July 19, 2017 – The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ proposal to slash 340B hospitals’ reimbursement for Medicare Part B drugs would punch a big hole in America’s healthcare safety net. Low-income seniors with cancer would be especially at risk. 340B disproportionate share hospitals treat 60 percent more such patients than non-340B hospitals and physician … [Read more...]
Slafsky: 340B “Punches Above its Weight”
July 17, 2017—As a House Energy & Commerce subcommittee prepares for an oversight hearing on the 340B drug discount program tomorrow, the head of the group that represents 340B hospitals is urging lawmakers to “protect this program so it continues to help hospitals serve their low-income and rural patients for years to come.” “The 340B program is more than a line item on … [Read more...]
Studies Confirm 340B Helps Hospitals Serve Low-Income and Rural Patients Without Raising Drug Prices
July 17, 2017 — More than $457 billion is spent on prescription drugs in America annually. Access to healthcare, however, remains a struggle for many Americans. The 340B drug discount program ensures that low-income, Medicaid, uninsured, and underinsured patients can get necessary treatment for medical conditions. These discounts cost taxpayers zero dollars. 340B lets America’s … [Read more...]
340B Health Strongly Opposes Proposal to Cut 340B Hospitals’ Medicare Part B Drug Reimbursement
July 14, 2017 — The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ proposal yesterday to deeply cut what it pays hospitals in the 340B drug discount program for Medicare Part B drugs would gravely harm 340B hospitals’ ability to treat their low-income patients, including low-income Medicare beneficiaries. CMS called for the cut in its annual hospital outpatient payment proposed … [Read more...]
Scaling Back 340B Will Hurt the Poor, Lawmakers Write to President
June 29, 2017—Twenty-nine members of Congress have written to President Trump urging him not to scale back the 340B drug discount program in an executive order on drug prices. In their June 23 letter to the president, the lawmakers said they were concerned that the draft executive order targets the 340B drug pricing program. “The 340B program requires pharmaceutical … [Read more...]
Bipartisan Bill Reintroduced to Partially Close Loophole Hurting Rural Hospitals
June 19, 2017—A Democrat and a Republican on a key House committee with responsibility for healthcare are sponsoring legislation to let rural and free-standing cancer hospitals get 340B drug discounts on orphan drugs when the drugs are used for common diseases or conditions. It is identical to a bill filed late in the 114th Congress. … [Read more...]
Mylan May Have Overcharged Medicaid $1.27 Billion for EpiPen
June 12, 2017—Medicaid may have overpaid drug manufacturer Mylan as much as $1.27 billion for the emergency allergy drug EpiPen from 2006 through 2016 because it was misclassified as a generic rather than brand-name drug, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General told Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in a letter. … [Read more...]