Bi-weekly Member Newsletter                                                                          April 6, 2018
Keep up-to-date with the latest legislative and regulatory news. Visit IACP's websiteArchived  Capitol Connections  newsletters here. Send your suggestions and questions to  [email protected] .
Executive Vice President Address

Cynthia Blankenship, Esq. IACP Executive Vice President

This week we shared an IACP Progress Report to keep you up to date on all the amazing projects we have been working on - thanks to input from YOU!  IACP is truly a member-driven academy and let me tell you, YOU are such a creative and talented group of people and we are immensely grateful for your input!  We love seeing and hearing what your feedback and ideas.  Keep'em coming!  If you haven't had a chance to read the Progress Report you can read it HERE.

In this email, we have more  CCH sneak peeks  at the schedule that is jam packed with amazing  CCH programming , including a wide variety of sessions with some incredible speakers and topics.  Our CCH Newsletter will share more about our fantastic  social events  that allow us to relax and enjoy a memorable time with our colleagues, like the  Rx Mixer - Aloha State of Mind which is a night you are sure to remember and offers you a wonderful opportunity to  Party with a Purpose  at the ONLY IACP Foundation fundraiser of the year, the incredible  PAC events  that provide the rare and incredible opportunity to  meet one-on-one with an influential Member of Congress , and then all this concludes with the incredibly important  Hill Day !  

IACP has been lowering our shoulder and driving the lane all year - and we aren't done yet!  We have accomplished a lot, but there is more on the horizon.

Next week is going to be great, too - we will have more information about how you can attend CCH for FREE!  Who doesn't like FREE? If you have a competitive spirit, one (or more) of the options will be right up your alley.  Let's have a friendly competition, or two, where you and IACP both win!  

We are so grateful for our IACP and IACP Foundation Board Members and want to recognize them for all they do for IACP and IACP Members.  We will be highlighting them in the weeks to come so you can get to know then on a fun and more personal level. 

I have shared with you my view as a former Congressional staffer why Hill Day is so vital to preserving the pharmacy compounding industry and patient access to compounded medications and why IACP needs YOU Storming the Hill with us CCH, we hope you join us!  Don't forget to register for CCH 2018!

I'm also super pumped to tell you that our Executive Membership has really taken off!  We started out with an immediate response from four of our members upgrading their membership, and now we are up to 11 Executive Members!  We couldn't be more pleased with how receptive you have been.  If you haven't already, please take a look at our Executive Membership as an option.  We have already had eleven members upgrade their memberships!  Thank you, Jennifer Burch, Shawn Hodges, Jeffery Bray, Joe Grasela, Linda McElhiney and everyone else who has become an Executive Member!  

Keep your eyes peeled for more emails detailing more of our programs.  We think you are you going to be excited at the changes that are coming - changes that came directly from our membership survey!

Be sure to check your email for IACP member alerts next week for more information! 

EVP and IACP Ambassador Tracking

The  NEW IACP Ambassador Program, created by the  IACP Membership Committee and chaired by Doug Yoch, has been announced and we have already received two applications from interested IACP Members. The IACP Ambassador Program give IACP members an opportunity to  represent IACP as an ambassador at specific conferences and events.  In return, IACP Ambassadors will receive discounts on registration to IACP events and other benefits.  This is one more way we are listening to your feedback and requests!  We heard that you want to be able to represent IACP more at other conferences and events by speaking and we are answering your call! For more information click  here

  • Doug Yoch, IACP Board Member and IACP Membership Committee Chair recently spoke to pharmacy students at University of South Carolina (USC) during their Pharmacy Day.  Doug, an alumnus of USC, had an opportunity to share more about IACP and why membership was important.  While he was there he got 15 new pharmacy student members signed.  Thank you, Doug!
  • Lauren Aller, IACP Member, spoke and exhibited for IACP at the LP3 Network Student Compounding Competition held in Aventura, FL on March 17th - 18th.  What a wonderful opportunity to work with students and share more about IACP and what incredible benefits IACP offer to students including a FREE student membership!  Thank you, Lauren!
  • IACP Executive Vice President and USP Delegate, Cynthia Blankenship, will attend the USP Compounding Expert Committee (CEC) meeting set for April 11th. The USP CEC will meet to develop and revise existing compounding-related general chapters describing quality and practice standards for compounding sterile and nonsterile preparation. The CEC will develop compounded preparation monographs containing formulations for both human and veterinary patients.
  • IACP will be attending the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference in Washington D.C. on April 18th - 19th as well. The conference begins with a half day of educational programming on Wednesday afternoon followed by an opening dinner, a legislative breakfast on Thursday followed by Congressional visits and a closing reception.
  • IACP will be hosting Compounders on Capitol Hill (CCH) on June 23-26, 2018 in Washington D.C.  This is one event you don't want to miss! We hope to see you there while we discuss current events in compounding pharmacy and Storm the Hill to preserve patient access!


