June 20, 2013—The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Office of Pharmacy Affairs (OPA) is holding a two-hour webinar for 340B hospitals on June 26 beginning at 2:00 p.m. (Eastern) about their need to recertify their eligibility for the drug discount program later this summer.[ms-protect-content id=”2799″]
Hospital recertification is due to begin shortly after the Aug. 7 final deadline for hospitals to come into compliance with OPA’s new 340B group purchasing exclusion guidance. During spring 2012, all 340B hospitals recertified their eligibility for the first time.
In a June 11 notice on its 340B database home page, OPA reminded hospitals to verify their 340B authorizing official’s and primary contact’s information in the database before August “as important information and recertification user names/passwords will be sent exclusively via e-mail. Failure to complete recertification by the specified deadlines,” it continued, “will result in removal from the program.”
In a June 18 email, OPA also counseled hospitals to verify that the information in the database about their institution itself is current, including checking to see “that the listed sites remain eligible to participate in 340B.”
“If your entity’s record is incorrect,” the email continued, “please update it prior to the recertification process” by submitting an online change request form. “Submitting a change form is not a substitute for recertification, although it is an important step to ensure a smooth recertification.”
The webinar URL is https://hrsa.connectsolutions.com/hospital340b/ and the call-in number for audio is (888) 455-8106, passcode 6060997. OPA said hospitals with questions about the 340B database or the recertification requirement should send an email to ApexusAnswers@340bpvp.com or call Apexus 340B Prime Vendor Program at 1-888-340-2787.[/ms-protect-content]