Advocacy Stars To Shine at APEX

U.S. Congressman, 2 TX Legislators Among Conference Headliners

APEX 2023

June 15-17

J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa | San Antonio

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• Reserve Your Room -- HURRY! Limited Availability
• Alternative Hotels Near the J.W. Marriott
• Schedule of Events

U.S. Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of McAllen, Texas (right), leads a trio of advocacy stars who will appear at our annual conference on Saturday, June 17.

Gonzalez is a strong supporter of independent pharmacy and the first cosponsor of HR 1613, The Drug Price Transparency in Medicaid Act of 2023, filed in late March by Rep. Buddy Carter of Georgia. The bill requires pass-through pricing models and prohibits PBMs from using spread pricing under Medicaid. He has co-sponsored other pro-pharmacy reform bills as well.

Gonzalez will speak at approximately 11:45 on Saturday, June 17 immediately after the 2023 Advocacy Update CE session.

State Rep. Philip Cortez of San Antonio (left) will address members of APRxPAC during the PAC's annual meeting at the conference on Saturday, June 17. Cortez is co-author of HB 1105, which would authorize Texas pharmacies to administer vaccinations to children as young as three and to those younger than three under a physician's protocol.

As a member of the important House Insurance Committee through which most pharmacy bills pass, he is a reliable supporter of independents.

State Sen. Morgan LaMantia of South Padre Island (right) also is scheduled to speak at the PAC meeting on June 17. A member of the vital Health & Human Services Committee that hears most pharmacy bills on the Senate side, LaMantia is a strong advocate for independent pharmacy and maintains close relationships with some American Pharmacies leaders. She has frequently visited independent pharmacies in her district.

The PAC reception kicks off at 5 p.m. at the J.W. Marriott's Sunday House and is open to all APRxPAC contributors. Not a PAC contributor, but want to enjoy the festivities? No problem, just sign up as a PAC donor before you come or bring a completed contribution form with you to the reception. The first 10 people to join the PAC at the conference or increase their PAC contribution amount while at the conference will receive a free 30-oz Yeti Rambler! We'll also hold a drawing at the PAC reception for $500 in gift cards.

It's Not Just Another Conference Hotel....

It's the Incomparable, 5-Star J.W. Marriott Resort

■ Explore the J.W. Marriott

■ JW Marriott Water Park Map

■ Explore TPC San Antonio Golf

Everything is bigger in Texas, especially the sprawling J.W. Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa in Antonio, the largest J.W. Marriott property in the world!

A 20-minute drive north of the airport, this 1,002-room property is nestled in 600 acres of the rustic Cibolo Canyons at the edge of the Texas Hill Country, offering sweeping views of a nearby 750-acre nature preserve.

Surrounded by majestic oak-covered hills, you can relax and enjoy two pro-quality golf courses, recharge with a world-class spa treatment, splash the water park or just kick back and soak up the elegant Texas ranch ambiance.

We've got a special $269 conference rate for a single King or double-Queen room, which is currently listed at $509 on other booking sites. BUT HURRY! Availability is limited.

There's More in San Antonio

If you've got the time to go off-property, you'll find thrills galore at Six Flags Fiesta Texas and SeaWorld San Antonio. Both Natural Bridge Caverns and the upscale Shops at La Cantera are just minutes from the resort. Head downtown and you'll find plenty of fine dining choices, the Old World charm of the RiverWalk and that timeless monument to Texas independence, The Alamo.

Air & Ground Transportation

The Alamo City is served by San Antonio International Airport, which is located approximately 14 miles south of the J.W. Marriott Resort just east of U.S. Highway 281. Air service to and from San Antonio is provided by all major domestic airlines.

The hotel does not provide shuttle service to the airport. Taxi fare from the airport to the hotel is $45 – $50 (including tip), depending on the time of day. Standard Uber fare is $23; Lyft is $25. If you plan on visiting area attractions –– such as the downtown Riverwalk area (21 miles), Fiesta Texas (19 miles) or SeaWorld (23 miles) –– a rental car is strongly advised.

A NOTE ABOUT WEATHER: San Antonio in June generally is sunny to partly cloudy with highs in the low to mid 90s. Afternoon thunderstorms are possible. Use sunscreen and wear a hat if you spend any significant time outside.

One of the greatest values of our annual conference is the powerful array of vendors that we bring to one place for your benefit.

Our exhibitors are a critical element in the value proposition of our conference. They are major financial supporters of our annual event, and the products and services they offer can make a real difference in your bottom line, community visibility and success as a health-care practitioner.

Our exhibitors cover virtually every facet of pharmacy operations from wholesale drugs and OTC products to pharmacy software, diabetic supplies, CBD, returns, POC testing, home health products, vitamins and nutraceuticals to insurance, accounting and payment processing. We are indebted to the generosity of Liberty Software, our premier event sponsor. Liberty's powerful pharmacy management system is built for the clinical future of retail pharmacy and is backed by outstanding customer service.

We have 36 exhibitors registered at this point and we have verbal commitments from several more. We have a much larger vendor hall this year with 45 booths, and we're confident we'll fill it with almost a month left until APEX. We'll keep this list updated as we move forward. Here's the exhibitor lineup we have so far:

Opportunities to See Exhibitors

Some exhibitors will be playing in the golf tournament from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Thursday, June 15. All vendors will be accessible in the Exhibit Hall from 6-10 p.m. on Friday, June 16. And Medella Springs Healthcare, manufacturer of high-quality natural products that improve the way people feel and perform, will offer a 30-minute education session (7:15 - 7:45 a.m.) during breakfast on Saturday morning. PPSC will deliver a 30-minute session during the same time slot on Friday morning.

