Managed care pharmacy is in one of those seasons where the questions are getting bigger, not smaller.
How do we make formulary decisions with better evidence? How do we prepare the next generation of pharmacy leaders for this work? What happens when litigation and regulation start shifting the ground under long-standing models? And what should we do with the growing pressure to “use AI,” even when many organizations are still defining what success looks like?
That is the context behind the Mountain West Pharmacy Summit, held in November at Rice-Eccles Stadium on the University of Utah campus. The event was co-hosted by AMCP Mountain West and the University of Utah College of Pharmacy, and centered on the theme “Perspectives on Navigating Emerging Trends in Managed Care Pharmacy.”
What is AMCP Mountain West?
AMCP Mountain West is the regional chapter of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). It exists to strengthen the managed care pharmacy community in the Mountain West by creating space for education, collaboration, and career development. That includes helping students better understand managed care pharmacy opportunities and connecting professionals who influence medication access, affordability, and outcomes.
Why CBG is involved
CBG’s involvement is intentional. We believe the best progress in pharmacy benefit strategy comes from shared learning and real partnership, not isolated decision-making. Forums like this Summit help bring together employers, pharmacists, payers, and academic leaders to compare notes on what is changing and what to do about it.
The Summit agenda tackled the kinds of questions that are shaping the managed care landscape right now, including:
- How can we find and use real-world evidence to support formulary decisions?
- How can we support students so they become aware of managed care pharmacy career opportunities?
- What litigation is ongoing that impacts the managed care space, including GLP-1 related litigation and PBM-owned pharmacy litigation?
- What will managed care pharmacy look like in the future?
- What drugs are expected to be approved in the near future?
- How should we be leveraging artificial intelligence in both the short and long terms?
One of the strongest takeaways from the day captured the bigger truth behind all of it: healthcare is a team sport, and outcomes improve when the right people are aligned and working together.
CBG’s role at the Summit
CBG was well represented and actively engaged throughout the program. Michael Stapley serves as President-Elect of AMCP Mountain West and is preparing to assume the presidency in April 2026, reflecting CBG’s commitment to the managed care pharmacy community in the region.
CBG leaders also contributed directly to the Summit discussions. Mark Fowler, COO at CBG, participated as a speaker, and Jeff Dunn, CBG’s CEO, served as a panel facilitator, helping drive thoughtful conversation across the day’s sessions.
Mark’s topic focused on “AI in the Short and Long-Term.” If you want to go deeper on that specific theme, we also published a related piece inspired by the Summit titled “AI won’t transform managed care pharmacy. AI-fluent people will.”
CBG is proud to be a voice and key collaborator in the Mountain West managed care community. With CBG leaders contributing to the Summit program and Michael Stapley serving as President-Elect of AMCP Mountain West, we will continue to help lead the conversations and partnerships that shape the future of pharmacy.
