Oct. 1, 2021– The federal government has taken dramatic action to get drug companies to restore 340B pricing for outpatient prescription drugs dispensed by community pharmacies to patients of 340B hospitals. On Sept. 22, the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) sent letters to six drugmakers informing them that the agency is asking the Office of Inspector … [Read more...]
Diabetes Care Bears the Brunt of Drugmakers’ 340B Restrictions
Sept. 23, 2021– The eight pharmaceutical companies that are restricting the discounts they offer through the 340B drug pricing program are blocking safety-net hospitals’ access to savings on a wide range of prescription drugs. But perhaps in no area is this more evident than when looking at the prices of diabetes drugs and the levels of lost 340B resources that otherwise would … [Read more...]
Report by Anti-340B Group Presents Erroneous Picture
Sept. 14, 2021– A new report issued by the Community Oncology Alliance (COA) claims 340B hospitals “charge both commercial payers and uninsured patients extraordinarily high prices and use an aggressive form of price discrimination between payers.” However, the report is highly flawed and presents an inaccurate picture of the role 340B plays in America’s health care safety … [Read more...]
Momentum Grows to End Medicare Cuts for 340B Hospitals
Sept. 9, 2021– Calls are increasing for the Biden administration to stop deep Medicare Part B payment cuts to many hospitals participating in the 340B drug pricing program. The reductions, which have been in place since January 2018, have been harmful for many safety-net hospitals and their patients. Earlier this summer, the administration issued proposed rules that would … [Read more...]
Merck Plan to Withhold 340B Discounts Adds to Threat to Diabetes Patients
August 26, 2021 - The global pharmaceutical manufacturer Merck is the latest company to announce it will stop offering 340B discounts to hospitals on drugs dispensed to patients at community pharmacies. The move comes three months after the federal government warned drug companies that such actions are unlawful under the 340B drug pricing program statute. Merck will become the … [Read more...]
Hope and Vigilance in the 340B Community
By Maureen Testoni August 9, 2021– From my perspective, last month’s 340B Coalition Summer Conference was notable for several reasons. The first was that it marked the 25th year of hosting the conference, reflecting on a quarter-century of work to ensure the 340B drug pricing program delivers on its benefits for safety-net hospitals, health centers, and clinics with a … [Read more...]
Bipartisan Congressional Calls to Protect 340B Intensify
Aug. 4, 2021– A pair of lawmakers is working to advance the latest example of bipartisan, pro-340B legislation in Congress. Reps. Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) and David McKinley (R-W.V.) recently introduced the Preserving Rules Ordered for The Entities Covered Through 340B Act, also known as the PROTECT 340B Act, and are gathering cosponsors from both sides of the political … [Read more...]