Bi-weekly Member Newsletter                                             December 29, 2017
Keep up-to-date with the latest legislative and regulatory news. Visit IACP's website.  Archived  Capitol Connections  newsletters here. Send your suggestions and questions to  [email protected] .
IACP/ABOUT


Happy New Year! We Look Forward to Serving YOU in 2018! IACP will return to the office on Tuesday, January 2nd. Please email us at [email protected] if you need to reach us! 
IACP Presidents' Address: A Look Back, and a Look Forward.

Baylor Rice, RPh, FIACP
IACP President

A Conversation with IACP President Baylor Rice

Happy Holidays! Happy New Year! As we near the end of 2017, I'd like to take few  moments to review the last year with you. I firmly believe we cannot hope to go forward if we don't take time to review and assess the road travelled. When I became your IACP President la st December, I  wrote you
 about all the things I wanted to accomplish during my term. 

Looking back at this list - I am so proud on how much we have accomplished,  TOGETHER !  One of the best things we did this year was hire new  Executive Vice President Cynthia Blankenship, Esq . In her brief tenure as EVP, Cynthia has brought a burst of high-octane energy into our world. Read her  M ember Initiatives  Progress Report and you will get an idea of just how much has been accomplished! After you read these Member Initiatives, you will understand that we are undergoing a dramatic revitalization at IACP. A transformation that is designed specifically for  YOU  the member. 

Please click here to read IACP Presidents' Address: A Look Back and a Look Forward, including remarks from IACP President-elect Erik Tosh, BS, RPh, FIACP, FACA!

Stay tuned for a 2018 EVP Address from IACP Executive Vice President Cynthia Blankenship next week!
IACP Executive Vice President Cynthia Blankenship ESQ. 
Member Initiatives: A Progress Report Card! 

Keep checking  IACP's Executive Vice President (EVP) Cynthia Blankenship's Member Initiatives  to see where we're making progress and what we're checking off the list! 

You asked IACP for several key changes - and we're making them! IACP is in the midst of reviewing & revitalizing ALL of our current programs. 

We want to ensure we're completely in tune with our membership, providing you with what you need. Do you have suggestions or questions? Please email  [email protected] .
EVP Tracker! 

IACP wants you to have access to the EVP, the staff, as well as the Board of Directors. Stay up-to-date on where IACP's Executive Vice President Cynthia Blankenship, Esq. is traveling, and set-up meetings or come by and say hi! Keep up-to-date on Cynthia's whereabouts with the EVP Tracker and let her know if you would like to host a Town Hall or meeting at your pharmacy!  Next on Cynthia's travel plans: 
*IACP EVP Cynthia Blankenship has been appointed as the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) delegate representing IACP. The delegate is invited to attend the USP five-year meeting in 2020 and the twice per year Compounding Expert Committee (CEC) meeting as an observer. 

IACP 2018 Board of Directors Election Results to be Announced Soon! 

Thank you to all those who voted in the IACP Board of Directors election, which closed on December 15th! The Board sets direction for the organization, serves as visionaries for the future of pharmacy compounding, and generates results. Board members contribute their time, energy and ideas to lead the organization forward and in turn, lead the compounding profession to greater success. Your vote is important to IACP as we elect individuals to lead our association into the future.  Stay tuned as results to be announced soon!

 
Thank You to ALL who have Joined IACP Committees!

