August 5, 2010 - The full Senate Appropriations Committee has proposed a $3 million raise for the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) for the fiscal year that begins Oct. 1. In a report accompanying its 2011 federal health spending bill, the committee also expresses its concern with OPA's proposal to narrow the definition of "patient" for 340B purposes and asks the Health … [Read more...]
“Comparative Effectiveness” Could Reshape Pharmacy Decision Making
New federal panel's recommendations are expected to carry great weight with payers, providers and drug makers.August 5, 2010 - A provision in the new health care reform law calling for more research and disclosure on the pros and cons of medical interventions could drastically change how payers pick which medicines to favor, how providers pick which ones to prescribe and how manufacturers pick which ones to develop and promote. A section buried deep within the Affordable Care Act's … [Read more...]
Newly Eligible 340B Hospitals Advised to Apply Early
July 29, 2010 - Federal Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) officials explained during a webinar yesterday how enrollment for hospitals newly eligible for 340B drug discounts will work. But they took a pass on answering some hard questions about retroactive discounts, the definition of an outpatient, billing Medicaid for 340B drugs, and the lack of discounts for purchases of … [Read more...]
OPA Announces July 28 Webinar on 340B Enrollment for New Hospital Types
Also confirms two-month rolling admission period beginning on Aug. 2.July 27, 2010 - The federal Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) formally announced yesterday that it will begin enrolling hospitals that are newly eligible for 340B drug discounts on Aug. 2. It also announced that it will hold a webinar tomorrow, Wednesday July 28, beginning at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern time) to explain how enrollment will proceed. Participants can register for the … [Read more...]
OPA Warned BMS Against Offsetting Repayments to Providers
July 21, 2010 - The federal Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) cautioned Bristol-Myers Squibb (BMS) against offsetting repayments to 340B covered entities for overcharges on products sold between 1998 and 2005 with underpayments it says the entities made during the same timeframe. Public Health Service Lieut. Cmdr. Devin Williams, an OPA program manager, disclosed the warning … [Read more...]
Preliminary Data Show 9.4% Decline in 340B Prices
First effects of health care reform are showing up in third quarter pricing.July 21, 2010 - 340B covered entities are now paying 9.44 percent less on average for prescription drugs than they were in April and May due to changes in the calculation of 340B ceiling prices that took immediate effect with the enactment of health care reform in late March. Christopher Hatwig, vice president of Apexus/340B Prime Vendor Program (PVP), announced the … [Read more...]
Emotions Surface During 340B Conference Session on Orphan Drugs
Mitchell asks drug company representative if it is going to block hospitals' access to discounts.July 21, 2010 - The man who just days ago led the federal Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) pointedly asked an official of a firm that specializes in orphan drugs yesterday if his company was prepared to add staff and use computer screening tools to block children's and rural hospitals from buying such drugs at their 340B discounted prices. The tough question that former OPA … [Read more...]