Investor's Business Daily (IBD) recently published a diatribe against 340B hospitals and the 340B program by Sally C. Pipes, who heads the "think tank" Pacific Research Institute. Among other fulminations, Pipes said 340B is an "ungainly operation fattening the bottom lines of pharmacies and hospitals," "fails to actually help vulnerable patients," and "represents an … [Read more...]
RAND Corp. Launches 340B Research Project
Leaders say they aim to provide objective, nonpartisan analysisOctober 22, 2013—The RAND Corp. announced yesterday that it is launching a project to study and make recommendations for improving the 340B program. Organizers said one of their first tasks will be to submit comments on forthcoming 340B regulations due to be published in the coming months. … [Read more...]
Uncompensated Care Will Remain a Major Issue After ACA
Studies' findings on the uninsured have implications for 340B programOctober 18, 2013—A flurry of new reports by leading health care think tanks shed more light on the fact that uncompensated care will remain a major challenge even after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is implemented, especially in the 26 states that are not expanding Medicaid under the law. … [Read more...]
JAMA Publishes Letters Disputing Opinion Piece on 340B
Last May, the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) published an article in its Viewpoint section by two academics (one of whom receives speaking fees from Genentech) stating that the 340B program raises costs for patients, particularly those with cancer. We're pleased to report that JAMA's Oct. 16 edition includes a letter to the editor from SNHPA pointing out … [Read more...]
340B Registration Period Won’t Be Extended for Now, OPA Says
Agency begins reviewing applications received during 16-day government shutdownOctober 17, 2013—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) says that, for now, it has no plans to extend the October registration period for enrollment in the 340B program beginning Jan. 1, 2014. … [Read more...]
Minnesota Cuts Medicaid Reimbursement for 340B Drugs
State Medicaid agency also issues notice about billing for 340B drugsOctober 16, 2013—Minnesota safety-net health care providers are bracing for a significant reduction in Medicaid fee for service (FFS) reimbursement for 340B drugs starting on Jan. 1. … [Read more...]
Proceedings Delayed in 340B Orphan Drug Exclusion Lawsuit
Judge grants government's motion for a pause due to the federal shutdownOctober 11, 2013—A federal district judge has stayed all proceedings in the lawsuit challenging the legality of the 340B orphan drug exclusion regulation for as long as the federal government shutdown continues. … [Read more...]