Let's Keep the Momentum Going - Please Contribute to IACP's One Fund! We need your help, TODAYMake the donation that will help Preserve Patient Access to Compounded Medications, and help support IACP's HR 2871 efforts. IACP is working to Protect, Promote & Advance Pharmacy Compounding!
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, in Washington D.C. With more than 400 expected attendees in 2018, Compounders on Capitol Hill brings together the top-level compounding pharmacists and technicians from across the country with the same goal - to protect patient access to vital compound medications. Don't miss the only pharmacy compounding event that takes our issues directly to Washington, D.C.'s doorstep.
CCH returns to Downtown Washington, D.C.! Conveniently situated in the Penn Quarter district, this premier location is surrounded by shops, a variety of dining options, the Spy Museum, Chinatown, the National Portrait Gallery, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, and world-famous National Mall monuments.
 
What you can expect in 2018:
  • CCH returns to Downtown Washington, D.C.!   Located directly across from the Washington Convention Center, Renaissance Washington, D.C. (999 Ninth St NW, Washington, DC 20001) is conveniently situated in the Penn Quarter district, near D.C. CityCenter, Capitol Hill, and the White House. 
  • A bargain hotel group rate at $229 - that's almost half the price from previous years!
  • Hear from experts during in-depth Continuing Education sessions on legislative and regulatory issues at the state and federal level affecting pharmacy compounding.
  • Expanded exhibit hall puts attendees face-to-face with 60 leading companies that serve compounding pharmacies.
  • Stay for Hill Day! Be an advocate for patients and compounding during in-person Capitol Hill meetings with your Members of Congress
  • On Monday, June 25, the COMP PAC Dinner and Fundraiser is an exclusive opportunity to hob-nob with the powerful movers and shakers of Washington, D.C. The COMP PAC will host a Member of Congress to talk face-to-face with our attendees.


IACP applauds the leadership of #CCH2018 Keynote Speaker, Congressman Griffith in Introducing Bill HR 2871

This bill amends the Federal FDA Act to expand the circumstances under which a drug may be compounded (manufactured at small scale) to allow pharmacists and physicians to compound drugs for administration to patients in an office or clinical setting, in accordance with state law. (Drugs that are compounded do not need to meet certain federal requirements regarding manufacturing, labeling, or approval.)
 
Dietary supplements may be used in the compounding of a drug.
 
The bill exempts from interstate distribution limits the dispensing of a compounded drug from the facility where it is compounded to a patient or health facility.
 
The scope of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspections of compounding pharmacies is limited to pertinent equipment, materials, containers, and labeling, which is the same scope as inspections of pharmacies. (Currently, the scope of inspections of compounding pharmacies is the same scope as inspections of drug manufacturers.)
The bill eliminates the requirement for compounding pharmacies to register with the FDA as drug manufacturers. 
 
CLICK HERE to register for #CCH2018 and meet Congressman Griffith!



Hear from IACP President Baylor Rice & President-Elect Erik Tosh on Why YOU Must Register for #CCH2018!

 


Storm the Hill with Your Colleagues in Washington, DC and Share Your Patients' Voices with Capitol Hill to Preserve Patient Access to Compounded Medications!
 
Join us in Washington, D.C. for the 24th Annual Compounders on Capitol Hill (CCH), June 23-26, 2018 at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Downtown Hotel.
                          
Register today for CCH 2018 to walk the halls of Congress to protect, promote, and advanced the art of compounding. This is not the time to sit on the sidelines, we need you and your voice at CCH more than ever!


LET THE GAMES BEGIN!
IACP Announces Competitions that Offer FREE or Greatly Reduced CCH 
Registration as Awards!
CCH 2018 Overall Champion and State Captain Competition
 
GET ACTIVE, GET INVOLVED, GET ENGAGED!
 
This competition is as simple as telling others why attending CCH is so important . Compounding is personal and so are the stories from you and your patients. Your Voice Matters - Your Vote Matters. YOU have something that no one else has - YOUR vote which spans in every Congressional district. YOUR presence is important as we Storm the Hill and walk the Halls of Congress at CCH! The stakes are too high, and this is not the time to sit on the sidelines and hope that someone else will represent compounding pharmacy. Join your colleagues in preserving patient access and join us in the Halls of Congress to deliver this messaging like ONLY YOU can.



#CCH2018 Exhibitor Prospectus Now OPEN!
Exhibitors and Sponsors, Come Join Us in D.C.

IACP's annual Compounders on Capitol Hill is attended by top-level compounding pharmacists and pharmacy technicians from across the country. We anticipate hosting more than 300 registrants in 2018. Attendees are the leaders in the compounding profession and the decision makers in the pharmacy.

This exhibition provides vendors an opportunity to network with attendees and promote your business among the decision makers in pharmacy compounding. The Exhibition Hall is located directly across from the registration area where all attendees must check-in and the CE General Session room. It is also the location for the attendee's breakfast and lunch for two days of the conference. All traffic to and from the General Session meeting room will travel in front of the Exhibition Hall.

