Pharmacy Law Lowdown: Sam Maddula, PharmD

In episode 7 of Pharmacy Law Lowdown, hosts Dae Lee, PharmD, Esq, CPBS, and Lucas Morgan, Esq, shareholders at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, are joined by Sam Maddula, PharmD, founder and CEO of Workshop Strategy.

“I learned from day one that there are going to be certain patients I won't be able to service, certain medications I might not be able to fill, and certain gaps in the therapy class I'm not able to get into, which I think, as a clinician, I should have been able to do,” shared Maddula during this month’s episode. “So, I learned pretty quick that I had to be able to kind of fight for my pharmacy and my profession, using the law to help the patients that I worked with.”

During the very first in-person episode of Pharmacy Law Lowdown—filmed on-site in the MJH Life Sciences Studio—Lee, Morgan, and Maddula tackle the importance of legal advocacy, regulatory compliance, and staying up-to-date with necessary information for all pharmacy businesses.

The general discussion explores the uphill battle independent owners face, specifically regarding pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) and anti-competitive reimbursement models that can cause pharmacies to lose money on life-saving medications. Maddula emphasizes the necessity of pharmacies being their own biggest advocate, sharing how he utilized legal strategies and “Any Willing Provider” (AWP) laws to scale his business across 20 states.

Pharmacists and owners will gain actionable advice on navigating PBM audits, staying compliant with evolving state boards of pharmacy guidelines, and the importance of real-world finances.

Whether you are an entrepreneur looking to scale or a pharmacist seeking to protect your license, this episode highlights why engaging legal counsel early and staying adaptable are the keys to thriving in 2026 and beyond.

Be sure to tune into Drug Topics for important updates in pharmacy law and how to handle them from hosts Dae Lee, PharmD, Esq, CPBS, and Lucas Morgan, Esq, shareholders at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, a national law firm that provides legal, business, regulatory, and government relations advice to a wide range of clients. All episodes of Pharmacy Law Lowdown will be available in video format via DrugTopics. Check out our most recent episode here: Pharmacy Law Lowdown: Final DSCSA Implementation Updates.