CASP Module 23: Introduction to Specialty Pharmacy within Health Systems
CASP Certification Program

Module 23: Specialty Pharmacy within Health Systems

From Siloed Service to Integrated Powerhouse: The Health-System Specialty Pharmacy (HSSP)

The New Center of Specialty Care

For your entire career, specialty pharmacy has likely been an external entity—a large, PBM-owned mail-order giant that you send prescriptions to. You’ve experienced the communication black holes, the fragmented care, and the constant battle to coordinate with a pharmacy team that has no connection to your patient’s prescriber or their medical record.

This module explores one of the most significant and fastest-growing shifts in the specialty landscape: the rise of the Health-System Specialty Pharmacy (HSSP).

Imagine this: the specialty pharmacy isn’t an external vendor; it’s part of the hospital. It’s owned by the same Integrated Delivery Network (IDN) that employs the patient’s oncologist, rheumatologist, or transplant surgeon. The specialty pharmacists and technicians are colleagues with the inpatient team, the clinic nurses, and the infusion center staff. They all share the same Electronic Medical Record (EMR), the same leadership, and the same strategic goals.

This single shift from an external, siloed model to an internal, integrated one changes everything. It unlocks unprecedented opportunities for continuity of care, financial stewardship (especially via the 340B program), and direct clinical collaboration. This module is your masterclass in navigating this integrated ecosystem. You will learn how HSSPs are built, how they leverage their unique position to optimize patient outcomes, and how they demonstrate their value to hospital leadership.

Your Roadmap to the Integrated Ecosystem

This module provides the framework for mastering the unique operational, financial, and clinical components of a Health-System Specialty Pharmacy.

Integration with Hospitals, IDNs, and Clinics

A deep dive into the operational, clinical, and data integration of an HSSP. We’ll explore how the pharmacy plugs into the EMR, shares data with providers, and becomes a seamless part of the Integrated Delivery Network’s (IDN) care continuum.

340B Program Optimization and Compliance

A masterclass on the 340B drug pricing program—often the financial engine of an HSSP. We’ll explore how HSSPs leverage 340B to generate critical savings for the institution, the complexities of “child site” eligibility, and the rigorous compliance required to avoid duplicate discounts and pass audits.

Infusion Center Collaboration & Continuity of Care

Exploring the vital partnership between the HSSP and the hospital’s ambulatory infusion centers. We’ll analyze “white-bagging” vs. “brown-bagging,” managing buy-and-bill vs. pharmacy benefit medications, and ensuring seamless care transitions for patients receiving IV specialty drugs.

Inpatient–Outpatient Transition Coordination

A critical analysis of the “meds-to-beds” model as applied to high-cost specialty drugs. We’ll focus on coordinating complex discharge prescriptions, securing financial clearance before the patient leaves the hospital, and preventing readmissions by guaranteeing outpatient medication access.

Performance Dashboards for Health-System Leadership

Learning to speak the language of the C-Suite. We’ll build and analyze the key performance indicators (KPIs) for an HSSP—including revenue capture, patient retention, turnaround time, patient satisfaction, and clinical outcomes—to demonstrate unambiguous value to hospital leadership.