We have added additional Exhibit Time! Over the course of three days, vendors will have eight hours dedicated solely to exhibition time. In addition, vendors are invited to participate in all educational sessions, social events, and appointments on Capitol Hill. We know you will agree that with 300 total attendees and approximately 50 exhibitors, this is an intimate gathering perfect for face-to-face business opportunities.

In addition, sponsorship provides an excellent opportunity to spread the message that your company supports compounding pharmacy! By agreeing to sponsor CCH, your company will gain access to the following benefits:
  • Increased exposure to CCH attendees
  • Company name and logo listed on the item selected
  • Prominent listing on signage located in the registration, exhibit and breakfast/lunch areas
  • Recognized in all conference program materials including the meeting syllabus
  • Acknowledged in the meeting website, the bi-weekly newsletter, Capitol Connections and the meeting newsletter.
How Can You Support this Event?
We would love to have your support as an exhibitor and sponsor! Please consider both, today!

Click here to access the Online Commitment Form

We would like to thank the following exhibitors for their commitment to  Compounders on Capitol Hill: Accreditation Commission for Health Care (ACHC), AirClean Systems, ARL Bio Pharma, Associates of Cape Cod, Inc., AX Pharmaceutical Corp, B&B Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Cardinal Health OptiFreight Logistics, Charles River, DoseLogix/Topi-CLICK, DUTCH test by Precision Analytical, Eagle Analytical Services, Encore Scientific, Fagron, Inc., FlackTek, Inc., Hardy Diagnostics, IJPC, Infinity Laboratories, Letco Medical, MEDISCA, PCCA, Pestle® Pharmacy Compliance Software, Q.I. Medical, Rxinsider, Spectrum Pharmacy Products, Storey Marketing, Willow Birch Pharma.

We would like to thank the following meeting sponsors for their support of the 2018 Compounders on Capitol Hill: DoseLogix/Topi-CLICK (Meeting Notepad/Pen Combo); Flacktek, Inc. (Happy Hour); Letco Medical (Welcome Reception, President's Reception, Meeting Hotel Key Cards, Congressional Handbooks); PCCA (Meeting Syllabus, Name Badge Holder, Travel Mugs).

We would like to thank the following individual and pharmacy meeting sponsors for their support of  Compounders on Capitol Hill Presidential Sponsor Jeffery Bray, CEO, MedQuest Pharmacy, North Salt Lake, Utah.; Congressional Sponsor: Billy Chatoff, Pharmacist, Colchester, Vermont; Judicial Sponsor: Bradley McCloskey, Owner, University Compounding Pharmacy, Troy, Michigan.; Contributor Sponsor: Amy Blackwell, Chief Marketing Officer, Monument Pharmacy Inc., Monument, Colorado; Kevin Borg, Owner/Pharmacist, Potter's House Apothecary, Peoria, Arizona; Jim Hrncir, RPh/Owner, Las Colinas Pharmacy Compounding and Wellness, Irving, Texas; Charles Lipeles, VP, Mecart Cleanrooms, Michleton, New Jersey, Phung Matthews, Pharmacy Director, MedQuest Pharmacy, North Salt Lake, Utah; Steve Moore, PharmD, Condo Pharmacy, Plattsburgh, New York; Hali O'Malley, Pharmacy Compliance Director, MedQuest Pharmacy, North Salt Lake, Utah.
IACP's Education Committee has been working diligently to ensure we provide the continuing education (CE) compounding pharmacy professionals need. IACP kicked off 2018 with an awesome Educational Conference program, which embarked our journey to providing you more LIVE CE's!
 
IACP is continuing our commitment to provide you with more Live CEs by launching the IACP AdvanCE Webinar program! Under the new webinar program, IACP AdvanCE will now be offering quarterly educational tracks with multiple LIVE webinars throughout the year to be your one-stop shop for all CE related to pharmacy compounding! IACP AdvanCE is a one-stop shop to find a comprehensive selection of compounding specific continuing education that specializes in legislative, regulatory and practice topics that can affect you and your practice.
 
If you're unable to attend LIVE webinars, IACP will be offering self-paced programming. The LIVE webinars and self-paced online programming are open to members and non-members offering a variety of continuing education and in an effort to reach more compounding pharmacy professionals. There is something for everyone with the new IACP AdvanCE Webinar and self-paced programs!
 
For more information about IACP AdvanCE, please visit www.iacprx.org/IACPAdvanCE .
 
Interested in Sponsoring a LIVE Webinar, click here.

Pricing:
Technician Members:
$75 - 5 webinar bundle
$20 - individual webinar

Pharmacist Members:
$180 - 5 webinar bundle
$45 - individual webinar

Non-members:
$350 - 5 webinar bundle
$70 - individual webinar

 
Upcoming LIVE Webinars:
(Dates and titles are subject to change)
 
May 9, 2018
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CST
Social Media Marketing for Pharmacists - Do's and Dont's
Patricia Storey, RPh, President, Storey Marketing
 
May 16, 2018
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CST
LDN-Another Piece of the Puzzle
Jim Hrncir, RPh, Owner, Las Colinas Pharmacy
 
This program is made possible through an unrestricted educational grant-in-aid from the IACP Foundation .
 
