Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy Renames Its Expanded Peer-Reviewed Journal

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) announced today the renaming of its flagship publication – the Journal of Managed Care Pharmacy – to the Journal of Managed Care & Specialty Pharmacy.  The newly renamed journal, which will retain the "JMCP" acronym, recently doubled its circulation to over 32,000 and expanded to twelve monthly issues.

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"Being the leader in specialty pharmacy – the fastest-growing segment in pharmaceuticals – is a top AMCP strategic priority," said AMCP CEO Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM, who serves as the publisher of the peer-reviewed journal. "Adding 'Specialty' is a natural evolution for AMCP, reflecting not only its explosive growth and growing importance to health care, but also our members' longstanding, deepening involvement in specialty pharmacy education, research and advocacy."

Specialty pharmaceuticals are increasingly critical to the treatment of many serious diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis, but require special monitoring and handling and are often expensive. Moreover, usually few if any low-cost therapeutic equivalents exist, at least in the United States. Industry analysts predict that specialty drugs will represent 50 percent of overall drug spending by 2019.

"New tools clearly need to be developed and researched," said JMCP Editor-in-Chief John Mackowiak, PhD. "JMCP will be at the forefront in publishing new research findings and best practices to support improved outcomes, access and affordability for both patients and payers."

In addition to the changing focus of JMCP, the Academy has made specialty pharmacy education a focus at its national meetings and is hosting a Specialty Pharmacy Conference in advance of its upcoming Annual Meeting & Expo in Tampa, Florida.  Other AMCP activities related to specialty pharmacy include the establishment of a Biosimilars Task Force, which was announced at AMCP Nexus 2013 in October and supported by Armada Health Care and the Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx), and AMCP's summer 2013 Specialty Drug Management Summit: Integrating the Medical and Pharmacy Benefit Silos, the proceedings of which will be published in JMCP.

The new JMCP name change takes effect as of the March 2014 issue, which will be available online on February 24^th, in readers' mailboxes by early next month, and available at AMCP's 26^th Annual Meeting & Expo in Tampa.

About JMCP
JMCP publishes peer-reviewed original research manuscripts, subject reviews, and other content intended to advance the practice of managed care pharmacy. It is dedicated to improving the quality of patient care by providing its readers with the results of scientific investigation and the evaluation of clinical, humanistic, and economic outcomes of pharmacy products and services, including formulary management of traditional and specialty products. For more information, visit www.jmcp.org. 

About AMCP
The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy 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. It is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2013. More news and information about the Academy can be found at www.amcp.org. 

SOURCE Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy