This position can be based at any of the following Alexion (AstraZeneca) locations; Boston, MA, Gaithersburg, MD, and Wilmington, DE, and may require up to 20% travel.

This is what you will do:

• We are seeking a Director, US Market Access Counsel to join the Alexion US Commercial Law Practice Group.  This position will provide legal support on a broad range of market access and healthcare issues to the US Market Access and Strategic Accounts teams. 
• The ideal candidate must have a strong understanding of US healthcare laws as they relate to payer relationships and contracting, coverage and reimbursement, pricing strategy, patient support programs, and price reporting obligations. 
• This role will routinely interact with senior US management and will be required to work across a number of Alexion functional groups.  The ideal candidate must have strong communication and collaboration skills, be proactive and be able to work independently while managing multiple projects and clients. 

  You will be responsible for:

  • Developing and maintaining a deep understanding of healthcare laws and compliant industry practices relating to market access for Alexion drugs, including:
    • Strategic contracting with payers, distributors, and specialty providers
    • Contracting with government payers
    • Coverage and reimbursement, in particular for Part B drugs
    • Pricing dynamics and access for drugs for ultra-rare diseases and conditions
    • Pricing and pricing strategy considerations
    • Government price reporting, including state price transparency reporting requirements
    • Patient assistance programs, including support for in-home services
  • Providing day-to-day counseling to the US Market Access and the Strategic Accounts teams, including:
    • Counseling key stakeholders to ensure compliance with key healthcare laws, regulations, and guidance, including the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act, the Anti-Kickback Statute, federal and state government price reporting obligations, the False Claims Act, HHS-OIG guidance, and the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals
    • Providing strategic support for the negotiation of government and key commercial-pay contracts
    • Serving as a reviewer for promotional and training materials prepared by the US Market Access and Strategic Accounts teams
    • Partnering with the Alexion Compliance function to continuously assess and mitigate healthcare compliance risks relating to the Alexion market access and patient support programs
    • Advising on internal policy and process matters relating to patient access to Alexion products
    • Helping to coordinate input from internal legal experts as needed (e.g., input from in-house counsel focusing on privacy, clinical research, human resources, securities laws, etc.) to support the Market Access and Patient Services, teams
  • Working with the Alexion contracts group to ensure that the routine contracting needs of the US market access and the patient services teams are met in a timely, efficient, and compliant manner
  • Partnering with the Alexion Corporate Affairs function to evaluate proposed legislation and regulations that affect the market access or patient support teams
  • Effectively manage outside counsel, as appropriate, for advice on market access and patient support program-related issues

   

   

You will need to have:

• 5+ years of legal expertise focusing on pharmaceutical market access issues
• Substantial expertise advising on reimbursement issues for Part B drugs
• Prior experience advising senior executives
• Strong communication skills
• Ability to work in a matrixed environment
• Eligibility to practice law in the United States
• The duties of this role are generally conducted in an office environment.  As is typical of an office-based role, employees must be able, with or without accommodation to: use a computer; engage in communications via phone, video, and electronic messaging; engage in problem-solving and non-linear thought, analysis, and dialogue; collaborate with others; maintain general availability during standard business hours.

We would prefer for you to have:

• 2+ years of in-house legal experience in the pharmaceutical industry
• Prior experience advising on market access issues for rare or ultra-rare conditions
• Prior experience advising on advertising and promotion-related issues for prescription drugs