April 28, 2016—The chief clinical officer of one of Indiana's largest safety-net hospitals implored Congress to protect the 340B drug discount program in light of "hyperinflation in pharmaceutical pricing." "I understand that some are calling for significant restructuring of the 340B program," said cardiologist Dr. Richard Fogel of St. Vincent health system in written … [Read more...]
Broad-Based Coalition Has Plan to Fix “Broken” Prescription Drug Market
Coalition for Sustainable Rx Pricing calls for transparency, competition, and valueApril 25, 2016—A broad coalition of healthcare providers, payers, and citizens groups today issued a multi-point plan "aimed at fixing the broken prescription drug market" by emphasizing transparency, competition, and value. … [Read more...]
HHS Reopens Comments for 30 Days on 340B Pricing and Monetary Penalty Regulation
Wants input on penny pricing, 340B prices for new drugs, knowing-and-intentional standard for penaltiesApril 18, 2016—The Department of Health and Human Services is giving 340B stakeholders an extra 30 days, until May 19, to comment on three aspects of its proposed 340B program rule setting standards for calculating ceiling prices and implementing civil monetary penalties for drugmakers that knowingly and intentionally overcharge for 340B drugs. … [Read more...]
HRSA Sends OMB Proposal to Amend 340B Pricing Agreement
Public comments due by May 9April 8, 2016—The Health Resources and Services Administration has taken another step toward amending the 340B Pharmaceutical Pricing Agreement to include drug manufacturer program integrity provisions in the Affordable Care Act. … [Read more...]
Price of Insulin More Than Doubled Since 2002
Study adds more fuel to controversy over rising drug pricesApril 7, 2016—Drug manufacturers more than doubled the price of insulin – which people with Type 1 diabetes need to stay alive – between 2002 and 2013, according to new research published in JAMA. … [Read more...]
CMS Gives Drugmakers Extension to Report 5i AMP Per Final Rule
July 1 is the new deadlineApril 6, 2016—The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services is giving drug manufacturers a three-month extension to begin calculating and reporting, in accordance with new federal regulations, the average manufacturer price for "5i" inhalation, infusion, instilled, implanted or injectable drugs that are not generally dispensed through retail community pharmacies. … [Read more...]
Drugmakers Took Hefty Price Increases Since 2011
Charges for top 10 drugs more than doubled in some casesApril 5, 2016—Prices for four of the nation's 10 most widely used prescription drugs more than doubled since 2011 and price hikes for the other six ranged from 96 percent to 54 percent, a Reuters wire service analysis of proprietary data has found. … [Read more...]