NASP Annual Meeting Highlights Specialty Pharmacy Law, Continuing Education, Women in the Field

The 5^th Annual National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) meeting is fast approaching. This year, the meeting will be held from September 18-20 at the Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, DC.

Each year, the NASP meeting provides useful and groundbreaking information regarding the specialty pharmacy world, including the growth of the market, impact on patients, and national legislative and regulatory policy, according to the NASP meeting site.

Be sure to register for the event by clicking here.

Here are some of the unique offerings at this year’s conference:

Specialty Pharmacy Law Conference

For the second year in a row, NASP will feature a Specialty Pharmacy Law Conference at its signature event. The law conference will take place on September 18, the day before the annual meeting and expo starts. The meeting draws attendees from various parts of the specialty pharmacy world, providing crucial information for those interested in legal topics that affect specialty pharmacy.

Last year, the conference informed attendees on antitrust laws, compliance, provider networks, employment laws, legal and regulatory aspects of compounding, pharmacy licensing, and crisis management, according to NASP.

The 1-day conference is intended for general and in-house counsel for specialty pharmacies, practicing health care attorneys, compliance officers, or executives concerned with the legal requirements for operating the businesses, according to NASP.

The law conference was created by NASP President Rebecca Shanahan, JD, CEO of Avella Specialty Pharmacy, and Abby Kaplan, JD, general counsel and chief compliance officer of Avella Specialty Pharmacy. CLE credits will also be offered to attendees.

CSP Prep Course

NASP has partnered with ProCE to launch the Center for Specialty Pharmacy Education (CSPE), which is the official continuing education program for NASP. A majority of CSPE activities provide an overview of the therapeutics of various diseases treated by specialty drugs, while also covering legal, regulatory, and operational topics.

The Certified Specialty Pharmacist Credential was created to support professional knowledge, up the status of specialty pharmacists, provide a competitive edge, position pharmacists for handling limited distribution drugs, and more, according to NASP.

The CSP Exam Preparatory Course will cover clinical, fulfillment, intake, and outcomes that may be on the exam. During the course, experts will discuss key aspects of specialty pharmacy and the role of the specialty pharmacist, including the patient intake process, fulfillment workflows, quality assurance, dispensing, outcomes measures, and clinical modules.

The last CSP examination for 2017 will be offered in October, with an application deadline of September 15.

Review more information about the CSP Exam Preparatory Course.

Women in Specialty Pharmacy

Another unique program offered by NASP is the Women in Specialty Pharmacy networking lunch. This meeting was founded by Suzette DiMascio CHE, CMCE, CPC, president and CEO of the CSI Specialty Group.

This session will take place on Tuesday, September 19, from 11:45 am to 1:15 pm. The meeting will encourage women in specialty pharmacy to network and discuss how to navigate the workplace by sharing experiences and best practices over lunch, according to NASP.

To attend this event, there will be a $50 charge. Registering for the luncheon can be accomplished through a dropdown menu titled “Optional Program” on the main registration page.