July 16, 2013— Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) received the 340B Coalition's Lifetime Achievement Award yesterday during a ceremony opening the group's 17th Annual Conference, held in Washington, D.C. The coalition represents safety-net health care providers that participate in the 340B drug discount program. … [Read more...]
Senate Appropriators Say 340B Is Not Just an “Individual Discount”
Committee's report language supports providers' position in debate over program's purposeJuly 15, 2013—The full Senate Appropriations Committee has strongly reaffirmed that the 340B program is "more than simply an individual discount program" in report language accompanying its fiscal 2014 spending bill for labor, health, and education programs. … [Read more...]
Senator Grassley, PhRMA Respond to 340B Hospitals’ Report
Lawmaker says study isn't "objective" while drugmakers raise doubts about program in its "current form"July 12, 2013—The Senate Republican who has been examining hospitals' participation in the 340B program and the trade association for brand-name drug manufacturers have responded to a major new report on the 340B drug discount program. … [Read more...]
Coalition of Hospital Groups Underscores 340B’s Importance
Report and website describe program's value and respond to its criticsJuly 9, 2013—Three associations that represent a broad group of hospitals in the 340B drug discount program joined together today to highlight how the program "benefits vulnerable patients, including those with little or no ability to pay." … [Read more...]
Hospitals Accused of Using 340B Funds to Buy Up Cancer Clinics
The claim, disputed by hospitals, came up during hearing on Medicare Part B drugsJuly 5, 2013—The head of a patient group that has been critical of the 340B drug discount program told a House health subcommittee member last week he was correct to understand that hospitals leverage their 340B savings to buy competing cancer clinics. … [Read more...]
OPA Tweaks 340B Hospital Recertification Process
New GPO exclusion requirements necessitate some changesJuly 2, 2013—All 340B hospitals will need to recertify their eligibility for the drug discount program during a four-week period that will begin in mid-August, but the exact start date has yet to be announced, a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) representative said during a webinar last week. … [Read more...]
Public Hospital Group Re-Names Itself America’s Essential Hospitals
Association played an important role in the creation of the 340B programJune 28, 2013—The National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems (NAPH), which was instrumental in the 340B drug discount program's creation and remains one of its chief proponents, has changed its name to America's Essential Hospitals to emphasize its members' mission as providers of "high-quality and innovative care to all, including the most vulnerable." … [Read more...]