April 13, 2010 - The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) says it will appeal a federal district judge's recent dismissal of its challenge to a 2009 California law that drastically cut the reimbursements safety-net providers get from the state Medicaid agency when dispensing or administering prescription drugs to Medicaid outpatients. Backgrounder: The 340B Medicaid … [Read more...]
340B Champion Bart Stupak Announces Retirement from Congress
Eighteen-year veteran supported expansion and tougher oversight of drug-discount program.April 9, 2010 - U.S. Rep. Bart Stupak (D-Mich.), a longtime supporter of safety-net health care providers and expansion of the 340B drug discount program, announced today he will not seek re-election and retire after 18 years in Congress. Stupak was instrumental in efforts to expand the 340B program to new hospitals in the new health care reform law. He was an original … [Read more...]
Obama Set to Sign Health Reform Bill; 340B Inpatient Provision Not Restored
Congress has completed action on a sweeping health care reform package without restoring the inpatient expansion of the 340B drug discount program included in earlier versions of the plan.March 29, 2010 - Congress has completed action on a sweeping health care reform package without restoring the inpatient expansion of the 340B drug discount program included in earlier versions of the plan. The bill approved by the U.S. House on March 25 was a companion to the main health care bill that President Obama signed into law on March 23. He is scheduled to sign the … [Read more...]
340B Providers, Industry Mull New Contract Pharmacy Guidelines
Both sides win some, lose some under new HRSA rules due to take effect on April 5.March 22, 2010 - The Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) long-awaited multiple contract pharmacy guidelines will provide 340B covered entities with a long-desired way of enhancing pharmacy care for outpatients. But the rules also will come with many unexpected new strings attached to guard against drug diversion and duplicate discounts. Those safeguards, … [Read more...]
House Passes Health Care Reform but Cuts 340B Inpatient Provision
Major part of deal to expand program eliminated at the 11th hour to secure drug industry support.March 22, 2010 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a sweeping health care reform plan on March 21 that expands and improves the 340B drug discount program but fails to extend it to the inpatient setting. The Monitor's sources on Capitol Hill say the 340B inpatient extension was removed from the Senate-approved bill at the 11th hour as a concession to the drug … [Read more...]
House Health Care Reform Bill Includes Major Changes to 340B
House Democratic leaders released what they hope is the final health care reform bill on March 18. The bill includes an expansion of 340B to new hospitals and many new enforcement and compliance rules.March 18, 2010 - House Democratic leaders released what they hope is the final health care reform bill on March 18. The House is scheduled to consider the bill this weekend. If the bill is approved, it will move to the Senate, where Senate leaders hope to pass and send it to the White House for President Obama's signature by the end of next week. The bill contains numerous … [Read more...]
Obama Administration Takes Some of the Bite out of Medicare Part D Clawbacks
The $4.3 billion reduction is expected to ease financial pressure on states. But whether that works to 340B participants' benefit remains to be seen.March 11, 2010 - The Obama administration has sliced $4.3 billion off the $17.5 billion that states owe the federal government for the costs Washington incurred when it took responsibility for the prescription drug expenses of state residents dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid. The move, announced in late February by U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen … [Read more...]