July 31, 2014—In response to the Health Resources and Services Administration's new 340B orphan drug exclusion interpretive rule, the biopharmaceutical manufacturer Amgen has decided to continue providing 340B pricing on its orphan-designated products to critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, and free-standing cancer hospitals. … [Read more...]
CMS Official Speaks About 340B Duplicate Discounts in Managed Care
Responsibility for prevention rests with states and Medicaid MCOs, Fine saysJuly 30, 2014—It is incumbent on the states and their Medicaid managed care contractors to ensure that drugmakers are protected against paying both a 340B discount and a Medicaid rebate on drugs provided to Medicaid managed care enrollees, a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services senior pharmacy official said earlier this month during a meeting of 340B stakeholders. … [Read more...]
Without 340B, “We Would Be Forced to Cut Back Services and Close Cancer Clinics”
Without the 340B program, hospitals serving huge percentages of needy patients "would be forced to cut back services and close cancer clinics that help the underserved," prominent oncologists at two academic medical centers write in Forbes.com today. "We see the benefits from 340B every day," say Dr. Robert Chapman of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit and Dr. Andres Wiernik … [Read more...]
Senate Subcommittee Would Provide Up to $17 Million for 340B Program
Urges HRSA to move forward on pricing transparencyJuly 29, 2014—Senate appropriators have released a draft federal health spending bill for fiscal year 2015 that would provide $10.2 million in appropriated funds for 340B program administration. … [Read more...]
340B Orphan Drug Interpretative Rule Isn’t Binding, HHS Says
Statute imposes obligations, not the rule, government says in court papersJuly 29, 2014—The Department of Health and Human Services filed papers in federal court last week to clarify that requirements under the Health Resources and Services Administration's new 340B orphan drug exclusion interpretative rule come from the 340B statute, not from rule itself. … [Read more...]
340B Drug Discounts Save Providers About $1.6 Billion Annually, RAND Says
Report looks at program's history, purpose, and policy considerationsJuly 23, 2014—Safety-net health care providers saved an estimated $1.6 billion in 2011 by participating in the 340B program, a new analysis by the RAND Corp. shows. … [Read more...]
HRSA Publishes 340B Orphan Drug Exclusion Interpretative Rule
In court filing, PhRMA accuses federal government of a "power play"July 21, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration published an "interpretive" rule this morning on the statutory exclusion on 340B pricing on orphan drugs for critical access hospitals, sole community hospitals, rural referral centers, and free-standing cancer hospitals. … [Read more...]