April 26, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) might have to significantly reduce the number of audits of 340B covered entities it plans to perform this year due to automatic federal spending cuts that began on March 1. During a December meeting of hospital pharmacists, Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) Director Cmdr. Krista Pedley said there would be … [Read more...]
Georgia 340B Hospital in Crosshairs After Remarks on TV
Lawmakers say official's comments on Fox program prompted inquiryApril 22, 2013—Two members of Congress have written to a Georgia 340B hospital after one of its officials appeared on national television to respond to a drug industry white paper that alleges misuse of the program. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) and Rep. Bill Cassidy (R-La.) sent a letter to Columbus (Ga.) Regional Healthcare System on April 18 seeking information by May 2 … [Read more...]
President Once Again Proposes a 340B User Fee
Budget also has language that would disqualify some hospitals from programApril 11, 2013—The Obama administration is proposing once again to help finance the 340B drug discount program with a 0.1 percent fee (or a penny on every $10) on 340B drug purchases. The user fee was included in the President's proposed budget for fiscal 2014 released yesterday. … [Read more...]
HRSA Partially Extends 340B GPO Exclusion Deadline to Aug. 7
Extra time granted only to hospitals unable to meet original April 7 dateApril 9, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has given certain 340B hospitals that could not meet an April 7 deadline to change their drug purchasing and replenishment systems a four month extension. Hospitals that were able to make the changes on time were required to do so by the end of the day Sunday. … [Read more...]
Senator Asks HRSA Why It Doesn’t Collect 340B Financial Data
Judiciary Ranking Member Grassley seeks response by April 22April 4, 2013—The Senate Judiciary Committee's senior Republican has asked the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) why it does not collect data on how much revenue safety-net providers derive from the 340B drug discount program, what is the payer mix for the 340B drugs they administer or dispense, and how they use 340B savings to meet program goals. Sen. … [Read more...]
Recent Court Decision May Impact Some Hospitals’ 340B Eligibility
Ruling is latest twist in dispute over how to calculate disproportionate share percentageApril 2, 2013—A recent ruling in the ongoing legal battle over how to calculate safety-net hospitals' disproportionate share (DSH) percentages could affect some hospitals’ participation in the 340B drug discount program. In its March 27 decision in Metropolitan Hospital v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit upheld a … [Read more...]
OPA Streamlines 340B Contract Pharmacy Registration
Agency automates some steps in process and adds language to certification statementMarch 25, 2013—Health care providers in the 340B program will notice changes in the contract pharmacy enrollment process the next time they use the 340B database to register a new pharmacy. The Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) described the changes, which take effect with the upcoming April 1-15 quarterly registration period, during a March 20 webinar. … [Read more...]