Americans taking high-cost medications are finding that mid- to lower-tier health plans offered through the new insurance exchanges often don’t cover their prescriptions adequately. Many could end up underinsured, making the 340B program even more critical to keeping them healthy. Critics contend that insurance carriers are purposefully designing plans with weak pharmacy … [Read more...]
Orphan Drug Case Heats Up
Hospitals and other providers weighing in against PhRMAA flutter of briefs is landing at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia as hospitals square off against the pharmaceutical industry’s efforts to limit sales of discounted orphan drugs to 340B providers. … [Read more...]
340B Provider Audits from First Year Nearly Complete
Pedley gives program status report to stakeholders at Orlando meetingDecember 17, 2013—The federal office that oversees the 340B program "is close" to closing the last two audits of health care providers it conducted in fiscal year 2012, Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) Director Cmdr. Krista Pedley told 340B stakeholders in Orlando last week. … [Read more...]
Medicaid Drug Pricing Final Rule Now Slated for May
Third postponement for average manufacturer price regulationDecember 9, 2013—The federal government is yet again postponing final regulations for the calculation of a drug's average manufacture price (AMP) under the Medicaid drug rebate program. … [Read more...]
Small Program, Big Benefits
The American Hospital Association has designed an informative 340B infographic that puts the program’s benefits and vital statistics on one page. This is an outstanding illustration and we encourage you to pass it along to others. Among the highlights: 66: Percentage of all uncompensated care provided by 340B hospitals 1.6 to 3.2: Billions of dollars per year in savings for … [Read more...]
No Change in Medicare Part B Drug Payments for 2014
CMS releases hospital outpatient department payment final ruleDecember 4, 2013—Medicare Part B next year will continue paying hospitals for the acquisition and overhead costs of specified high-cost outpatient drugs at the same rate as in 2013, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has decided. … [Read more...]
AIDS Group Files Third 340B Overcharging Lawsuit
AHF seeks $2 million plus interest from AbbVie and AbbottDecember 3, 2013—The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has filed a third lawsuit—this time, against drug manufacturer AbbVie and its progenitor company Abbott—alleging it was overcharged for HIV/AIDS drugs subject to 340B drug discounts. Abbott and AbbVie became separate companies in January 2013. … [Read more...]