December 13, 2017—Members of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee heard a powerful defense of the 340B drug discount program yesterday at a hearing on the new National Academies of Sciences (NAS) report on why medicines cost so much and what can be done about it. The committee’s senior Democratic member, Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), noted that … [Read more...]
Don’t Let CMS Cut 340B Hospital Payments, 32 Hospital Associations Urge Court
December 13, 2017—Thirty-two state and regional hospital associations say many hospitals they represent and scores of low-income, vulnerable, and rural patients the hospitals serve will suffer great harm if a controversial Medicare regulation takes effect on Jan. 1 as planned. … [Read more...]
Bipartisan Senate Group Asks Leaders to Help Block 340B Hospital Cuts
December 6, 2017—Efforts to block impending cuts to Medicare Part B payments to 340B hospitals gained momentum this week as a bipartisan group of six U.S. senators urged party leaders to enact legislation stopping the cuts before the end of December. The Dec. 5 letter from Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), … [Read more...]
Senate Hearing Next Week on Outrageous Prescription Drug Prices
December 5, 2017—The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee is holding a Dec. 12 hearing on new National Academies of Sciences (NAS) findings on why medicines cost so much and recommendations on how to fix the problem. The NAS’s Nov. 30 report is drawing attention for calling on the federal government to negotiate drugs prices with manufacturers, deny … [Read more...]
340B: A Key Part of Ending the HIV/AIDS Epidemic
Today on World AIDS Day we’re offering insight from Todd Grove, Manager of Colorado’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program. On Nov. 7, 2017, Grove gave a presentation during a congressional briefing on the 340B drug discount program’s role in fighting the HIV/AIDS epidemic. I have been living with HIV for 30 years and I guess you could call me a 340B success story. Back in the early … [Read more...]
340B Hospital Leaders Urge Congress to Block Devastating Medicare Cuts
November 29, 2017—Hospital leaders from 23 states are on Capitol Hill today to urge passage of a bipartisan bill to stop deep reductions in Medicare Part B drug payments to hospitals that participate in the 340B drug discount program. Across the country, meanwhile, 340B hospitals are contacting their lawmakers via email and social media to convey their deep concerns about the … [Read more...]
Judge Orders Dec. 21 Hearing in Suit to Block Huge Cuts to 340B Hospitals
November 28, 2017—A federal district judge has scheduled a Dec. 21 hearing in the lawsuit seeking to stop drastic Medicare Part B drug reimbursement cuts for many 340B hospitals from taking effect on Jan. 1. … [Read more...]