Feb. 15, 2018 – Rising drug prices will be a major driver of higher U.S. healthcare spending in the coming decade, new healthcare sending projections from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services show. According to CMS’s annual projection, healthcare spending will grow an average of 5.5 percent a year from 2017 through 2026, led by prescription drug spending growth … [Read more...]
Is Trump Budget DOA? What About 340B Changes?
Feb. 13, 2018—Washington, D.C., has many traditions. Cherry blossoms in Spring. Oppressive heat and humidity in Summer. School closings due to snow flurries in Winter. This week marked the latest installment of another: the release of the President’s budget blueprint for the coming year. On Monday, President Trump released what the White House has dubbed “An American Budget” … [Read more...]
Does 340B Really Drive Up the Cost Of Cancer Care?
Feb. 8, 2018— Academic experts continue to question claims that the 340B drug discount program is the cause of consolidations of private physician practices and community-based hospitals. They argue the trend toward consolidation is much more complex and due to a series of factors, including changes in reimbursement policies. In the Feb. 8 issue of Forbes magazine, Duke … [Read more...]
Health Policy Experts Question Findings in Controversial NEJM Study
February 2, 2018—A team of independent health policy experts have questioned the major findings in a recent New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) study critical of the 340B drug pricing program. In its Jan. 24 issue, the journal published a study authored by Sunita Desai, Ph.D., and J. Michael McWilliams, M.D., Ph.D., that raised questions about whether 340B hospitals are … [Read more...]
Appeals Court Expedites Lawsuit to Stop Deep Medicare Cuts to 340B Hospitals
January 31, 2018—A federal appeals court has agreed to fast-track its consideration of a lawsuit aimed at stopping a nearly 30 percent cut in 340B disproportionate share hospitals’ (DSH) and rural referral centers’ (RRC) Medicare Part B drug reimbursement that took effect on Jan. 1. … [Read more...]
Flaws in Understanding Intent of 340B Program Lead to Incomplete Conclusions in Study
January 25, 2018—A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)[i] suggests that hospital use of the 340B program is “contrary to the goals of the program,” relying on a finding that there is no evidence of hospitals using 340B savings to expand care or lower mortality among low-income patients. This finding is inconsistent with existing research that … [Read more...]
The 340B Commitment to Service
January 15, 2018—On today’s national holiday, people nationwide are participating in a national day of service in communities that need help the most. Every day for the past 25 years, hospitals and health systems participating in the 340B drug discount program have served the underserved in those same communities. Underserved patients – including those with low incomes, … [Read more...]