AMCP's 24th Annual Meeting & Expo Opens in San Francisco

SAN FRANCISCO, April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) today opened its 24th Annual Meeting & Expo, April 18-20, in San Francisco. More than 3,500 attendees will partake in the conference at the Moscone West Convention Center that features an array of cutting-edge educational programming, renowned keynote speakers, networking opportunities and an Expo of companies and organizations sharing their latest innovations and services.

"The Academy is proud to present such outstanding programming at our Annual Meeting & Expo," said AMCP Chief Executive Officer Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM. "This is truly the premier event for anyone who has a stake in the dynamic field of managed care pharmacy."

The programming, led by top leaders in the field, encompasses a wide range of topics and issues relevant to managed care pharmacy professionals today. Educational Session topics include:

• Current trends and emerging models in comparative effectiveness research (CER)
• Medication Therapy Management (MTM) changes, growth and trends in the industry
• Transitions of care
• Accountable Care Organizations (ACOs)
• Medicare plan "Star Rating" system update
• Federal and state legislative updates
• Essential benefits and exchanges
• Advancing medication adherence and the science of pharmacy care
• Drug shortages and implications for managed care pharmacy
• Scanning the pharmaceutical pipeline
• Emerging issues and trends in managed care pharmacy
• Specialty pharmacy management
• Oncology pathway development and implications for managed care pharmacy
• The state of research in managed care pharmacy

In addition, AMCP's six Satellite Symposia offers opportunities for attendees to obtain education on key issues. Each symposium will offer continuing education credits for pharmacists, physicians and nurses. Still another venue for gaining relevant knowledge are AMCP's multifaceted Continuing Professional Education Partner Programs (CPEPPs), which provided an interactive "practicum" experience for pharmacists, physicians and nurses to participate in hands-on learning while rotating through different mini-sessions. This year's CPEPPs will provide continuing education credits for pharmacists, physicians and nurses.  They are:

• The Evolving Role of Managed Care and Oncology Pharmacy Management – Practical Recommendations for a Changing Environment.
• Analyzing and Applying the Evidence to Improve Cost/Benefit and Risk/Benefit Outcomes in Multiple Sclerosis.

AMCP's Expo Hall, open on Thursday, April 19 and Friday, April 20, will be the site of more than 100 companies and organizations displaying their latest innovations and services. The Expo Hall also will be the site of the Product Theaters, which provide an opportunity for attendees to hear late-breaking information on specific products, therapeutic areas and/or disease states in the presentations provided by company-designated presenters. Participants will gain immediate knowledge that can be incorporated into every day practice. 

In addition, the Expo Hall also will be feature a display of professional, student, resident and fellow Poster Presentations on Friday, April 20. The presentations provide authors the opportunity to present their research, while giving interested attendees the chance to query authors and review their findings. 

The Annual Meeting & Expo also provides a number of events that are designed to provoke and inspire. Most notably are the Thursday and Friday General Sessions.

Two of America's most highly respected political journalists, Stephen Hayes and Juan Williams, will headline the Thursday General Session. These two well-known media figures will provide you with an inside look at the 2012 presidential race and offer their unique perspectives on the current political climate in Washington and across the country from both sides of the political aisle.

Conservative-leaning Hayes is a regular member of the "Fox News All Stars" on Special Report with Bret Baier, frequent panelist on Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace. Before joining Fox, Hayes was part of CNN's "Best Political Team on Television," which won a Peabody Award for its coverage of the 2008 elections.

Liberal-leaning Williams is considered one of America's leading political writers and thinkers. Most recently a senior correspondent for NPR, he is currently a political analyst for Fox Television, and a regular panelist for Fox News Sunday. In addition to prize-winning columns and editorial writing for The Washington Post, he has also authored seven books.

Frank Luntz, one of the most quoted public opinion pollster working in America today, will present the keynote address at the Friday general session. Described as "the Nostradamus of pollsters," Luntz has become the go-to consultant when Fortune 100 companies and their CEOs need communication and language guidance. His influential political surveys are closely scrutinized by top politicians and his political analysis is widely quoted in national broadcast and print media.

For more information, visit www.amcpmeetings.org.

SOURCE Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy