Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx) Publishes Definition of Specialty Pharmacy

FLORHAM PARK, N.J., Feb. 27, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --Armada Health Care, founding sponsor of The Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx), the largest national association representing the broad interests of the specialty pharmacy industry, today released a comprehensive Definition of Specialty Pharmacy. As the first key deliverable from the association, this definition now incorporates the newest developments in this rapidly growing industry. Additionally, the definition realigns the value proposition of specialty pharmacy from a 'product driven model' to a 'service model' with the patient as the key customer.

The first definition of specialty pharmacy was originally published in October, 2006 by the Coalition of Specialty Pharmacies, a grass-roots trade group comprised of dozens of specialty pharmacies from across the US. This group realized the need for a baseline to help payers and manufacturers better understand the role of specialty pharmacy in the marketplace. The Coalition met again in 2009 to update the definition as the specialty pharmacy industry had clearly evolved, this time more clearly defining the industry's value proposition. With the launch of Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx) in January, 2013, a committee from the specialty pharmacy community was sanctioned to refresh the definition that is being released today.

Available for Public CommentThe Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx) is posting the draft Definition of Specialty Pharmacy for public comment. Individuals from across the specialty pharmacy industry are invited to send their questions and suggested revisions to SPAARx through the month of March. The same committee that drafted this working version will take these comments and craft a final version that will be released by SPAARx during the Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit on May 7th, in Las Vegas.

"When the industry was emerging in the mid-1990s the core services provided by specialty pharmacies were very different from what the industry provides today" said Bill Sullivan, Interim Executive Director of the Specialty Pharmacy Association of America. Sullivan continued, "There are a host of new elements that, combined, put the 'special' in specialty pharmacy. A common definition of specialty pharmacy is just the first of several key deliverables that SPAARx will be issuing in the coming weeks."

The draft Definition of Specialty Pharmacy can be downloaded as an editable WORD document at: http://www.spaarx.org/documents/SPAARx Specialty Pharmacy - Definition.doc

Questions or brief suggestions can be sent directly to Bill Sullivan at bill.sullivan@spaarx.org

Individuals interested in joining SPAARx may do so by visiting the member signup web site at http://www.spaarx.org.

About Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx)SPAARx is the largest national Association solely dedicated to the interests of all individuals in the specialty pharmacy segment of healthcare. SPAARx is managed and governed by a board of directors comprised of executives from a diverse group of specialty pharmacies. This association is vendor-neutral and fully-aligned with the interests of all industry stakeholders. SPAARx is setting the standards, leading in advocacy and promoting the value of specialty pharmacy. The association's goal is to protect and promote common industry interests along with fostering professional growth within specialty pharmacy.

CONTACT: Bill Sullivan Interim Executive Director Specialty Pharmacy Association of America 100 Campus Drive Florham Park, NJ 07932 855-867-8034 bill.sullivan@spaarx.org

Follow this link:
Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx) Publishes Definition of Specialty Pharmacy