IACP is a success because of  YOU ! Please take a moment and look at what IACP Committees are doing and let us know if you would like to join a Committee. We would love to have YOU on an IACP Committee. 
In addition, in response to your feedback on the Membership Survey, the IACP Board
has responded by creating new Committees and one new Committee Subgroup. 
  • IACP 503B Committee - IACP is establishing a 503B Outsourcing Facility Committee. If you are interested in serving on this committee, please email Jennifer Petska at [email protected].
  • IACP International Committee - For the first time in history, IACP is undertaking a massive State and International expansion. We are thrilled to be working with the State Pharmacy Associations to expand IACP state involvement, state tracking, and comments in response to state regulations and legislation. IACP also is thrilled to be working with our International members to expand IACP presence internationally.  In order to further this expansion and ensure International Members are receiving the information they need, the IACP Board of Directors has launched an International Committee. Please let us know if you want to serve on this Committee!  We are so excited to work with our International members and expand the IACP International presence!
  • Infrastructure Review Subgroup - This subgroup will serve as a function of the IACP Strategic Planning Committee and is open to all IACP members who have an expertise in IT or infrastructure review. IACP is looking at all of our internal processes to ensure we are employing members' dues and donations in the best manner, and to make sure we are operating as efficiently as possible. In order to do so, the IACP Board has created an Infrastructure Review Subgroup which will review internal IACP processes to help us select new future operational processes. If you have a background in IT or reviewing internal processes, or have experienced this process yourself, please consider joining this Subgroup! We would love to have your insight!
Let's Keep the Momentum Going! 
Please Contribute to IACP's One Fund!
Newsroom

IACP Member Alerts
IACP Weekly Roundup

IACP Weekly Roundup provides a new way to keep you up-to-date on IACP's Member Communications! We know you're busy, so we are making sure you don't miss a beat by rounding up all the IACP news that goes out to members in one location to make it easier for you to never miss any news on compounding!  Check out what news your Academy has been sending. 
Compounding In the News

The New England Journal of Medicine:  Toward Better-Quality Compounded Drugs - An Update from the FDA - Janet Woodcock, MD and Julie Dohm, JD, PhD

Article Excerpt: Five years ago, methylprednisolone acetate and other drugs compounded by the New England Compounding Center (NECC; Framingham, Mass.) and administered to patients throughout the United States caused a fungal meningitis outbreak involving more than 750 infections and at least 64 deaths. The extent of this episode drew widespread attention, but smaller clusters of infections and other adverse events caused by contaminated or otherwise improperly made drugs compounded by various U.S. pharmacies occurred before this outbreak and continue to occur. In 2013, in the wake of the NECC case, Congress passed the Drug Quality and Security Act, which created a new category of compounder, called an "outsourcing facility," that is held to higher production standards than other compounding facilities. Our experiences at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) with pharmacy compounding since the passage of this law reinforce the ongoing need to improve the quality of compounded drugs, particularly those intended to be sterile. Read complete article here.

TAKE ACTION, IACP MEMBERS!

It is critical to engage our Providers and Patients in Partnership for Personalized Prescriptions (P3)! Please ask them to share their stories on how compounded medications have made a difference in their lives. Their experiences on the vital importance of compounded medications are needed on Capitol Hill!

Please ASK YOUR Providers and Patients also to Support HR 2871! Provide your audiences with this Action Link, today.


Click Here for IACP's Patient Testimonial Handout! 
Membership

IACP's Veterinary Compounding Survey has Closed. Thank you to all Members who have taken the survey! We greatly appreciate your incredible participation! Your  Educational Committee developed a Vet Compounding Survey to make sure IACP is providing the resources you need. We will be making the results available soon.

New Membership Processes Coming Soon!  We want to make sure that your membership dues are utilized to provide you with all the resources you need! As such, we are revamping some of our membership processes such as going digital for new membership packets and renewals. You may have received a fax blast describing the new renewal process. If you have not received, you can find it HERE. Please take a moment to review these exciting and most cost-effective changes! We will continue to fax and email renewals. In addition, when the new website launches, new members will be directed to a new member packet with videos from IACP Board of Directors, tutorials, and all the latest compounding information! Just more ways we are making sure your membership dues are used to provide the resources that you need. 
In addition, IACP is collecting demographics from our membership in order to better 
serve and protect the art of compounding! The data collected will enhance IACP's focus on current and potential concerns on the local and national levels.
Advocacy


