is involved with this issue and what Ohio lawmakers are attempting to do about it.

Public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and Randy Ludlow speak with gubernatorial candidate Mike DeWine regarding his run to become Ohio’s next governor. We discuss his current campaign and what DeWine thinks his chances of winning are. Next we talk about his campaign attack ads with Lt. Governor Mary Taylor, and talk about the nation’s drug epidemic. Finally we talk about DeWine’s thoughts on medicaid, education in the state of Ohio, and employment opportunities.

Public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and Randy Ludlow speak with Tom Steyer on his “Need to Impeach” campaign. His series of national town-hall events demanding President Donald Trump’s impeachment was kicked off in Columbus Thursday night before a crowd of more than 100 people. We further discuss what this campaign is trying to accomplish, and recap Steyer’s recent stop in Columbus. Finally, we talk about Tom’s thoughts on the Russian hacking and the influence it had on the most recent U.S. election.

Dispatch Editor Alan Miller and senior public affairs reporter Randy Ludlow discuss tips for gaining access to public records and talk about how you can best fashion your request to increase your chances of landing the information you seek. Furthermore we mention the importance of public records and explain how these records are vital to the reporting done here at the Columbus Dispatch. Finally, we discuss how we can leverage public records and explain the appeal process through the Ohio Court of Claims when records might be improperly held.

Public affairs editor Darrel Rowland and reporter Marty Schladen speak with U.S. Senate candidate Mike Gibbons on why he’s the best choice to be nominated. We further discuss what role Gibbons played in helping Donald Trump to get elected. Finally, we discuss his financial background and his own business that is an opioid treatment facility.