Call for Applications for MSHP Executive Vice President

The Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists is currently seeking to fill the position of MSHP Executive Vice President (EVP). The EVP must be a member of the Michigan Pharmacists Association, MSHP and the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists with a health-system background and practice knowledge who is licensed to practice pharmacy in Michigan and in good standing.

The responsibilities of the EVP are outlined in the application, which is downloadable from this posting. Compensation for serving as the MSHP EVP includes complimentary registration and travel expenses to ASHP’s Summer Meeting and Midyear Clinical Meeting each year, overnight accommodations prior to the MSHP Annual Meeting and a monthly stipend. The EVP is considered an independent contractor, contracted by the MSHP Board of Directors for a three-year period.

Individuals interested in being considered for the EVP position should complete an application and submit their resume or curriculum vitae to MSHP President Stacy Brousseau via email with the subject line “MSHP EVP.” Submissions must be received no later than Friday, March 28, 2025. Applicants will be evaluated and the most qualified individuals will be scheduled for an interview no later than Friday, April 25, 2025.

Questions may be directed to MSHP President Stacy Brousseau (brousses@bronsonhg.org) or current MSHP EVP Ed Szandzik (eszandz2@gmail.com).

Don't Forget to Register for ACE 2025!

Remember to register for the 2025 Annual Convention & Exposition! ACE is the premier pharmacy continuing education event in Michigan, taking place April 11-13, 2025, at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. To view the full table of convention pricing, click here.

We encourage our members to make the 2025 ACE their "stay-cation" – golf, water activities and wineries are just a few things you can do in beautiful Traverse City. After you register for ACE 2025, be sure to book your room at the Grand Traverse Resort. Click the booking link below or call 231-534-6001 to speak with a reservations agent. Attendees will receive the discounted rate if they mention the Michigan Pharmacists Association. The Grand Traverse Resort is nearing capacity for the convention, so if you are in need of off-site rooming options visit traversecity.com/hotels.

MSHP Social Sept. 18 at High Caliber

Join the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists (MSHP) Organizational Affairs Committee for food, drinks and fun at High Caliber Karting & Entertainment Sept. 18 inside the Meridian Mall in Okemos. Pharmacists, technicians and their families are welcome to attend.



If you are interested in attending, please click the register button above and RSVP no later than Sept. 11, 2025. If members intend to bring their spouse, children or other guests, please make sure to add them as attendees when registering for your ticket.

- BOARD UPDATE -

Awareness Can Drive Empowerment

By Kyle J. Schmidt, Pharm.D., MBA, BCCCP; Ferris State University College

of Pharmacy; MSHP immediate-past president

MSHP President Stacy Brousseau has shared her vision for the organization’s theme this year, one that I am deeply excited to see. The ideal culmination of our efforts in a variety of areas is action – tangible results that make care better. We’ve achieved many great things that are tangible, because of our actions. We’ve also missed out on many opportunities to enact changes that we know are needed. As Stacy said, “we’re often not tapping into all our potential.” This is further reflected in her statement on being empowered to “practice at the top of our abilities.” 

A wise mentor of mine often says we shouldn’t target to practice at the top of our license, but rather the top of our education (or abilities). Focusing on what we can do with our license puts a ceiling on our possibilities, often framed by the legislative limits imposed on our licenses. Shifting that focus to education and abilities blows the roof off and ensures our focus is on improving care, avoiding the “stuck in a box” feeling.

There’s a great story related to empowerment that I read about in Simon Sinek’s “Leaders Eat Last.” In a section of the book, Sinek describes a story of a career submariner that was, by all accounts, a very high-achiever, eventually being promoted to the rank of captain in the Navy and gaining his own command over a fast-attack submarine. After a year of intense preparation, including knowing every detail regarding the crew and submarine, he was re-assigned, before ever setting foot on the submarine, to a newer submarine with an underperforming crew. 