Federal Advocacy
  • DQSA Coalition - Appropriations Update - IACP Members: the Appropriations deadline is rapidly approaching! We are diligently working with the  DQSA Coalition to ensure language is included in  FY 2019 Appropriations that addresses our continuing concerns on how the  Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has not implemented the  Drug Quality & Security Act (DQSA) according to Congressional intent. We will keep our members updated on this process!  
  • API Category 3 List - IACP has heard your feedback from the Membership Survey regarding your concerns about the FDA API Category 3 list that is now being enforced during inspections. Your IACP Legislative Committee is working diligently to analyze the FDA API Category 3 list and will be working on a letter to FDA to address your concerns. Coming soon! 
  • Your Efforts are Making a HUGE Difference! We Now Have 41 HR 2871 Cosponsors! Has Your Representative Signed On? Please send a direct communication to your Member of Congress. HR 2871 will help clarify the Drug Quality & Security Act (DQSA) in a way that will better align the statute with congressional intent and most importantly, better balance public safety and patient access. 
  • Continue to collect patients' stories and let us know if a patient would like to get involved! We need patient stories for our Congressional documents as well as any potential future hearing.  Please let us know if you are willing to be the voice of your patients or whether you know of patients willing to provide quotes or speak on the record!
State Advocacy
State of California Office of Administrative Law Approves Emergency Compounding Regulation Package 

The  State of California Office of Administrative Law has approved an emergency regulation package that establishes procedures to allow pharmacists to extend beyond use dates (BUDs) for nonsterile compounded preparations as well as procedures for establishing BUDs for sterile compounded preparations. 

The emergency regulation package is in effect through June 19th, 2018 and may be extended for an additional 180 days if needed.

View the full text of the emergency regulations  here.

Thank You, California Pharmacists Association.

The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) had worked last summer with the California Pharmacists Association to address these important issues regarding BUDs for nonsterile compounded preparations. 

IACP also recently worked with the California Pharmacists Association to submit comments on beyond use dating and sterile compound drug preparations. 

Please click  here  to read IACP's comments. 

Please click here to read California Pharmacists Association's comments.

IACP applauds the California Pharmacists Association for their leadership role on these vital patient issues. 

Thank You , IACP MEMBERS! 

IACP thanks our members and corporate members who submitted  their own comments to the state Board . You have helped to make a real difference for your patients!

We will continue to keep you up-to-date on additional developments. Please email us at  [email protected] with any questions.

  • The New Jersey Board of Pharmacy voted at its Board Meeting yesterday to delay implementation of USP Chapter <800> until December 2019. The Board had planned to implement the original effective date of July 2018 - despite USP's delay of 800. Please click here to view the Agenda. Please view IACP's Member Alert on this Board Meeting here.
  • IACP Submits Comments on Sterile Compounding Beyond Use Dating to California State Board of Pharmacy - IACP worked with the California Pharmacists Association to submit formal comments to the California State Board of Pharmacy regarding Sterile Compounded Medications Beyond Use Dating. IACP applauds the California Pharmacists Association for their leadership role on this vital patient issue. Please click here to read IACP's comments. Please click here to read California Pharmacists Associations comments.
  • IACP State Board of Pharmacy Member Alert - California, Florida, New Jersey and Washington - Click here to view IACP's comprehensive State Update on USP <800> and office use compounding. IACP is working to keep you in the know on what's going on in your states!
     
  • IACP Submits Comments to Massachusetts State Board of Registration in Pharmacy on Sterile Compounding - The International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP) submitted comments this week to the Massachusetts State Board of Registration in Pharmacy. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy (Board) within the Department of Public Health (Department) held a public hearing on the Board's proposed new regulation on Sterile Compounding (247 CMR 17.00) on Monday, November 13th. The proposed regulation sets standards for sterile compounding practice, as mandated by M.G.L. c. 112, § 39G. Please read IACP's comments to Massachusetts State Board of Registration in Pharmacy. Thanks to all IACP Members who acted on our member alert and sent their own comments!
  • The DQSA Coalition, a broad cross-section of organizations representing varied healthcare providers, state pharmacy associations, pharmacists and patients, sent a letter to all state Boards of Pharmacy and Medicine, expressing continued concern regarding the Food & Drug Administration's (FDA) implementation of the Drug Quality & Security Act (DQSA) without following Congressional intent. The letter emphasized that FDA's actions consequently are affecting patient access to compounded medications, and causing mass confusion for the States, providers, patients, and pharmacists. Please click here to read more! 
States Respond to DQSA Coalitions Letter to State Boards of Pharmacy and Medicine! Just a few days after sending, a dozen states have responded to the Coalitions Letter to State Boards of Pharmacy and Medicine to date including these states that have responded that the letter will be discussed during the next Board Meeting: Georgia; Pennsylvania; New York; Indiana; and Washington.  
  • Check out IACP's State-by-State Analysis of Office-Use Compounding Regulations! Your Government Affairs team just released a State-by-State Analysis of Office-Use Regulations! We researched State regulations, State notices, State activity, and called State Boards of Pharmacy when regulations conflicted with actions to determine each State's office-use actions. In the instance where a State had recently changed its office-use practices, we called to determine why, and the response was noted when FDA had communicated that State law was pre-empted with Federal law.
You will find two documents - (1) the State-by-State analysis and (2) a complete supplemental document where all State regulations and actions are housed. The State-by-State analysis is a quick reference guide that demonstrates State regulations and current thinking on office-use and all supporting documents to this research can be found in the supplemental document. The DQSA Coalition intends to use this document to see whether model office-use State laws exist, to educate and assist States that are attempting to change office-use practices on the intent of Congress, and to focus on specific states for the State Board of Pharmacy/Board of Medicine Coalition Letter that is coming soon!