May 23, 2018
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CST
Lean Problem Solving to Align People, Process and Pharmacy Profits"
Rafi Benamoz, CEO, Benamoz Entrepreneur Solutionz
 
June 6, 2018
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CST
Compound your Wealth: Pharmacy Accounting and Tax Strategies
Scotty Sykes, CPA, Sykes & Company, P.A.
 
June 27, 2018
1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CST
Let's Get Serious About Nutrition!
John Preckshot, RPh, CNN, FAARM, Director, Wellness Works Nutrition

Self-paced Webinars
 
Unable to attend an IACP Live Webinar? IACP has you covered! The IACP AdvanCE self-paced library makes obtaining unique CE convenient for pharmacists and technicians with busy schedules. The IACP AdvanCE self-paced library will feature previous IACP AdvanCE live webinars, the United States Pharmacopeia (USP) requirements, and a wide-range of sessions.

Recorded Continuing Education programs from IACP annual conferences, Educational Conference, and Compounders on Capitol Hill, will be available in the IACP AdvanCE self-paced library. If you or members of your staff were unable to join us on-site, don't feel left out! 
Topics may include: FDA Inspections, State Legislative/ Regulatory Compounding Update, USP 797 / 795 / 1163, Marketing & Sales, Legislative Updates, CQI and Root Analysis, Pediatric Compounding, Pharmaceutics, Compounding Compliance (SOP's).
 
For more information about IACP AdvanCE, please visit: www.iacprx.org/IACPAdvanCE
 
 
*All sessions carrying the ACPE program number are approved for continuing education credit.
Presentations are intended for educational purposes only. Statements of fact and opinions expressed are solely those of the participants individually and, are not the opinion or position of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP), the IACP Board of Directors, or IACP staff. IACP does not endorse or approve, and assumes no responsibility for, the content, accuracy or completeness of the information presented.

Don't miss these upcoming LIVE webinars!
Multiple webinars throughout the year - please click title for exact dates.
Donor Management in Pediatric Patients

Featured Webinar Programs:
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's NEW Executive Membership Category is NOW Available!


We heard your request! Many of your responded to the IACP Membership Survey that you would love to see an IACP membership that gives you additional benefits to IACP events! We heard your feedback, and the IACP Membership Committee has been working diligently to develop an additional IACP membership category that gives YOU the additional benefits you want!

You already know that IACP has several categories to meet our membership needs, but now we have a NEW membership category to reach even more people!

IACP is excited to share our newest membership category, think of it as being an  IACP VIP, the  Executive Membership. If you are thinking about going to CCH this year, this is the perfect time to upgrade or renew your membership to the Executive level and receive a  FREE CCH registration! We would love to see you there and Storm the Hill with your peers.  Registration rates for CCH go up on May 14 th !
 
Benefits of the Executive Category include:
  • One ticket to the annual President's Gala
  • Additional 10% discount on registration to the Educational Conference
  • Reserved seating at live educational events
  • One FREE registration to Compounders on Capitol Hill (registration may be transferred to another person if not used by the owner of the membership within the calendar year, if not used the monies will be considered a donation to IACP's One Fund)

PLUS
  • One listing on IACP's Locator Service
  • Use of the IACP Member logo
  • Access to IACP AdvanCE series live and on-demand webinars
  • Discounts from Corporate Members and Affiliates
  • Access to a variety of IACP Member communications and information including: Legislative & Regulatory Affairs monitoring, State Compounding updates, State Board of Pharmacy updates, Capitol Connections bi-weekly e-newsletter, Member Alert emails, Breaking News on our website, Partnership for Personalized Prescriptions (P3) Advocates, DConnection Blog, discounts to educational seminars, networking, exclusive IACP Members Only website access, IACP Career Center, published white papers and more.
You get all this for only $1,500/year! 
For full details visit our  website or click   here for a pdf. 

We are now up to 11 new Executive Members!  Will you be next?

Thank you, Jennifer, Shawn, Jeff, Linda, Joe and all the other Executive Members!  
To join them - upgrade your membership today!  


If you are ready renew now, you can  upgrade your membership online.  If you are interested in upgrading your current membership today, give us a call at (281) 933-8400 and we will make it happen! 


New IACP Committees Are Starting to Meet - It's Not Too Late to Join!

IACP is thrilled to see the outpouring interest we have had in joining IACP Committees and the fantastic chairs at the helm. The new committees and subcommittees below are really ramping up.  They are setting their meeting schedules and will be meeting soon.  If you are interested in joining one of these committees or subcommittees, or a different committee, please let us know! 

Please take a look at all of the IACP Committees HERE  and let us know where you would like to serve! We would love to have you on an IACP Committee. Stay tuned next week for an announcement of a new Committee Chair as well!

IACP Needs YOU!

