Dec. 9, 2022— On Jan. 1, hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program will start off the new year with something they have not had since 2017 – full Medicare payment rates for 340B-purchased drugs. While those hospitals say the end to the cuts is welcome news, they continue to wait for repayments to remedy the nearly five years’ worth of pay cuts that many 340B … [Read more...]
340B Helps Replace Emergency Care with Coordinated Care
Nov. 22, 2022— No patient should be showing up in the emergency department as many as 20 times per year because of their chronic health conditions. But nearly a decade ago, the staff at Hennepin Healthcare in Minneapolis were noticing this happening among some of their patients with complex health care needs and multiple diagnoses. That is when the health system created an … [Read more...]
Henry Waxman Reflects on 340B’s 30-Year Legacy
Nov. 10, 2022— It is safe to say the 340B drug pricing program would not be what it is today without former Congressman Henry Waxman. In fact, 340B might not even exist. As chairman of the key congressional committee with jurisdiction over health care programs, the California Democrat was the lead author of the legislation that created 340B in 1992. To mark the 30th anniversary … [Read more...]
30 Years of Care: A Happy, Healthy Anniversary for 340B!
Nov. 4, 2022— Today marks the 30th anniversary of the enactment of the 340B drug pricing program. With his signature on Nov. 4, 1992, President George H.W. Bush completed a bipartisan effort in Congress to protect the health care safety net and boost care for people living with low incomes. The new program was unusual in that it did not ask the American taxpayers to provide … [Read more...]
Research Continues to Illustrate 340B’s Valuable Role
October 20, 2022— A pair of new research reports adds to the growing body of evidence of the critical role 340B hospitals play in caring for patients living with low incomes. The research also demonstrates the crucial part these hospitals played in the initial stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. To qualify for 340B drug discounts, most hospitals must document that they serve a … [Read more...]
Pharmacy Technicians Keep 340B Running Smoothly Despite Workforce Challenges
Oct. 18, 2022– When patients consider their interactions with a hospital pharmacy department, they immediately might think of a pharmacist. However, all these departments also rely on pharmacy technicians to operate smoothly. These dedicated techs provide a wide range of support to ensure an efficient pharmacy that complies with regulations and enables patient access to needed … [Read more...]
Faces of 340B: Patients Are Skipping Medications Because of Drug Company Restrictions
Sept. 23, 2022 – Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center (SMRMC) had big plans for how it could reach more patients in need in the communities that it serves. But that all changed when drug companies started restricting access to 340B drug pricing program discounts to SMRMC and other safety-net hospitals. “We had plans of extending our services to expand mental health … [Read more...]