Inside Cencora GPO: How GPOs Leverage Scale to Help Retina Practices Thrive, ft. Shane Dixon

12/18/25

In this episode, John and Scott continue their coverage of the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting with an in-depth conversation about the economic, policy, and operational forces reshaping retina practices. The discussion opens with key takeaways from the meeting’s opening sessions, including a deep dive into drug pricing policy, the downstream impact of federal legislation on how retina practices are reimbursed for care, and the coding and billing changes showcased at the Cencora Vision Exchange meeting.

John then sits down with Shane Dixon, VP at Cencora Specialty GPO, to unpack what a Group Purchasing Organization actually does—and why its role has become increasingly critical. Drawing on his experience as a physician assistant, former Regeneron launch leader for Eylea, practice executive, private equity operator, and now GPO executive, Shane offers a rare, 360-degree view of how drugs move from manufacturer to patient, how contracts are structured, and how practices can survive tightening margins.

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Leading Retina at Harvard, ft. Rishi P. Singh, MD; CMS GLOBE Model, EYLEA HD’s Expanded Label

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How Cencora and Besse Medical Help Retina Specialists Thrive, ft. Eric Besse, VP at Besse Medical