We have immediate openings on the following committees, but if you see a different committee you are interested in, please let us know!
  • IACP Legislative State Sub-committee, Chaired by Mike Blaire, this committee will be focusing on State Compounding issues and have already been instrumental in providing input for recent State actions.  
  • IACP Legislative Animal Compounding Sub-committee is seeking a Chair and committee members.  The Animal Compounding Sub-committee has been formed due to member-driven requests for IACP to engage in activities for animal compounding.  
  • IACP Strategic Planning Infrastructure Review Sub-committee is also seeking committee members.  Do you have experience with things like association management software, websites, IT services and all things that help a business run smoothly?  We need people to help IACP review our current internal programs and services.  

Join a Committee and Help Work on the Exciting New Programs We Have in Store for 2018!  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 direct feedback on the IACP Membership Survey, the IACP Board has responded by creating new Committees and one new Committee Subgroup. 


Please email IACP's Jennifer Petska, BS, CPhT, IACP Director of Development & Membership, at [email protected] for more information or if you are interested in joining any committee.
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. 


INDUSTRY NEWS
  • Inside Health Policy - States Push Closed Formularies, Pharmacy Networks As CMS Considers Allowing Those Arrangements In Medicaid - February 21, 2018

IACP MEMBER NEWS

IACP Executive Memberships Total Eleven Since Announced
IACP is so pleased to announce we are now at eleven Executive Memberships!  Thank you for supporting IACP and our efforts to preserve patient access. We heard your request! Many of you responded to the IACP Membership Survey that you would love to see an IACP membership category that gives you additional benefits to IACP events.  Thanks to your feedback, we have hit it out of the park!  As soon as it was announced we had four members upgrade their existing memberships, and the momentum just keeps going.  For more information about our Executive Membership please click HERE.

If you are thinking about going to CCH this year, this is the perfect time to upgrade or renew your membership to the Executive level and receive a  FREE CCH registration ! We would love to see you there and Storm the Hill with your peers! For full details visit our  WEBSITE  or click  HERE FOR A PDF Will you be our next IACP VIP, as an Executive Member? Let's keep the momentum going!



The NPA Congratulates New Board of Pharmacy Member
The NPA congratulates, Angie Svoboda, PharmD, as the newest member of the Nebraska Board of Pharmacy.
 
Dr. Svoboda is the Pharmacist-In-Charge at Good Life Pharmacy in Ord. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Nebraska Medical Center College of Pharmacy and is an Associate Professor of the University of Nebraska College of Pharmacy, as well as a Fellow of the International Association of Compounding Pharmacists.
 
Dr. Svoboda replaced Board of Pharmacy member, Maggie Kucera, and now joins the other pharmacist members of the Board of Pharmacy: Sabrina Beck, Omaha; Patty Gollner, Hastings; and Ken Saunders, Omaha.



IACP Board Member, Erika Fallon  was recently on an episode of  Pharmacy Inspection Podcast  and shared more about IACP and why it was important to be involved.  Thank you, Erika!




Chairman of Agriculture Appropriations Committee Congressman Robert Aderholt  
, Homewood, Alabama, on Friday, March 9, to learn more about how a sterile pharmacy operates and the role compounding fills in healthcare.

From L-R: Jim Gaither, PharmD, Director of Sterile; Mary Ann Davis, RPh, Director of Pharmacy; Congressman Robert Aderholt; Rod Harbin, Jr., COO; Lizzie Harbin, PCCA Vice President of Public Affairs, Communications, Education and Human Resources; Cathy Harbin; and Rod Harbin, President


ADVOCACY 


Federal Advocacy

The  International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP)  on behalf  of our more than 4,000 compounding pharmacists and the patients and providers they serve, is sharing the information from FDA regarding a request for nomination to the Pharmacy Compounding Advisory Committee. 

IACP has worked diligently along with the DQSA Coalition members and Members of Congress to send Congressional letters, letters from the Coalition, obtain numerous statements from Congress, and obtain Appropriations Report Language urging FDA to implement the DQSA in manner that is consistent with Congressional intent by allowing stakeholder input in the form of voting positions on the PCAC.
 
Throughout all of these efforts, IACP has expressed strong concern with the only compounding pharmacist on the PCAC being designated as a non-voting position and has urged FDA to include stakeholders that provide and depend on compounded medications as these stakeholders thoroughly understand patients' need for access to these vital compounded medications.
 
Most recently, during the Congressional Hearing held by the House Energy and Commerce Committee where IACP Vice President, Shawn Hodges, testified, IACP submitted written testimony expressing many concerns with FDA's implementation of the DQSA, including concerns with the structure and process of the PCAC. During that hearing, Members of Congress, urged Commissioner Gottlieb to move forward with including stakeholders as voting members of the PCAC.
 
As FDA moves forward in soliciting nominations, IACP strongly encourages FDA to follow the will of Congress and allow compounding pharmacists to serve on the PCAC as voting members.

If you want a Letter of Recommendation from IACP or for IACP to officially submit your application, please let us know if you would like to serve on the PCAC by filling out the application and submitting your CV to IACP HERE . The IACP Legislative Committee and Board of Directors will be considering nominations over the coming weeks.