He took control of the vessel and the large crew and began several different training exercises. During these exercises, he made an order for a specific speed, which was conveyed and acknowledged by his crew. Yet, the speed was not changed. When he questioned the navigator, the navigator simply replied that speed did not exist on the submarine they were driving. The navigator issued the order simply because he was told so, knowing fully that the speed was not possible on that vessel. The crew clearly had a more intricate knowledge of the vessel but were trained to follow orders of superiors, no matter what. In essence, the crew was not empowered to make the right decision to achieve the vision of their leader.¹

A critical lesson for us to consider from this story is to empower those with the best knowledge pertinent to the vision to carry out the steps necessary to achieve it. Sometimes that may be the leaders of specific teams, but many other times it won’t be. It’s certainly a tough pill to swallow (pun intended) but having awareness of your own abilities and knowledge is a critical component to ensure you can make the right call to step aside and empower the most appropriate people to meet the goals at hand.

We all care deeply about the patients we serve and the profession we’re in. By empowering the right people with the right information and experience, who might not be the most decorated or accomplished, we can achieve the actions and tangible progress we all hope to see. By focusing on practicing at the top of our abilities, rather than our license, we keep our mind open to the possibilities that could be, escaping the ever-dreaded proverbial box. 

References

1. Sinek, S. (2012). Leaders Eat Last. New York, NY: Penguin.

- EDUCATIONAL AFFAIRS -

ACE 2025 in Traverse City

By Calvin J. Ice, Pharm.D., BCPS, BCCCP

The 2025 Michigan Pharmacists Association Annual Convention & Exposition (ACE) will be held in person from Friday, April 11, to Sunday, April 13, in Traverse City at the Grand Traverse Resort and Spa. Live continuing education credit will be offered for a total of up to 16 hours, including pain management and ethics and jurisprudence.

This year, a keynote presentation by Doug Hoey, the CEO of the National Community Pharmacists Association will take place April 11. A second keynote presentation by trauma-informed care subject matter expert Katie Kurtz takes place April 12, entitled “Trauma-Informed Care: Transformative Strategies for Pharmacy Professionals.”

ACE will have a third “unofficial” keynote as Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding CEO Scott Brunner will present “Shortage Drug Compounding and Marketing Best Practices” April 12, which was made possible by a grant from the Pharmacy Compounding Foundation.

In addition to educational programming, there will be a President’s Reception Saturday evening that will include award presentations. ACE will conclude with the MPA House of Delegates April 13. MPA will present awards at the general sessions on Friday and Saturday as well, so be sure to attend!

Learn more and register today by visiting the registration portal here.

- TRANSITIONS OF CARE -

Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P): 

Impact on Patient Access and Pharmacy Operations

By Lindsey Clark, Pharm.D., MBA, DPLA; pharmacy assistant director, Community Pharmacy Services and Transitions of Care, Michigan Medicine 

Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan (M3P) offered all Medicare Part D enrollees the opportunity to pay their out-of-pocket prescription drug costs over the course of a plan year, via capped monthly payments. Once enrolled in the M3P, patients no longer make their co-payments at the pharmacy point of sale. Instead, the Part D sponsor will pay the pharmacy in full for the co-payment and send a monthly bill to the patient. The M3P stemmed from the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, with the purpose of providing financial relief and improving medication access for Medicare patients. 

The M3P is most likely to benefit patients with higher cost sharing obligations, especially patients with higher cost sharing early in the plan year. It is important to note that the M3P does not lower the out-of-pocket costs to the patient, but rather, allows for the patient to pay their out-of-pocket costs over the course of the plan year via monthly billing. Once enrolled in the M3P, patients will pay their monthly bill in a similar manner to how they would pay any other monthly bill. 

The M3P therefore improves medication access by eliminating any barriers the patient may have previously faced in making their co-payments at the time of pharmacy prescription pick up. However, Medicare Part D enrollees who meet eligibility criteria for the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), also known as Extra Help, will benefit more from the LIS program than M3P. The LIS program reduces out-of-pocket costs for patients based on established income and resource limits. Patients in the LIS program may also choose to enroll in the M3P. 

