Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) Installs 2012-2013 Board of Directors

ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) has installed its 2012-2013 Board of Directors, which includes four newly elected members: President-Elect Kim A. Caldwell and Directors David Calabrese, Kathleen Kaa and Mitzi Wasik.

Continuing members on the new Board of Directors are: President Doug Burgoyne, Past-President David Clark, Treasurer Robert Gregory, and Directors Steve Avey and Eric Cannon. All of the officers were sworn in on Friday, April 20 at AMCP's 24th Annual Meeting & Expo in San Francisco.

AMCP Chief Executive Officer Edith A. Rosato, RPh, IOM, welcomed the new Board members.

"Congratulations go out to all of these outstanding individuals," said Rosato. "We are fortunate to have such a deep pool of talent to draw from each year to help move the Academy forward on its important business."

Members of the AMCP Board of Directors set internal policies for the benefit of AMCP membership, and establish external positions for managed care pharmacy's place in the broader health care arena. The following is information on the new Board members.

Kim A. Caldwell is Director, PBM Legislation and Public Policy, Humana Pharmacy Solutions, Humana, Inc. He has more than 37 years of experience in pharmacy, including as an independent pharmacy owner, and in long term care, health plans, pharmacy benefit management (PBM), and e-prescribing. His public service includes serving on the Texas Board of Pharmacy for more than 12 years, and working at the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services, where he was one of the key officials who built the Medicare Part D drug benefit.

In his platform statement, Caldwell said his career has been blessed with opportunities to assist the profession of managed care pharmacy. "I chose to lead the transformation of pharmacy rules at the state level, to lead positive change on the model rule language within the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, and to help lead the development and implementation of Medicare Part D," he said. "And today I stand ready to help AMCP grow in membership and to lead our association into the next phase of managed care pharmacy."

David Calabrese is Vice President, Clinical Services, SXC Health Solutions. He has more than 23 years of managed care pharmacy experience within managed health plans, an integrated health care system and the PBM industry. In his current role, he maintains oversight of SXC's Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee, Formulary Management and Utilization Review/Management functions.

In his platform statement, Calabrese noted that as health care reform unfolds, the time is right for AMCP and its membership to once again assume a leadership role. "Some of the most essential tenets of health care reform (e.g., enhanced coordination/integration, comparative effectiveness assessment, quality metrics, advanced technology, and transparency) are areas that we have all embraced for some time and where we have much to contribute."

Kathleen Kaa is Director of Field Reimbursement at Genentech, where she also has held positions in Value Based Healthcare and Managed Care Marketing. Previously, Kaa led AmerisourceBergen Specialty Group Informatics; was Senior Director, Private Payer Consulting at Lash Group; and was President of Managed Care Network. She also has served as CPO and National Director, Clinical and Program Management and Pharmacoeconomics at Aetna; as well as Director, National Program and Business Development, Disease and Pharmacy Management at Prudential Healthcare.

In her platform statement, Kaa noted the significant uncertainty our marketplace faces in the future. "Introduction of combined provider-institution models, [accountable care organizations], medical homes, insurance exchanges, community health partnerships and payment reform plans are all considerations as the Academy continues its history in influencing and advocating for sound decision-making and appropriate use of heath care resources," she said. "The Academy has established itself and our membership as experts in using managed care pharmacy principles to improve health care for all. Now, we need to proactively and effectively establish our strengths and contributions with new audiences."

Mitzi Wasik is Director, Pharmacy Medicare Programs, Coventry Health Care. In this role, she has primary responsibilities that include the STARS initiatives, formulary management and oversight of Medicare Programs. She has previous pharmacy experience in academia, clinical practice, retail and hospital pharmacy, as well as 10 years in the Army Reserves.

In her platform statement, Wasik noted that regardless of the Supreme Court's ruling on the health care reform law, managed care pharmacy must be prepared to fulfill an important role in patient care. "New models of health care and payment systems are evolving that will demand all of our skills and a willingness to develop new ones," she said. "We will need to think differently if we wish to ensure better outcomes in Transitions of Care, the Medical Home, MTM and newer strategies." She also notes that managed care pharmacy's expertise is critical in these new models to ensure proper utilization, cost effective treatment options and overall safe medication use.

About AMCP

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is a national professional association of pharmacists and other health care practitioners who serve society by the application of sound medication management principles and strategies to improve health care for all. The Academy's more than 6,000 members develop and provide a diversified range of clinical, educational and business management services and strategies on behalf of the more than 200 million Americans covered by a managed care pharmacy benefit. For more information, visit www.amcp.org. 

SOURCE Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy