March 27, 2018—A trio of new reports out this past week indicates that the historic rise in prescription drug prices in the U.S. continues and the American public is concerned. First, a report by Axios found the prices of the top 20 drugs prescribed in the U.S. rose by more than 200 percent in the past 14 months. Based on an analysis by Pharmacy Benefits Consultants, Axios … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: “I Just Started Crying”
March 20, 2018—For Kathleen Cavanagh of Caldwell, Idaho, finding the 340B program was a momentous event that she describes as a “happy accident.” With a host of serious medical conditions, including type 1 diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and bipolar disorder, Kathleen was reliant on various prescription assistance programs to help pay the high costs of her many … [Read more...]
PhRMA-Funded Study Contradicts Its Conclusions
March 19, 2018 – A new PhRMA-funded study released by Milliman suggests that 340B hospitals have higher drug spending for commercially insured patients than non-340B hospitals and claims that it is the result of inappropriate drug use. However, methodological flaws in the study raise serious questions about the findings. In fact, Milliman’s report includes data that indicate … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: A Focus on Bleeding Disorders
March 14, 2018—March is Bleeding Disorders Awareness Month, a time for patients, their families and friends, and their care providers to raise awareness of a relatively rare but serious set of diseases that require specialized care. Patients with hemophilia – a rare, chronic bleeding disorder – require a lifetime of infusions of clotting factors that provide essential blood … [Read more...]
Report: 340B Hospitals Provide Far More Care for Low-Income Patients than Other Hospitals
March 13, 2018—On the eve of an important U.S. Senate hearing on the 340B drug discount program, a new report concludes hospitals in the program treat significantly more low-income patients, provide more uncompensated and unreimbursed care, and are more likely to offer low-income patients the types of critical specialized services that often are not fully … [Read more...]
340B Hospitals Will Have Their Day in Court on May 4
March 12, 2018—A federal appeals court will hear oral arguments on May 4 from hospital groups and health systems that are suing to reverse a nearly 30 percent cut in Medicare drug payment rates for certain 340B hospitals that took effect Jan. 1. In advance of the court hearing date, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit has asked the U.S. Department … [Read more...]
In Court Papers, 340B Hospitals Tell How Massive CMS Cuts Are Causing Irreparable Injury
March 1, 2018— Steep federal drug reimbursement cuts to hospitals in the 340B drug discount program are causing “irreparable injury…by jeopardizing essential programs and services provided to their communities and the vulnerable, poor and other underserved populations, such as oncology, dialysis, and immediate stroke treatment services,” three national hospital groups and three … [Read more...]