Pharmacies play a critical role in the implementation of M3P. However, pharmacies face a number of operational challenges in doing so. Pharmacies are required to provide a Likely to Benefit (LTB) Notice to all Medicare Part D enrollees with a co-pay of $600 or more. However, pharmacy software systems may be unable to automatically identify patients who meet these criteria, requiring pharmacy team members to manually assess for qualifying patients. As with any manual process, qualifying patients could be missed. 

Furthermore, once patients are enrolled in M3P, the claim adjudication and coordination of benefits process can become complex. It is often difficult to identify the BIN and PCN for M3P billing, as these may vary by plan and may not be provided in the rejection claim. Pharmacy team members must be sure to bill the M3P last, after all other coverage plans have been billed. It is only the final patient responsibility that may be billed to the M3P. 

Pharmacies will be best positioned for successful implementation of the M3P by establishing a standard work procedure, educating and training team members on the procedure and employing automated processes within the pharmacy software system to ensure successful identification of patients who are likely to benefit from the program. Furthermore, communication with the patient regarding the availability of the M3P is critical. As with any new program, it is likely that many Medicare Part D enrollees are unaware of the program, or do not understand how it could potentially benefit them. Pharmacies are uniquely positioned to improve medication access by ensuring their qualifying patients are aware of this helpful payment option. In addition to providing the LTB notice to their patients, pharmacy teams must strive to engage in thoughtful discussion with their patients regarding this convenient payment option. 

References: 

1. Fact Sheet: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Final Part One Guidance. Available at: Fact Sheet: Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Final Part One Guidance 
2. Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part 1 Guidance. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-part-1-guidance.pdf 
3. Medicare Prescription Payment Plan Part 2 Guidance. Available at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/medicare-prescription-payment-plan-final-part-two-guidance.pdf 
4. Community Pharmacy Services Procedure for Billing of the Medicare Prescription Payment Plan. Michigan Medicine, February 2025.

- RESIDENT'S CORNER -

American College of Gastroenterology 2024 Guideline Updates on Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori Infection 

Benjamin Muron, Pharm.D.; Lindsey Dahlquist Pharm.D.; Emily Berens, Pharm.D.; Hollyann Holmquist, Pharm.D., PGY-1 Resident, Trinity Health Grand Rapids

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) remains one of the most common chronic bacterial infections worldwide with a global prevalence greater than 40% and is the leading cause of infection-associated cancer globally.¹ Clinical outcomes associated with H. pylori include dyspepsia, peptic ulcer disease and gastric adenocarcinoma. With the severe nature of outcome progression in untreated H. pylori infection, eradication is paramount. The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) last issued guidelines for managing H. pylori infections in 2017. However, rising resistance rates of clarithromycin and levofloxacin and the publication of randomized control trials post-2017 that demonstrated the efficacy of rifabutin-based triple therapy and vonoprazan-amoxicillin dual therapy prompted a guideline update from the ACG. 

As outlined in the new guidelines, resistance rates in the United States are currently estimated between 20-30% for clarithromycin and approaching an estimated 40% for levofloxacin.^2,3 This equates to predicted eradication success rates of 70% or less when used empirically in triple regimens. Despite these resistance rates, PPI-clarithromycin triple therapy remains the most prescribed H. pylori treatment in the United States. The updated guidelines strongly recommend against the use of proton pump inhibitor (PPI)-clarithromycin-amoxicillin triple therapy unless antibiotic sensitivity has been performed and proven susceptible to clarithromycin. Recommended first line therapy for treatment naive patients, per the updated ACG guidelines, is optimized bismuth-based quadruple therapy (BQT) for 14 days. Optimized BQT consists of a bismuth salt (such as, bismuth subcitrate or subsalicylate), a nitroimidazole (metronidazole or less commonly used tinidazole), a tetracycline and a PPI.  

