Pharmacy Benefit Managers: Understanding Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Middlemen

STEPHANIE TRUNK is a partner in the Health Law Group at Arent Fox LLP in Washington, D.C. Ms. Trunk counsels pharmaceutical and device manufacturers, distributors and their customers, including pharmacy benefit managers, on regulatory, reimbursement and compliance matters.

Her practice extends to counseling on drug pricing and government price reporting, HIPAA and privacy matters, counseling on Medicare Part D, developing corporate compliance programs, representing clients in contract negotiations and providing transactional support to her clients. Prior to joining Arent Fox LLP, Ms. Trunk was in-house counsel to a pharmacy benefit management company.

 Ms. Trunk She is a member of the BNA Pharmaceutical Law & Industry Advisory Board. Ms. Trunk is the author of numerous chapters in health law treatises including a chapter on Controlling Fraud, Waste and Abuse in the Medicare Part D Program in the ABA/BNA’s Health Care Fraud and Abuse: Practical Perspectives. She received a J.D. with Highest Honors from the George Washington University Law School in 2003 where she was elected to the Order of the Coif and a member of the George Washington Law Review.

Ms. Trunk also has as a graduate certificate in health management from the George Washington University School of Public Health (2003) and she received a B.S. in Accounting Summa Cum Laude from the University of Maryland in 1997.

Rujul Desai, Vice President Avalere Health, advises clients on market access, reimbursement, strategic contracting and regulatory solutions. He applies his unique combination of experience in specialty pharmacy, biopharma, PBM, legal and regulatory services. Prior to joining Avalere, Rujul has held a number of leadership roles in the specialty industry, including at CVS Caremark, UCB, and Theracom.

He was also the founder of a specialty hub services company supporting biopharma products. Rujul has significant health law experience, including practicing at the law firm of K&L Gates. Rujul holds a JD from University of Houston and a BA from Rutgers University. He is a combat veteran of the Global War on Terror, U.S. Army, Medical Service Corps, Captain (Ret.).