To find out more about serving on the PCAC and the process, please click HERE.


IACP's Initial Comments Regarding the FDA Press Release, Guidance document and additional FDA comments
 
IACP's general impression is that the FDA's draft guidance, "Evaluation of Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act", is a disincentive for anybody to register as a 503B, which makes it contrary to Commissioner Gottlieb's statements before the House E&C committee. As mentioned in the current guidance document lines 47-53, 
 
"Drug products compounded under the conditions in section 503B are not exempt from current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) requirements in section 501(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act.5  Outsourcing facilities are also subject to FDA inspections according to a risk-based schedule, specific adverse event reporting requirements, and other conditions that help to mitigate the risks of the drug products they compound.6 Outsourcing facilities may or may not obtain prescriptions for identified individual patients and can, therefore, distribute compounded drugs to healthcare practitioners for "office stock," to hold in their offices in advance of patient need. 7"
 
Within this framework, it is difficult to follow FDA's concerns about sources of pure ingredients (what FDA refers to as "bulk").  503B Outsourcing Facilities are required to purchase all ingredients according to statutory requirements, including that the pure ingredient manufacturers are FDA-registered and comply with all applicable quality standards.  Since FDA inspects the pure ingredient manufacturers and the outsourcing facilities to hold them accountable to those standards, the statements in this draft guidance that question the quality of the pure ingredients used by outsourcing facilities vs. those in FDA-approved drugs are false and misleading.  To read the full statement click here
 
To read the guidance document  "Evaluation of Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." Click   here .  
 
Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D ., on a key step in advancing FDA's oversight of drug compounding and implementing new laws governing outsourcing facilities. Click here.


FDA Releases Guidance Directed at 503B Outsourcing Facilities 

Today, FDA released guidance entitled  "Evaluation of Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.". IACP is currently reviewing this guidance and will provide a full statement next week. Upon our initial reading, there are strong concerns with this guidance and how it will impact patient access to compounded medications. Please stay tuned for IACP's full analysis and statement next week! 
To read the guidance document "Evaluation of Bulk Drug Substances Nominated for Use in Compounding Under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act." click  here


Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, M.D., on a key step in advancing FDA's oversight of drug compounding and implementing new laws governing outsourcing facilities

For Immediate Release
March 23, 2018

Statement
Today, we're taking a key step forward in implementing the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) and section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Among other things, these provisions limit the bulk drug substances that outsourcing facilities can use in compounding. It directs the FDA to develop a list of bulk drug substances for which there is a clinical need - the 503B bulks list.
Today, we're issuing a critical policy document that addresses how that list will be formulated, and what bulk drug substances the outsourcing facilities can use to compound drugs.
Compounding can be critical for advancing the health of patients who have specific medical needs that cannot be met by FDA-approved drugs. However, because compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and do not undergo premarket review by the FDA for safety, effectiveness and quality; they also present a greater risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs. This was illustrated by the 2012 nationwide fungal meningitis outbreak. This tragic outbreak led to more than 750 cases of illness and the deaths of 64 individuals who had used a compounded drug for injection that was supposed to be sterile, but became contaminated.
In response to that public health tragedy, Congress enacted the DQSA in 2013 to enhance the safety and quality of these medicines. Advancing the FDA's compounding program is a high priority for the agency. We're fully committed to implementing the DQSA requirements in a way that preserves access to compounded drugs for patients who have a medical need for them, while protecting patients from poor quality or otherwise unsafe compounded drugs that could cause them serious harm.
The draft guidance we're releasing today is one part of a comprehensive policy framework. In January, we released our compounding policy priorities plan, which lays out how the agency will implement, over the course of 2018, certain key provisions of DQSA and other requirements of the law relevant to compounders. The plan is comprised of a series of draft and final guidance documents, proposed and final rules, and a revised draft memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the FDA and states.  To read more click here

Bipartisan Legislation Addressing Patient Access Concerns that Have Resulted from FDA's Implementation of the DQSA
  • Your Efforts are Making a HUGE Difference! We Now Have 44 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.  
DOJ Releases Memo Stating Guidance Documents are Unenforceable
  • On Thursday, January 25th, the Associate Attorney General issued a memorandum that prohibits the Department of Justice from using civil enforcement authority to "convert agency guidance documents into binding rules." According to the Memorandum published on the Department of Justice website, Justice Department civil litigators are prohibited from using guidance documents - or noncompliance with guidance documents - to establish violations of law in affirmative civil enforcement actions. Further, in that same news release, DOJ Associate Attorney General Brand stated, "Although guidance documents can be helpful in educating the public about already existing law, they do not have the binding force or effect of law and should not be used as a substitute for rulemaking."
Let's Keep the Momentum Going!  We Need Your Patients' Stories!
  • Continue to collect patients' stories and let us know if a patient would like to get involved! We need patient stories for Congressional documents as well as any potential hearings.  Please let us know if you're 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  
  • IACP provides our members with a weekly 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.
  • 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!

