In just a matter of days, changes to the 340B Program were proposed and then withdrawn from H.R. 6, The 21st Century Cures Act. Had hospitals, health systems, and related lobbying groups not been closely watching the Act, the changes might have quietly gone through when the 21st Century Cures Act was unanimously passed out of Committee on May 21, 2015. The 21st Century Cures initiative, advanced by the House Energy … Continue Reading
Under the authority granted it by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is moving forward to laying the groundwork for imposing civil monetary penalties on manufacturers that overcharge covered entities under the 340B Program. HRSA has submitted its second Information Collection Request (ICR) regarding calculation and verification … Continue Reading
As readers of this blog already know, manufacturers and some legislators believe the 340B program has grown too large, suffers from mission creep and needs reform. They argue that the program’s purpose is simply to reduce drug costs for the uninsured and the indigent, nothing more. All three of the federal agencies with program oversight … Continue Reading
When 340B covered entities contemplate the future, they can find a number of issues to worry about. Here is a thumbnail on some of them. Orphan Drugs There is a possibility that the orphan drug issue will be resolved unfavorably to covered entities. That issue arises out of a 2014 court decision, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers … Continue Reading
Now that OPA has ramped up its audit activities, covered entities should not be surprised to find themselves on the receiving end of a 340B program review conducted by HRSA/OPA. The likelihood of this may be increased if the entity uses contract pharmacies. It is important therefore to be aware of what information is likely … Continue Reading
340B covered entities need to revisit and perhaps ramp up their compliance efforts. The director of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Pharmacy Affairs has been very open in touting the fact that HRSA has invested in program integrity to make sure that manufacturers and covered entities remain compliant and that benefits for … Continue Reading
HRSA/OPA announced the withdrawal of the so-called mega rule last November. This major piece of legislative rulemaking had been over four years in the works. The rule had spent the past six months at the Office of Management and Budget, the last step prior to publication. The DC District Court ruling in Pharmaceutical Research and … Continue Reading
