William H. von Oehsen III

William von Oehsen, a principal in the firm, has extensive experience in general health law, legislation and policy, especially in the areas of pharmaceutical pricing, food and drug law, materials management, managed care and third party reimbursement.

Bill has more than 30 years experience on pharmaceutical pricing and reimbursement matters, including the 340B drug discount program, the Medicaid drug rebate program, Medicare Part D, Robinson-Patman, and state Medicaid and pharmacy laws. He helped establish and serves as outside counsel to 340B Health, formerly Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access, an advocacy organization of more than 1,200 public and private nonprofit hospitals participating in the 340B program. He played a key role in helping to enact the 340B program in 1992, as well as to expand the law in 2010 under the Affordable Care Act. In 1997, he helped organize the 340B Coalition, which now represents a dozen national organizations whose members comprise virtually all of the safety net providers participating in the 340B program. Bill co-founded and served as co-editor of the Drug Discount Monitor, the first publication to focus specifically on the 340B program and other pharmacy access issues.

In addition to representing 340B Health and other clients on 340B matters, Bill provides guidance to pharmacies, pharmacy-related vendors and consultants, states, local governments, and other healthcare entities in their efforts to improve access to pharmaceutical care and to ensure compliance with drug pricing laws. He has experience in counseling clients on matters involving the federal supply schedule and federal ceiling price programs, state pharmaceutical assistance programs, manufacturer patient assistance programs, the Prescription Drug Marketing Act, Medicare Part B, managed care and related authorities. Bill has testified before the U.S. Congress and numerous state legislatures and provides technical assistance to federal and state policy makers in both the legislative and executive branches. He has handled litigation matters involving pharmaceutical pricing. He also practices in the area of food and drug law. In the food and drug area, Bill guides companies through the FDA's premarket clearance process; assists companies with product development strategies; provides labeling, advertising, manufacturing and import/export advice; and handles other issues that arise during the progression from initial clinical testing through commercial distribution. He has assisted clients with respect to the development and distribution of medical devices, biologics, food, food additives, dietary supplements, animal feeds, and cosmetics. He has also defended clients against FDA enforcement actions.

Bill is a member of the District of Columbia Bar. He earned his law degree at Georgetown University Law Center in 1988 and a master's degree from Harvard University in 1984. He earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University in 1981. Bill participates in a number of professional organizations including the Food and Drug Law Institute (where he was an Annual Scholar) and the American Health Lawyers Association. He was also a founding director of the Family AIDS Housing Foundation, now called Building Futures: Family AIDS Housing. Bill is the co-author of a book titled Managed Care Manual: Medicaid, Medicare and State Health Reform. He has lectured and published numerous articles on issues relating to pharmaceutical pricing and food and drug law. His 2001 publication, Pharmaceutical Discounts Under Federal Law: State Program Opportunities, is available through the National Conference of State Legislatures and was cited in briefs submitted to the US Supreme Court in connection with the celebrated case of PhRMA versus the State of Maine. Bill joined the Firm in January 2002.