August 8, 2012—Beginning next week, health care providers that need to update certain information in the Office of Pharmacy Affairs’ (OPA) 340B covered entity database will have to use a new online tool instead of submitting paper forms.
OPA made the announcement on its home page this morning.[ms-protect-content id=”2799″] Starting Aug. 13, it said, there will be a new “Submit Change Request” link on the database home page. Entities will need to use it to update names, addresses, contact information and/or Medicaid billing details in their profiles. OPA will then forward the requested changes to the covered entity’s 340B authorizing official for acceptance. Once they have heard from the authorizing official, OPA staff will then review the requested changes themselves.
OPA said that that paper change request forms will still be required for entity termination requests, changes to authorizing officials and/or changes to contract pharmacy relationships or manufacturer information.
OPA said it will continue accepting covered entity change requests submitted on paper forms through Aug. 17 and that entities will not need to resubmit previously submitted paper requests online.
The alteration in the change request procedure has no effect on the separate processes of enrolling a parent site, child site, or contract pharmacy in 340B. Late last month, OPA announced that beginning Oct. 1, health care providers will have only four 15-day periods per year during which to enroll themselves, their outpatient facilities, or their contract pharmacies in the drug discount program.[/ms-protect-content]