October 31, 2017—Thirteen U.S. Senators have asked the Department of Health and Human Services to stop delaying enforcement of a 340B drug discount program final rule to police drug manufacturer overcharging. “HHS has conducted several rounds of public comment and had more than seven years to consider” the 340B ceiling price and manufacturer civil monetary penalties final … [Read more...]
House 340B Hearing Set for Oct. 11
October 5, 2017—The House Energy & Commerce oversight subcommittee is holding a second hearing on the 340B drug discount program on Oct. 11. The subcommittee will hear testimony from executives at health center networks in North and South Carolina, health systems in Maryland and Georgia, and a Wisconsin HIV clinic. Four of the five providers got letters from the … [Read more...]
Food or Medicine?
September 19, 2016—In our last post, we covered new research about the growing epidemic of underinsurance in America. Today, we're covering a new video that puts a human face on those cold facts. The 340B drug discount program "allows us to provide for patients who are underinsured," explains Sherrie Dixon Williams, M.D., Medical Staff President of The MetroHealth System in … [Read more...]
Is Big Pharma Gaming the Orphan Drug System?
September 9, 2016—A new insurance industry study shows that almost half of the time orphan drugs are used for non-orphan indications. Not only that, it found that orphan drugs with the highest rates of non-orphan use are seeing the largest price increases. Such findings raise the question whether drug companies are gaming the orphan drug system to maximize its benefits while at … [Read more...]
How 340B Helped a Patient Get EpiPens She Couldn’t Afford
September 8, 2016—The EpiPen scandal is America's top healthcare story. Fortunately, hospitals in the 340B drug discount program are helping patients get EpiPens and other lifesaving medicines they otherwise couldn't afford. Here's a case in point from Wisconsin. … [Read more...]
Key Committee Chair Rep. Joe Pitts to Retire in 2016
Lawmaker has concerns about clarity of 340B program rules, oversightNovember 10, 2015—Rep. Joe Pitts (R-Pa.), the chairman of the House subcommittee with primary jurisdiction over the 340B program, is retiring from Congress when his current term ends in 2016. … [Read more...]
MedPAC Evaluates Options On Part B
May advise Congress to reduce Part B drug payments to 340B hospitalsNovember 6, 2015 -- The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission discussed options to reduce Medicare Part B drug payments to hospitals participating in the 340B program during its November public meeting, held yesterday. MedPAC previously raised this issue in its June 2015 report to Congress but made no recommendations. … [Read more...]