February 6, 2020— Herb Werner vividly remembers the day he suffered the injury that would leave him paralyzed for life. He had just finished unclogging a downspout on his garage roof on a nice summer day when his ladder kicked out from under him and he fell. He was transported to MetroHealth in Cleveland, the nearest hospital designed to treat spinal cord trauma. That’s where … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: Bringing Big Cancer Care to Small Towns
February 3, 2020 – Rural patients face multiple challenges when they need specialty care for illnesses such as cancer. One big barrier is affordability. Another is the long distance required to receive this care. Craig Ortego has seen both these challenges up close as vice president of oncology services at Lafayette General Health System in the south-central region of … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: Quantifying 340B’s Value
January 16, 2020 – The 340B drug pricing program has generated countless patient stories about the difference the program makes every day in the lives of people struggling to access health care. But how does one quantify 340B’s impact on the services that safety-net hospitals offer to these patients? Joey Mattingly, PharmD, Ph.D., has explored this question in depth at the … [Read more...]
If It’s January, Drug Prices are Rising
January 8, 2020- There are few certainties in life, and the oft-quoted duo is death and taxes. But we can consider adding at least a third item to this list. In January, the prices of many already expensive prescription drugs will rise. The only question is: By how much? This week we began to learn about the pricing intentions of some of the major drug manufacturers in the … [Read more...]
340B: The Year in Review and a Look Ahead
by Maureen Testoni December 20, 2019– As 2019 draws to a close, I find myself looking back on a historic year of vigorous discussion about drug costs. While no major actions – legislative or regulatory – were finalized this year, the table has been set for the years ahead. As always we will be watching closely to see where the 340B drug pricing program fits into the … [Read more...]
340B Highlights for 2019
Jan. 1. Civil monetary penalties go into effect for pharmaceutical manufacturers that “knowingly and intentionally” overcharge 340B covered entities. 340B Health and other hospital groups had taken the government to court after nearly nine years of delay. Feb. 6. In his State of the Union address to Congress, President Trump asked lawmakers to work with him “to eliminate the … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: Caring Starts at Home
December 13, 2019- One patient immediately comes to mind when Jessica Larsen-Gallup is asked to explain how powerful the 340B drug pricing program can be for patients. The effect that 340B had on this patient can only be described as life changing. Jessica is the director of pharmacy business and analytics at Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center in Sioux … [Read more...]