  • 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 WebsitePatient 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 540 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 CORPORATE MEMBER SPOTLIGHT 


Microbial Solutions for Compounding Pharmacies

With compounding pharmacy regulations under scrutiny, compliance has never been more important. Maintain control and consistency in your compounding procedures with solutions from Charles River. Offering unmatched regulatory expertise and a portfolio of FDA-licensed products and cGMP-compliant services, Charles River is the trusted partner who can help you align your operations with current regulatory standards.

To read more about their services and for contact information please click HERE.
IACP AFFILIATE NEWS 

USP Announces Comment Period for 
Chapters <795> and <797>
 
USP General Chapters <795> Pharmaceutical Compounding - Nonsterile Preparations, and <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding - Sterile Preparations are in the active revision process. The purpose of this alert is to provide you details of upcoming opportunities where you can participate in the public comment process for the proposed revisions.  
 
To provide a unified approach to quality compounding, USP intends to align the timing and content of General Chapters <795>, <797>, and <800>Hazardous Drugs-Handling in Healthcare Settings.   Among other proposed content in the revisions, hazardous drug handling sections in <795> and <797> will reference General Chapter <800>.
 
General Chapter <800> was completed and published in February 2016, and the content of that chapter is not currently under revision.
 
Below are the timeline and associated web links for you to engage and provide input during the public comment periods for <795> and <797>.  You will be able to provide written comments through the USP website from March 30, 2018 to July 31, 2018 for USP <795>, and from July 28, 2018 to November 30, 2018 for USP <797>.




    Schedule & Links for Compounding Standards
 
Click the links for access where the respective information will be posted 
 
 
 
<795> *
Pharmaceutical Compounding -  Nonsterile Preparations
<797> *
Pharmaceutical Compounding  Sterile Preparations
Pre-Posted on the USP Website for Public Comment**
Published in thePharmacopeial Forum
Open Microphone Session
 
Registration will open 
 
 
March 15, 2018
 
 
August 5, 2018
Public Comment Period will close
 
Intended Publication DateUSP - NF
 
Anticipated Official Date
December 1, 2019
December 1, 2019
 
*   The current published versions of USP-NF General Chapters <795> and <797> are official until new chapters 
become official.
 
** This pre-posting allows extra time, beyond the typical 90 day period, for stakeholders to review and provide 
input.
 
 

USP Debuts New Resource - USP <800> HazRx™ Mobile App. 
The <800> HazRx™ Mobile App  is an innovative tool that combines information from three trusted data resources (NIOSH, RxNorm, General Chapter <800>) to help identify hazardous drugs at the point of practice and to inform the healthcare worker on what measures to take to help reduce their risk in accordance with established standards.
 
As we all move toward safer handling of hazardous drugs in the work place, USP encourages early adoption and implementation of USP General Chapter <800> to protect the public health in all healthcare settings.  
IACP COMP PAC NEWS


The year is off and running, and it's been an amazing 2018 so far for your IACP COMP PAC Committee! 
 
Your IACP COMP PAC Committee is launching all new COMP PAC Programs!  The COMP PAC Committee has been working diligently to bring you new programs that give you the opportunity to be more involved with the IACP COMP PAC, to share your stories and your patients' stories with Members of Congress, and to become more engaged in preserving patient access through the IACP COMP PAC!

The new IACP COMP PAC Newsletter  was released to keep IACP members informed on what the Committee is working on, where the donations have been made and what new programs and events are on the horizon. To read the first edition click  HERE  and the second edition click  HERE

This year, the COMP PAC Committee is launching all new COMP PAC Programs!

The COMP PAC Committee has been working diligently to bring you new programs that give you the opportunity to be more involved with the IACP COMP PAC, share your stories and your patients' stories with Members of Congress, and become more engaged in preserving patient access through the IACP COMP PAC!

1. To continue fundraising for COMP PAC, in order to enable IACP members to attend more events with Members of Congress, the COMP PAC Committee members showed us their dedication to the IACP COMP PAC by launching a new  COMP PAC Match program !  It's a very simple concept - for every $1 donated to COMP PAC, our PAC Committee members will match that donation by $1. We are thrilled to tell you that we have already tallied $16,250! It's now your turn to shine! Make this Match program count by donating to the IACP COMP PAC HERE!

2. The IACP COMP PAC Committee heard your requests for additional avenues to donate to the COMP PAC and for more benefits for your donations, and they rose to challenge by developing and launching the new  IACP COMP PAC Tier Program. The new  IACP COMP PAC Tier Program recognizes those of you that are donating to the IACP COMP PAC by giving you valuable COMP PAC benefits.  Not only do you get to support pharmacy champions in Congress, but you also receive amazing COMP PAC benefits!  It's a win-win for everyone!  Please find additional information on the IACP COMP PAC Tier Program HERE.

3. In addition, many of you have asked for a  monthly donation program  versus a one-time donation plan. The IACP COMP PAC Committee is making that happen for you!  We want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for you to donate to COMP PAC. Please find the information on the monthly donation program HERE!

