Keynotes

OPENING GENERAL SESSION: Dr. Drew "On Call" with ASCP


Friday, October 27, 2021 8:30 AM – 9:45 AM EST

Speaker: Dr. Drew

    Learning Objectives:
  • Recognize the current factors influencing addiction and mental health and how those factors play a role in caring for older adults
  • Describe the role of the pharmacist in the management of opioids in older adults and medically complex individuals, inclusive of those in long term care settings
  • Describe the role of the pharmacist in the management of mental health in older adults and medically complex individuals, inclusive of those in long term care settings
  • Discuss the future of addiction management and mental health management in older adults and the medically complex

Step into a world of insight and understanding as the renowned Dr. Drew Pinsky takes the stage for an illuminating keynote presentation tailored exclusively for the compassionate pharmacists working with older adults. In this thought-provoking session, Dr. Drew will guide you through the intricate web of addiction and mental health challenges that are often challenging in the lives of our older adult population and the medically complex individuals we serve. He will unveil the hidden connections between neural pathways and the labyrinthine of the human psyche, bridging the gap between clinical expertise and human connection and leaving you inspired to make a tangible difference in the lives of the people you serve. He will empower you to be a front-line warrior in this battle for mental well-being, equipping you with communication tools to approach conversations sensitively, ensuring your insights delivered to prescribers, clinicians and to patients feel understood, valued, and supported.


SECOND GENERAL SESSION: BUSTING OPEN THE BLACK BOX: HOW WE LIBERATE PHARMACISTS FROM DYSFUNCTIONAL DRUG PRICES

Saturday, October 28 at 8:15-9:30 AM EST
Speaker: Antonio Ciaccia

Born and raised in the world of pharmacy, Antonio Ciaccia has been crawling around pharmacies his entire life.  After three years as a pharmacy technician and two years of pre-pharmacy curriculum, Antonio diverted course, graduating from The Ohio State University in 2007 with dual degrees in communications and political science before moving into the world of association management, eventually heading up government affairs for the Ohio Pharmacists Association, where his data analytics work helped lead state officials to audit and uncover $244 million in hidden prescription drug overcharges in the state Medicaid managed care program.  

After years of studying the pharmacy marketplace, Antonio became increasingly perplexed and concerned as he saw drug costs spiking while payouts to pharmacies were declining and more drugs were being excluded from plan coverage. Knowing something was being lost somewhere in the middle of an ever-growing transaction, Antonio has spent years working to crack the drug pricing code and pull the rug out from what he believes is one of the most dysfunctional marketplaces in the world.  

Today, he serves as the President of 3 Axis Advisors, a consulting firm that works with Medicaid Fraud Control Units, provider groups, research firms, technology companies, law firms, investment analysts, employers, government agencies, benefit consultants, and private foundations to diagnose and eliminate inefficiencies and inappropriate incentives in the prescription drug supply chain. Within that capacity, he also serves as an advisor and consultant to the American Pharmacy Cooperative, Inc. (APCI) and Mark Cuban Cost Plus Drug Company. He is also the CEO and co-founder of 46brooklyn Research, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the transparency and accessibility of drug pricing data for the American public. In 2021, he was named one of Business Insider’s 30 Leaders Under 40 Transforming Healthcare.