August 1, 2012—The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has proposed to budget $48.1 billion for Medicare reimbursement to hospital outpatient facilities in 2013, an increase of 2.1 percent above this year’s level. In addition, it will increase the payment rate for separately payable drugs and biologicals by 2 percent and drop a problematic payment methodology that … [Read more...]
Octapharma Partners With Apexus to Provide IGIV at Sub-340B Price
Sub-ceiling price available for octagam 5% now and possibly for 10% formulation laterAugust 1, 2012—Octapharma USA's octagam 5% immune globulin intravenous (IGIV) therapy is now available at sub-340B pricing to participants in the Apexus/340B Prime Vendor Program (PVP). Apexus Director of Contract Services John Barnes made the announcement in a July 30 email to PVP participants. … [Read more...]
HRSA Changes Timetable for Enrollment in 340B
Providers get four 15-day periods per year to add themselves, child sites, and contract pharmaciesJuly 25, 2012—Beginning this fall, health care providers will have four 15-day periods per year in which to enroll themselves, their outpatient facilities, or their contract pharmacies in the 340B program, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) announced in the Federal Register yesterday. HRSA issued the notice in final form and it will take effect Oct. 1, … [Read more...]
House Panel Excludes 340B User Fee from FY 2013 Funding Bill
Measure also would bar HHS from using funds to implement health care reformJuly 23, 2012—The House health appropriations subcommittee has declined to include language in its fiscal 2013 funding bill for the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that would authorize the collection of user fees on 340B discounted drugs. Its July 18 action came about a month after the Senate Appropriations Committee passed an HHS spending bill that would … [Read more...]
Lawmakers Ask HRSA to Revise 340B Patient Definition
Program has strayed from its intended focus on the poor and uninsured, they sayJuly 20, 2012—Two influential members of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health have asked the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to issue an updated 340B definition of patient "that ensures the program's eligibility is for those truly in need and curbs any misuse of the program." In a July 18 letter to HRSA Administrator Mary Wakefield, … [Read more...]
OPA May Alter Process for Adding Entities to 340B
Resources saved would go toward program integrity, OPA Director Pedley saysJuly 16, 2012—The Office of Pharmacy Affairs’ (OPA) may change its timetable for enrolling covered entities and their satellites in the 340B program to free up staff for program integrity efforts, OPA Director Krista Pedley said during the 340B Coalition annual conference. Currently, when an entity or one of its outpatient sites meets all 340B requirements, OPA makes it … [Read more...]
HRSA Formally Solicits Bids for New 340B Contract Agency
Request for proposals suggests that there could be changes in store for PSSC(Updated on July 17 with comment from the American Pharmacists Association) July 16, 2012—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has formally opened the competition for a contractor to support its 340B program integrity efforts and perhaps take over enrolling and recertifying providers in the drug discount program. Bids are due by 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) on … [Read more...]