Must-See Specialty Pharmacy

The message coming out of Las Vegas as April turned to May was loud and clear: specialty pharmacy will be a dominant force in the future of health care. In this, the first issue of Specialty Pharmacy Times® devoted solely to capturing the key sessions and takeaways from the recent Asembia Specialty Pharmacy Summit, we provide a comprehensive overview of the major trends that emerged from 1 of the 2 can’t-miss events in specialty each year.

This year’s summit saw more than 5000 attendees representing more than 1000 organizations. Among them were major players from pharmacy providers, integrated delivery networks, health systems, pharma/biotech manufacturers, payers, and drug wholesalers, among other specialty stakeholders. In this issue, we will provide perspectives on the summit from some of the top minds in the specialty space, along with snapshots of the many informative sessions, continuing education opportunities, and the inaugural Specialty Pharmacy Patient Choice Awards™ created by Zitter Health Insights and Specialty Pharmacy Times® to honor those who go above and beyond to improve the lives of patients.

If you missed the Asembia summit we’ve got you covered, but there is nothing like being there, which makes attending the upcoming National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) Annual Meeting and Educational Conference vital remain abreast of the latest developments in specialty. This year’s NASP conference will take place from September 18 to 20, 2017, in Washington, DC. With significant health care reform on the horizon, specialty pharmacy will no doubt be greatly affected, which will be a major focus of the NASP conference.

The conference will also feature important discussions on the evolving specialty market, how patients will be affected by this evolution, and the implications of potential shifts in regulatory policy. The meeting will also feature the Women in Specialty Pharmacy luncheon, the Specialty Pharmacy Law Conference, and a preparation course for pharmacists studying for upcoming exams. Beyond the highly uncertain national insurance policy shift, the growing challenges in pricing pressures on manufacturers and the continued specter of direct and indirect remuneration fees on specialty pharmacies by Medicare Part D sponsors and pharmacy benefit managers represent hurdles that specialty stakeholders must be poised to overcome.

While the opportunities in specialty pharmacy have never been greater, so are the challenges that threaten to turn the specialty business model inside out, so make sure you’re in attendance for the must-see events that mark the specialty calendar. To register for NASP, visit naspmeeting.com/registration, and check our daily news website, SpecialtyPharmacyTimes.com, to stay on top of the specialty wave. 

Thank you for reading.

Mike Hennessy, Sr

Chairman & CEO