The legislative and health policy issues currently being debated at the US federal and state levels include: pharmaceutical price regulations; prescription coverage for seniors;*confidentiality of patient medical records; a patients' bill of rights; and the prevention of medical errors. These key policy issues not only have repercussions for the global healthcare market, but also have implications for managed-care pharmacy. Pharmacists and pharmacy managers must be aware of the issues and the potential implications for pharmacy practice. Several symposia were presented at the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy's 12th Annual Meeting [Phoenix, Arizona, US; April 2000] that brought together specialists in federal healthcare policy, law and regulation to address these key issues.