7.75 Hrs. of CE You Can't Afford to Miss

You've Got Challenges -- We've got Sessions Offering Vital Guidance

American Pharmacies always strives to bring you continuing education at AEX that can drive a real difference in the success of your pharmacy and your profession. This year's CE lineup addresses some especially critical issues.

DSCA Compliance

The Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) was enacted in 2013 to prevent harmful drugs from entering the supply chain, detect them and enable rapid response when such drugs are found. The DSCA includes requirements that pharmacies must follow to protect patients from receiving harmful drugs, such as counterfeit or other illegitimate drugs. These provisions take effect Nov. 23, 2023 and affect all retail pharmacies.

Join Josh Potter of PRS Pharmacy Services at our Friday, June 16, session that will outline your pharmacy's responsibilities under the DSCSA, how to handle adverse events covered by the act and steps you can take to ensure compliance with its provisions.

DIR Fees

CMS issued a final rule that eliminates PBMs' retroactive application of DIR fees in Medicare Part D, requiring that they be reflected in the negotiated price the patient pays starting in January 2024. This creates greater transparency for patients and pharmacies, but does nothing to curb PBMs' ability to assess or increase DIR Fees at the point of sale. The possible impacts on dispensing revenue are both far-reaching and difficult to predict.

Scotty Sykes, CPA, of Sykes and Company will deliver a vital session on Friday, June 16, that covers the changes taking place in 2024, how to reduce DIR assessments against your pharmacy and how to use sound financial and accounting practices to prepare for the uncertainty of a new DIR structure that kicks in at the same time PBMs start recouping fourth-quarter DIR assessments from the previous year.

2023 Advocacy Update

As the most politically engaged and successful independent pharmacy purchasing group, American Pharmacies is deeply engaged in multiple states to drive legislation that protects independents and their patients from PBM abuses. Join VP of Government Affairs Michael Wright on Saturday morning, June 17, for a vital update on important advocacy issues and a how APRx is engaged in multiple states and Washington, D.C., to protect your interests. This session will also feature a panel discussion with our state and federal lobbyists, and recognition of member owners who are vital contributors to our advocacy efforts.

Driving Front-End Success With HME

If you have never heard NOVA founder and CEO Sue Chen speak, you are in for a treat. Sue is a bundle of energy who is passionate about the power of HME products to improve lives while driving an important front-end revenue stream for independent pharmacies. Join her on Thursday, June 15, for an illuminating hour on the rapidly growing HME market, opportunities for pharmacies and how HME can power your pharmacy's front end. You may be worn out at the end of this 60-minute session, but we guarantee that Sue won't be!

Collaborative Practice Agreements

Properly drawn-up and executed CPAs make it possible for you pharmacy to dispense certain drugs after a point of care test, adjust patient medication levels and perform other advanced clinical tasks. Nicolette Mathey of Atrium 24 will cover the essentials of setting up an effective CPA for your pharmacy during her session on Thursday, June 15.

2023 Legal Update

Federal court decisions continue to reshape the legal and legislative landscape for PBM reforms. New opportunities have arisen to curb PBM abuses, but PBMs are shifting legislative strategies to avoid -- or to even try to repeal -- reforms to curb their power and abuses. On Friday, June 16, General Counsel Miguel Rodriguez will talk about how Rutledge v. PCMA, PCMA v. Wehbi and other decisions continue to impact PBM regulation.

You can check out the entire schedule of events here.

All Hands on Deck

for Capt. Mike Abrashoff!

Mike Abrashoff is at the heart of remarkable story of organizational transformation.  

At 36, he was selected as Commander of USS Benfold and was the most junior commanding officer in the Pacific fleet.  The challenges of this underachieving destroyer were staggering, with low morale and the highest turnover in the Navy. Few thought the ship could improve. A year later it was ranked #1 in performance with the same crew. How did he do it? By replacing command and control leadership with commitment and cohesion. 

The lesson was clear: Leadership matters and culture is everything. From achieving amazing cost savings to winning the highest gunnery score in the Pacific Fleet, Captain Abrashoff's extraordinary campaign sent shock waves through the Navy. His powerful message can help you change the course of your ship, no matter where your business challenges lie.

The NY Times best-selling author has released four books. His first, "It's Your Ship," has sold more than 1.3 million copies. In it, he details the system of management techniques in which he replaces command and control with commitment and cohesion, thus engaging the hearts, minds, and loyalties of workers. The Leadership Roadmap is a practice that empowers every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence.

Hear Capt. Mike Abrashoff on Friday afternoon during the APEX Opening General Session.

This year, we're celebrating American Pharmacies' 20th anniversary and all the memories and accomplishments that entails. We'll honor our past and some key figures who have given so much to APRx and independent pharmacy in general.

Our 2022 Tournament kicks off early on June 15 with a fun foursome scramble at TPC San Antonio. Tee-offs start at 8 a.m. and there will be $600 in prizes.

Golf fees are $120, far less than the daily TPC rates. You can pay for golf when you register for the conference. Golf tournament participation is limited to ticketed attendees only.