May 21, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration has taken the first step toward soliciting proposals to operate the 340B Prime Vendor Program. … [Read more...]
340B Hospitals Are Major Providers of Uncompensated Care
The policy journal Health Affairs has published a new study that found that hospitals provide 60 percent of all the uncompensated care in America. Hospitals in the 340B program provide a hefty chunk of this benefit. The American Hospital Association recently reported that 340B hospitals account for around 60 percent of the uncompensated care that hospitals provide. That works … [Read more...]
Study: Hospitals Pay for 60 Percent of Uncompensated Care
Second study finds cost of cancer drugs is skyrocketingMay 14, 2014—Hospitals shoulder roughly 60 percent of the cost of uncompensated health care in America, more than four times the share borne by private office-based practices, Urban Institute researchers report in the latest edition of Health Affairs. … [Read more...]
HRSA Releases 340B Audit Statistics
Analysis covers the 51 audits conducted in fiscal 2012May 9, 2014—The Health Resources and Services Administration has published a brief statistical analysis of findings from its first round of 340B covered entity audits. … [Read more...]
Oregon Hospitals: 340B Enables Us to Expand Care
About 30 Oregon hospitals that serve poor and rural patients met near Portland on April 29 to discuss how the 340B drug discount program enables them to fulfill their safety-net mission, the Portland Business Journal reports. Click here to read the article "While Oregon hospitals embrace drug discount program, 'Big Pharma' wants to scale it back." 340B savings have allowed … [Read more...]
OIG Confirms 340B Guidance Is Silent on Medicaid MCO Duplicate Discounts
Groups said report implied that entities were ignoring a duty that, in fact, doesn't existApril 30, 2014—Federal 340B contract pharmacy guidance "does not specify" whether covered entities are responsible for ensuring that states do not collect manufacturer rebates for 340B-purchased drugs reimbursed by Medicaid managed care organizations, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General says in a letter to two 340B provider groups. … [Read more...]
Alabama Hospital Defends 340B
More hospitals are stepping up to defend and promote the 340B program. Monroe County Hospital in Monroeville, Ala., is the latest. Pharmacy Director Cynthia Martens wrote a pointed op-ed in rebuttal to a Big Pharma-generated screed that ran in early April on AL.com, a Gannett news site. "To read the commentary, Vital Drug Program for the Poor is in Real Danger, you’d think … [Read more...]