IACP provides our members with a we ekly state tracking report - including legislative and regulatory updates! Check out this week's Compounders Stateside report here - you will need to log-in to view this members-only report.
  • USP General Chapter <800> State Adoption Status Chart. NASPA has developed a chart providing each state's current adoption status of USP's General Chapter <800>. Thank you, IACP Affiliate NASPA, for developing this invaluable tool!


Grassroots Advocacy  
  • Tell Your Patients and Providers to sign up for the P3 Patient Advocacy Website! Patient Advocacy efforts make a real difference. That's why we need our IACP members' help to encourage more people to Join P3 and to Share their Stories! So many of our own IACP members have joined the P3 effort. Share this resource with everyone in your communities - your patients, your providers, your staff, your friends and family. 
  • Your Patients and Providers are asking their Representatives to Support HR 2871 with 529 messages sent to the Hill! Encourage your patients and providers to visit P3's Patient Advocacy Website. Advocates can instantly send a direct message to their Congressional Representatives, asking them to cosponsor the bipartisan legislation, HR 2871. Visit P3's Patient Advocacy Website. It's easy to use and will only take a few minutes to send an important HR 2871 message to Congress. 
  • IACP MEMBERS: We NEED your patient stories to feature on the P3 website - how have compounded medications helped your community? Share YOUR Stories! Please ask your patients and providers to also share their stories on the P3 website! 
IACP Events & Education


IACP Educational Conference
Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach
Fort Lauderdale, Fla
January 24-27, 2018! #EduCon2018

It's Not TOO Late! You can still attend  IACP's Educational Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, January 24-27, 2018! Enjoy southern Florida's soothing coastal ambience at the gorgeous Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach with every hotel room providing a gorgeous ocean view! More details here !

Click here for a Educational Conference Schedule Sneak Peek!

NEW!  IACP's Presidents Annual Gala - IACP will be premiering our First Presidents Annual Gala during the Educational Conference on Friday, January 26, 2018 at 7:30 p.m. in the Infinity  Ballroom at the Sonesta Fort Lauderdale Beach. Meet the new IACP Executive Vice President Cynthia Blankenship, Esq., and witness the installation of the IACP Board of Directors Officers! Enjoy an exquisite three-course meal, with your choice of Seared Sirloin Steak with Zinfandel Shallot Reduction, Petit Filet with Herb Grilled Jumbo Shrimp, Grilled Salmon with a  Roasted Garlic-Lime Emulsion, or a delicious Vegetable Pad Thai. One complimentary drink ticket and live entertainment will be included with your Gala reservation. Tickets can be  purchased during registration. Corporate Members - Please contact IACP's Ashlyn Grant  for exciting sponsorship opportunities! 

