Author: Bob Brensel | President, Pharmacist | ScriptWorks
Bob Brensel, RPh, earned his Pharmacy Degree at University of the Pacific in Stockton, California in 1980. Former California Pharmacists Association’s Award Winner for Recognition of Outstanding Achievement in Compounding Pharmacy. Read More →
ScriptWorks Advocates for Patient Access at the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference
ScriptWorks recently traveled to Washington, D.C., for the PCCA Conference 2026. We joined compounding pharmacists from across the country to advocate for patient access, provider collaboration, and the continued role of personalized medicine.
For the team, the trip was more than a professional conference. It was a chance to bring our pharmacy experience directly into conversations with lawmakers.
As a PCCA compounding pharmacy in Walnut Creek, California, we work with prescribers, patients, veterinary teams, and pet owners. Many of them may need medication options that aren’t available in a standard commercial form.
Since 2003, our pharmacists and technicians have supported customized medication needs for people and pets. That experience is one reason we stay involved in conversations that may affect access to compounded prescriptions.
At a Glance:
ScriptWorks attended the 2026 PCCA ACT Legislative Conference to support:
- Patient access to compounded medications
- Provider collaboration and patient-specific prescriptions
- Veterinary compounding needs for pets
- Animal-derived thyroid medication access
- The PEAT Act of 2026
- The role of PCCA compounding pharmacy advocacy in personalized medicine
- California patient and provider access to pharmacy support
What Is a PCCA Compounding Pharmacy?
A PCCA compounding pharmacy is a pharmacy connected to Professional Compounding Centers of America, a national compounding resource that supports pharmacies with training, formulas, ingredients, regulatory education, and practice resources. For ScriptWorks, participation in the PCCA community supports continued learning, advocacy, and collaboration around personalized medicine.
Why Did ScriptWorks Attend the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference?
On May 12–13, 2026, ScriptWorks attended the 2026 PCCA ACT Legislative Conference to help lawmakers understand how compounding pharmacy policy can affect patient access, provider choice, veterinary medication needs, and personalized medicine. Bob Brensel, RPh, and Matt Brensel, PharmD, represented ScriptWorks in national conversations about pharmacy access and individualized care.
During the conference, Bob and Matt met with senators and members of the House of Representatives, including District Representative Mark DeSaulnier. Their conversations included patient access, provider choice, desiccated thyroid medication access, and the PEAT Act of 2026.
Matt’s participation also follows his recognition with the 2025 George Roentsch, RPh, New Innovator Award at the PCCA International Conference. This honor recognized innovation, collaboration, and dedication in compounding pharmacy.
Compounding pharmacies serve a specific role in healthcare. They work with licensed prescribers to prepare customized medications when a patient or animal may need a different strength, dosage form, flavor, ingredient consideration, or way to take a medication.
That work depends on access. It also depends on clear communication between prescribers, pharmacists, patients, caregivers, and policymakers.
At the conference, ScriptWorks helped lawmakers understand how pharmacy policy can affect everyday care. Federal decisions can shape which medication options are available to patients, providers, and veterinary teams.
We believe patient access, provider choice, and personalized medicine should be part of the national healthcare conversation.
How Can Pharmacy Policy Affect Patients, Providers, and Veterinary Teams?
Pharmacy policy can affect patients, providers, and veterinary teams by shaping which prescribed medication options remain available, how pharmacies coordinate care, and how providers discuss individualized medication needs. For ScriptWorks, national advocacy connects directly to the California patients, prescribers, veterinary teams, and caregivers we support every day.
By participating in the conference, ScriptWorks helped connect national advocacy with the California communities we serve every day.
ScriptWorks didn’t make the trip alone. We joined about 90 professionals from the PCCA compounding pharmacy community who came to Washington, D.C., to speak with lawmakers about patient access and the role of compounding in healthcare.
Together, the group met with around 150 offices of senators and House representatives. That coordinated effort matters because it helps lawmakers hear from pharmacists who work with patients, prescribers, veterinary teams, and families every day.
Patients may not follow every policy detail, but they often feel the impact when medication options become harder to access. Federal decisions can shape which prescription options are available, how pharmacies respond to access questions, and how patients discuss medication concerns with their providers.
For prescribers and veterinary teams, access questions can affect how they discuss medication options, submit prescriptions, and coordinate with a compounding pharmacy. Clear pharmacy communication helps providers understand next steps when a patient-specific prescription may be appropriate.
What Was Discussed Around Animal-Derived Thyroid Medication Access?
One specific access issue discussed during the conference was animal-derived thyroid medication. These medications are also commonly called desiccated thyroid medications or desiccated thyroid extract.
For ScriptWorks, this wasn’t just a technical policy topic. It was part of the larger access conversation we were there to support.
When guidance, classification, or enforcement priorities shift, the next steps need to be clear for patients, prescribers, and pharmacy teams.
The main details show:
- The FDA states that animal-derived thyroid medications are not FDA-approved.
- The FDA states that about 1.5 million patients received prescriptions for unapproved animal-derived thyroid medications from U.S. outpatient retail and mail-order pharmacies in 2024.
- On March 11, 2026, the FDA informed manufacturers, importers, and distributors of marketed unapproved animal-derived thyroid medications that it intends to issue guidance regarding compliance priorities by August 2026.
