October 22, 2013—The RAND Corp. announced yesterday that it is launching a project to study and make recommendations for improving the 340B program. Organizers said one of their first tasks will be to submit comments on forthcoming 340B regulations due to be published in the coming months.[ms-protect-content id=”2799″]
“Working with all groups that have an interest in the regulation, we can put forward recommendations to improve the program for all participating parties,” said project co-chair Jeffrey Lewis, chief operating officer of the pharmacy benefits management company EHIM. Lewis is the former president and COO of the Heinz Family Philanthropies. During his tenure there, the foundation urged states to explore ways to encourage greater use of the 340B program. Earlier in his career, Lewis served as staff director for the late Sen. John Heinz (R-Pa.). He later worked on Sen. John Kerry’s (D-Mass.) presidential campaign. The project’s other co-chair is RAND senior scientist Dr. Soeren Mattke.
Other first-year goals for the project include writing “an objective, factual description” of 340B and analyzing how the drug discount program will be affected by Medicaid expansion and other aspects of health care reform, according to a RAND news release.
Earlier this year, a coalition of drug and biopharmaceutical manufacturers, pharmacy benefit managers, and private practice oncologists issued a report calling for a thorough congressional examination of 340B to ensure it is helping the uninsured poor gain better access to prescription drugs.
A few months later, Safety Net Hospitals for Pharmaceutical Access (SNHPA) issued a report saying evidence shows 340B is meeting that purpose and enabling hospitals and other health care providers to stretch their scarce resources, serve more vulnerable patients, and provide more comprehensive services.
Last week, the subscription-based Bloomberg Government analytical service released its own report summarizing key issues in the 340B program and potential areas for further discussion.
“We always welcome opportunities for further study into the program and look forward to working with all stakeholders in shaping its future,” said Ted Slafsky, SNHPA’s President and Chief Executive Officer, in response to RAND’s announcement about its 340B project.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA) and Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) did not respond to a request for comment. [/ms-protect-content]