Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Collaborates with National Association of Specialty Pharmacy to Host Inaugural AMCP/NASP Specialty Pharmacy Conference

Event Will Take Place Prior to AMCP's 25^th Annual Meeting & Expo

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Dec. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) today announced it will collaborate with the National Association of Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) to launch the inaugural AMCP/NASP Specialty Pharmacy Conference, April 2-3, 2013, in San Diego. 

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"This conference will provide a forum for specialty pharmacists, managed care pharmacists and other stakeholders to address key challenges and opportunities associated with these new therapies," said AMCP Chief Executive Officer Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM. "AMCP is pleased to collaborate with NASP in this endeavor."

The AMCP/NASP Specialty Pharmacy Conference will precede AMCP's 25^th Annual Meeting & Expo, April 3-5, 2013, an event that draws more than 3,000 pharmacists and other health care professionals to consider a wide range of managed care pharmacy issues.

"Specialty pharmaceuticals, such as high-priced biological therapies, represent a rapidly growing percentage of overall drug spending," said Rosato. "If not appropriately managed, specialty pharmaceuticals could significantly escalate health care costs without gains in quality or outcomes. AMCP members are expecting more focus on the management of specialty pharmaceuticals and our collaboration with NASP will help to fulfill that need."

The Specialty Pharmacy Conference will include:

• Educational sessions focused on building partnerships to address key issues
• Networking opportunities with industry leaders
• Expert speakers and panel members
• Access to companies and organizations in the Business Forum

"The NASP and AMCP collaboration allows us to accomplish several of our key goals, one being to facilitate raising the bar in service excellence and to improve outcomes for the specialty patient," said Michael A. Nameth, RPh, MBA, Co-Founder and NASP Interim Executive Director.

Registration information will be available soon via the NASP and AMCP web sites for all specialty pharmacy stakeholders including patients, physicians, payers, PBMs, pharmaceutical manufacturers, specialty pharmacies, community pharmacies, hospitals, infusion pharmacies and distribution entities.

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 more than 6,000 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.

About NASP
The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy, a not-for-profit organization founded in 2012, represents specialty pharmacy professionals in all practice settings and highlights the unique value its members bring to patients and the healthcare system.  NASP is collaborating with other professional pharmacy associations, certification boards, accreditation organizations, special interest groups, specialty pharmacy organizations, academia, and researchers to create a unified voice for specialty pharmacy.

SOURCE Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy