APC’s CCH 2023 wrapped up Wednesday, having added a half dozen new sponsors to its drug shortage legislation in the House and cultivated serious interest in the bill language from a handful of Senate offices. read more →
The APC Fellows Program was established in 1997 to distinguish those compounding professionals who are exemplary in their commitment and professionalism in the practice of pharmacy compounding. read more →
Next week is APC’s Compounders on Capitol Hill, where (as our CEO says) “scores of compounders” will converge on Washington, DC for more than 190 meetings with members of Congress. read more →
Next week, APC will launch a digital advertising campaign focused on informing members of Congress and Capitol Hill health policy staffers. read more →
APC’s Compounders on Capitol Hill 2023 wrapped up Wednesday, having added a half dozen new sponsors to its drug shortage legislation in the House and cultivated serious interest in the bill language from a handful of Senate offices.
In addition to Hill visits, the event included conversations with FDA’s Office of Compounding Quality & Compliance Director Gail Bormel, and Angels for Change founder Laura Bray.
In an interview format presentation, APC’s Scott Brunner queried Bormel on a range of issues, including an FDA-proposed (but as yet not publicly released) rule awaiting review at OMB that would both create new criteria for inclusion on the “demonstrably difficult to compound” list and add certain items to that list.
“Because of our interest in protecting compounded hormones, our antennae went up on this one,” Brunner told the OCQC director. Though she would not say exactly what is in the proposed rule, Bormel provided context for it by indicating that it represents the necessary rulemaking resulting from items that were recommended for inclusion on the list by the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee over the past several years. She also reiterated that any action on compounded hormones would be via consideration and recommendation by PCAC.
Here’s CCH 2023 by the numbers (with comparison to 2022):
Also, CompPAC events hosted during CCH raised $25,525 to support pro-compounding members of Congress.
Iowa pharmacist Sue Horton received APC’s George & Lucy Malmberg Advocacy Champion Award this week during Compounders on Capitol Hill.
Horton, owner of Central Iowa Pharmacy in Urbandale, was honored in particular for her work over the past year in cultivating a relationship with U.S. Senator Charles Grassley, including hosting him at her pharmacy for a two-hour briefing on pharmacy compounding challenges and a tour of her laboratory.
“A state legislator once told Sue that she was everything an advocate should be: Passionate, persistent, and present,” said the award’s namesake, Lucy Malmberg, who presented the honor.
“We couldn’t agree more. She has been a consistent force in advocating clearly on behalf of our profession.”
The Malmberg award is presented annually to a pharmacy compounding professional who in the previous year has demonstrated “distinguished and extraordinary advocacy and political engagement in support of the pharmacy compounding profession.”
Horton was unable to attend the presentation. Watch her pre-recorded acceptance speech here.
On Wednesday, APC inducted eight new members to its Fellows Program.
The APC Fellows Program was established in 1997 to distinguish those compounding professionals who are exemplary in their commitment and professionalism in the practice of pharmacy compounding.
Inducted were:
Edward DeCaria, RPh, DeCaria Bros Inc, East Liverpool, OH
Next week is APC’s Compounders on Capitol Hill, where (as our CEO says) “scores of compounders” will converge on Washington, DC for more than 190 meetings with members of Congress.
Even if you are not attending, you can multiply the effect of those September 20 Hill visits by reaching out directly – from right there at home – to your members of Congress.
Please send an email or make a phone call to your US Senators and your House member to urge action on three compounding priorities – each of which is a patient access issue. You can share with them the three briefing papers linked here, plus here’s a little cheat sheet we’ve prepared for your use in explaining the issues (um, but don’t share the cheat sheet).
It’s a big week of opportunity ahead for pharmacy compounding. Thanks for your support – from wherever you find yourself next Wednesday.
Next week, in conjunction with Compounders on Capitol Hill, APC will launch a digital advertising campaign focused on informing members of Congress and Capitol Hill health policy staffers. Temporary drug shortages – and the essential role of compounding pharmacies in helping mitigate those shortages – is the campaign’s theme. Here’s a link to the landing page where policy makers can learn more about the issue and download our one-pager on HR 167. A copy of one of the digital ads is featured below.
Earlier this week, APC sent a letter to the California Board of Pharmacy requesting clarification on their Draft Compounding Policy statement on USP <797> sterile compounding standards, noting that the confusing language regarding the Board’s intentions and expectations may be difficult for compounders to understand and implement.
In conjunction with the school of medicine at the University of South Florida, APC supporter and fan Dr. Pamela W. Smith has launched a new series of Personalized Medicine Certification courses.
The courses are all compounding-focused. The first class is on Endocrinology, and is November 9 – 11, 2023 in Tampa, FL. This program is for anyone – pharmacists, technicians, medical professionals, etc. BONUS: Attendees get “in-state” tuition whether they live in Florida or not.
Because this certification is overseen by a medical school, it brings a higher level of credibility to compounders who attain it. It also demonstrates that compounding is an integral part of medical school education. Upon completion of the course, certificate recipients can proudly assert that they received their training from a medical institution.
Maybe you remember pharmacist Tom Murry from his time as executive director of PCAB.
Well now he’s running for Attorney General of North Carolina, and he wants your support. Here’s where to learn more about Tom. And here’s where to contribute to his campaign.
ReflexMD, a telehealth platform, is now a bronze-level APC Corporate Patron. APC’s ability to protect your profession is in part due to the support from Corporate Patrons like ReflexMD.
We also welcome these 31 new Pharmacy/Facility Members into the fold, bringing our total number of PFMs to 130:
Not a PFM and wondering if it’s right for your pharmacy? APC offers the PFM program for 503A pharmacies and 503B outsourcing facilities of all sizes as an alternative to individual memberships. With PFM, your entire team enjoys the benefits of APC membership. Learn more here.
The APC team is busy getting ready for Compounders on Capitol Hill in 12 days, and we suspect you’re busy juggling work, back-to-school, and getting ready for CCH in 12 days, too.
So here’s a quick rundown of some recent, useful APC offerings, in case you missed them the first time around:
It’s especially relevant right now because the program includes modules on the new USP Chapters 795, 797, and 800, which can help your team comply in advance of USP’s November 1 effective date. Oh, and it’s completely online and priced at less than $500.
Teach prescribers well. (Apologies to CSN)
Compounding fact sheets geared towards medical professionals
Medical professionals are not always as well-versed in how pharmacy compounding works and can benefit their patients’ treatment plans, so it’s up to you to guide them. That’s why we offer a series of Prescriber Briefs that you can share with them. Topics include:
Compounding for Racehorses: An Overview for Veterinarians.
Find themhere and share them with the physician offices you or your sales reps visit. (Note: It’s an APC member-only tool, so you’ll need your login and password to access it.)
cBHT: Tools of Engagement
In July and August, Fox Business Network aired an APC-produced ad on the threat to compounded hormones. That ad and this long-form version of it are part of a comprehensive media campaign made possible by your generous investments in our “Save cBHT” campaign.
You’ll find those vids in our special marketing toolkit. Use these tools to help raise your patients’ and prescribers’ awareness of the threat to cBHT.
