inSPire2026: AI, Patient Access in Specialty Pharmacy Practices Today

Looking back at the National Association for Specialty Pharmacy (NASP) inSPire2026 conference, The American Journal of Managed Care^® (AJMC^®) connected with session and poster presenters: Tiara Green, president of Accessia Health; Chester B. Good, MD, MPH, senior medical director of the Center for Value-Based Pharmacy Initiatives at UPMC Health Plan; David Mitchell, PharmD, MBA, CSP, FCPhA, senior pharmacist manager and assistant clinical professor at UC Davis Health; and Namarta Kalia, PharmD, BCPS, BCGP, CSP, clinical pharmacist, Shields Health Solutions, to discuss their highlights from the conference.

This year’s theme focused on how artificial intelligence (AI) may improve patient access, strengthen pharmacy services, and give care teams more time. Conference sessions and conversations highlighted technologies that could help patients connect with care and begin therapy sooner. The experts acknowledged uncertainty about AI but argued that thoughtful use should keep patient needs at the center.

A recurring theme was reducing administrative work. Participants identified prior authorizations, appeals, and AI-assisted scribing as near-term opportunities to automate routine tasks that consume staff time. This could free pharmacy teams to support patients facing complex conditions or barriers to treatment. Longer-term applications include finding people who may be nonadherent, could benefit from a different therapy, or are not receiving therapy. These insights could help organizations focus outreach and clinical resources where they are most needed.

AI may also inform pharmacy benefit decisions. Good said it could help identify patients likely to benefit from a particular drug. He also noted specialty pharmacy’s expanding role as more medications move into that channel and the need to engage specialty pharmacies to make benefits efficient and cost-effective. The conversation framed implementation as more than adopting technology: tools and services must support patient outcomes.

Kalia also emphasized NASP’s value for learning and networking. Conference sessions offered perspectives on how health systems address pharmacy challenges, while connections with pharmacists and organizations can provide peers when issues arise. Those relationships may support collaboration after the event and help health-system pharmacies better serve patients.

The conversation presented AI as a developing resource, not a solution on its own. The near-term opportunity is automating repetitive work; the promise is identifying unmet needs, improving access and adherence, and expanding services while preserving human attention for complex patients. Their message: approach AI thoughtfully, work strategically with specialty pharmacy, and center decisions on the people receiving care.