The only thing missing from CCH 2026 was you

Last month I attended Compounders on Capitol Hill 2026 in connection with both my role at Medisca and with the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, where I serve as Board Chair. 

CCH is one of the most important annual events for the compounding community, and this year’s gathering was no exception. Something I love about my role at Medisca is that I get to see compounding from different vantage points, across pharmacies, suppliers, regulators and policymakers. At CCH all those perspectives come together. I get to see both the forest and the trees. 

I recognized probably 80% of the people I encountered at CCH this year. While I enjoy seeing all those familiar faces, it made me think about how important it is that we get more people involved in advocacy, particularly people who haven’t participated before. 

With that in mind, I offer this recap of my personal experience at the conference and a pitch for attending next year. 

The most valuable legal symposium you’ve never heard of 

One of the biggest draws of this year’s conference, as it is every year, was the legal symposium. This brings together some of the leading legal minds in compounding to discuss emerging regulatory issues and current cases relevant to compounding. 

Most of this year’s discussion focused on recent proposed state legislation around compounding and the omnipresent discussion of peptide compounding. As you might know, in the last year ten states considered bills that would restrict access to compounded preparations. Listening to the symposium really drove home how quickly the environment around compounding continues to change. 

Where compounders meet lawmakers 

CCH’s biggest aim is to connect lawmakers in Washington with compounders. To that end, the conference arranges meetings between attendees and their respective senators and congressional representatives. 

And since compounders, as a rule, don’t spend much time liaising with elected representatives, the main event at each CCH conference focuses on preparing compounders for their meetings.  

This year, the meetings focused on: 

• Opposing the House and Senate versions of the Safe Drugs Act. 
• Supporting the thyroid citizen petition and congressional sign-on letter. 
• Practical solutions to federal compounding concerns. 

There was also a lot of discussion about the hottest topic in compounding right now: peptides. I heard a lot of interesting ideas and support from across compounding for APC’s proposed guardrails to compounding peptides that were submitted to the FDA. 

An influencer’s perspective on GLP-1 

CCH this year also included a presentation from Sabina Hemmi, a social media GLP-1 influencer. They described the patient experience and some telehealth trends and presented some interesting data on brand perception among their audience.  

They also exposed me to the first compounding “unboxing video” I’d seen. 

I went into this presentation expecting entertainment. I left surprised at what I’d learned about consumer expectations and telehealth dynamics.  

Why attendance matters and why you should come 

The rest of the conference time was mostly taken up with meetings both formal and informal. The conference held a number of fundraisers and networking dinners, and I visited the Hill with my Medisca colleagues for several meetings with elected officials—as did other CCH attendees.  

These meetings are the core purpose of CCH. I was delighted to see so many compounders large and small walking the halls of congress, advocating for their profession and patients. 

Attending CCH is edifying on many fronts and valuable in many ways, including access to benefits that can boost your bottom line. ScriptSafe, a new benefit for Pharmacy Facility Members, was launched at CCH. All CCH attendees can use this new tool to see if APC can save their pharmacy money on credit card processing. 

Other benefits of attending are less tangible. Supporting and advancing compounding is a shared responsibility. Companies that serve the profession play an important role, which is why I was proud to represent Medisca there along with my colleagues, and to see so many familiar faces. 

But next year I hope I recognize fewer—not because I want anyone who was there to stay home, but because we need more people willing to show up, tell their stories and help shape what comes next. 

Compounding professionals and associations play an important role in advocating for the industry. The opponents of compounding are powerful and well-funded. But there is no substitute for people who actually work in compounding sitting down with lawmakers and explaining what policies mean for their patients and communities.  

I hope to see you there in 2027. 

Disclaimer: This article is for general informational and educational purposes only and does constitute professional, regulatory, or medical advice. Any third-party sites referenced in this blog are not monitored or controlled by Medisca and Medisca shall not be held responsible or liable for any content resulting therefrom. Medisca is not liable for any loss or damage arising from the use of or reliance on this content. Medisca makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy or completeness of the information contained herein. At all times, the patient must speak with their physician or qualified healthcare provider to determine if compounding The only thing missing from CCH 2026 was youis the suitable treatment for them.