March 24, 2015—The Department of Health and Human Services has again urged a federal district judge to dismiss the drug industry’s lawsuit against the 340B orphan drug exclusion interpretive rule, saying the industry's claim that the rule violates the Administrative Procedures Act has no merit. … [Read more...]
House Subcommittee Holds Hearing on 340B
Members express support but want more clarity and transparencyMarch 24, 2015—Members of a House health subcommittee expressed strong support for the 340B program during a hearing today, with some stating more should be done to clarify program requirements and enhance program transparency. … [Read more...]
House 340B Hearing Rescheduled for March 24
HRSA, GAO, and OIG are slated to testifyMarch 17, 2015—The House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee has rescheduled a hearing on the 340B program for March 24, according to a notation on the subcommittee's home page. The session was originally slated for March 5 but postponed due to a snowstorm. … [Read more...]
HRSA’s Wakefield Elevated to Number Two Post at HHS
Jim Macrae, who has run FQHC's parent bureau, will run HRSA on acting basisMarch 12, 2015—Mary Wakefield, who has led the Heath Resources and Services Administration since 2009, was today named Acting Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. … [Read more...]
340B a Safe Haven From Drugmakers’ Worst Overpricing Practices
Congratulations to John Rother of the National Coalition on Health Care, who wrote a great piece about 340B in Morning Consult on March 5. The 340B program, he says, gives safety-net hospitals and other providers "a safe haven" from the drug industry's "worst overpricing practices." "The anti-340B campaign is fundamentally a means to distract lawmakers from the fact that … [Read more...]
Prescription Drug Spending Jumped 13.1% Last Year, Study Finds
Hepatitis C drugs helped fuel the biggest year-to-year increase since 2003March 11, 2015—Prescription drug spending skyrocketed in 2014, rising 13.1 percent over 2013 for all drugs – the highest rate in a decade – and a record-setting 30.9 percent for specialty drugs, according to a new report by pharmacy benefit management company Express Scripts. … [Read more...]
The Real Story on 340B Hospital Growth
Much noise has been made by critics about the number of hospitals in the 340B drug discount program. Indeed, the number has doubled since 2010. Before you assume the worst, know this: Almost all of the newcomers are tiny rural hospitals with 25 beds or less. These facilities (plus three freestanding cancer hospitals) account for only 3 percent of annual 340B drug spending. The … [Read more...]