We are always on the lookout for updates on health systems that own or operate their own specialty pharmacies as well as third-party organizations that have formed networks to proliferate specialty pharmacy in the hospital world. Today’s article offers an update on one of these networks, Acentrus Specialty.
We started to cover Acentrus in 2017. Since then they have grown significantly. According to them, Acentrus Specialty represents the “largest integrated care network for health system specialty pharmacy in the United States”. The network now tips in with 115 health systems consists (mainly academic medical centers and integrated delivery networks) serving more than 4.6 million inpatient admissions annually, treated by nearly 200,000 physicians. That translates into a mountain of specialty prescriptions.
Acentrus’ service menu includes channel partner access (e.g., contract pharmacies or backup partners, access to limited distribution drugs via their connections with manufacturers, consulting services, Boards of Pharmacy licensing, payer contracts, and accreditation in partnership with Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA) launched in mid-2018.
The article underscores that these hospitals are strategically gaining access to limited distribution therapies. In fact, we first tripped access Acentrus in late 2017 when they announced that they had gained access to five big LD therapies, Ibrance, Bosulif, Sutent, Inlyta and Xalkori.
Acentrus Specialty Contracts with Chiasma to Bring Mycapssa (octreotide) to Health Systems and Hospitals in the Acentrus Network
May 13, 2021 — IRVING, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Acentrus Specialty, a national network of health systems and hospitals committed to providing specialty pharmacy care for their patients, has finalized an agreement with Chiasma, Inc. to provide qualified Acentrus clients access to Mycapssa (octreotide), delayed-release oral capsules for long-term maintenance treatment in acromegaly patients who have responded to and tolerated treatment with octreotide or lanreotide.
“We are pleased to provide our network hospitals and their patients access to the first and only FDA-approved oral somatostatin analog (SSA) treatment for acromegaly,” said Acentrus Specialty Vice President George Zula. “Limited distribution drugs like Mycapssa are highly sought after and Acentrus works with drug companies to open the door to these medications for specialty pharmacies operated by our network hospitals. This means that patients may begin treatment sooner and with the significant advantage of integrated care from pharmacy professionals they know and trust.”
“Chiasma is very pleased to enter into this agreement with Acentrus to significantly expand the access and distribution of Mycapssa to qualified hospital specialty pharmacies that want to offer our oral treatment for appropriate acromegaly patients within their institutions and are committed to providing dedicated patient services consistent with those offered through our own Chiasma Access and Patient Support program,” said Chiasma Vice President Market Access Dan Thornton. “We have entered into this partnership agreement with Acentrus to continue to help address the significant unmet needs of patients living with acromegaly by expanding patient access to oral Mycapssa therapy.”
Participation in Acentrus is open to hospital organizations of all sizes, types and affiliations. Clients, which range from academic medical centers to community-based hospitals, share one goal: to provide their patients with high-quality care in a setting where clinical and pharmacy services are integrated.
There is no cost for an organization to join the Acentrus network, which provides 115 health systems and hospitals with the following benefits:
Access to difficult-to-obtain specialty medications
Data management
Collaboration with health system peers dedicated to sharing best practices
Portfolio of other services to help hospital-based specialty pharmacies meet the needs of their patients, including backup and contract pharmacy as well as expertise in licensing and accreditation
About Acentrus Specialty
Acentrus Specialty is the integrated care network and health system solution for specialty pharmacy, addressing the largest and fastest growing area of health care expenditures by empowering members to deliver exceptional, cost-effective, locally integrated care. This is accomplished through a portfolio of services and specialty pharmacy products, as well as member sharing of clinical and operational best practices. The network of health systems consists mainly of academic medical centers and integrated delivery networks, serving more than 4.6 million inpatient admissions annually, treated by nearly 200,000 physicians. Follow Acentrus on LinkedIn or on the web at acentrusrx.com.
