May 21, 2015—The House Energy & Commerce Committee passed the 21st Century Cures Act today without adding language to it related to 340B drug discounts. [ms-protect-content id=”2799″]
340B provisions were still in the bill as late as Wednesday evening. While they were never made public, it was widely believed they pertained to hospitals in the program. Draft 340B legislation that committee staff circulated for stakeholder feedback late on May 15 focused largely on hospital participation.
Hospital groups lobbied hard against the inclusion of any 340B language in the Cures bill. Especially given that more than a year’s worth of work when into the Cures initiative, they argued, it was incongruous to rush a 340B amendment through the pipeline in just days.
340B Health, which represents more than 1,000 hospitals and health systems in 340B, said it appreciated the committee’s decision to leave the 340B language out of the Cures act. “We look forward to working with the Committee and all stakeholders on 340B – a small but vital program that reduces drug prices to hospitals and other health care providers that serve our most vulnerable,” said 340B Health President and Chief Executive Officer Ted Slafsky. “We also look forward to the Health Resources and Services Administration’s forthcoming 340B program guidance and regulations that will cover a broad range of important matters.”
Dr. Bruce Siegel, president and Chief Executive Officer of America’s Essential Hospitals, thanked Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.), Ranking Member Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), and the rest of the committee for setting the proposed 340B changes aside.
“This is a sensible approach and one that will allow all 340B stakeholders to more fully work with the committee to preserve and enhance this important program,” he said. “We also appreciate that, before making this decision, the committee worked with stakeholders to respond to their concerns about the 340B proposal.”
Prior to the committee’s vote on the cures bill, Rep. Doris Matsui (D-Calif.) thanked Rep. Upton for removing the 340B provision. “Mr. Chairman, I appreciate your attention to this important program, but I do have concerns about making changes to the program overnight,” she said. Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) also commended Rep. Upton for his decision. [/ms-protect-content]