Thank you to the following sponsors for their support of the  1st President's Annual Gala:
DoseLogix/Topi-CLICK (Bar Sponsor); Letco Medical (Entertainment Sponsor, Table Sponsor);  My USP 800  (Additional Gala Drink Tickets);  PCCA  (Table Sponsor). 
                                                                                                             

Past IACP President Eldon Armstrong, RPh, FIACP
   
Thank you, IACP Member and Past IACP President Eldon Armstrong, RPh, FIACP, Sandlapper Consultant Pharmacists, Chapin, SC; and IACP Member Joseph Rossetti, RPh, Boulevard Pharmaceutical Compounding Center, Worcester, Mass., for your individual sponsorship of the 1st President's Annual Gala! And thank you to all members who have purchased Gala tickets! 

Find more information about the President's Gala, including how to attend/purchase tickets, how to sponsor, meal selection, and entertainment details here! 

All proceeds from the President's Gala will go IACP One Fund.
Registration NOW OPEN for IACP's 24th Annual Compounders on Capitol Hill!

June 23-26, 2018 
999 Ninth Street NW
Washington, DC 20001

The 24th Annual Compounders on Capitol Hill (CCH) will be held June 23-26, 2018 at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel! With more than 400 expected attendees, Compounders on Capitol Hill brings together the top-level compounding pharmacists and technicians from across the country with the same goal - to protect pharmacy compounding. 

Network! Reconnect with friends and meet new colleagues who share your passion and interest in protecting, promoting and advancing pharmacy compounding!

Register Here! Reserve Your Hotel Room Here!
IACP Compounder Calendar

IACP's Compounder Calendar is your one-stop resource for all things compounding! Compounder Calendar provides a comprehensive listing of compounding events and continuing education programs.

IACP Corporate Member Announcement


IACP Corporate Members - we are working to reveal a new structure for Corporate Members to make sure you know how appreciated you are! Thank you to all Corporate Members who completed IACP's recent Corporate Member survey! Your feedback will help us to ensure we're providing the resources you need and the opportunity to effectively assist IACP members! We will be sharing your feedback soon!
IACP Affiliate News 




ACHC/PCAB  Joins Forces with Rxinsider on New Video Series

Our desire to connect with the providers we serve today and those we hope to serve in the future, made the decision to collaborate with IACP Affiliate RXinsider an easy one! RXinsider is a publishing and technology company offering fresh and relevant multimedia publications to the pharmacy and healthcare markets. 

With video projected to claim more than 80% of all web traffic by 2019*, ACHC and PCAB decided to leverage RXinsider's Thought Leader Video Series as an engaging platform to deliver the reasons why ACHC is best positioned to be the total accreditation solution for pharmacies.

The video series is segmented into clips that address 12 questions we believe are on the minds of pharmacies in need of accreditation, boards of pharmacy, payors/PBMs and manufacturers. CEO Jose Domingos, PCAB's Jon Pritchett, and National Account Manager, Roy Bigler, provide their thoughts on important questions like:
  • Why do managed care organizations prefer ACHC?
  • How is PCAB promoting safe practices in compounding?
  • How do Distinctions set your pharmacy apart from the competition?
Since 59% of company decision makers would rather watch a video than read an article or blog post*, these short clips will allow us to educate pharmacies and industry stakeholders about ACHC and our programs in a dynamic and more personal format. 


New USP Activities/Resources: Safe Handling of Hazardous Drugs <800>
 
Coming soon... in 2018
  • Know your exposure: Awareness campaign
  • HazRx™ Mobile App:  At the point of practice tool to identify HDs and take measures to help decrease risk associated with handling hazardous drugs. 

IACP Affiliate Rxinsider

Check out IACP's Affiliate RXinsider's  20 Ways  Winter  Hospital Edition ! 



IACP Foundation News

Through the generosity of donors to the  IACP Foundation Fund-the-Future campaign, the
IACP Foundation provides pharmacy students with an opportunity to attend the  IACP Educational Conference held January 24th-27th, 2018 in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Each grant is valued up to $2,500. The IACP Foundation is pleased to announce the winners of the 2018 Educational Conference Fund-the-Future.

Congratulations to Christine Borunda, University of Texas at Austin School of Pharmacy, Austin, TX and Ralph Galega, University of Texas at Austin School of Pharmacy, Austin, TX!

For more information about Fund-the-Future program and the IACP Foundation click  here!
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