November 17, 2009 - Hospitals serving a high number of Medicaid and underinsured patients are less likely to adopt health IT technology, including systems for managing prescription drugs, than hospitals with a smaller indigent population, says a new study published in the October issue of Health Affairs. So-called disproportionate-share hospitals (DSH), also exhibit lower … [Read more...]
340B Advocates Face Surprise Setback in the House
Legislation to extend the 340B drug discount to the inpatient side was close to the finishing line when, somehow, it was dropped from the House health reform bill. But there's still hope, advocates say.November 5, 2009 - Advocates for safety-net hospitals were stunned to learn last week that the House of Representatives had unexpectedly eliminated language from its health care reform bill that would extend 340B discounts to inpatient drugs. While the expansion of the program to thousands of new health care facilities and programs did make the bill, the much-anticipated … [Read more...]
H1N1 Puts Pressure on 340B Providers, but New Treatments Coming
As the H1N1 virus continues to claim victims, pressure is mounting on the government to make more vaccines and treatments available, and less costly for hospitals fighting the nasty flu.November 2, 2009 - As H1N1 flu continues to spread and claim victims nationwide, there's growing pressure on the federal government to make vaccines and treatments for the nasty virus available — and more affordable. Last month, Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access (SNHPA) sent a letter to the Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA), asking the agency to make tamiflu and … [Read more...]
AWP Re-Calculation Will Squeeze 340B Margins
First Data Bank and Medi-Span are reducing average wholesale acquisition pricing data for 7,000-some drugs under a recent court settlement. It could cost pharmacies dearly.October 26, 2009 - Pharmacies nationwide, including those participating in the 340B program, expect to see their margins shrink with the settlement of two federal court cases involving First Data Bank and Medi-Span. The pharmaceutical drug price publishers were accused of having inflated prices on hundreds of drugs for more than four years. Under the settlement between the … [Read more...]
340B Providers Net $7.3 Million in Medicaid False Claims Settlement
Another False Claims case has been settled, and another round of checks will soon be in the mail to 340B providers. This time they will receive almost $7.3 million.October 20, 2009 -Four drug companies — Mylan Pharmaceuticals, UDL Laboratories, AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals and Ortho McNeil — have settled allegations that they underpaid rebates to the Medicaid program by falsely designating so-called "innovator" drugs as "non-innovator" drugs. And as they have in several high-profile settlements as of late, 340B-covered entities are … [Read more...]
OIG’s 2010 Work Plan Probes 340B Reimbursements
The U.S. Health and Human Services' investigative arm is examining how safety-net providers get paid by Medicaid and Medicare for outpatient drugs. The OIG also wants to know if drug makers report prices in a timely manner.October 19, 2009 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) recently released its Fiscal Year 2010 Work Plan. Several of the studies and inquiries into Health and Human Services (HHS) programs and operations focus directly on the 340B program, including two that examine reimbursement levels for 340B providers. This has some in the … [Read more...]
Coordinated Care – Another Way to Pay for Health Reform?
How about saving Medicare and Medicaid $133 billion-plus a year, and private plans almost $107 billion? Coordinated care can do magic, consultant says.October 19, 2009 - The numbers, if true, are mind-boggling. If physicians, drug manufacturers, private insurers and public plans worked together to coordinate and ensure continuity of care for patients, Medicare and Medicaid alone would save an estimated $133.5 billion annually, says a new study by Southeastern Consultants. Private plans would save an additional $106.6 … [Read more...]