October 31, 2019— A new study by academic researchers demonstrates that savings from 340B drug discounts make only a relatively small contribution toward safety-net hospital revenues and the total costs to hospitals of uncompensated care. But while small, these resources are critical to 340B hospital patients living with low incomes and those living in rural … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: Local Care When It’s Needed Most
October 24, 2019— The 340B drug pricing program helps Northern Light Health (formerly Eastern Maine Healthcare Systems) serve many patients in a region that takes up two-thirds of the entire state of Maine. But for Jennifer Rossi, who directs the system’s 340B program, there’s just one patient care success story that will stay with her forever. Jennifer is the newest … [Read more...]
What is the State of 340B in the States?
by Maureen Testoni Oct. 21, 2019– It is sometimes said that the states are America’s “laboratories of democracy.” Lawmakers in statehouses across the nation try out policy ideas on smaller scales that then can become models for members of the U.S. Congress to adopt nationwide. Judging by the recent surge of legislative and regulatory activity in a growing number of … [Read more...]
Congressional 340B Champion Matsui Defends Program During Hill Hearing
October 18, 2019– Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.), a longtime champion of the 340B drug pricing program, defended the program during a key congressional hearing to consider drug pricing legislation. Yesterday’s House Energy & Commerce Committee meeting to mark up the Lower Drug Costs Now Act of 2019 (H.R. 3) featured the introduction of an amendment that would have limited … [Read more...]
Survey Raises Questions About Duplicate Discounts
Oct. 17, 2019– A newly released survey on the interplay of the 340B drug discount program and Medicaid has raised questions about what federal and state rules are in place to prevent duplicate discounts. The bottom line is that several such rules already exist in all 50 states to prevent pharmaceutical manufacturers from paying both a 340B discount and a Medicaid rebate on the … [Read more...]
New Study: No Clinical Evidence Behind U.S. Price Hikes for Costliest Drugs
October 15, 2019— The manufacturers of seven widely used drugs raised their prices with no clinical evidence to support those increases, according to a new study by the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), an independent research organization. These price hikes added $5.1 billion to the amount Americans spent on prescription drugs between 2017 and 2018. Among … [Read more...]
For 340B Hospitals, Mental Health is Health
October 10, 2019— During this National Mental Illness Awareness Week, you might notice an increase in people stating the mantra of “mental health is health.” For safety-net hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program, this quote could not ring truer. The health professionals working at 340B hospitals are especially well-equipped to understand that for patients to … [Read more...]