The updated guidelines also discuss alternative treatment regimens consisting of rifabutin triple therapy, potassium-competitive acid blocker (PCAB) dual therapy or PCAB triple therapy. Rifabutin triple therapy is an FDA-approved regimen consisting of a fixed-dose combination of omeprazole, rifabutin, and amoxicillin, with total daily doses of 120 mg, 150 mg and 3 g, respectively. In the two trials that led to FDA approval, the rifabutin dose used was 50 mg every eight hours.^4,5 This dosing strategy is thought to maintain the intragastric rifabutin concentration above its MIC₉₀ for H. pylori longer than regimens using 150 mg given once or twice daily, or 300 mg given once daily. Neither trial compared the rifabutin triple regimen to PPI-clarithromycin triple therapy or BQT, highlighting the need for randomized controlled trials regarding this practice to further support current guideline recommendations.  

Currently, vonoprazan is the only PCAB therapy that has been studied in the U.S. as a component of H. pylori treatment. A 2022 phase 3 study directly compared PCAB-amoxicillin dual therapy to PPI-clarithromycin triple therapy and found that while the PCAB-amoxicillin dual regimen was noninferior to the PPI-clarithromycin triple regimen (eradication rates by modified ITT analysis were 79% in each arm), vonoprazan-based regimens are superior in patients with H. pylori clarithromycin-resistant strains.⁶ 

Overall, the main takeaway of the ACG guideline update is the definitive recommendation against the use of PPI-clarithromycin triple therapy given the rising resistance rates for both clarithromycin and levofloxacin, with the emphasis that optimized BQT is the preferred regimen in treatment naive patients.  

References

1. Pennelli G, Grillo F, Galuppini F, et al. Gastritis: update on etiological features and histological practical approach. Pathologica. 2020112(3):153-165. 
2. Chey WD, Howden CW, et al. ACG Clinical guideline: treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Am J Gastroenterol. 2024;119(9):1730-1753.
3. Ho JJC, Navarro M, Sawyer K, et al. Helicobacter pylori antibiotic resistance in the United States between 2011 and 2021: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Gastroenterol. 2022;117(8):1221-1230.
4. Kalfus IN, Graham DY, Riff DS, Panas RM. Rifabutin-containing triple therapy (rhb-105) for eradication of Helicobacter pylori: randomized ERADICATE Hp Trial. Antibiotics (Basel). 2020;9(10):685.
5. Howden CW, Shah S, Pendse SN, et al. Physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modelling to predict intragastric rifabutin concentrations in the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2023;58(2):159-167.
6. Chey WD, Mégraud F, Laine L, et al. Vonoprazan triple and dual therapy for Helicobacter pylori infection in the United States and Europe: randomized clinical trial. Gastroenterology. 2022;163(3):608-619.

- REGIONAL UPDATES -

Special Update from the Western Michigan Society

of Health-System Pharmacists (WMSHP)

By Ashley Blanchette, Pharm.D., Corewell Health Grand Rapids;

WMSHP president-elect

The Resident-at-Large is a crucial member of the Western Michigan Society of Health System Pharmacists’ executive board. Over the past few years, we have re-designed this role with the resident’s professional development and enjoyment in mind, and we are excited to share this work with all of you! 

First, let’s talk about the journey of settling into a professional organization for someone who might be new to the scene and has just one year to make their mark. It’s tough to do! To help light the way, WMSHP has crafted a dynamic approach that combines thoughtful strategies, intentional actions and crystal-clear communication. The duties listed here are derived from the Resident-at-Large Member Guide and Annual Report, authored by the illustrious Tara McAlpine, Pharm.D. This guide is meant to be reviewed with the resident at the start of their term and updated throughout the year. Let’s dive in!

Community and Membership Outreach Committee

WMSHP’s Resident-at-Large board member plays a pivotal role on the Community and Membership Outreach Committee. This committee is the lifeblood of community engagement and expanding membership. Past residents have brought WMSHP members into the community by way of volunteering at food banks, local health clinics and more! 

Monthly Meetings

These monthly gatherings are the secret sauce that keeps the organization fresh and dynamic. The resident’s unique mission is to snap dazzling photos during these events which are used on our website and in MPA publications. This task encourages the Resident-at-Large to mingle with our members, perfect for networking!

May Spring Seminar

For over 50 years, Western Michigan “pharmily” know that when May flowers bloom, it’s time for the WMSHP Spring Seminar! During a day jam-packed with CE, the Resident-at-Large engages attendees in the glamorous raffle/bingo activity. Organizing and managing this fun fest is perfect for sharpening those coordination and communication skills. 

