October 11, 2016—Embattled EpiPen manufacturer Mylan has agreed to a $465 million settlement with the U.S. Justice Department to resolve claims the company underpaid Medicaid drug rebates by misclassifying EpiPen as a generic rather than brand-name product. It is unclear if the deal will compensate healthcare providers in the 340B drug discount program for Mylan overcharges. … [Read more...]
Audits Are Just One of the Ways HRSA Checks up on 340B Providers
October 7, 2016—The Health Resources and Services Administration audited 200 healthcare providers for compliance with 340B drug discount program requirements in the just-ended fiscal year, HRSA says. Audits are just one of the tools HRSA uses to make sure providers follow 340B's rules. … [Read more...]
An Idea MedPAC Should Take Off the Table
October 7, 2016—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission continues to look at ways to put a lid on rising drug costs. MedPAC, which advises Congress on Medicare policy, has been meeting this week to continue discussions that began last year on changing how Medicare pays providers for drugs. MedPAC plans to make recommendations this spring. Reducing payment rates to hospitals in … [Read more...]
You’re Busted: Mylan Bilks Medicaid, Feds Confirm
October 6, 2016—EpiPen manufacturer Mylan cheated Medicaid out of millions of dollars of drug rebates for almost 20 years by misclassifying the product as a generic, two senior members of Congress said yesterday after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services confirmed the situation in a letter. Although CMS didn't address the matter in the letter, others in Congress … [Read more...]
Reputation Rehab Tip for Big Pharma: Stop Bashing 340B
October 5, 2016—Having infuriated Americans with sky-high drug prices, "you'd think the drug industry might look for ways to improve its image," writes former Congressman Gil Gutknecht (R-Minn.) in a commentary for Fortune.com. But if that's what you thought, he's quick to add, you'd be wrong. … [Read more...]
340B Is a Brake on Runaway Drug Prices
October 3, 2016—To clamp down on rising drug prices, Congress should protect the 340B drug discount program – a rare public policy initiative that helps healthcare providers and their patients, the leader of a group of more than 1,200 safety-net hospitals writes in a new op-ed for Yahoo Finance. … [Read more...]
Poll: 8 in 10 Americans Say Rx Drugs Cost Too Much
September 29, 2016—Nearly eight in 10 Americans (77 percent) think prescription drugs cost too much, the latest Kaiser Family Foundation tracking poll finds. The KKF poll adds to the growing body of evidence that Americans are fed up with drug company profiteering. The 340B drug discount program lowers drug prices for hospitals that care for large numbers of vulnerable … [Read more...]