The 2nd Annual Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP) Research Symposium Releases Research Proceedings

Research proceedings from the 2nd Annual Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP) Research Symposium: Contemporary Applications for Specialty Pharmacy are now available online. FMCP is the philanthropic research arm of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy, and the proceedings will be published in AMCP’s Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy.

The symposium, held October 2, 2012, in Cincinnati, Ohio, just prior to AMCP’s 2012 Educational Conference, examined specialty pharmacy research from a variety of stakeholder perspectives. Objectives of the symposium included:

• Highlighting innovative research initiatives undertaken by AMCP members in specialty pharmaceuticals, particularly with regard to clinical and outcomes management;

• Understanding the potential value of integrated data from multipayer claims databases, state health insurance exchanges, and payers as the basis for making evidence-based decisions;

• Understanding how the AMCP Format for Formulary Submissions has been updated to address evaluation of specialty pharmaceuticals;

• Identifying what research questions can be answered today with available resources and what gaps must be filled in order to effectively evaluate and manage specialty pharmaceuticals.

The proceedings capture the meeting’s discussions and important lessons for future research into the management of these complex and often expensive therapies. A key role for managed care pharmacy will be to maximize the benefits of these agents while building systems and processes to reduce risks and costs to patients.

The estimates are that within four years, 40% to 45% of all pharmaceutical sales will be for specialty drugs, AMCP chief executive officer Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM, stated at the symposium.

“The specialty drug trend is projected to increase from 17% in 2012 to 22% in 2014,” she said. “This means that managed care pharmacists are increasingly challenged today to manage their pharmacy budgets while ensuring appropriate access to specialty medications.”

FMCP would like to thank the meeting sponsors Amgen, Daiichi-Sankyo, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Gilead and Xcenda for their support of the FMCP Research Symposium.

Click Here to view the proceedings.

About FMCP

The Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP), a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation, is a research, education and philanthropic organization supporting the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). Established in 1990, the Foundation was created to support the research and education agenda of AMCP. The Foundation exists to advance collective knowledge and insights on major issues associated with the practice of pharmacy in managed health care settings. News and additional information about FMCP is available on the Foundation’s Web site, www.fmcpnet.org.

About AMCP

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is a national professional association of pharmacists and other health care practitioners who serve society by the application of sound medication management principles and strategies to improve health care for all. The Academy's nearly 7,000 members develop and provide a diversified range of clinical, educational and business management services and strategies on behalf of the more than 200 million Americans covered by a managed care pharmacy benefit. AMCP will celebrate its 25th anniversary in 2013. More news and information about AMCP can be obtained on its website, at www.amcp.org.

Source: The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)