May 6, 2015—Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access, which represents more than 1,000 hospitals enrolled in the 340B drug discount program, has changed its name to 340B Health. … [Read more...]
Study: CMS Overpays for Home Infusion Drugs
New payment methodology would save hundreds of millions of dollars, OIG saysApril 30, 2015—Medicare could have saved more than a quarter of a billion dollars during a recent 18-month period if it had changed how it pays for drug infusions that patients often receive at home, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General says in a new report. … [Read more...]
OIG Nudges Congress and CMS on Medicare Part D Drug Rebates
Medicaid drug rebates are substantially higher, it notesApril 29, 2015—Congress and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services should take a harder look at obtaining additional prescription drug rebates under Medicare Part D, the Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General recommends in a new report. … [Read more...]
HRSA Asks Drugmakers to Verify Their Info in 340B Database
Makes request in connection with new price verification systemApril 28, 2015—The Health Resources and Services Administration has asked drugmakers to verify by May 15 that their information in the 340B program database is complete and up to date. … [Read more...]
Specialty Drug Hyperinflation Threatens Drug Access
The price of specialty drugs is far outstripping inflation, according to a new white paper from the Campaign for Sustainable Rx Pricing. Between 2012 and 2013, specialty drugs for inflammatory conditions rose 15 percent; for multiple sclerosis 14.7 percent and for cancer 13.6 percent, according to the report. Meanwhile, consumer prices rose just 1.5 percent. “Large, … [Read more...]
HRSA Submits 340B Information Collection Request to White House
Next step in road to creating ceiling price websiteApril 22, 2015 --The Health Resources and Services Administration has submitted an information collection request to the Office of Management and Budget for its review and approval. … [Read more...]
PhRMA Calls Again for Vacating 340B Orphan Drug Rule
Drugmakers request a hearing before judgeApril 16, 2015—The Department of Health and Human Services' 340B orphan drug exclusion interpretive rule violates the 340B statute's plain language and forces drugmakers either to obey "or face an enforcement action where HHS will be the government lawyer, the judge, and the jury," drugmakers say in a new court filing. … [Read more...]