Q: Where did you grow up?
Kentucky
Q: Tell us about your educational background and training.
I received my bachelor’s degree from the University of Evansville and my law degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Law. During law school, I took a few health law courses and greatly enjoyed them. Coming out of law school, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in health law and policy. I spent many years working for health care associations, including about 15 years with 340B Health. As many readers already know, 340B Health is a trade association that represents over 1,600 hospitals and health systems that participate in 340B. As Vice President and Legal and Policy Counsel at 340B Health, I provided technical assistance on a diverse array of 340B issues, helped lead the organizations’ regulatory advocacy efforts, supported the group’s legislative priorities, oversaw the organization’s state advocacy initiatives, and managed a coalition of national health care associations that represent 340B covered entities. I then worked for Walgreens on health care policy issues, with a focus on 340B and drug pricing. Early this year, I joined Powers Law as an attorney in the firm’s Drug Pricing and 340B practice, which specializes in representing 340B covered entities and pharmacies. In my new role, I provide strategic guidance to covered entities and other clients on 340B legal, policy, and advocacy issues.
Q: What are your favorites?
Food: That is a hard question to answer because I love so many different types of food. If I am forced to pick a single dish, it would be my grandmother’s cornbread dressing that I recreate each Thanksgiving. If I must pick a single type of cuisine, it would be sushi.
Movie: The Usual Suspects. Whenever I rewatch the movie, the ending gives me chills even though I know it is coming.
Musicians: The Weakerthans, The Replacements, Jackson Browne
Destination: A golf course
Q: What do you like to do outside of work?
I love to travel with my family, especially to other countries. Our next international trip will be Ireland and Northern Ireland this summer. I also like to play golf. While I am not good, I started playing during COVID and got hooked.
Q: What kind of work does your company do in 340B and what makes it stand out?
Powers Law is a law firm based in Washington, DC that supports covered entities throughout the country on a wide range of 340B issues. We are unique in that we have provided 340B-related legal services since the program was founded in 1992. We also stand out because we assist covered entities with not just 340B legal and compliance issues, but also 340B policy, advocacy, and litigation matters at both the federal and state levels.
Q: Why did you choose to work in the 340B space?
After starting my career working on government relations for professional and trade associations in the health information technology space, I found an exciting opportunity in 2010 to work on legal and policy issues for 340B Health. I found 340B to be both intellectually challenging and personally fulfilling, as the program exists to help safety-net providers better serve their patients and communities. That mission has kept me engaged ever since.
Q: What do you feel is your most significant contribution to the 340B world or to a 340B customer/client?
The contribution I am most proud of is building coalitions among diverse 340B stakeholders — something that has become increasingly critical as the program has faced mounting challenges from pharmaceutical manufacturers and policymakers. Given these challenges, it is critically important that covered entities and their allies identify and pursue opportunities for collaboration, particularly when it comes to advocacy.
Q: What advice do you have for a young professional who has recently launched a career in the 340B space?
I would encourage a young professional to be patient as they learn about 340B. The 340B statute is just a few pages long, and there are only a handful of 340B regulations. While reading those rules, as well as HRSA guidance, can help improve a young professional’s understanding of 340B, they are going to learn the most by studying how 340B is applied in the field by covered entities and service providers. Even after gaining a solid foundation of 340B knowledge, professionals must also learn to adjust to the constantly evolving 340B landscape. No one has ever become a 340B expert overnight!
For questions, Greg can be reached at Greg.Doggett@PowersLaw.com
