October 22, 2013—The RAND Corp. announced yesterday that it is launching a project to study and make recommendations for improving the 340B program. Organizers said one of their first tasks will be to submit comments on forthcoming 340B regulations due to be published in the coming months. … [Read more...]
Uncompensated Care Will Remain a Major Issue After ACA
Studies' findings on the uninsured have implications for 340B programOctober 18, 2013—A flurry of new reports by leading health care think tanks shed more light on the fact that uncompensated care will remain a major challenge even after the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is implemented, especially in the 26 states that are not expanding Medicaid under the law. … [Read more...]
340B Registration Period Won’t Be Extended for Now, OPA Says
Agency begins reviewing applications received during 16-day government shutdownOctober 17, 2013—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) says that, for now, it has no plans to extend the October registration period for enrollment in the 340B program beginning Jan. 1, 2014. … [Read more...]
Minnesota Cuts Medicaid Reimbursement for 340B Drugs
State Medicaid agency also issues notice about billing for 340B drugsOctober 16, 2013—Minnesota safety-net health care providers are bracing for a significant reduction in Medicaid fee for service (FFS) reimbursement for 340B drugs starting on Jan. 1. … [Read more...]
Proceedings Delayed in 340B Orphan Drug Exclusion Lawsuit
Judge grants government's motion for a pause due to the federal shutdownOctober 11, 2013—A federal district judge has stayed all proceedings in the lawsuit challenging the legality of the 340B orphan drug exclusion regulation for as long as the federal government shutdown continues. … [Read more...]
HRSA Hamstrung as Shutdown Nears Third Week
340B peer-to-peer webinar postponed, recertification webinars may be nextOctober 10, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) canceled a 340B peer-to-peer network webinar yesterday in one of the first visible examples of the federal government shutdown's effect on the 340B program. … [Read more...]
PhRMA Sues to Block 340B Orphan Drug Rule
HRSA redefined the law and ignored congressional direction, group says(UPDATED Oct. 4, 2013 with comment from 340B hospitals.) October 2, 2013—Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) filed suit in federal district court on Sept. 27 to stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) from implementing HRSA's regulation setting conditions under which critical … [Read more...]