Fall Mock Residency Interviews

Autumn leaves and mock interviews! The Resident-at-Large is instrumental in advertising, setting up and conducting these crucial preparation sessions. This is a golden ticket to mastering event planning and honing those interview skills. 

Wild Card Project

The Resident-at-Large partners with a board member to plan and implement a social, community-based, or professional development event during their term. Alternatively, the resident can flex those creative muscles and craft a resolution for the MPA House of Delegates. This is their stage to showcase leadership and organization prowess. Lights, camera, action!

Monthly Meeting Coordination

The Resident-at-Large has the opportunity to steer the ship with monthly meeting coordination finding the CE presenter. Harnessing the power of their professional network, the Resident-at-Large helps with the CE registration process. Leadership and time management skills, ahoy!

Resident-at-Large Annual Report

To top it all off, compile, summarize and dazzle with the Resident-at-Large Annual Report. At the end of the year, the Resident-at-Large recounts their contributions at the June Summer Planning Meeting. WMSHP intends to save these reports over the years to serve as springboards for future residents. Who knows, maybe we will break into the time-capsule business too! I digress. This task combines reflective thinking, analytical acumen and stellar communication in one tidy, 12-point font, 1-inch margin package. 

And that’s that! By the end of their time, our Resident-at-Large member experiences a fulfilling year full of “funtivities” and professional development. Some like it so much that they decide to stay on as full e-board members after graduation! If you ever have any residents in western Michigan looking for the opportunity to hang out with some cool pharmacists, send them our way!

Northern Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists Regional Society Update

By Miranda Maitland, Pharm.D., BCPS, FMPA; clinical coordinator,

MyMichigan Medical Center Sault; NMSHP president

The Northern Michigan Society of Health Systems Pharmacists (NMSHP) will be gathering for a virtual and in-person meeting April 18 in partnership with Munson Medical Center to host PharmaCE by the Bay. The meeting will have two hours of live continuing education available to attendees. We are working diligently to determine topics and presenters.

NMSHP is also excited to have the Michigan Pharmacists Association Annual Convention & Exposition in Traverse City. NMSHP is planning on having representation at ACE and the House of Delegates. We look forward to connecting with colleagues in the new space.

For more information on upcoming meetings, please contact NMSHP President Miranda Maitland at mirandapmaitland@gmail.com.

OFFICERS

PRESIDENT | Stacy Brousseau | 269-341-7407 | Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo

PRESIDENT-ELECT | Nada Farhat | nmhammou@med.umich.edu | Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor

IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT | Kyle Schmidt | 616-685-6675 | Mercy Health St. Mary's, Grand Rapids

TREASURER | Michelle Dehoorne | 313-343-6381 | Ascension, Detroit

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT | Edward Szandzik | 313-587-6279 | Detroit

DIRECTORS

Tara McAlpine | tara.mcalpine@trinity-health.org | Trinity Health Michigan

Ben Pontefract | bpontefract@gmail.com | Ferris State University, Big Rapids

Julie Schmidt | 269-341-7999 | Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo

Amber Lanae Martirosov | 313-916-3494 | Wayne State University, Detroit

REGIONAL SOCIETY REPRESENTATIVES 

CENTRAL | Tim Ekola | 734-845-3418 | VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System

NORTHERN | Miranda Maitland | mirandapmaitland@gmail.com | My Michigan Medical Center, Sault Ste. Marie

SOUTHEASTERN | Lama Hsaiky | lama.hsaiky@corewellhealth.org | Corewell Health, Dearborn

WESTERN | Jessica Prociv | jessie_olds28@yahoo.com | Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo

MANAGING EDITOR | Ryan Weiss | (517) 377-0232 | Michigan Pharmacists Association, Lansing

The MSHP Monitor is a publication of the Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists, published as a service to its members.

Michigan Society of Health-System Pharmacists - An Affiliated Chapter of the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists and a Practice Section of the Michigan Pharmacists Association