Hospitals welcome Congress's interest in 340B, but they ask lawmakers to "let the regulatory process work" before doing anything to the drug discount program, the head of the group representing 340B hospitals writes in the March 5 edition of The Hill. The essay by Ted Slafsky, president and CEO of Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access, was timed to run on the same day … [Read more...]
Hospital Survey: Genentech’s Cancer Drug Distribution Change Raises Costs, Disrupts Care
Move to specialty channel also raises risk of 340B noncompliance, hospitals warnMarch 6, 2015—Genentech's decision last fall to move its top-selling cancer drugs Avastin, Herceptin, and Rituxan into the specialty distribution channel has cost hospitals more than $300 million and disrupted patient care, a survey of more than 200 hospitals has found. Nearly two out of five hospitals (39 percent) surveyed said the change affects their risk of 340B program … [Read more...]
MedPAC: No 340B Recommendations to Congress This Year
June report will include a chapter about 340B, but it won't suggest any changesMarch 6, 2015—The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission will include a chapter about the 340B program in its June report to Congress, Chairman Glenn Hackbarth said during yesterday's commission meeting. But it will make no recommendations about 340B at this time, he added, and it remains up in the air whether the commission will make such recommendations at all. … [Read more...]
HRSA Has Sharpened 340B Oversight, Agencies Tell House Panel
Written testimony posted in advance of hearing, which has been postponedMarch 4, 2015—The Health Resources and Services Administration has significantly strengthened its oversight of the 340B program in recent years, government witnesses say in written testimony submitted in advance of a congressional hearing on the drug discount program. … [Read more...]
Hospital Outpatient Departments Treat Poorer, Sicker Patients
A brickbat often heaved at 340B hospitals is that the drug discounts they get give them an unfair competitive advantage over private cancer clinics. These critics conveniently neglect to mention that many private cancer clinics cherry pick their patients while 340B hospitals treat all who walk through their doors regardless of ability to pay. A new study by KNG Health … [Read more...]
Hospital Outpatient Departments Treat Sicker, Poorer Patients, Study Finds
Research released amid debate over site-neutral paymentsMarch 4, 2015—Patients receiving care in hospital outpatient departments are sicker and poorer than those receiving care in physician offices and could lose access to care if Congress significantly reduces payments to outpatient departments, a new study has found. … [Read more...]
House Appropriations Chairman Questions 340B User Fee
Levy will "wreak havoc" in rural areas, Rep. Rogers saysMarch 4, 2015—The Obama administration's proposed 0.1 percent user fee on 340B drug purchases "will wreak havoc on healthcare providers, especially those in rural areas," the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee has told the Secretary of Health and Human Services. … [Read more...]