The American Society for Pharmacy Law (ASPL) is an organization of attorneys, pharmacists, pharmacist-attorneys and students of pharmacy or law who are interested in the law as it applies to pharmacy, pharmacists, wholesalers, manufacturers, state and federal government and other interested parties.

ASPL is a non-profit which encourages diversity & inclusion with the Society, regardless of differing backgrounds, perspectives, experiences, orientations, origins, and practice settings. The Society embraces participation and diversity as it leads to advancing our purpose: 

  • Furthering knowledge in the law related to pharmacists, pharmacies, the provision of pharmaceutical care, the manufacturing and distribution of drugs, and other food, drug, and medical device policy issues;
  • Communicating accurate legal educational information; and
  • Providing educational opportunities for pharmacists, attorneys, and others who are interested in pharmacy law

Latest News

May 30, 2023

WALGREENS DISPUTES OUTCOME OF AN ARBITRATION, CHALLENGING PARTICIPATING LAW FIRM AND OUTCOME OF PROCESS
Walgreens has asked a federal court in D.C. to overturn the result of an arbitration process due to perceived irregularities with the law firm representing the other party, Humana, Inc. The pharmacy chain petitioned the court to vacate the $642 million award that was the result of the arbitration process.

The arbitration was based on Walgreens’ adoption of a policy and program rooted in 2008-2009 known as the Prescription Savings Club. Directed at patients without insurance coverage for the cost of their medication, the program enrolled patients for an annual fee with the result that they would receive discounts on Walgreens’ prices for their prescriptions.

During the period in question the Walgreens-Humana contract specified that the insurer would reimburse the chain for its “usual and customary” prices. Walgreens sought advice from a national law firm, Crowell & Moring, LLP, when designing the program and entering into the contractual relationship.

Fast forward nearly a decade when the law firm “sent Humana a ‘pitch’ document” with the argument that Walgreens was overcharging insurers by not seeking reimbursement for the lower Prescription Savings Club pricing. An arbitration claim resulted, and the chain eventually advanced a number of arguments regarding the impropriety of the outcome of the process with some positions tied to both the identity of the law firm as well as that of the arbitrator.

An excellent distillation of the issues appears in an article by Ryan Boysen in “Law360”.

[https://www.law360.com/articles/1680251/print?section=internationalarbitration]