July 6, 2009 - As the debate over how to best implement healthcare reform heated up in late June, it was becoming increasingly clear to stakeholders in the safety-net world that whatever the final legislation may look like, it could have a profound impact on providers and manufacturers that serve low-income and uninsured patients. Here’s a snapshot of some of the measures … [Read more...]
340B Reform a Priority for U.S. Senate
There’s new impetus for 340B improvements this year. Lawmakers are well aware.July 6, 2009 - Momentum to strengthen the 340B drug discount program grew in June when the Senate rolled out S. 1239, the 340B Improvement and Integrity Act of 2009, and promptly included language from the bill in health reform legislation that President Obama has told Congress he wants on his desk by the end of the year. The legislation introduced by Senators Jeff Bingaman … [Read more...]
OPA Funding Paves Way for 340B Program Improvements
The Office of Pharmacy Affairs is gearing up for database improvement now that there’s finally money in the budget.By Karin Rives Jim Mitchell Director Office of Pharmacy Affairs June 26, 2009 - Jimmy Mitchell and his staff at Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) have reason to celebrate this year. A few months ago, they received $1.47 million to begin tackling system shortcomings that, most everyone agrees, compromise the integrity of the federal 340B drug discount … [Read more...]
Updated! Judge Denies Class Certification in Santa Clara 340B Case
Santa Clara County has no class-action case—for now. But the court gave the drug overcharging case some valuable time.By Stuart Gordon and Karin Rives June 5, 2009 - When a federal judge denied Santa Clara County’s request to include some 1,400 California 340B-covered providers in its high-profile drug overcharging case, he may have bought the plaintiffs valuable time to strengthen their case. But his ruling was also an acknowledgement of the lawsuit’s complexity and lack of precedent. … [Read more...]
Patient Assistance Programs Scrutinized As Healthcare Reform Looms
By Karin Rives June 5, 2009 - Each month, Jefferson Regional Medical Center administers between 20 and 40 doses of Retavase, a drug used to treat acute heart attack. An injection dose can cost as much as $2,000, so uninsured patients who don’t qualify for Medicaid were well-served by the patient assistance program that New Jersey-based EKR Therapeutics, the manufacturer of … [Read more...]
Wyeth Plans to Fight Government Nominal Pricing Case
Nominal pricing continues to dog manufacturers. This time, the feds are going after Wyeth.By Stuart Gordon June 5, 2009 - First Merck and now Wyeth. Over the last seven years, two of the world’s largest drug manufacturers have been accused of circumventing the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program by offering nominal pricing as an inducement to access the lucrative hospital and managed-care markets. Merck paid $671 million (including interest) in its settlement, a … [Read more...]
J&J Consumer Division Exits 340B; Will More OTCs Follow?
By Karin Rives June 5, 2009 - Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services Division’s decision last year to withdraw from the Medicaid and 340B programs raises questions about whether 340B pricing will continue to be available on a widespread basis for prescribed over-the-counter drugs, or OTCs. J&J’s pull-out, believed to be a first in the federal drug discount program’s … [Read more...]