November 20, 2014—A bipartisan group of 27 U.S. Senators has asked President Obama not to weaken critical access hospitals in his forthcoming fiscal year 2016 budget request to Congress. … [Read more...]
PhRMA Pushes to Reopen 340B Statute on Capitol Hill
Hospitals say legislative changes could put program in jeopardyThe drug industry has announced it wants Congress to reopen the original 340B law to give the Health Resources and Services Administration additional rule- making authority to regulate the program. … [Read more...]
Goodbye, 340B Mega-Reg. Hello, 340B Guidance
Welcome back, proposed rules on manufacturer sanctions and dispute resolutionNovember 14, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration said for the record this morning that, in 2015, it "plans to issue a proposed guidance for notice and comment that will address key policy issues raised by various stakeholders committed to the integrity of the 340B program." … [Read more...]
Congress Asked to Investigate Genentech’s Specialty-Drug Switch
10 major academic medical centers seek expedited reviewNovember 14, 2014—Ten of the nation's leading academic medical centers have asked Congress to investigate Genentech's decision to move the world’s three top-selling cancer drugs into the more expensive specialty distribution channel. … [Read more...]
HRSA Withdraws 340B Mega-Reg, Will Issue Guidance Instead
Publication expected early next yearNovember 13, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration is withdrawing its planned comprehensive 340B program regulation tomorrow morning and instead will issue guidance early next year revising policies for key program elements. … [Read more...]
Ex-U.S. Rep. Gutknecht: Stop Big Pharma From Gutting 340B
Bravo to former Congressman Gil Gutknecht for his Veteran's Day op-ed in Tucker Carlson's The Daily Caller news site urging "policy makers in general and conservatives in particular [to] fight to defend and preserve" 340B. Read it here and spread the word about it on Twitter and other social media. Gutknecht, a Minnesota Republican, served six terms in the U.S. House starting … [Read more...]
MedPAC Briefed About 340B Paper Requested by Lawmakers
Commission will not vote on findings or make recommendations to CongressNovember 10, 2014—Medicare Payments Advisory Commission staff members briefed the panel last week about a commission paper on the 340B program requested by congressional Medicare oversight committees. … [Read more...]