- The FDA also states that these products are not eligible for compounding because they are regulated as biological products under the Public Health Service Act.
- The proposed PEAT Act of 2026, or Protecting Equal Access to Thyroid Act of 2026, is connected to this classification issue. The bill is intended to address whether a product should be treated as a biological product based only on the presence of a clinically inactive protein.
That is why clear communication matters. Access questions aren’t abstract when they affect medication discussions happening in exam rooms, pharmacies, and homes.
ScriptWorks does not replace the judgment of the prescribing provider. Patients taking animal-derived thyroid medications should speak with their healthcare provider about any changes, questions, or concerns related to their medication.
As a compounding pharmacy, we understand the importance of responsive pharmacy support, clear medication information, and access to prescription options when individualized care is needed.
What Access Looks Like in Daily Pharmacy Care
Access isn’t just a policy phrase. It affects real people, real prescriptions, and real care decisions.
At ScriptWorks, that often means working with prescribers and veterinarians when a standard commercial medication may not fully meet a patient’s or animal’s needs.
That may include:
- A different dosage form
- An adjusted strength
- An alternative flavor
- An ingredient consideration
- A formulation that better fits the care plan
It also means helping patients, caregivers, and providers move through the prescription process with clarity.
Compounded medications are not one-size-fits-all products. They require coordination between the prescriber, the pharmacy, and the person or caregiver managing the medication.
ScriptWorks requires patient-specific prescriptions from a licensed healthcare provider before compounding or dispensing prescription medications. That standard helps keep the process rooted in provider-directed care.
ScriptWorks also maintains ACHC and PCAB accreditation, recognition we have held since 2012 and continues through 2027. For our team, accreditation reflects quality standards, documented processes, and dependable compounding pharmacy support for California patients and providers.
Whether the prescription is for a person or a pet, our goal is to support individualized medication needs with professionalism, pharmacist insight, and clear communication.
How ScriptWorks Supports Access Beyond the Prescription
ScriptWorks’ participation in the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference reflects a broader commitment. We support patients, prescribers, veterinary teams, and caregivers beyond simply preparing medication.
That support starts with communication. Patients may have questions about access. Prescribers may need responsive pharmacy support. Veterinary teams may need help coordinating compounded prescriptions for animals with specific medication needs.
Our role includes:
- Staying informed about pharmacy policy
- Communicating clearly with prescribers
- Supporting prescription coordination
- Helping patients understand the next step when they have questions
- Advocating for the role of compounding in personalized medicine
That same commitment to compounding pharmacy collaboration also shapes how we support providers every day. ScriptWorks offers a Provider Portal designed to simplify prescription submission, improve refill coordination, support status visibility, and make communication easier for prescribers and pharmacy staff.
For both human and veterinary prescribing workflows, these systems help reduce unnecessary back-and-forth while keeping the pharmacy relationship personal and responsive.
Our goal is to make the prescription process clearer, more coordinated, and easier to manage for the people, providers, and veterinary teams who rely on us.
ScriptWorks: Supporting Patients and Providers in Walnut Creek and Across California
The PCCA ACT Legislative Conference was an important opportunity for ScriptWorks to advocate for patient access, provider choice, and the role of compounding in personalized medicine.
For our team, that commitment continues in the work we do every day. We support prescribers, patients, veterinary teams, pet owners, and caregivers with responsive communication, prescription coordination, and custom compounded prescriptions when appropriate and prescribed.
ScriptWorks also supports access through practical coordination options, including weekday local delivery to nearby communities such as Walnut Creek, Concord, Martinez, San Ramon, Danville, Alamo, Lafayette, and Orinda, along with statewide California shipping when available and appropriate.
If you have questions about a prescribed compounded medication, prescription coordination, veterinary compounding, or how ScriptWorks works with prescribers, contact our team for assistance.
Frequently Asked Questions About PCCA Compounding Pharmacy Advocacy
What Is a PCCA Compounding Pharmacy?
A PCCA compounding pharmacy is connected to Professional Compounding Centers of America, a national resource that supports compounding pharmacies with education, formulas, ingredients, and regulatory updates.
Why Did ScriptWorks Attend the PCCA ACT Legislative Conference?
ScriptWorks attended the 2026 PCCA ACT Legislative Conference to advocate for patient access, provider choice, veterinary compounding needs, and personalized medicine.
How Can Compounding Pharmacy Policy Affect Patient Access?
Compounding pharmacy policy can affect which prescribed medication options are available when a standard commercial medication does not fully meet a patient’s or animal’s needs.
Does ScriptWorks Compound Medications Without a Prescription?
No. ScriptWorks requires a patient-specific prescription from a licensed healthcare provider before compounding or dispensing prescription medications.
Can ScriptWorks Support Veterinary Compounded Prescriptions?
Yes. ScriptWorks works with veterinary teams and pet owners when an animal has a patient-specific prescription for a compounded medication.
How Does ScriptWorks Support Prescribers and Veterinary Teams?
ScriptWorks supports prescribers and veterinary teams through responsive communication, prescription coordination, refill assistance, formulation support, and the ScriptWorks Provider Portal.
Where Does ScriptWorks Serve Patients and Providers?
ScriptWorks is a compounding pharmacy in Walnut Creek, California, serving patients, providers, veterinary teams, caregivers, and pet owners throughout the East Bay and across California when available and appropriate.