The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy
The National Association of Specialty Pharmacy, (NASP), is the only non-profit trade association that represents all of the specialty pharmacy industry stakeholders, including specialty pharmacies and drug manufacturers. The association also represents wholesalers, group purchasing organizations, dis- tributors, patient advocacy groups, health plans, pharmacy benefit management systems, data/technology vendors, and logistic providers. So, all professionals in the field are encouraged to become a member of NASP. In fact, there are over 135 corporate members and close to 2,000 total mem- bers within NASP, including pharmacists, pharmacy students, pharmacy technicians, clinical nurses, as well as execu- tives who run most of the large pharmaceutical businesses. According to the NASP website, the organization’s mission is to “elevate the practice of specialty pharmacy by developing, delivering, and promoting continuing professional education and specialty certification while advocating for public policies that ensure patients have appropriate access to specialty med- ications in tandem with critical services.” Furthermore, NASP has four foundational pillars: education/ certification, advo- cacy, and membership, and their annual meeting & expo. In the education pillar, NASP provides specialty pharmacy educa- tion for all members. In the advocacy pillar, NASP advocates
for specialty pharmacy issues at the federal level. In the certification pillar, NASP is the only organization to offer a spe- cialty pharmacist’s credential. And in the membership pillar, NASP feels that it is important to have a diverse membership to better cover the issues or concerns for every facet of spe- cialty pharmacy and at our Annual Meeting & Expo specialty pharmacy industry thought leaders and health care veterans convene in Washington, DC each September to share patient care best practices and foster partnerships and connectivity.
Joining the NASP
Arquette mentions that she is a pharmacist by training and has worked working as a community pharmacist and a hos- pital pharmacist. In this time, she learned that pharmacy technicians are the backbone of any pharmacy, stating that, “[pharmacy technicians] do an incredible job of supporting not only the pharmacist but also the community of patients.” Arquette encourages anyone interested in learning more about specialty pharmacies, especially technicians, to reach out to NASP. Arquette goes on to explain that “The NASP is a trade organization, but it is our members who drive what we do.” NASP consistently solicit feedback from their members about the benefits and resources activities that they need in order to enhance their practice, increase their profes- sional growth, and their knowledge. In the words of Arquette, “Through committee participation, surveys, our annual meet- ing and networking events, we receive feedback and take those ideas and concepts and make them come to life.” For example, in 2020, NASP continued to actively support public policies that would better enhance practices and improve specialty pharmacy performances. Even during the COVID- 19 pandemic, NASP strived to stay as active as possible.
Each year in September, NASP hosts their Annual Meeting and Expo in Washington, D.C. The event draws nearly 1,200 specialty pharmacy stakeholders. The 2021 Annual Meeting and Expo is September 27th-30th. Registration will open in the spring and additional information can be found on their website soon at naspnet.org. Though the 2020 meet- ing was a virtual event due to the pandemic, this year’s conference is currently planned as an in-person meeting. In the virtual 2020 annual meeting, NASP had 960 regis- tered attendees from two countries as well as 51 US states and territories. With 23 sponsors, 28 exhibitors, five keynote speakers, and 26 unique educational services, members attended about 4,915 live program hours. NASP hopes to build on the annual meeting in 2021. Arquette explained the importance of specialty pharmacy as a whole throughout her time speaking with us and encourages those interested in joining NASP to learn more about specialty pharmacy and to contact them at info@naspnet.org. “We offer a variety of membership options – both individual and corporate -- all cus- tomized to fit everyone’s needs and budget,” said Arquette. To learn more about NASP, go to www.naspnet.org.
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