December 16, 2010—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) plans to send an email message to drug manufacturers shortly informing them of legislation that President Obama signed last night restoring children's hospitals' ability to buy orphan drugs at 340B-discounted prices. HRSA will also send email messages to children's hospitals and other affected … [Read more...]
Congress Passes Orphan Drug Fix for Children’s Hospitals
Groups vow to press repeal of ban affecting rural and cancer hospitals.December 9, 2010—The U.S. House gave final approval to legislation today reversing the provision in health care reform that denied children's hospitals access to 340B discounts on so-called "orphan drugs" for their patients, many of whom require expensive, long-term or complicated care. The Senate passed the measure late yesterday. President Obama has indicated that he will … [Read more...]
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The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replacing our old monthly edition.December 8, 2010—The Drug Discount Monitor is now producing an enhanced print edition four times a year. It's replaced our old monthly newsletter and gives you a compilation of our best recent online articles. Please contact Tom Mirga at tom.mirga@340binformed.associationbreeze.com or 202-552-5853 to let us know if you want to receive the quarterly print edition by mail for a … [Read more...]
Senate to Vote to Lift Orphan Drug Ban for Children’s Hospitals
December 8, 2010—In move that could end months of frustration for 340B children's hospitals, the U.S. Senate will vote later today on a must-pass Medicare bill with a provision that would allow the hospitals to buy so-called orphan drugs at 340B discount prices. The House could vote on the bill as early as tomorrow, Dec. 9, and President Obama may sign it into law as soon as … [Read more...]
Federal Deficit Reduction Panel Recommends Expanding Rebates to Medicare Part D
Also calls for tight limits on federal health spending.December 2, 2010—The leaders of a bipartisan deficit reduction commission appointed by President Obama released a final plan yesterday calling for major changes in federal health policy and tight limits on federal health spending. The 18-member National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform will vote on the plan Dec. 3. The report, entitled "The Moment of Truth," … [Read more...]
AIDS Group Sues BMS for Retroactive 340B Discounts
Says price reductions due to health care reform extend back to the beginning to 2010.December 2, 2010—The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) has sued Bristol-Meyers Squibb (BMS) to recover the $124,000 it estimates it overpaid for 340B-discounted drugs during the first half of 2010 due to what it claims was the company's delay in reducing its prices as required by health care reform. The suit, filed Nov. 24 in federal district court in Los Angeles, asserts … [Read more...]
Impax Laboratories to Provide $525,000 in 340B Refunds
Repayments cover purchases from late 2007 through early 2010.November 24, 2010—Impax Laboratories will be providing more than 1,600 340B covered entities with a total of $525,000 in refunds for overcharges from the third quarter of 2007 through the first quarter of 2010 for products bearing labeler code 00115, the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) announced on its Web site yesterday. According to OPA, when the company recalculated its … [Read more...]