4. We want to make sure that along with the awesome COMP P AC benefits that you will receive under the new COMP PAC Tier Program, that we are also recognizing you as the awesome donors you are at all IACP events. In order to  do this, the IACP COMP PAC Committee has developed some beautiful pins! The  New COMP PAC Contributor Pins  - are what all the fashionably dressed will be wearing at Compounders on Capitol Hill in D.C. this June! Don't you want one of these awesome pins?
 
5. The IACP COMP PAC Committee also heard your requests for more COMP PAC events at CCH and responded by adding an additional opportunity to meet a Pharmacy Champion to the CCH agenda. In addition, in future years we will continue to add these opportunities to the agenda to give you the opportunity to meet in a small setting with Members of Congress that are helping to preserve patient access!  

So, do not forget to Save the Date and get your tickets for the  COMP PAC Dinner and Fundraisers  being held during Compounders on Capitol Hill! You can reserve your ticket for the COMP PAC dinner  HERE  We will be sending out more details about the additional COMP PAC events at CCH in the coming weeks, so watch your inbox for additional information!

 
Join us at the COMP PAC Dinner and Fundraiser during CCH!

Make plans now to attend the IACP COMP PAC Dinner and Fundraiser to be held during IACP's Compounders on Capitol Hill, on Monday, June 25, 2018 from 7 to 9 pm EST at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Washington D.C.!  This is an exclusive opportunity to meet the Champions of Compounding face-to-face in Washington, D.C. Stay tuned for the announcement of our high-profile influencer who will personally meet with our COMP PAC attendees, and talk about the future of pharmacy compounding, and how we continue to protect our patients' access to compounded medications!  You can get your tickets HERE!

IACP COMP PAC Lunch Fundraiser for Congressman Morgan Griffith!
Stay tuned for details coming soon on a 
NEW IACP COMP PAC Lunch Fundraiser 

at CCH for 
Congressman Morgan Griffith
You won't want to miss this NEW PAC event!

Please  CLICK HERE  to access the contribution form for this vitally important COMP PAC Dinner and Fundraiser!

Your attendance and donations to COMP PAC
 events are essential in helping preserve patient access to compounded medications. Your voice makes a tremendous difference - we need YOU at IACP COMP PAC events this year!

So Get Involved! Meet with Your Members of Congress! Donate to COMP PAC!

Thank You to our COMP PAC Committee members. What an amazing group of folks we have this year! If you're interested in joining the COMP PAC Committee, it's not too late. Email us at [email protected]  and let us know if you'd like to join.
IACP COMP PAC Co-Hosts Successful Event with IACP Board member and IACP Chair, Jeffery Bray, for Congressman Chris Stewart at MedQuest Pharmacy in Utah

U.S. Congressman Chris Stewart (UT) (middle) visits with IACP Board Member Jeffery Bray, and PCCA President Jim Smith at a PAC Reception held at MedQuest Pharmacy in North Salt Lake City, UT.

IACP Board Member and Infrastructure Review Chair, Jeffery BraySenator Evan J. VickersCliff HoltDana BurnettKoby Taylor, the  IACP COMP PAC, PCCA PAC and    NCPA PAC hosted an event on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at MedQuest Pharmacy in North Salt Lake City, UT for  Congressman Stewart!  Congressman Stewart was able to tour the pharmacy and spend time with attendees.

Congressman Stewart is a Member of the House Committee on APPROPRIATIONS and is a  true champion for compounding pharmacists and he has fought to preserve patient access to vital compounded medications.  

We are so thankful to Jeffery for hosting this amazing opportunity for IACP members to  meet Congressman Stewart and to be your patients' voice!   
 
Thank you to all IACP Members who contributed to this COMP PAC event! Your contributions are crucial for ensuring patients have continued access to compounded medications!
IACP FOUNDATION NEWS



14th Annual Rx Mixer - 
Aloha State of Mind   
Plans to Raise More than $200,000!


IACP Foundation's 14th Annual Rx Mixer - Aloha State of Mind benefiting the IACP Foundation is being held Sunday, June 24, 2018 from 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm at the Renaissance Washington D.C. Downtown. The Regular Price is $175 (includes one event ticket and three drink tickets) and Late Registration is $200 after June 10, 2018. This is a separate ticketed event.

Join us in paradise and come relax with your colleagues and friends.  Our guests will be treated to a fun evening of classic food, cold drinks, fellowship, and Dueling Pianos to lead us in song and cheer!  Try your hand at the Live Auction, Silent Auction by the IACP Foundation, Memorabilia Silent Auction by GrandStand Sports and the Reverse Card Draw! All for a really good cause as we support the IACP Foundation's research and education initiatives. As we gather again with our colleagues and friends, we want to emphasize that Rx Mixer is much more than a fun party. It's a Party with a Purpose!


Want to get involved?  Interested in volunteering the day and/or evening of the event? 
 Fill our Desire to Serve form.



Any questions, please contact Jennifer at  [email protected] 

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