September 2, 2010—The Pharmacy Services and Support Center (PSSC) has begun accepting applications for its new initiative to connect 10 high-achieving 340B providers with others to help them become “leading practice sites.”
PSSC Vice President Lisa Scholz announced the 340B Integrity and Quality Leading Practice Achievement Peer to Peer (340B IQ P2P) Program during the 340B Coalition annual conference in July. Applications for the initiative, which is co-sponsored by the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), are now available on the support center’s Web site. They are due by Sept. 30.
As explained by Scholz this summer, any current 340B participant registered with the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) will be allowed apply to become a peer mentor. To qualify, they must demonstrate “outstanding processes to improve access, quality, operations and outcomes” and have an interest in helping other 340B organizations become leading practice sites.
Providers chosen as mentors will be expected to work with others of similar types and sizes for three to five hours per month. Those selected will receive various types of public recognition; complimentary APhA membership for three team members; stipends of up to $25,000 for ambulatory care or community pharmacy residency programs; complimentary registration at national conferences; and participation in monthly calls with PSSC and OPA leaders.
PSSC staff will begin site visits in October to narrow down the field of finalists. The support center says it will announce the winners during the 340B Coalition annual winter meeting in San Diego in February 2011. They will also give presentations a month later during the APhA annual meeting in Seattle.